Chapter 6 #2
The child gazed at me curiously as if he’d just noticed me for the first time.
Like the rest of his younger siblings, he was in khaki Chino pants, a white linen shirt, and loafers.
The older sons looked as if they were headed to the club after this.
Each of them was in black with gold chains around their necks.
Ines was in a suit, and his wife complimented him in a long, flowy blue dress.
“Your skin. It’s… really dark.”
“It is,” I answered without offense.
I’ve been dark all my life, and I love every bit of it.
My mother taught me the importance of both of her heritages.
She was half Melanesian and half Black American, and knew of her family’s history in the Solomon Islands and in America.
She and a full-blooded Italian man produced a Black-ass nigga, and I wouldn’t have that shit any other way.
Ezio can have that light-skinned, mixed-boy, pretty-eye shit. I cherish being Black.
“Are you African or some type of black or something?”
The older Ledesmas doubled over in laughter as if they were the same age as the younger ones instead of grown-ass men.
My eyes burning through the three of them had their asses tightening right on up and clearing their throats.
Ines shifted his gaze to his oldest children and, seeing how their heads were now back buried in the phones, looking like they didn’t want any fucking smoke, he frowned.
“I’m not being… racist. Your surname is Italian. But you’re so dark… I’m sorry.” He picked up his iPad, his brown skin flushing red. Placing my hand on the iPad, I pressed it back into the table.
“It’s okay to ask questions. To answer yours, I am Black. My skin is dark because of the Melanesian blood flowing through my veins. I had an Italian father, but I don’t identify myself as such.”
“I… identify?”
With the way the child was constantly stumbling over his words, I could tell he struggled with comprehending English as a native Spanish speaker.
The entire family was fluent in English, but that didn’t mean their English vocabulary was also adequate.
They were whispering amongst themselves ever so often as to hide the fact that their English vocabulary was limited.
“Yes, identify. The fact of being who or what a person is. I’m a Black man. I identify as Black.”
The child smiled. “I understand now. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, who is that seat for?”
The child picked up his fork and stuffed the steak inside his mouth. “My sister.”
“Shio Cuppacio. Tell me… Why should I consider doing business with Demise when he won’t even show his face? Last I checked, you’re not even officially a part of his organization. You have yet to secure a wife.”
“So, you’ve done your research…” I stated, slowly.
Even though I knew he had, my pointing out the obvious was to make his ass feel stupid for trying to insult me by calling me a fucking henchman. I was no one’s errand boy.
“I’ve done a little.” Ines picked up his glass of Cognac and took a sip. “You’ve done yours?”
Nodding, I twisted the ring on my middle finger using my thumb. My hands were folded in my lap, shielded by the fancy tablecloth.
“So tell me… ehhh… something that chu’ve learned.” His thick accent gave way to amusement.
“I know that you shouldn’t be eating steak with the blood pressure and cholesterol numbers you have.
I know you can benefit from cleaning your gut out.
I know that you in here questioning me, but you’re in so much shit with the Feds and a neighboring cartel, and before shit comes crashing down onto you, you’re scrambling to see who or where your sons, younger and older, can be placed so that they are protected instead of being sold off, killed, or made into someone’s Mexican lover.
I heard y’all be into castrating muhfuckas down here.
But that’s just some shit I heard, not a fact from my research.
I know you need Don, and since you need him, Demise isn’t a name you’re granted to address him by.
He’s Don to you… to all y’all.” I eyed each of the sons who nodded.
I didn’t bother looking at their mother because she would be on to the next rich Mexican if Ines didn’t make it out of his jam.
Ines took another sip of his Cognac while his wife stood to her feet, chair hitting the mosaic tile with a thud. When her small fist came down on the table, knocking my bottled water over I’d yet to open, I simply sat it up.
“You’re going to let him talk to you like this? In our home, telling lies? Guards, kill him! Now!”
“Madre—” one of the older boys attempted to speak up.
“Shut the fuck up! Now you want to speak up?” Maura whipped her head around, wondering why the guards hadn’t moved an inch.
Ines held his hand up. “Maura, have a seat.”
“Ugggh!” She obeyed her husband and downed her whole glass of bubbly.
