Page 56 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings

She was really becoming my better half. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, I studied the twinkling stars in the sky just as the door opened and closed behind me. Bella simpered and moved toward me, her heels clicking with each step against the concrete.

“What you doing out here?”

“Needed some air.” She shrugged. “Don’t tell me this little fake relationship is the reason you’ve been blowing me off.

I thought we were better than that,” Bella tittered, pausing at my side near the concrete wall wrapped around the terrace.

“I almost believe it though. I mean, she is cute… but what you gon’ do with someone like that, Brick? ”

“The fuck that mean?”

“Oh, come on. She’s not your speed.” Bella laughed. “We both know you have a type. Unavailable. Because you’re afraid of commitment. Now you want the world to believe you’re in this full-blown relationship. Please.” She shot a comical glance my way.

“Why is that so hard to believe?” My serious tone left her rearing her neck and briefly speechless.

“I just don’t think?—”

“Did I ask you that? Do you think I care what the fuck you think?” I sniggered, which seemed to infuriate her as her nostrils flared.

“The fuck you even come out here for, Bella? Keep it a buck. You jealous and you miss this dick! That’s all this is about.

” I took another pull from my blunt, and the amusement in her eyes dissipated when she turned to me this time.

“Fuck you and your little build a bitch! I’m not the only one not buying this little charade you putting on with her.”

“You are the one that told me to bring a date though, remember?”

“A date, Brick. Don’t come in my event being disrespectful.” She pushed herself off the wall and stood tall when I faced her.

“I came here to boost your shit, remember that, Bella.” I gripped my blunt between my thumb and first finger a little tighter.

“Your little ass company wasn’t shit before I started endorsing you on my shit.

All these people in here been coming up to me and my girl all night, trying to put us on as ambassadors.

It won’t be shit to drop you and your little bullshit product and start supporting somebody else.

As for disrespect, remember who came for who.

Matter of fact, you got it. Make your decision right here.

You want to act dizzy over this dick, or you want to keep your fucking business? ”

“Answer the fucking question, Bella.” Raphael’s voice had both of us breaking our necks to spot him in the doorway.

This bitch ass nigga had his iPhone positioned in his hand, recording us.

Bella practically tripped over herself trying to get away from me.

Instead of panicking, I remained cool and pinched the blunt between my fingers again and brought it to my lips.

I ain’t have shit to hide in this situation.

Other men’s wives got cracked all the time, and I was single when I was dicking her down.

“Raphael… I was just?—”

“Having a conversation with the nigga you been fucking behind my back?” he concluded, keeping his camera volleying from me to her.

“Baby, that’s not what this is,” Bella whimpered, suddenly feigning innocence, like she wasn’t just out here on some rah-rah shit because I wasn’t fucking her.

“What y’all think out there? This ya boy, Brick Marek, Oak Bluffs’ resident player. Nigga stay fucking somebody bitch. Just didn’t imagine mine was one of ’em.” His mouth twisted into a callous grin.

“Raph—”

“What else you got to say, hmm? This right here is going to the divorce lawyer. Remember that infidelity clause we put in that pre-nup when we got married?”

“Brick.” I didn’t have to turn to know it was her.

Six and I were aligned. I don’t know how, or when the shit happened, but I sensed that girl long before she appeared.

I’d be thinking about her right as she was calling or video messaging me.

She talked shit like I was the only one into this, but her ass stayed hitting me randomly throughout the day when we weren’t together too.

When she slept next to me, her breathing was so deep and relaxed, and I found myself watching her every night.

It was almost like the soothing of a cat purring against you.

I even liked her little rumble snoring. Blowing the last of the smoke to my blunt, I flicked the roach into the wind and pivoted on my heel.

“What’s going on out here?” she asked, her pretty face scrunching up in confusion.

“Man, talk about perfect fucking timing.” Raphael swung his camera toward her, and now that nigga had me fucked up.

I was on some matrix shit sliding across the room to get to him.

Knocking the phone from his hand, I pinned him into the brick wall beside the door.

With my arm against his throat, I went in my waist for my pistol.

Pressing the cold tip into his chin, I grit my teeth and searched his now fearful eyes.

