Page 10

ADIR

Alli and I entered Platinum Ink & Smokes, bypassed the check-in counter, occupied booths, and private rooms until we reached the hallway leading to the back of the building.

Heavily strapped security stood at the door to the left, blocking entrance to who was beyond that point.

“Let us through,” I stated.

They glanced at each other, then one of them turned the knob to open the door.

My eyes roamed the interior of the makeshift club occupied by Hakeem and his crew.

Several pairs of eyes focused on me as I neared the sofa where Hakeem sat occupied by a set of naked twins.

On the other sofa was Marco.

He raised up a little at our appearance.

“Chill,” Hakeem ordered.

“It’s bold of y’all to show up here. ‘Specially when it’s blood due to me.”

“So, do something about it. We standing right here.”

The tense stare-off between me, Alli and Hakeem only lasted a couple beats.

“What you here for?” he questioned.

Marco side-eyed his boss.

Although he kept his expression neutral, Marco was clearly bothered by Hakeem’s lack of animosity toward me.

“My wife and son… Just in case my message wasn’t relayed, they’re off limits. If I for one second think anyone is even sniffin’ their way… My reaction will be swift and final.”

Hakeem smirked.

“Yo’ wife, huh? I hear she’s fine as fuck.”

“She is,” I confirmed.

He tipped his drink to his lips and nodded.

“We cool,” he stated reluctantly.

“Although his relation to you is keepin’ his ass above dirt, tell that lil’ nigga I would’ve done the same shit.”

This time, Marco turned his complete attention on Hakeem.

There was no side-eye, but blatant confusion was written all over Marco’s face.

I kept my eyes on Marco and said, “I don’t know one nigga that would’ve let that shit ride.”

He simply glanced back at Hakeem.

While Hakeem said that we were cool, Marco was another story.

I didn’t trust that nigga for shit.

As Alli and I left out of Platinum Ink & Smokes, he chuckled.

“Never a dull fuckin’ moment wit’ you, bruh,” he said.

Arriving home, I was pleasantly surprised to find Pretty in the kitchen with the boys.

The twins sat at the table on their phones, Humble was at the sink washing dishes, and Peace was next to Pretty at the island preparing the food Pretty was about to cook.

Tonight, it looked like steaks.

Quilo came into the kitchen, observed what was going on, briefly glanced at me, then walked back out.

It was a good thing that Pretty didn’t see him standing there.

His energy would’ve wiped that beautiful smile off her face.

“Are you going to stand there and stare, or are you going to pitch in?”

Pretty’s voice drew my attention.

She wasn’t looking at me.

Her eyes were on the onions she was chopping up.

Still, the small smile playing on her lips said that she was talking to me.

Peace snickered. “Not tryna be funny, Miss Pretty. However, there’s a reason Granny comes to cook for us most nights.” Everyone thought that was comical.

I grilled Peace. “You supposed to have my back.”

He pointed to Pretty.

“I gotta have her back, too, Pops.”

Shit, I couldn’t argue with that.

Plus, it made Pretty’s smile stretch across her face.

So, I shut my mouth, joined Humble at the sink to wash my hands, then found my place at the island and helped prepare dinner.

The next afternoon, One Bell Place became the center of attention.

Many of my family members and associates were present to witness me exchanging nuptials.

“You look fly as hell, Pops.”

The face I made at Kalm cracked him and Bragg up.

I wasn’t going to rag on my boys.

Whether they knew it or not, their presence settled me.

As this day approached, I became increasingly nervous as fuck, which was completely out of my character.

Pretty had me out of character, though.

We’d already been deemed husband and wife by the court.

Today was for my bride.

Anything she wanted, she would have.

Including this impromptu wedding.

Impromptu didn’t mean half-assed.

My mother was the queen of getting shit done with little to no time and this wedding was no exception.

Of course, there were no expenses spared.

Not for the lady who would be mine forever.

“Thank you, son,” I finally answered.

“So, Pops… After today, what should we call Pretty?”

Inwardly, I smiled.

Whether or not Pretty knew it, these boys were going to love her forever.

Having a mother was something they’d desired before they came to live with me.

I was happy to be offering them a part of their childhood that they’d been hoping for, for some time.

“Whatever makes you comfortable, baby.”

They both grinned.

“Mama Pretty, it is!” they exclaimed in unison.

Chuckling, I said, “Now get outta here so I can finish getting ready.”

All smiles, the boys left the dressing room.

A second later, the door opened.

DJ walked in wearing an all-white designer tuxedo.

Out of all my cousins, DJ and I looked the most alike.

We could be brothers.

“I can’t believe you’re going through with this, bruh.” Although he chuckled, he was serious.

“This is a big ass step. Especially for someone in yo’ position. You know how many niggas gon’ be gunnin’ for her just to get at you? Why do you think none of us have taken a woman seriously? Shit is too dangerous. Let’s not mention, Hakeem is kind of the wrong nigga to have beef with.”

“The wrong nigga to beef wit’ is standing in this room… And it ain’t you.” I pointedly peered at DJ all but daring him to say something sideways.

He laughed it off. “You always gotta assert the fact that you lead this family. Honestly, I don’t understand it. You do realize we’re one in the same…”

To that, I smirked.

“You think so?”

Without hesitation, he nodded.

“You know we are.”

Inwardly, I chuckled.

“Aight.”

For a minute, DJ eyed me as if he waited for me to lash out.

Not today. Today was my wedding day, and I wasn’t going to let anyone get me out of character before watching Pretty walk down the aisle.

I wasn’t going to miss that visual for anything or anyone.

The door opened again, and in walked my brother.

Surprised that he actually made it, I happily dapped him up.

“I’m the best man. You know damn well I wasn’t gon’ miss this. I got a glimpse of wifey, and damn, bruh. I’m jealous as the fuck.”

