Page 89 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio

“You know me, Ezee. I mean what I say.”

Ezio slapped my hand in a brotherly embrace. “And you say what you mean.” He patted my back before letting go.

We watched her a few more beats from across the room in the crowd of women, seamlessly fitting in.

Ezio chuckled. “The bitch bad, though.”

As fuck,I responded internally, refusing to speak the truth out loud.

Another thing, besides her beauty that was certain, I needed to learn more about Solana’s reason for being my current responsibility. It could have been a test from Don, but Don didn’t fuck with us individually for trainings. It could have been a door to open hell between the various mobs and cartels here in the States and in Mexico. My worst thought was that Solana was her to force me to do some shit I didn’t want to do.

Checking the time on my watch, I decided to stay until the main event before scooping Solana and heading back to the crib. I had shit to do to ensure my ass didn’t fuck around and die over a girl that wasn’t even mine.

God first.

Make sure the family good.

Eye them Cuppacio boys, the little and the big ones.

Build a relationship with my brother.

Get my brother rich.

Health and wellness.

Stay on top of my mob shit.

Keep Hobo alive.

Get through the meeting with Ines Ledesma.

House a random.

Find the true reason Solana is here.

Find a wife.

Chapter 15

Solana Damita Ledesma

“It’s the accent for me, boo.” The pretty chocolate girl who had approached me while I was standing with Shio, and whom I now knew was his cousin, snickered.

"Mocha."

That’s what she told me her name was. It was odd for someone to be named after a coffee beverage, but it fit her. Her skin resembled a mocha drink with coffee that had been brewing a little longer than usual.

“I’ve been wondering what Shio’s woman would look like,” the blasian one said.

I thought I’d seen her out front in a high-low dress barking orders, but now that I was up close, this wasn't her. While both women were gorgeous, this wife had an aura that made all the other women look at her before speaking. Whoever the leader was— Don, in this case—shehadto be his woman. The other lady, who looked like her, had to be a relative. If that wasn't her sister, then the genes in their family were unmatched.

“Oh, no… I’m not Shio’s. I’m engaged,” I blurted out.

The last two words that had come from my mouth were enough to make me cringe. They didn’t taste right, nor did theysound true. And while everyone shot me curious glances, I could see fire dance in the HBIC’s eyes. All gazes fell on my bare ring finger, which made me wish I could take back my last statement. I’d been promised to wed, but my fiancé hadn’t put a ring on it to seal the deal. In fact, I’d only formally met him once, and using the word "met" was a stretch. I’d gotten all primmed and prepped, and had a doctor do a complete check-up before I was presented to him. He took one longing look at me, as if I were the last person he wanted to bear his last name, before shooing me away and telling my father that I would "do."

These women, all donning rings that seemed to have been curated with the world's finest diamonds, continued to look from my face to my finger. While some appeared confused, they didn’t speak about my lack of jewelry.

“I’m going to fucking kill Demise, I swear. He always got some shit going on,” she grumbled.