Page 86 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings 2: The Finale
“Thank you so much,” Emerald gushed, crossing her arms over her chest and closing her eyes in silent prayer.
“No problem. You can see him two at a time once he’s moved. I have to go check on something, but I’ll follow up with him before we move him to a more permanent room.” The doctor stepped away, and Six jumped up to hug Emerald.
“See, I told you it was all going to be OK. Talk about a crazy night though.” Six pulled away from Emerald, and Brick sat forward, studying his phone screen and biting his thumbnail.
“What’s wrong?”
“Moniece sent the footage.”
“And?” I prodded, trigger finger itching.
Whoever took a shot at my brother was about to feel me. Our family had taken too many L’s lately, and although he was safe, shit could have easily gone another way.
“It was Jordan’s car. The plates match and everything,” Brick announced.
“What!” Emerald screeched. “Are you serious? That bitch tried to kill him!”
“Let’s go.” I waved Brick toward me.
“There’s something else.” Brick looked around before rising to his feet. “I texted Sol to go over to the house and check on her. Jordan’s dead.”
“The fuck?” Emerald gasped.
“Looks like an overdose,” Brick declared. “She found a bunch of pill bottles, and Jordan was on the bathroom floor when she got there.”
Silence swept over the room as we all processed the information. Ivo was brought to recovery, but Emerald wasn’t playing about being first and number one in the room at all times. Only one other person was allowed to visit him during that time because she refused to leave his side. Cam and I went to check on Tavi upstairs, but Marcella was curled up with herin bed, and she had already passed out from her pain meds. My grandmother insisted on staying with her while moms went home with Rogue, Piaget, and Saga.
“I can barely keep my eyes open right now.” Cambrie smacked on a bag of pretzels and tossed the Snickers in her lap when she dropped down beside me in one of the chairs.
We were outside of Ivo’s room again, and I realized she’d been snacking all damn night. “What?” She swallowed and turned her nose up at me.
“Maybe you should head home,” I suggested, checking the time on my phone. “Let’s go check on bro one last time, and I’ll kick Marcella out of Tavi’s room. You can head over to the house, and I’ll just see you after the surgery and everything.”
“Um, no,” she objected, shaking her head. “I’m going to sit right here, curl up in one of these chairs, and take a nap. Then I’m going to wait for the gift shop to open and use your money to buy some merch to change into along with some flowers and balloons for our girl for when she comes out of surgery. Also wait for the cafeteria to open again because I am starving!”
I couldn’t help the smile that had slipped across my lips. Cambrie was indeed a refreshing part of life. From the minute she walked into mine, she was a force and had captivated me the minute I almost ran her over with that grocery cart. She was warm and nurturing, that was a given, but there was also this God-fearing strength that radiated from within. That type of confidence was a game-changer because she didn’t make apologies for who she was or pretend. My baby was as raw as they come.
“I love you,” I told her with a smile.
She opened her mouth like she had a response before her eyes got all glossy, and she dropped her hands in her lap.
“Staten . . . you can’t just?—”
“I can’t what, mama? Tell you I love you? You might as well get used to hearing that shit on a daily from me.” I reached for her hand, pulling her from her chair and bringing her down into my lap.
The warmth of her lady lumps against me had my dick semi-hard.
“Ain’t no gimmicks, no guessing. It’s just us. Solid. You my homie, my lover, and my friend. A nigga’s day starts and ends with you. I ain’t never had no shit like this, never thought it was out there for me.” Shaking my head, I inhaled and stared off for a minute.
“Hey.” She cupped my chin and turned me back to her. “I love you too.”
“Marry me then.”
“Wh—” she stammered. “Staten, you are crazy. I think you need to go get some air. You been breathing in this sterile shit too long.” She giggled, one of her hands stroking the back of my neck.
Still dressed in my slacks and shirt from the party tonight, I reached behind me for my blazer and fished the small jewelry box from the inner pocket. Her plush lips parted when I cracked the lid to show her the diamond-clustered platinum Halo engagement ring resting inside. Both hands flew against her mouth.
“Oh my God!” she shouted, then peered around to see if anyone had heard her outburst.