I shook my head and laughed.

“Don’t be. Mrs. Adrian Bell is out there somewhere.”

“Shiiit… Her ass better come the fuck on. I’m bout sick of these grimy hoes. A nigga gon’ be celibate forever.”

“Both of y’all sound crazy as hell,” DJ interjected, looking back and forth between me and my literal twin.

Adrian was five years younger than me, but he was wise as fuck.

Then again, he learned from the best.

“You hear somebody talkin’?” Adrian asked.

His ass wouldn’t even give DJ a second’s glance.

Their relationship had been this way forever.

DJ chuckled and rubbed at his jaw.

And here he was trying to compare himself to me.

I shook my head.

“How long you in town?” I asked my brother instead.

“A few days.”

“Good. You can stay with the boys while I’m gone.”

His face scrunched up.

“You gon’ just jack my time like that?”

“Yeah, baby. The twins miss you. Plus, it’ll give you some time to get to know Quilo.”

“Ah…” He grinned.

“Son number five. I’m sure he was the kid grillin’ the fuck outta me before I came in here.”

“Knowing you, you laughed in his face.”

“I tried to blind that lil’ nigga wit’ every diamond in my mouth.”

“Chill, mane.” I cracked up at my brother.

“Gotta take it easy on my jit.”

“Yeah, aight. Look, I’m proud of you. I leave yo’ side for a minute and all hell breaks loose.” He straightened my tie a little, then added, “Let’s get you married.”

Half an hour later, my tongue nearly fell out of my mouth as Pretty emerged from behind the large white partitions blocking off the view of the house.

She was stunning.

On the back lawn of One Bell Place, several rows of white chairs were filled with those who were blessed enough to witness this intimate occasion.

My brother, Alli, and DJ stood beside me as I fought to keep my emotions at bay.

The visceral reaction my heart had to a woman I’d met mere days ago was nothing that I could locate in any science book I’d ever owned.

This was spiritual.

As Pretty sauntered toward me, I resisted the urge to stop everything—the music, Pastor James’s prayer—just to rush to her, snatch her up, and haul her out of here and straight to the nearest bed.

I needed to pull my eyes away to gather myself.

However, I couldn’t.

She commanded everything inside of Adir Bell to focus only on her.

So, I did. Her glorious shoulders were bare.

The bodice of the floor length, white designer gown she wore held her breasts perfectly in place.

Beads and crystals sparkled with every movement she made.

No one would believe that, just a few days ago, we didn’t even know each other.

However, today… Today we were stapling our love…

Wait, bruh.

Although I blinked a few times, I didn’t take my eyes off of Pretty.

Before long, she stood in front of me, her lace veil partially covering the beautiful face behind it.

Because this was our wedding, and I couldn’t resist, carefully, I lifted the veil to expose her to me.

Her eyes slowly opened to peer at me under her long lashes.

“Pretty, Pretty, Pretty…”

Nervously, she smiled.

Her eyes teared up, but she quickly pulled herself together.

Taking her hands in mine seemed to offer her more courage.

She took a deep breath, and her smile grew brighter.

Honestly, everything faded after that.

Whatever blessings Pastor James bestowed over us were lost as I was in another world, dreaming of all the ways I would spoil Pretty.

The minute Pastor gave me the go ahead to kiss my bride, I palmed Pretty’s face and eagerly joined our lips.

I should’ve kept it short and sweet.

However, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to taste her tongue.

With a little urging, my tongue slipped between her lips.

Something I’d never felt in life laid inside Pretty.

If there was any vulnerability inside me, she tapped into it.

We had only just begun.

After countless pictures with the wedding party, we were finally escorted to the dining hall located at the back of One Bell Place.

As we entered the hall, everyone clapped and cheered as if this event was something I’d planned months ago.

Two people stood out, catching Pretty’s eye.

She gasped, and her hand slipped from mine as she covered her face to hide the shock.

Leaving my side, she went to Haven for an embrace that lasted several minutes.

The two wiped each other’s tears and embraced some more.

I walked up to Jabari and dapped him.

“Glad you could make it,” I stated.

He chuckled. “My wife would’ve disowned me.”

The music changed, and the chords of the song Pretty and I would share our first dance to, moved over the small crowd.

“Let’s give a round of applause to Mr. and Mrs. Adir Bell as they join together for their first dance as husband and wife.”

At the DJ’s request, the crowd clapped.

Reluctantly, Pretty gathered her emotions, took my hand back in hers, and let me led her to the middle of the floor.

I brought her close to my body as the live band slipped into a rendition of Spend My Life With You by Eric Benét.

I couldn’t lie to myself any longer.

Having Pretty in my arms was just…

right. Although I towered over her, we were perfect together.

She wore high heels, and still, her head barely reached my shoulders.

When our hands joined together…

It was like fate. Like purpose.

Like perfection.

“I can’t believe you got Haven and Jabari here.”

The water in her eyes compounded the fact that Pretty needed her people, not just me and mine.

No matter how close she became to Bianca or my mother, she needed the people she was used to.

“What’s a wedding without ya people? I’ve told them that they’re welcome here any time.”

She grinned happily.

“I wish things could stay this way.”

Slightly tilting my head as I smoothly transitioned to having one hand at the small of her back and the other still holding her hand, I said, “Why would anything change?”

“Because… This is all for show—”

“Ah… What if it ain’t, baby?”

She blinked a few times, then smiled.

“I appreciate that you want me to forget how this all started.”

“Quickly,” I quipped causing her to giggle.

“We have an entire future to be thankful for that night.”

My comment slowly sank in, causing Pretty to blush.

For the remainder of the dance, we blocked everyone out and gazed into each other’s eyes.