Page 27 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings

Emerald

The following morning…

“ E m, breakfast is ready,” Sapphire tapped on my bedroom door and announced.

Groaning irritably, I lifted my head off the pillow and glanced at the alarm clock beside my bed.

It was only eight thirteen in the morning.

I had agreed to go to church with him and Coach Reeves, but now my body was regretting it.

After going rounds with Ivo, I needed a little recovery time.

Being celibate for so long, my body wasn’t used to it.

Now I was sore and aching, not to mention not in a good headspace mentally.

When we were in the moment, it was perfect.

For so long I wondered what it would be like to have him in that way, and baby, let me say that man did not disappoint.

He had the type of dick to make a bitch dizzy and delusional.

Which I had to be, knowing he was also very married.

“Give me five minutes.” I dropped my head back onto the pillow.

“Coach said he would be here to get us at nine thirty,” Sapphire noted.

“Okay!” I replied, my mind instantly wandering to Ivo and Jordan.

As bad as I wanted to go back on this whole surrogacy thing, I knew I couldn’t.

For one, I needed the money, like yesterday, and for two, I didn’t want Jordan getting suspicious and asking questions.

If I told her I decided not to do it, she would want to know why, and I couldn’t exactly say oh, because I’m fucking your husband.

She’d kill me. So the obvious solution was to stay the hell away from Ivo.

Keeping my word to my brother, I got up and went to shower and brush my teeth for this day.

My thoughts immediately wandered to yesterday’s encounter while washing myself.

Ivo’s lips and tongue licking all over me.

The strong bergamot cologne I breathed in when he kissed me.

My insides tingled. I had no intentions on going there with him when I first saw him in the clinic.

When I found out years ago that they’d gotten married, the shit left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Lord knows I tried to push past it, live my life, and move the hell on.

It was a lot easier said than done when I didn’t have to see them in the flesh.

After shutting off the water, I stepped out to brush my teeth and go through my closet for something to wear.

Deciding on a modest black jumpsuit with heels, I pinned all my faux locs up into a high bun.

Doing a light beat on my face, I studied my reflection and sighed.

I picked up my phone off the dresser to check for notifications and saw that Jordan had messaged me to meet her at the Hazelnut Café at twelve thirty.

Part of me was still hoping that Ivo would reach out, but it was obvious he had made his choice, and I wasn’t it.

I believed him when he said he would call me, but I knew when Jordan hit me last night and he was there what it was. I had to let this go.

“Maybe I can pray these feelings away,” I said to myself, typing a quick reply and letting her know I would meet her there.

Emerging from my bedroom, the sausage fragrance permeating the air left my stomach growling.

When I reached the kitchen, Sapphire had made us both plates and set them at the table.

I appreciated my little brother more than he knew.

It wasn’t easy trying to provide for the two of us, but he was my rider and stuck beside me.

There was nothing either of us wouldn’t do for one another.

“You look handsome,” I complimented, admiring his lanky self in the black slacks, green button-up shirt, and black dress shoes.

His tapered sides and sponge top were neatly lined too as he pulled his chair out to sit down.

“Thanks. I thought you were gon’ try to back out.” He sniggered.

“I thought about it,” I replied, taking my seat across from him.

Muttering a quick prayer, I got ready for the pancakes, eggs, and sausage he’d prepared while he was already digging in.

“I think the last time I was in a church was for Pops’ funeral.” Sapphire took a bite of his sausage.

The mention of him left my chest tight as I cut into my pancake.

I tried not to think about him because it usually led to depression, and I didn’t have time for that.

Not only did he kill himself, but I was the one who found him, and it was an image I could never escape.

Nightmares still rocked me from time to time.

“Yeah, me too,” I muttered.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”

“It’s fine,” I assured him, shaking my head.

“So, what’s up with you and Ivo?” Sapphire changed the subject.

“Absolutely nothing,” I told him, reaching for the glass of orange juice he’d poured. “There is something I need to talk to you about though.” I took a sip and prepared myself for the conversation.

“What’s up?” Sapphire lifted his eyes off his plate and chewed slowly.

“Well, I’m working, as you know, but it’s not enough. I want to get us a bigger place, I need a car, and I know you need things too.”

