Page 11 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio
Azure agreed with Dasani. “Chicago has the best food!”
“Paola’s was fire. All the food was hot and fresh too. Y’all would love it.”
“They had drinks?” Jisei asked. She was breastfeeding, but that didn’t stop her from having a drink when she wanted. My friend said she’d gone nearly ten months without alcohol, so now she made sure she indulged every chance she could.
“Baby… the way you eat all that good shit and still manage to stay fine, I want to be like you when I grow up!” Azure raised her glass, and the ladies all agreed.
My cheeks flushed red, and instead of replying, I rubbed my nose against the baby’s, who was already on his way back to sleep. He was so fly in his Burberry sleeper, and knowing he was wearing my baby shower gift had me snapping pictures and uploading them on my story. I was careful to only get the baby in the shot. I wouldn’t dare upload Dasani or any of these ladies’ homes.
When Jisei moved next door to me, the most we did was speak to one another. Mr. Joe across the street looked out for us both, and in turn, we started looking out for each other. When I started seeing all the fancy cars that would pull up, I just thought my girl had a lot of motion. I was happy for her since I didn’t have an ounce of it myself. Then, we started talking, and before I knew it, I was being invited to all of these big-ass mansions where these fine-ass niggas with these beautiful-ass women resided. The men called Dasani’s husbandDon,and he was also Jisei’s brother. It didn’t take me long to realize my best friend was a mafia princess. I didn’t know how I got tied in with this family, but I had to be one of God’s favorites. My life was nothing more than work and no play until Jisei came along. I did hang out with my mom and sister from time to time, but my mom lived way in Sparkling City, and my sister was away at college.
I’d been born and raised in Jagoda Bay, but when my parents divorced while I was in fifth grade and my sister was in kindergarten, my mother got a job out in Sparkling City, where she’s been ever since. Sparkling City was cool. It was pretty, had a slower pace of life than Jagoda Bay, and was a lake town. Even though I made great memories living there, I also went through some tough phases. I knew college wasn’t for me, so I found a job here in Jagoda Bay and moved in with my dad for a while. When I grew tired of his and his wife’s constant prodding about doing something with my life, I moved back in with my mom, quit my lousy-paying job, and spent a miserable day eating at a new diner by myself—that I happened to record—which turned into a whole new career. I immediately moved my ass back to Jagoda Bay, and after two years of consistent posting, I bought my dream townhouse. I now have over three million followers across all platforms and got paid to eat while documenting it. Even though I made money and became somewhat locally famous, I still found myself yearning for something more. I knew I didn’t want a man, since the two guys I dated back in Sparkling City did a number on me, but I was missing something. I’d tried to make friends, but all of that backfired. Since then, I’ve been skeptical about the company I keep, as people often want to hang out with me because of my growing platforms.
Jisei was literally a gift. I’d gone from being afraid to let people into my circle to being scared I wasn’t good enough for hers. Next to these women, my little three million followers meant nothing when they had millions of dollars within reach. What I loved most about them was that I wasn’t the center of attention. You’d think I loved the fame, but I was the opposite. In real life, I’m laid-back and chill. On camera, I was Glow—the Pretty Eater that everyone loved and wanted to be like. Peopleidolized me, but they didn’t know that the women I idolized were married to men involved in organized crime.
The nanny had to pry little Ezio from my fingers, and only then did I pick up my drink and take a sip. It was sweet and fruity, and I knew then that it would be the only sip I took. Jisei would drink it down quickly, just like she always did whenever we had drinks.
“You shol’ won’t let that baby go. Let me find out you next!” Pia yelled across the room, finally coming out of wedding planning mode.
Daylani was still glued to her laptop, stopping to sip her drink every now and then. She and her sister were twins, with their hair color being the only thing that set them apart. The women came in all shapes and sizes, but they all were equally stunning. They had raised my standards in everything related to daily living. I loved my townhouse and my little Lexus, but now I was aiming for a big mansion and a hundred-thousand-dollar car. I’d have to eat a lot more calories to get there, but I was committed. There was no way I could live basic after partying with the rich. Hell no. I don’t blame Jisei one bit for moving out of that townhouse after her husband bought her that huge house. I would have done the same.
Jisei bumped my shoulder.
“You got baby fever?”
“Who? Me?” All eyes were on me as the ladies drank. “Oh no. Have a baby with who? This well is dry-dry. I don’t have anyone to procreate with.”
“Girl, please. There is a certainCuppaciothat has been sniffing behind you. Let me find out y’all gone have a lil’ chocolate baby… or a light bright like Lil Ezee!”
