Page 88 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio

“Neltz had already told you what was up,” I responded, dismissing their antics.

“And I told you that Neltz’s mind was fu—I mean, messed up. He still learnin’ to differentiate. He learnin’ his type.”

“What he need to belearningis the word. Children’s church is every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. sharp,” my mother butted in the conversation, making me shake my head. I already knew her mentioning Neltz going to church was going to rile these niggas up.

“I don't mean no harm, Auntie, but nephew walk through those doors and a trail of fire gone be behind him. That boy is a lil’ demon. But I'ma stick beside my nephew.”

“Hell yeah. Whole damn church gone be ashes trying to house his bad as— I mean, his bad self,” Nel backed his twin.

Now chuckling, I opted to be quiet. The twins hadn’t told a lie, though. However, Neltz did need his ass in somebody church. They at least should start him on some virtual shit so he could build his relationship with the Lord on his own terms.

“And back to you, college boy. She Spanish? And her name Solana? Nigga, you done went and got you a fuckin’ black Selena! Can she sing? Wait, don’t even tell me that shit. That shit ain’t fair!”

My mama jumped at Nel, who raised up his hands while apologizing.

“Nel, this ain’t he time or the place,” I stressed. He was making a big deal out of nothing. It wasn’t shit to Solana and me.

Ezio and I locked eyes before he tossed his arms around the twins, leading them away from my mother and me. I knew I would be hearing an earful from them tonight, but I didn’t want it to be in front of the First Lady.

“Can I make a suggestion?” My mother didn’t waste any time prying.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“When you do find yourself a wife, I want her to look similar to her. Black and pretty.”

I teased. “She’s only half-black.”

“She’s dark, so that’s good enough. You’re half of something, too, so…?”

She had a point. “How do you knowshe’snot a potential wife?”

My mother removed a flute from the tray of a bypassing waitress. “Because I know my son. I don’t know why you have her around, but it’s not for pursuit. She’s gorgeous.”

We watched her laugh with the ladies from across the room before my mom continued, “However, she has plenty to sort through before she’s ready to belong toanyman.”

“You get all that from a brief meeting?” I questioned my mama, but it was mostly to lighten the heaviness I was feeling from the conversation.

My need for a wife had come back to the front of my mind. I hadn’t put any effort into finding one. I hadn’t hit Glow at all since ditching her for Don’s Mexico quest. I knew by the time Don pressed me, I would have to settle for whatever I could find, and I wasn’t a man who settled.

“Son…” My mama pressed her palm over my heartbeat. She listened to its rhythm like she’d always done before speaking. “I know things. Just like you know things. It’s Him. The power of God is within us… Flows all through our veins. Always have, even before I met the pastor. That girl, she needs saving. And it’s not from a person, it’s from herself. Be careful with that one.”

My mother stepped back and let her eyes travel across the room again at the wives and Solana. “Pretty little sinner. Such a shame.”

With that, she sipped her bubbly while switching away. When she was tucked back at her husband’s side, I tossed him a head nod and diverted my attention back to the women of theRinaldi Mob. Dasani and Azure had joined the small crowd of stunning women, and just like the rest, they looked damn good.

“I knew she was fine,” Ezio spoke from the side of me. I wasn’t even surprised that he’d made his way back over.

“Yeah,” was all I said in response.

“You’re a disciplined man, Shio. I know that, and these other niggas know that too. But… just be careful. Don had a hand in putting her in your path, and you know that nigga—as ignorant as he is—just doesn’t do shit for no reason. I’m not buying her father needing her here tolearnhow to be a wife. That's bullshit.”

“So, what you thinking?” I queered. Ezio didn’t tell me nothing I hadn’t already been thinking myself. Solana did need some home-training, but no man on this earth is going to hand over his daughter to one man when she is meant for another. The shit made no sense no matter how many ways I sliced it in my brain.

Ezio sighed and shrugged. “I don't know… not yet, anyway. I know you not gone tell me your thoughts, but her daddy put her out the way for a reason. Shit feels like a lose-lose situation. Dumping a beautiful woman that’s tied to a foreign cartel gang on a single man’s doorstep could very well result in him unintentionally bringing a war to our doorstep. Then, if you fuck around and take her down?—”

“Shit could still mean a war,” I finished his sentence.

“Exactly, nigga.”