“I told you I could get a job?—”

“I don’t want you to do that, Sap. I want you to focus on school and basketball. That is your ticket to college. So I’ve decided to do something.”

“Something like what?”

“I’m going to become a surrogate.”

“A what? Like one of those women that be having babies for people?” he queried.

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“Really?”

“The money is really good, and I’m a perfect candidate for it. Ivo and his wife have been trying to have a baby. You remember my friend Jordan from school?”

“A little bit. She was kind of weird and clingy,” he recalled.

“Well, that’s his wife.”

“Is that why he was here yesterday? It kind of felt like something else.”

“What you mean?” I asked, a frown crowding my features.

“I don’t know. He used to like you… a lot. I remember because he was always picking you up and buying me stuff. He had to like you to keep coming around, knowing Pops didn’t approve.” Sapphire chuckled.

“Nah, it’s not like that. He’s married, and I’m just going to be the vessel to give them what they want.”

“That’s cool. You think you can do that though? Be pregnant and then just give the baby up?”

“There will be all kinds of legalities involved so I won’t have a choice.

I just wanted to let you know so you aren’t surprised by anything.

I have an appointment to meet with the doctors and legal team.

I’ll start hormone treatments and implantation occurs a couple of months after that.

It might not happen the first round, but it could.

So, I could be pregnant by the end of the year. ”

“Have you been able to talk to Jury?” He changed the subject to an even more sensitive topic.

Stuffing my face with eggs, I shook my head and continued eating. Moments later, Sap got a message on his phone.

“Coach is downstairs.”

“Okay. Let’s go praise the Lord then,” I teased, grabbing my purse off the back of the chair.

Most of my food was gone, but I snatched up the last sausage link to go.

“You can clean up when we get back. I have to meet Jordan for lunch.”

Sapphire and I stepped out of the apartment together and took the elevator into the lobby.

He held the door open for me to walk through first, and instantly the smell of weed slapped me in the face.

I knew plenty of people that smoked weed, but it wasn’t what I wanted to walk right through on my way to church this morning.

Sure enough, on this glorious Sunday, three little hoodlums were gathered, partaking at nine a.m., still smelling like last night’s liquor with crust in their eyes.

Waving my hand in front of me, I stomped through the path they left open and Sap wasn’t far behind me.

“Damn, y’all going to a funeral?” one of them asked, mouth full of smoke as he gripped the Dutch blunt between his fingers.

“We’re going to praise and worship. You should think about it.” I looped my arm through Sap’s since he wanted to wave and be friendly and shit. “Let’s go.”

“Aye, my name Mook, tell ’em add me to the prayer chain!”

Coach Reeves slipped out of the driver’s side of his black Jeep Wrangler and met us at the curb.

Pausing, I released Sapphire, taken aback by how damn good he looked in a suit.

He was older, maybe in his late thirties, but he was aging like fine wine.

I thought he was cute before, but he was showing out in this suit!

A distraction was damn sure needed with what I had going on.

Clutching my purse close, I skimmed him carefully, his rich chocolate skin glowing against the sunlight that decided to peek through the clouds today.

“Good morning, Coach Reeves,” I greeted him with a smile.

Swiping his thick goatee, he bowed his head and hid a smile. He was casual but sharp in black slacks, a gray shirt, and matching blazer with his leather loafers.

“Good morning. You look nice.”

“Thank you.” Simpering, I bowed my head.

He stepped forward and opened my door for me while Sapphire slipped into the back seat. I got settled and buckled up while Coach Reeves rounded the front of the car. Hopping into the driver’s seat, he glimpsed Sapphire in the rearview mirror.

“How y’all doing this morning?”

“We good,” Sapphire told him, buckling up.

“Good.” Coach Reeves nodded. “Y’all got plans today after this?”

“I’m having lunch with a friend then going to work. Sapphire has plenty of homework he can get to.” I half turned in my seat and looked my brother over.

“That’s right. Stay on top of that. I told you it’s one thing to get a scholarship to play, but you have to maintain your grades too. If you need a tutor, there are resources in the counselor’s office for that.”

“Yeah. You don’t have to be scared to ask for help,” I reminded him. “You’re very smart and capable?—”

“She’s about to go on a rant listing off all my best qualities.” Sapphire rolled his eyes.