Page 23 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings

“How about you give me like twenty minutes and meet me in the kitchen so we can go over the paperwork. The kids are taking baths right now, and I ordered pizza. I want to get them settled and then clean this house from top to bottom so we can get ready for this week ahead. I hadn’t decided to stay until recently, so I have to check on schools and get them enrolled. ”

“Okay. You looking for public or private?” she questioned, facing me.

“You have any suggestions?”

“Oak Bluffs Academy is great. They can all attend since it’s K-12 too. I know the principal over there. I could make some calls and get you in for enrollment. The tuition is 15K per child.”

“Money isn’t an issue. I don’t want them missing any more school though, so the sooner the better. I appreciate that. Rogue isn’t in school yet. He had pre-K in Chicago, but his mama was slacking on taking him consistently.”

“Okay, when does he start school?”

“In the fall. His birthday is in a couple of months,” I informed her.

“Then we can just homeschool until then, and he can hang with me during the day. If that’s alright with you.” She shrugged.

“You sure about that? He can be a bit much, even by himself. If he’s too quiet, he’s usually somewhere on some bullshit. I don’t know how he comes up with the shit he does.”

“He’s curious, might have a little ADHD, but nothing I can’t work with. I’ve come across all kinds of kids in my line of work. Some just need a little more attention than others. Doesn’t mean anything is wrong with him.”

Hearing her perspective left me able to relax a little. I always thought that about my son, but his mother wouldn’t even take the time to get him evaluated. Seeing that Cambrie had made that observation in just twenty-four hours was comforting.

“I’m not a perfect parent. Back in Chicago, we had a routine. Saga and Tavi held it down when I worked, and I picked up the slack when I got off. Rogue’s mama would sit with them, but I wouldn’t exactly call her responsible or domestic. She didn’t cook or clean, do laundry, none of that.”

“So it sounds like everyone is going to have some adjusting to do,” Cambrie surmised. “Oak Bluffs is small, and I’ve always heard the Marek name, but never actually met any in the flesh.”

“I’ve been gone for over ten years. This is my first time home, and it was to bury my father.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she whispered, her tone genuine with empathy resting in her warm, golden-brown eyes.

“Thanks.” My brows dipped together skeptically.

Over the last couple of days, I’d heard that from various people, but this was the first time it sounded like someone meant it. With everyone else it just seemed like something they felt they had to say. Cambrie’s condolences came from the heart. I caught the flicker of pain behind her gaze too.

“Take your time, but if you’re hungry, the pizza should be here soon.”

“Okay.” She took a seat on the edge of the bed and unzipped the bag beside her so she could start taking clothes out.

Hovering in the doorway, I watched her for a minute.

It was rare for me to let anyone in my life in this capacity.

Ever since things ended with Nadia, Tavi and Saga’s mother, I’d never even lived with another woman.

My goal with bitches now was to make us both feel good and move on.

No room for cuddles or pillow talk. I’d never been on no shit like that.

Even with Nadia it was rare, but she was also a lot like me and didn’t require public displays of affection.

Her appearance was too pristine for anybody to mess it up.

Cambrie stirred this isolated part of my soul, and I couldn’t allow that.

Taking pleasure in her would more than likely fuck up having her here for my babies, and that was a chance I couldn’t take.

Quietly slipping out of the room, I shut the door behind me and lingered there for a minute trying to gather my thoughts.

My bedroom suite was upstairs, along with a home gym.

Saga had his own space, but the girls wanted to share, which left Rogue in my bed, even though there were two more bedrooms downstairs.

He refused to sleep down there by himself, so I was going to talk Saga into taking the room across from Cambrie.

After I checked on the two taking their baths, I ducked into my private domain so I could roll up.

Fishing my vibrating cell from my pocket, I caught Brick’s name flashing across the screen.

The nigga was Facetiming me, and I ain’t know shit about this.

“The fuck you want?” I asked, swiping to pick up while licking my Backwood in preparation to roll up.

“Look at you, nigga, keeping up with technology and shit. What you doing?” He was sitting in his car smoking a blunt and squinting into the camera with a silly grin.

“Rolling up. I need to smoke before I snap around this muhfucka,” I told him, resting the blunt on my night table so I could stuff it with the kush I already broke down.

