Page 106 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio
“Wassup, Solana?”
Folding my arms, I licked my suddenly chapped lips. “The ladies invited me for a night out…”
My phone vibrated again, and I opened the notification quickly, hoping it wasn’t my father. I didn’t need my mood soured before the fun began. Sighing with relief that it was Scarlett, I read the message.
Scarlett
I can come and get you if you’d like.
“That’s good.You need a ride, you takin’ a whip, or you callin’ the driver?” Shio asked with a raised brow as he neatly piled another rubber-banded stack. He hadn’t missed a beat as he continued to glare at me while grabbing another stack, popping the band, and placing it on the money counter. The money filtered through and then stopped with a beep. My girl below thudded at the sound.
“Solana…”
“Uhh, no. Scarlett is coming to get me. Wait, that’s okay, right?”
“Yes. Scarlett is my blood, Solana. If any of the women want to come by, you don’t have to run that by me. Matta fact, ain’t too much shit you gotta run by me. I told you… You can do whatever. You be the one barricaded in the fuckin’ room like you hiding from the fuckin’ boogie man.”
He’d called me out, and I could only stand there in shame because he wasn’t lying.
Shio held my gaze, eyes searching mine for whatever it was he always seemed to be after. Every time he did that, I held my breath and nearly passed out once. I had to get myself under control when it came to this man, which is another reason I stayed in that room.There was no point in letting myself get aroused by a man who I knew would never be mine, although the arousal had already occurred multiple times.
Shio. An American boy. An intelligent, attractive man, actually. Arico buen hombre(rich fine man) if he were in México.
“Aite. Call me if you need me,” he said, pulling me from my thoughts.
Nodding, I rounded the desk. Before I could take another step, I was halted by the booming of his voice.
“Solana…”
Turning, I faced Shio once again.
He held out one of the stacks of money we’d been counting. Twenty thousand dollars. “Have fun.”
Grabbing the money, I thanked him and hurried out of the room before I caught myself doing something my father would never forgive me for. Shio was a dangerous man, and it had nothing to do with his reputation or affiliation. And me—I was poison swathed in a flower. It was best that we kept this strictlyabout the lessons, which meant I needed to stay out of his face and his lap.
“Bitch, I cannot sing!”
Mocha tossed her long, straight hair over her shoulder, and it flowed freely behind her back. We were all at the studio but dressed like we were headed to the club. I had poor Scarlett waiting an extra thirty minutes because I couldn’t decide on an outfit. The first two were jeans, and I was glad that I’d put in the extra effort to change. Everyone was in something short or tight, and I was no exception.
Huddled in a circle, we were all sipping from red cups while another American guy sat behind a table full of dials, lights, and buttons. The studio was modern, wood grained, and smelled good. As soon as Scarlett and I walked through the doors, the ladies shoved drinks into our hands. With one sip, my nerveswere immediately settled. I’d never been inside a studio, but if I imagined one, this would come to mind.
“You don’t have to know how to sing, girl! Big T going to use the autotune,” Missy assured while running her hands through Mocha’s hair.
“Okay… Now tell me again what we doing?” Dasani asked as she took a sip from her drink. The matte nude lipstick on her lips hadn’t moved, and it looked so good against her almond skin.
“Okay, you know the trend on TikTok, where they use the “Chopped and Screwed” instrumental? They’re freestyling, talking shit basically. I want to do that, but in the studio. Essex weak-ass baby mama been talking shit online, but the bitch can’t pop up and get her fuckin’ kids. It’s cool because they're my little babies now, but I’m over this hoe. So, we hitting the booth!”
I had no idea what she was talking about. I hadn’t been on the internet much, but the rest of the ladies all agreed, so I would just follow their lead. If I was going to make a fool of myself in the booth, I needed more courage.
“Are we consuming anything other than liquor?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I tried to think fast about whether I’d interpreted the words right because the questioning looks staring at me had me clearing my throat. “Weed… Do any of you smoke?” I clarified.
“I don’t want to drink more liquor if we are smoking,” Dasani spoke first.
Mocha’s face finally dropped into a laugh. “Oh, girl. I thought you was talking about crack or some shit. I was about to salsa walk your ass outta here!”
Pia nearly choked on her apple juice from laughing at Mocha.
Pulling my silver skirt down as much as it would go, I took another sip of my drink, chuckling with the ladies.
