Page 54 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings 2: The Finale
Truth is, I hadn’t given a lot of thought to having kids of my own. When I was with Sayer, he seemed content with it being just us. Maybe that was why he went to another woman though, because that maternal craving was lost on me. Dealing with kids regularly made me second guess if I wanted any of my own. Staten’s children, however, left me with a different perspective. Getting to know them and nurturing them was something I took seriously. After the conversation tonight, it was nice to know that he wasn’t completely against having more. I don’t know if I’d feel the same if I were in his position, but it was a testament to the kind of man he really was. If having a baby would make me happy, there was no doubt in my mind that Staten would sign up for it.
“I ain’t trying to have you think I’m trapping you or no shit like that.” His gruffy voice broke into my current thoughts.
“Staten, I do have a mind of my own.” I smiled and stroked his beard while continuously searching his deep, hooded eyes.
“No doubt about that, mama.” He dropped another kiss against my lips.
“You make some beautiful babies though.”
“Beautiful and wrapped in chaos,” he chortled.
Six
One month later…
“Iam full!” Leni tossed her napkin on the table and reached for her glass of lemon water.
We’d had brunch at Napal Café, and I think we were both stuffed like fat rats now. I skimmed through my phone, checking notifications on my IG page, when I got a text from Brick asking me what I was doing. I had a guard on me, so I don’t know why he was acting brand new. Ever since all the shit with Skully, he’d been extra protective though, which was understandable. I’d been super cautious since, but for the last two weeks, Leni and I had been spending time together. At first, I was torn about letting her back into my life, and skeptical as hell. Eventually, I gave in after deciding not to let the past dictate our future. Since neither of us had heard from Darlene, I took it as a sign that she’d found another meal ticket and moved the fuck on.
“What’s got you smiling all big?” Leni rested her chin in her hand and leaned forward with a grin. “Is it Brick?” she teased, batting her eyes playfully.
I couldn’t help but blush. Yeah, the nigga had me turning different shades of red when thinking about him. Lately it was hard being around him. Not because of anything he did, but because of how he made me feel. When we were in bed or hewould kiss me, it took a lot of restraint to not throw the pussy at him. He’d been so patient and attentive, but he hadn’t been putting any kind of pressure on me, which was also turning me the hell on. The fact that he was letting me take the lead on this meant that he respected me. Now I was just in my own head about giving up the cookie.
“It is,” I answered after typing a quick message to him, letting him know I’d be back at the house soon. I set my phone on the table, and Leni shook her head.
“I don’t know how you’re not fucking him yet. He’s rich and fine. You would have to pull me off that nigga if I were you.”
“It’s not all about sex, Leni.” I grabbed a tortilla chip and dipped it into the lobster dip on the table. I claimed I was full, but the shit was so good I couldn’t stop eating it.
“Well then, enlighten me, baby sister.” She eased back in her chair and tucked her arms across her double Ds sitting up in the tight V-neck top.
“It’s more than that with Brick. He listens, he’s attentive, and we have something more between us than sex. I like that we’ve built this foundation with each other first. We’re friends, and we enjoy each other’s company. How many people you know in relationships with people they don’t even like?”
“Girl, most of that shit don’t matter if a mothafucka is financially set. You can fake everything else.” Leni waved the notion off.
“Well, it’s not like that with us,” I argued sternly, watching her hike a brow with interest.
“Let me be real with you here, Six. Men are men. They are all the same. Especially after you give them some pussy. Right now, you have an advantage. Brick is being all loving, doting, and charming because he hasn’t smashed. You’ll find out who he really is when you give him some,” she insisted.
I didn’t want to buy into it, but I knew there was some truth to it because I’d seen it happen to girls in high school. The boys would get praised for it, but the girls would get called fast little hoes if they gave it up. The double standard was something I could never get behind. Swallowing the last of my tea, I left cash and a tip for payment on the table, and Leni and I left the café together. We climbed into the front seat of the G Wagon I’d been pushing around, and she checked her reflection in the visor mirror.
“Don’t cheat yourself, baby sis. Just give him what he wants and keep playing his ass like the meal ticket he is. Nobody is going to blame you for that. It doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy, funny, and has a huge social media following. I mean, you’re basically dating a local star. No need to play the background. Use that for yourself so when and if the time comes, you can break away and still figure out a way to make it on your own.”
“I’m not worried about that.” I started the car and gave some serious thought to what she was saying.
Brick had never been anything but good to me, when he wasn’t being a complete asshole. He never pressed me about sex or got mad when it didn’t happen. I didn’t even think he was going out getting his rocks off with other women. We spent too much time together for him to be trying to play me like that.
“Don’t be naïve, little sister,” Leni warned after applying a coat of MAC gloss to her lips and pouting them together. “On another note, this little shindig should be fun tonight. I hope there are some more ballers there. I’m looking for a new sponsor,” she joked.
It was the night of Marcella’s event, and the estate had been crawling with caterers, floral companies, decorators, and more. The entire house was covered in maroon, rose gold, and cream décor, making it even more elegant than it already was. Some of the horses had even been arranged out front with colorfulbows on them and saddles arranged in case anyone wanted to take them for a ride. It was supposed to be some kind of charity function so that money could be raised for Guardian Lodge, along with a few other small, nonprofit businesses around the hood. It was all for a good cause, and even I donated five thousand. With the money Brick was having deposited into my account, I wasn’t hurting or in need of anything. I didn’t even mind spending the day shopping with Leni and paying for everything. She was my sister, and if I had it, so did she. It was nice having her around.
“Listen, I wasn’t trying to be mean or make judgments on your relationship.” She got all serious when she saw me focused on the road and not very responsive. Gripping the wheel a little tighter, a small smile turned up the corners of my mouth, and I glanced her way.
“It’s cool.”
“No, it’s not. I’m not trying to get into your head about this. I just know you’re a virgin, and the first time can be . . . intense. For many reasons. Take it from me, as a woman, we tend to get caught up romanticizing that and latching on to whoever the person might be. You’re inexperienced, and it’s obvious he isn’t. You would be making yourself vulnerable to him in many ways, and he could take advantage and use that against you. It’s the last thing I want, but it happens. You think something is more than it is only for your bubble to get busted down the road when you’ve already become invested.” She mumbled that last part.
Maybe she was right. Brick and I hadn’t even known each other that long. The entire basis of our relationship was to make him look good for the public and help him with the inheritance his father planned on leaving him. Somehow, through the course of that, it had become a lot more. I didn’t think I was alone in that view though.