“Bet. I’m pulling up with a bottle.”

“Nigga, ain’t nobody got time for that. These kids running wild, they ’bout to eat and take they asses to sleep. This house looks like a fucking junk yard. I hired somebody to help me out though.”

“Why you ain’t ask Marcie to come over and help you?” Brick suggested. “Matter of fact, I got you. I’ll be there in like five minutes.”

Once the call ended, I quickly rolled my shit so I could relax.

I was growing more agitated by the second.

I never smoked in my house or around my kids, so I ducked out onto the sunset balcony outside my bedroom.

Two lounge chairs were arranged with a small, airbrushed glass table with chrome legs between them.

Lifting my head to the sky, I caught the sun setting in the distance and brought the blunt to my lips.

I noticed Cambrie’s car still parked under the port and reminded myself to tell her to park in the garage beside my Hummer.

For the next few minutes, I sat there getting lifted when Brick’s car pulled in and parked behind hers.

When he got out, I peeped that he had brought Marcie along with him.

She had her bag of cleaning products and supplies at her side ready to go.

Cyra’s name popped up on the caller ID for my old phone, or what I had her programmed as, BM #3.

I tucked the blunt between my lips and took a pull while staring at the screen, unsure if I wanted to pick up or not.

She would just keep calling until I talked to her, and I decided not to give her or the other two my new number because it wasn’t necessary.

“What’s up?”

“I thought you might like to know I made it back safely since you ain’t call to see about me.” Immediate attitude laced her tone.

“Don’t be trying to play the victim now. You brought this on yourself.”

“I don’t understand how you can treat me like this. I’m the mother of your child.”

“Maybe you should start acting like one then.” I exhaled and sat up in my chair. “Grow the fuck up and quit expecting everybody to take care of you. Our son is straight, so take this time to get your fucking life together.”

“Oh, so now you the perfect parent because you got money and I don’t?” Cyra quipped. “Fuck you, Static! I been there for you and I’m a good mother to Rogue!”

“Prove it. Get your shit together, because you won’t be seeing him until you do.” I flipped the phone shut angrily and sparked my blunt again since it had gone out.

I wasn’t one for going back and forth when a muhfucka couldn’t see the error of their ways.

I was all for admitting my faults, but when you couldn’t, that was a problem for me.

Cyra had no drive or ambition. She was content being taken care of.

I didn’t even know what she took interest in or if she had any fucking hobbies outside of partying and shopping.

Hell, I’d never even seen her read a book.

I put the blunt out and left it in an ashtray so I could come back to it later.

By the time I got downstairs, Saga had let Brick and Marcie inside.

“Yo, these lil’ muhfuckas some savages. Is that jelly on the wall?” He squinted and shook his head. “Hell nah, bro, I’m taking off my belt.” He really started to unbuckle his shit, and I shook my head with a chuckle.

“Where would you like me to start, Staten?” Marcie asked.

“Right here in the den is fine, then work your way back. I’ll be in the kitchen handling some paperwork, but if you need anything, let me know.”

She strolled off in one direction while Brick dapped me up and raised the fifth of whiskey in his hand.

I waved for him to follow me through the den, past the dining room, and into the open space kitchen.

I had no business drinking before getting this house together, but with the week I’d had, I needed it.

I located a couple of shot glasses for us and brought them to the rectangle island equipped with a stovetop for cooking.

The fridge and oven lined the walls behind me with soft gray cabinets and steel hardware.

While Brick settled on one of the white, leather swivel bar chairs, I dumped old boxes of cereal, cookies, and other snacks into a fresh trash bag.

The dishes had been soaking all day, so while bro poured us drinks, I decided to load up the dishwasher.

“Bro, I never imagined you all domesticated and shit,” Brick tittered, shaking his head. “It was one thing to knock Nadia up, but then you went and added two more bobbleheads to the equation.”

“Tell me about it,” I grumbled, thinking about Damaris and Cyra.

“How the fuck that even happen? When you left, you and Nadia was together. Saga and Tavi I understand. I know you loved that girl, but the other two?”

Joining him on the opposite side of the counter, I reached for the shot he’d poured me. We tapped our glasses against one another.

“Sealed with a sip,” we recited in unison before tossing them back.