Page 17

“Damn, Uno! Ever since you got your little mayor job, wife, and kid… you never have time for us anymore.” Wild started with our oldest brother as soon as he sat at the table.

“Speaking of AJ, Uncle Wild is coming to get him soon. The last time I watched the baby at the store, I had all types of bitches hitting on me.”

Today was one of the rare ones where we all had a little free time in our schedules and decided to link up for food and drinks.

We could have easily kicked it at Club Honey but decided to chill at this hood burger spot instead.

We’d come in right before the evening crowd, and I was glad.

Although I wasn’t worried about anyone in this city fucking with us, crowded spots that didn’t have our security in attendance always kept me on alert.

I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy my food had this shit been packed.

“Man don’t be using my nephew to mac on those skeezers,” I said causing us all to chuckle.

The waitress came over and placed our orders on the table. Her eyes lingered between each of us before they landed on me. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled on it before switching away.

“Gone and get her number so we can get some free shit, bro.” Wild elbowed me and smirked before giving his attention back to Uno. “Like I was saying… I need my boy to come through so he can help me find him an auntie.”

Aiden Josiah, or AJ, was the light of our family.

When Harley told us she wanted him to have Wild and I’s initials, you couldn’t tell us shit.

Between all of our parents, plus us, we were always fighting to spend time with his little ass.

Now that he was nearing the age of one, he was the boss of us all.

“Harley is going to kill you.” Uno waved him off and chuckled as he got comfortable in his seat across from us. “What’s the word, though? Y’all boys all right?”

“I’m still fuckin’ these hoes and getting this money.” Wild wiggled his brows as he sipped his beer. “Since you’re no longer on the market and your boy here acts like a monk, there’s plenty for me to choose from.”

“Man… I swear you care nothing about your health.” Uno chuckled as he sipped his own drink. Dragging his eyes to me, they lingered before he continued, “How’s business? We haven’t spoken much since your impromptu trip to Florida. You want to tell us what that was about?”

Glancing between my brothers, I said nothing as I continued to eat my fries. I’ve never been one to speak on my personal life, but this was my family, and I trusted them. Plus, these past few days, I’ve been in my head about a lot of shit, and I needed help on sorting it out.

“Mimi was going through some shit, and she needed me to come through. I kicked it with her for a few days to help her get her mind right.”

“Meaning you went to Florida and fucked that girl?” Wild raised his brow at me as he bit into his burger. “Didn’t Dre say she’s engaged?”

She is engaged, but she didn’t love that nigga.

I couldn’t explain the pull I have to Noemi, but I felt the need to fix whatever wrong needed to be right when it came to her.

Her being engaged meant nothing to me when she didn’t want any dealings with the man.

However, I didn’t say any of this to my brothers.

“That don’t have shit to do with me,” I replied out loud. I leaned back in my seat, draping my arm over the back. “It’s not what it seems, and she’s upset about it. She’s torn up over that shit and needed someone to just listen to her. If she needs me to be her ear, I’m going to be that.”

Running to women and being their knight in shining armor isn’t something I regularly do.

Time has shown me that these women only want you when it’s beneficial for them.

When they feel like you’re not useful or no longer serve them purpose, they discard you like trash.

Me being the nigga I am, I’ll never let a bitch play with my feelings again.

With Noemi, it was different. She doesn’t want a damn thing from me but conversation, and that alone makes me respect the fuck out of her.

“You like that girl, don’t you?” Uno eyed me skeptically. “Do you think that’s a good idea? You know her family?—”

“Hold up…” I held my hand up and chuckled as I leaned forward on the table.

“I don’t give a damn about her family. They’re the source of her pain, so fuck all of them niggas.

Granted, I won’t cause trouble for us because of all they’re doing for the city and helping you with the rebuild.

Dre is my boy, too, and I fuck with him heavy.

But know that if I wanted Noemi, she’s as good as mine.

There’s nothing her so-called nigga or brothers could do to stop that shit.

Don’t none of them niggas put fear in me. ”

My brothers stared at me without saying anything. I understood they were coming from a good place, but they didn’t have to worry about me. Nothing was going on between Mimi and me, but if she needed a friend in her corner, she could for sure count on me.

