Page 51 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings 2: The Finale
“Your daughter snatched a piece of my heart the minute I laid eyes on her. I know a lot of people get hung up on how long they’ve known somebody, but with us . . . it’s like we’ve known each other forever already. We just clicked, and she came into my home and knew exactly what my kids needed. Better than I did. She could have been intimidated by my family, but she dove in headfirst, and our lives are better because of it.”
“You giving her babies?” Daddy pried, picking up his plate again.
“Daddy!”
“I’m just asking. We know he ain’t shooting blanks, and you don’t have any kids. It’s just a matter of time.”
Staten tittered and cleared his throat before glancing my way. This was something we hadn’t talked about. Blushing, I lowered my head and cursed my father silently. This was one of the rare moments I wished he wasn’t lucid enough to be giving us the third degree.
“If she wants babies, I got her. If not, I know that she already considers mine hers. I’m with whatever she is. At first, I didn’t think I wanted any more kids, but seeing her with mine makes me want to put one in her. After she accepts my ring first.” Staten winked in my direction.
“Well, alright then. Just tell me when the wedding is.”
“You are a crazy old man.”
“Crazy and protective. Especially over my only child. Your mama would be happy for you. So don’t think about the past. It brought you here if nothing else. When I saw him here with you that first night, I knew who he was, but I also saw how you reacted to him. He meant something right then and there. I decided I wouldn’t say anything because I want you to be happy,Brie. It’s obvious him and these kids do that for you. I take comfort in that. I know I won’t always be there for you, but I am grateful that you won’t be alone.”
Involuntary tears struck my eyes. Looking into my father’s warm chestnut globes took me back in time. I thanked God in this moment for him being present. Hearing those words and having Staten next to me overwhelmed my heart. For about an hour longer, we sat catching up, and thunder rumbled nearby. I checked the time on my watch and saw that it was almost nine p.m. Piaget and Rogue were curled up on the couch together, dozing off, watchingEverybody Hates Chris. I put together some leftovers for Daddy to keep and put them in his minifridge for when he got hungry, and Staten nudged Piaget awake.
“Alright, Daddy. We are going to head out. Get some rest. I love you.” I knelt to kiss his cheek as he dozed in his chair, facing the TV with his head resting in his hand.
“Appreciate the meal, Brie. Love you too!”
“Los,” Staten stepped up and rested a hand against his shoulder. “Let the staff know if you need anything. Anytime, day or night. I took care of your recurring bills around here. I want you comfortable.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Daddy objected.
“No, you didn’t,” I chimed in sternly. “I pay his bills.”
“And I pay you, Cam. Don’t fight me on this, mama. He’s family, and we take care of each other. I don’t want neither one of you stressing about this. It’s done.” Staten put his foot down, and Daddy hiked a brow.
“I guess we can’t argue with that. Go home. Goodnight, grandkids!”
“Goodnight, Grandpa Los!” Rogue and Piaget waved and yawned simultaneously as Staten nudged them out the door.
I gave my father one last lingering look, eyes misting. It was hard to even say why; everything in this moment had me choked up.
“Now don’t you go questioning whether you deserve this or if it’s moving too fast, Cambrie Rhodes. When something is right, you just know . . . and that man and those kids are everything you ever needed.” My father nodded to the door.
Grinning, I knelt so that I could embrace him, giving him an extra squeeze because he’d brought a sense of comfort that I’d missed.
“They are, but I am also grateful for you. I hate that I have to leave you because I always fear one day I’m going to get that call saying you’re not you again.”
“Then try not to think about that. It’s out of both our control. I tell you what, knowing that you are OK out here, loved, and taken care of . . . it alleviates some of the stress. I’m also eating better, and the doctor got me signed up for water aerobics and a walking club. I’ll be fine. Tired as hell, but I like this place better than the last, and I have no intentions of leaving you anytime soon.” He reached out and pinched my cheek.
It was easier to leave him tonight of all nights. After saying goodnight to the rest of the staff, Staten and I loaded the half-sleeping children into his truck and headed back to the estate. The rain started to come down halfway there, and when I happened to turn and check on Rogue and Piaget, I found them both slumped over in their seats. When we finally got back to the house, he grabbed both kids and carried them inside, while I gathered my purse and the pans we’d used to take the food. I assumed after Staten tucked the kids in that he went to his bedroom because it had been well over ten minutes, and he hadn’t returned.
Once I got everything put away, I started to my own bedroom to grab something to sleep in so I could head up to join him.I’d gone through my panty drawer three times and even checked the rest of them, but all of my underwear was gone, and I was left with some brand-new Victoria’s Secret shit that I didn’t purchase myself.
“The hell,” I mumbled, pausing when I listened to the doorbell begin to chime throughout the house.
“Who the hell is that?” I wondered, stepping out of my room and padding down the hall to the front of the house. “You have got to be kidding me,” I grumbled after looking through the peephole and finding Nadia on the other side.
This bitch really didn’t know when to give some shit up. Flinging the door open, my hot glare only seemed to amuse her as her face shifted into a satisfied smirk. I noticed the business file in her hand but thought nothing of it as she tapped it against her thigh.
“Why are you here?”
“Oh, don’t worry. This won’t take long. I just need to run something by Staten. You’ll be happy to know I have a flight booked for tonight that will take me back home until the school year officially ends for Tavi and Saga. I’ll be back to get them myself, and I plan on taking them on a cruise for the summer.”