Jisei smiled at Mocha, referencing my little infant boo. She was so in love with being a first-time mommy, and it was such a beautiful thing to see.
I took another sip at the thought of Shio. Like all the men, he was fine as hell. His chocolate skin was smooth like leather, and he always smelled like money, high class, and bad decisions. He didn’t talk much when everyone was grouped up, but through texts, he asked questions and was attentive to anything I told him. He’d even given me money on a few occasions, just because. Just by looking at Shio, he made me want to jump his bones and end my drought. But, in reality, he wasn’t really checking for me like that. He was polite and had good listening skills—well, reading skills since we’d only been texting—but that was pretty much it. It had been months, and I didn’t know anything about Shio outside of the surface shit. I knew they had to keep me at arm’s length due to their occupations, but I wasn’t stupid. I kept my mouth shut, but it wouldn’t matter if I didn’t because I had no one to tell besides my sister. Glee had inquired about my new group of friends, but I didn’t mumble a word because I loved and respected these ladies’ privacy just as much as I loved them.
I was trying to get like them; have my feet kicked up while being fed grapes by a big dick king. And I wasn’t assuming about these men having big dicks. One night, these ladies got too lit and had a “my husband’s dick is the biggest” contest. Discover was on bed rest and wasn’t at our gathering—as she still is—but when Pia showed Nel’s gigantic dick, I just pictured Vello’s being the same as his identical twin. I went home and masturbated to the images that were planted in my head forever. I still didn’t know who won, but my God, they were all blessed. I didn’t know how those dicks fit inside these prissy-ass women, but shit, I know my ass would be taking it, so I had no choice but to assume my ladies were too.
“Shio is a busy man, but I don’t think he likes me like that,” I admitted for the first time out loud.
The way the women gave me looks of pity had my cheeks burning with embarrassment for the second time today. It was what it was. Shio was fine as hell, had money, and I’m sure his dick was just as big as the rest of the men, but he wasn’t assertive enough with me. Hell, he wasn’t even aggressive enough. He used his manners, wasn’t all loud and rambunctious like the rest of the men, and sadly, I think that’s what I was now attracted to. I’m not saying that I wanted anybody’s husband, because I would never! I’m only appreciating how fine these men are, and how I love the way they loved their women. I had no plans to become somebody’s side chick in this grouping of friends. Honestly, the men barely gave me a second glance, so they had no plans on fucking off anyhow. All they saw were their wives, and I’m sure that’s the way it would stay whether Shio and I got together or not.
“Shio is…” Pia looked away as if searching for the right words.
I understood it was probably difficult trying to describe him without implicating the men in my presence. I was tired of them hiding their truth around me, but at the same time, I got it. Regardless of what Pia was trying to say, Shio didn’t want me, so I was afraid I’d never be part of this internal club of mob wives. I could wait for one of the little Cuppacios to pick me, but that was laughable. I’d never date teenagers. Even when the little Cuppacios became adults, they would always be kids to me, and the thought of anything more felt disgusting.
There was no other “in” to be included in this lifestyle because all of the men were either engaged or married. I wasn’t really looking for a man. Still, I was definitely hoping for a Rinaldi mobster, so I could finallybelongwith my girls, get spoiled rotten, and have big dick for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’d overheard Demise scolding the men about marriages once or twice, so I figured you had to be married to join theorganization. My luck was shot to hell, but I refused to force something that wasn’t meant to be. And from the looks of things, Shio and I were not compatible.
“Shio is different. Not different in a way that he isn’t normal, but just different from all the other men,” Pia stated finally, breaking me from my mindless thoughts. “He’s calculated, intelligent, educated, and a straight shooter. Even when we were kids, he had it all figured out. The problem with a man that’s well-versed is that he tends to have to get things in line with those around him. His life takes a back seat more than it should because he’s always being the “clean-up” man. But don’t underestimate him; he knows exactly what he’s doing. He always does.” Satisfied with her non-incriminating answer, Pia nodded and took a sip of her sparkling water. Her nose was starting to spread and was shinier than usual. The pregnancy was doing wonders for her skin, though.
“Well, he is fine as hell! I tell you that,” Azure blurted.
Everyone’s eyes shifted to her, and I held in my chuckle.
“Mama, really? I’m telling Big Zan.”
“Girl, I love your daddy, but I ain’t blind. That man is fine as hell! And he has manners too. It’s something about the way he stands back and assess everything that lets me know he’s a certified?—”
“Ahem!” Dasani cleared her throat, causing Azure to shut up and sip from her glass.
There they were again, shutting me out.
