Page 22 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings 2: The Finale
Those bitches looked sick when Six let them pass her, and they stepped onto our porch. I was proud of her for standing her ground though and not letting them walk up in here like shit was sweet. Her mama had some kind of nerve trying to throw the past in Six’s face when it was clear she’d never done right by her. She thought by providing a roof over Six’s head, however unstable, and not starving her made her an exemplary mother or something, but she had my girl fucked up. Darlene stomped down the sidewalk ahead of Leni, who turned to Six with glistening brown eyes.
“I DM’d you my number. Just in case you want to link up,” she insinuated. “I really didn’t come here for anything else, Six. We both know how Darlene can be, and you’re right . . . you don’t owe her shit. I just want to try and have a relationship with my sister. I know what it’s like to walk through life aimlessand alone. Even living with my daddy, all I was ever told was how I wasn’t shit and would end up just like her. I got a little work-from-home gig though, making decent money. I honestly don’t want anything from you but a chance to rebuild our relationship.”
When she turned to go, I caught the flicker of regret behind Six’s eyes as she blinked back tears. It might not have been something she was prepared for, but it was obvious she was considering Leni’s words as she watched her walk away. I didn’t trust either of them, but that wasn’t for me to decide. I could give my two cents, but ultimately it was up to Six whether she wanted to mend fences. Slowly, she shut the door and faced me.
“You good?” I cupped her chin.
“I’m good. Nothing I can’t handle. I’m used to Darlene and her narcissistic bullshit. I wasn’t expecting Leni though. I haven’t seen her in years.”
“How you feeling about what she said?” I prodded, watching her stare off before shaking her head.
“I don’t know. Part of me wants to believe her, you know? I mean, she’s only two years older than me, and we both had bad shit happen to us. I can’t all the way blame her because like me, she was just a kid too. This is on Darlene.”
“So does that mean you’re going to try and have a relationship with her?”
“What do you think?” she cocked a brow and queried.
“I think only you can decide that for yourself, mama. I’d say be careful though. I don’t want anything else bad to touch you because you don’t deserve that shit. If I can protect you, I will,” I vowed.
“I know. I trust that.” She stepped closer, looping her arms around my waist and hugging me.
“I was about to take a walk, maybe go check in on my bros. You want to come?”
“I would love some fresh air. Let me go grab some shoes.” She stood on her toes and pecked my lips before pulling back and sauntering around me to the staircase.
I watched her start up the steps, grinning in my direction while I waited at the bottom. While she was gone, I had security tail Darlene and Leni off the property in the Uber they used. I didn’t want them bitches to have the element of surprise on us again. From here on out, I was going to keep an eye on how they were moving. If for nothing else, for the simple fact that I had to be on the lookout for that bitch nigga Skully. That nigga was about to meet the dirt, and I was going to make sure I was the nigga who put him there.
Emerald
“Lola, you did not have to come here and help. We don’t even have a lot of stuff.” I folded the last items from my dresser and stuffed them into a few of the totes I’d purchased for the move.
We stood inside my bedroom together, and she was stuffing my already folded clothes into a separate tote.I didn’t have much to move outside of clothes, some kitchen stuff, and our hygiene products in the bathroom. Ivo said the place was fully furnished, so there was no need to bring anything else. I was anxious to see it, and it took everything not to catch an Uber over there last night and check it out.
“Girl, please. I had the day off, and I need to see these new digs anyway.”
Sapphire was in the other room packing what little he had. I’d saved a little money and now that I didn’t have to worry about paying rent this month, I planned on giving it to him so he could go shopping for himself. New place meant he was finally going to have the opportunity to decorate his room. I didn’t need much; I was just happy that he’d been in such a good mood the last few days. I couldn’t help but wonder about Rashida and thatlast discussion, but I tried to push it to the farthest corner of my mind. I had more positive things to focus on.
“I know. I haven’t seen them yet either, but I appreciate you giving us a ride and helping us move our shit in. I would call Ivo, but he had a rough night, and I don’t want to bother him right now.”
“Girl, how is that working for you?” Lola queried, placing the lid over the tote and lowering it to the ground.
“What you mean?”
“I mean how you doing, Em. The truth. This man is going home to a wife every night and putting you up in some condo like a side chick. On top of everything else, you are about to be implanted with his child. I need to know how you not unraveling right now.”
“It all sounds complicated, but . . . I trust Ivo.” I felt like a damn fool even saying that about a married man, but it was the truth.
For some reason, I had no doubts about us. It was everything else that had me second guessing. The hormones I was taking had my emotions all over the place. Now I was crying at the end of movies and swinging off the mood tree like a monkey.
“Well, you are grown and you know what you’re doing. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I know. I was worried about it at first too, but Ivo’s not leading me on, and I don’t have to question what’s between us. I just need to be patient. I’m not dealing with the same sixteen-year-old boy either. He’s a man now, and he’s got obligations and priorities.”
“You just make sure you’re one of them, and don’t let him play with your feelings,” Lola warned.
From the dresser behind me, my phone chimed, alerting me to a new FaceTime. I’d been so busy with work and distracted by everything else that I hadn’t had time to think much aboutanything on top of moving. Seeing my ex’s name flash across the screen and a picture of our beautiful, brown sugar-skinned baby girl, my heart skipped a beat. Immediately, I swiped to pick up with a grin. Jury’s face popped on the display, and I caught Juke moving around in the background.
“Mommy!” my baby squealed.