“Aye, the fuck you doing?” Now he sounded like a bitch.

“Don’t bitch up now,” I growled.

“Brick, stop.” Six’s voice was the only thing pulling me back from popping this nigga. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Backing up, I picked up the phone off the ground and quickly shut the feed off. The screen had shattered during the scuffle and everything. When I dropped that muhfucka back at my feet, I stomped that shit out until it was nothing but recycle material.

“Bitch ass nigga!” I spat.

“You just fucked up,” he sneered.

“The fuck out of my face!” I slung that nigga toward the door.

If he stayed out here, I was gon’ end up going back to fucking jail.

“What the hell is going on right now?” Six demanded.

“Oh, you want to know what’s going on?” Raphael thumbed the corner of his mouth. “Your man here been fucking on my wife. Don’t worry about the video, over a hundred people already saw it, and I’m sure that shit will spread like wildfire by the end of the night.”

Trembling, eyes glossed over and looking off ahead, Six remained silent.

“Raph, please, let’s talk about this,” Bella pleaded, following her husband into the main hall.

The door slammed shut behind them, leaving us alone. Six sniffled before crossing her arms over her chest. She was almost hugging herself as her gaze drifted to the ground.

“I knew it,” she finally choked out. “And I sat here and let myself believe everything else because nobody has ever walked into my life with good intentions. I kept telling myself, at least he’s up front.”

“I ain’t touched that girl since I came to you with this, Six. I don’t give a fuck what she say. Yeah, the shit looks bad?—”

“You right it looks fucking bad! This shit was wrong from the start! Everything in me told me to run the other way when you made this offer.”

“But you didn’t. Fuck Bella and fuck her husband. It’s us against everybody, so you either with that shit, or you move the fuck around. It’s better for me to find out now anyway.”

Rearing her neck, rapid blinks camouflaged the shaken astonishment in her eyes.

“Wow. Go to hell, Brick!” she screamed, stomping off to a nearby sidewalk.

I assumed she was trying to leave since that was an exit to the front where the cars were parked.

Right now, I wasn’t trying to hear this shit.

We’d actually been having a chill night up until this bullshit.

I hadn’t expected none of that with Bella’s husband, but something told me she would be on the fuckery.

I honestly hadn’t given her much thought since fucking with Six, or any other woman for that matter.

She had enough personality to hold my interests all by herself and hadn’t even realized it.

This shit was new to me too, and she was acting like she was the only one with something to lose.

At first I was just going to let her leave, but I didn’t want our night to end like this.

By the time I got to the front of the building, the paparazzi was going crazy, and Six was stomping down the street, looking for a ride was my guess.

A few reporters followed me with their mics on, trying to get a quote.

“Brick, what was that? You really been having an affair with the CEO of Glo Works?” one of them pried.

“Looks like you’re in the hot seat with GirlSix. Did she know about you and Bella Thorne? Is this really just an arrangement for the two of you?” another reporter queried.

I ignored their asses while trying to catch up with this girl, who was already almost at the end of the block.

“Six, hold up!” It was too late.

A black Nissan rounded the corner, and she hopped right inside. Sliding my hand into the pocket of my slacks, I dug my cell out so I could call her. She sent me right to voice mail both times.

“Fuck!” I turned to go back toward the hall so I could get to the car.

On the way to the parking lot, I hit Ma up to let her know what was going on.

I honestly just needed to vent and not lose my shit.

Shaken and finding it hard to breathe, I ain’t like how that shit felt.

Anxiety was something I’d dealt with in the past, and I thought I had a grip on that shit, but Six was about to have me crashing the fuck out.

“What’s wrong, Brick?” Rossi sighed.

“If Six comes back there, don’t let her leave, aight.”

“What are you talking about? Isn’t she with you?”

“Something happened, she’s pissed, and she just left in a fucking Uber. I’m leaving now. Just keep her there when she shows up.” I flagged down my driver parked across the lot.

“I’m not holding her hostage. What did you do?” I could practically see my mama scowling through the phone.

“I ain’t got time for all this. I’m on my way.” Quickly hanging up, I didn’t even let the driver stop before I was hopping in the back and telling him to take me home.