“All I’m saying is I don’t want you to start some unnecessary beef, especially about a woman you don’t have any ties to.

At the end of the day, we have a business relationship with them.

On the personal tip…” He shrugged before he ate a few fries.

“You know I got you for whatever. Just make sure the shit is what you want before we have to get active.”

Nodding, I let the subject die because it wasn’t up for debate. Wasn’t nobody about to tell me that Noemi and I couldn’t be friends—my family, her family, or that nigga she was so-called engaged to.

Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I smirked at the incoming message from Noemi.

Mimi:

Jordan, do you have any good vacation recommendations? Nice weather is a must. Oh, and water! I love a good beachfront villa!

Me:

I know damn well you’re not asking me for recs when you’ve been to almost every island in the Caribbeans. *Smirk Emoji*

Mimi:

You’re right. *eye roll emoji* How about I come to Milly Grove and stay at Grove’s Isles? I heard Dre say it’s really nice this time of year.

Me:

It doesn’t get any better, baby. Pull up, and I got you.

Closing out my messages, I placed my phone on the table and found four eyes on me when I looked up.

“The fuck y’all niggas looking at?” I mugged them both. “Y’all got some more unwanted shit to discuss?”

“Chill, man.” Uno threw his hands up in surrender as Wild smirked. “I don’t have shit to say.”

As we ate our food, we got lost in conversation.

We talked about everything from the latest in the sports world to planning a family trip.

Mother’s Day was coming up, and it would be a nice gift for not only our mother but Harley and her mom as well.

We haven’t done anything as a whole family yet, and I knew the ladies would enjoy that.

“Oh shit, I almost forgot!” Wild’s dumb ass yelled and caused the eyes of the nearby patrons to stop all chatter and stare at us. “What the fuck y’all niggas looking at?”

“Adrian, shut the hell up and say what’s on your damn mind!” Uno scolded him. “I’m telling Mama how embarrassing you are, and you know she doesn’t play about her mayor-son.”

“Bitch-ass nigga.” He mugged him and grumbled before he turned his sights to me. “You’ll never guess who came by the store today.”

He stopped talking and stared at me as if he really expected me to guess. That shit pissed me off because I wasn’t about to play any games with his stupid ass.

“Muthafucka, who?!”

“I gotta stop coming out in public with you niggas.” Uno shook his head and chuckled. “Just don’t know how to damn act.”

“Since you want to be a dickhead, I shouldn’t tell you.” Wild mugged me before he began to smile. “But since I know you’re crazy as fuck, I am.” He paused again before pushing out the name I despised with my entire being. “Gia.”

Bitch.

Feeling my mood change instantly, I stared at him as his smile got wider.

Uno cursed under his breath before waving the waitress over for shots.

He knew how much I hated the mere mention of that hoe’s name.

I don’t know why she was back in town, but if I ever caught her ass in my city, it was lights out.

“She came by looking for you…”

“The only thing that hoe better be looking for is a plot for her final resting place,” I said cooly, feeling anything but. “I’m telling you now, Mr. Mayor… you better get ready for smoke in the fuckin’ city if that bitch comes near me. I’m killing her and anyone with her.”

A nigga was in his feelings and didn’t give a fuck if they could hear it in my harsh tone. Gia had my heart at one point but decided that I meant nothing to her. I wanted to marry this girl. I wanted to start an entire family with that bitch, and she shitted on me in the worst way.

Being a Mills, women were constantly attempting to attach themselves to us for status.

I never completely understood why because there was no silver spoon in my fucking mouth.

I had to put in work just like everyone else as a jit—we all did.

My last name didn’t guarantee me a fortune, and I didn’t want it to.

Just because my father had it didn’t mean we did.

Nothing was given to us; we had to earn everything we owned today.

I thought Gia understood that and was down to ride for me, but she showed me differently.

I came home early the day we ended to surprise her with a new crib I’d gotten for us.

I was the one who ended up surprised after hearing her on the phone with another man saying how much she loved him.

All I saw was red, and I wanted to kill her.

Instead, I stripped her butt naked and put her out of my home.

She tried to scream that pregnancy shit, but I made her leave my condo with everything she came with: a synthetic wig and TracFone.