Page 59 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio

Ezio stood and hovered over the couch where the twins were sitting so that he could get a view. The studio was dimly lit, so the glow of the screen was on all of their faces. “Who the fuck you spying on, bruh?” Ezio asked with a tilted head as he rounded the couch to get back to his seat.

Shio plucked his phone from the twins’ hands, locked the screen, and stuck it back in his pocket. While Essex continued to rap, we all waited on Shio. I hadn't seen the screen, but from everyone’s verbal observation, he was watching a woman.

“I got a house guest.”

Nel grinned.“Neltz said you had some fine shit in the kitchen, eating all the chicken. I thought my young nigga was cappin’.”

“Hold up! What the fuck you mean you got ahouse guest?” Ezio probed, and I’m happy he did because I was curious too.

Shio rubbed his hand down his chin. “Long story short, Don set me up with a business acquaintance. Thisacquaintancethinks I can teach his daughter how to be a wife. She’s promised to one of the members of the Rodríguez Cartel.”

“Talkin’ ’bout the ruthless Rodríguez Cartel? The muthafuckas they say the Mexican version of our dead-ass daddies?” Vello asked for clarification.

I didn’t know who the fuck the Rodríguez Cartel was, but with the look of disgust on everyone’s faces, I take it that the Cuppacios weren't a fan.

“Yeah. Them. I have one of their fiancées in my crib. Her daddy wants her to get prepared before he hands her over to them.”

Confusion plagued everyone’s faces, including mine.

“Wait a damn minute…” Nel chuckled. “Ion follow. So the nigga who have yet to secure a wife is teaching a hoe how to be a wife? You better off teaching her how to swallow.”

I shook my head, holding back my laugh. This nigga had no home-training.

“Nel, this ain't even that type of party.” Shio sighed, and for the first time today, I could see how the quiet shit was Shio’s way of thinking through his current predicament. “The most I can do is help her not get herself killed on the honeymoon."

Vello whistled. “Shit, what ’bout after the honeymoon? Those crazy-ass Mexicans just might sell her ass off to some unheard-of country if it means they can get something out of it. At least that's what I heard. I never seen none of ’em before.”

Nel kissed his teeth and leaned away from his brother. “That’s cuz you ain’t got no fuckin’ passport. You barely seen Jagoda Bay.”

“I do got a fuckin’ passport, nigga. My bitch well-traveled. Soon as she drop them loads, we on the jet. And if I didn’t have one, I could just use yours, Twin. We identical, remember?”

Nel held up a middle finger before looking back at Shio. “So. You got a broad that you gotta take care of now? What the fuck kind of shit do they have you tied to? Shit, you may as well say that’s yo’ hoe.”

“I don’t know what the fuck going on, to be honest. But she not mine,” Shio declared in a sharp tone.

“You got a bitch that you can't give no dick?”

Shio squared his shoulders. “I ain’t trying to fuck that girl, Nel.”

“You got a dime that you ’bout to give all yo’ time.”

Shio sighed while Ezio and I pressed our lips together. I was trying to match my brother’s serious stance, but Nel was stupid. How could we not laugh at his ass?

“You got a girl that you gotta let in your world?” he continued.

“Shit’s crazy.” Shio grunted and locked his hands behind his head.

“You got sum’n thick that can’t hop on yo’ pogo stick?”

I cocked my head at Nel. “Okay, now, Dr. Seuss.” Shio looked indifferent, and I knew the Cuppacios weren’t helping his brainstorming.

Ezio laughed. “Nel stupid as fuck.”

“Being in this studio listening to this nigga rhyme got me inspired and on that type of time.”

“Twin... you serious, ain’t cha?” Vello asked, and Ezio laughed harder.

“This nigga needs to shut up,” Ezio said, and I was happy he did because I didn’t know these niggas well enough to have said it myself.