“Shio. I’m flattered that you’ve done your duties to study me, but I’m afraid your facts aren’t all facts.
I have the Feds under control. The cartel, though…
that one is tricky. I would like my sons to find a good place to continue life, and yes, the Rinaldi Mafia is one of a few I’m considering.
All of my children have already established dual citizenship with America which is why I requested to meet with De—Don.
“Even though I love my children dearly, the trade-off of my resources is far more valuable than beings who came from my sperm. I’m not ready to hand over the keys to step down since they’ve become of age.
I’d rather they be placed somewhere under strong leadership where they could live respectable lives.
If and when I’m ready to hand over my organization, my wife and
I can make more children.” He winked at Maura. Her anger had diminished, and now, she was blushing.
I waited for the sons to speak up, but crickets.
Their father had just told me their lives weren’t worth shit to him and that he wanted them far away from him so they didn’t challenge his position, and they were all sitting here like fucking ducks.
There was no way they’d stand a chance with us.
Them Rinaldi niggas didn’t have no fucking hearts, and us Cuppacio weren’t any better.
“Well, it’s settled then. Good luck with your troubles. I’ll let Don know of your wishes.” I straightened my tie to stand.
Ines Ledesma was playing games. His request didn’t hardly make any sense.
He wanted his sons to join another organization because he didn’t want to kill them if they threatened his position.
That was straight-up bullshit. He was being run out of his position in Mexico, and he didn’t want his sons to become someone’s bitch.
I’d bet my next nut on that shit. They were already bitch-made, so the transition wouldn’t be a hard task if shit collapsed before Ines could pawn them off on another organization.
Just as I went to stand, a loud scream erupted, followed by the clinking of heels. No one flinched, but I was on guard.
“?Estás jodidamente seria en este momento?” (Are you fucking serious?) a feminine voice sounded off before we could see her.
A few more clicks of her heels against the marble floors, and she was now standing in the room. Taken aback by the woman in front of me, I settled back in my seat because I needed to see what this shit was about before I made my departure.
The only person who had his attention on her, besides me, was Ines.
Her hair was pressed down her back and parted in the middle, and I was sure that if she turned around, it would sweep the top of her ass.
Like the older sons, she was dressed as if she was headed to the club or had just come in from a day party, even though it was very early in the evening.
The olive-colored two-piece set showcased every curve on her body.
The top went around her neck, and the gold circle in the middle of the shirt gave a peek of her cleavage.
Her breasts were perky, and her nipples were hardened.
The shirt only covered three-fourths of her stomach, showing her sculpted abdomen.
The matching skirt slightly hung off her slim waist, more than likely due to her running inside the house like a madwoman.
Her skin was just as dark as mine, making it hard for me to assess if she was a blood relative of the Ledesmas.
She didn’t look like she fit in, but the way she was screaming at these people had me thinking she had some rank in this mansion.
“Hola mi hermosa hija. ?Cuál es el problema? (Hello, my beautiful daughter. What seems to be the problem?) Ines asked.
Daughter, huh? I thought to myself.
His daughter was an Afro-Mexican. I would have never fucking guessed this would be a scenario.
Unlike with his other children, there was so much love in his eyes as he looked at and spoke to this woman.
Now it made sense as to why he wanted his sons to join the Rinaldi Cartel. This nigga loved Black people!
?Esta zorra me volvió a cortar la tarjeta! ?Sabes lo vergonzoso que es? (This bitch cut off my credit card again! You know how embarrassing that shit is?) The beauty with the potty mouth pointed at Maura, who did nothing but hide her smirk behind a fresh glass of champagne.
“Hija… (Daughter), Ines sighed.
Clack
She stomped her heeled foot, and from her stance, I was assuming it was the right one. I was surprised the gold strappy heel hadn’t broken with that stomp.
?La zorra de tu esposa me está jodiendo otra vez! ?Por qué? ?Me mantengo alejado de ella! ?Apenas estoy en casa! (Your bitch of a wife is fucking with me again! Why? I stay out of her way! I’m hardly home!)
Ines cleared his throat, smoothed his hand down his tie, and pushed out a heavy exhale again. This girl—his baby girl—was a beautiful, hot-ass mess. I could tell she had his ass by the balls.