Page 1 of His to Have
Prologue
Teo Donatelli
Atlanta, Reed Estate – Six Years Ago
Ispotted her before she noticed me, strolling down the stairs with that familiar spring in her step. A round pair of glasses perched on her nose seemed almost too large for her delicate features, while her tight curls framed her face. The rainbow-colored frames added a quirky charm, highlighting her bright eyes and playful smile.
Ayanna Reed was simply beautiful.
She paused midway, when her eyes finally landed on me. “You bring me a present?” The smirk on her face let me know she was about to be on some good bullshit. “You know you can’t come up in here empty-handed on the best day of the year. It’s my birthday,” she declared as if I didn’t know. As if her entire circle of people didn’t know.
“Gee, how could I forget?” I retrieved the envelope full of cash and the beautifully wrapped box from the back of my jeans pocket.
Our relationship? It was complicated—a mix of friendship, something like siblings, and maybe a little more. We walked that fine line but never crossed it.
Our families were connected.
Her father ran the underworld in the South, and my father New York. He was one of the five mafia families up North. Through our families’ business ties, we’d been thrown together for years: Me, her, Bash her brother, and Sophia my sister. Though, none of that complicated shit mattered right now with her clutching my gift to her chest.
“Teo! You shouldn’t have!”
Her eyes widened with pure happiness as she carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a delicate rose gold bracelet with a charm shaped like the letter “A” dangling from it. She slipped it over her wrist, admiring the intricate details. “It’s so pretty.”
Her smile was bright. And beautiful.
A few seconds later she opened the envelope, revealing the neatly stacked hundred-dollar bills.
“For me?” She gasped.
I couldn’t help but tease. “For me?” I mocked, throwing my hands to my chest. “Yes, for you. That’s for the lil’ shopping trip you’re bout to go on. Ain’t that where you’re headed? To the mall?”
She paused, narrowing her eyes with a playful smirk. “How you know where I’m going? You wanna come with me or something?”
I chuckled. “Hellnah. I’m not bout to be in the mall for hours with yo’ ass. Bash mentioned it before heading to the meeting with the old heads.”
The meeting I had been dreading for weeks. Talks of merging territories had been circulating among families. Which was code for merging families by marriage. I was the prime subject. It wasn’t surprising. Alliances shifted balances and made familiesstronger. I knew this coming here today, yet it thrilled me about as much as watching paint dry.
It wasn’t that I was avoiding responsibility or duty. I’d do whatever it took for my family. I’d been groomed to take over since I was a child. The power and respect… it was in my blood, and I thrived on it. But an alliance by marriage? At eighteen? I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that kind of commitment, especially when I still had my whole life ahead of me.
Taking care of business, providing, protecting —financially, that would be easy. I’d be good for someone. But emotionally? Mentally? I wasn’t there. Not yet. At least not with someone random.
Ayanna snickered, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’m not gon’ tell daddy and Uncle Marco, you calling them old.”
I smirked, leaning casually against the banister, my eyes fixed on her as I slipped my hands into my pockets. “Come on now, you know I’ll tell those old niggas that to their faces.”
“Who you calling old,lilnigga?” Samuel Reed stepped up behind me. His tone was stern, but the look on his face was full of amusement.“You better watch it, or I’ll show you just how strong these old bones can be.” He winked at Ayanna.
I grinned. “Old bones? Man, please. You ain’t done nothing but sit on that big ass leather chair for so long, your knees probably snap, crackle, and pop every time you stand up.”
Ayanna cackled. Samuel shook his head. “Lil’ mouthy ass,” he muttered, smiling despite himself. “Man... the meeting is about to start in a minute. Bring yo’ ass on.”
“Aight,” I nodded, watching him take off down the hall to the family room where the rest of the members of the Faction were gathered.
Turning my attention back to Ayanna, who had finally eased off the steps. I peered down at her while she fumbled with the hem of her dress, tugging it down to meet the middle ofher thighs. My eyes did a small appreciative crawl tracking her movements. “Who’s taking you to the mall?”
“Daddy is sending Big Tony and Carlos with me.” Her glossy lips pouted. “I swear, it’s like I can’t go anywhere without a full entourage.” Her lips pursed before rolling those pretty eyes. “That’s why I can’t get a boyfriend now. They’re all scared.”
I shrugged. “They should be.”
