Chapter 4
The next morning, Rose woke, pinching the sleep from his eyes.
He slept heavily, and the warm body in bed next to him only reminded him of everything that transpired.
Spread out beside him, tangled up in the bedsheets, Minx rested peacefully on her stomach.
He admired her back, taking in the small tattoo that rested on her shoulder.
It was for Mikki, and it was simple. The letter M with a halo and wings attached to it.
Rose leaned forward, his lips lightly brushing against her soft flesh.
“Mmm,” she moaned a little, and his third leg immediately reacted.
She turned so she faced him and smiled while keeping her eyes closed. “Is this a dream, or is this really happening?” she muttered, her lips looking fucking good enough to eat.
“Oh, it’s the real shit. Good morning.” Rose pecked her lips gently and snuggled up to her.
“Morning,” she purred, opening her eyes.
Rose stared back at her and ran his hand down the side of her face.
She still had sleep in her eyes, but she was beautiful.
It reminded him of all the times he’d woken up to her still sleeping and had to leave her.
She was so young at the time, and Rose never wanted to taint her in that way.
As he thought about it, shit was inevitable with them.
“Mmm, you keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to have to do something about it,” Minx teased, causing a cute simper to fill Rose’s lips.
“Shit, tell me all about it in the shower.” He squeezed her ass and kissed all over her neck while pulling her out of bed.
“Rose!” she squealed, and he carried her naked ass all the way into the bathroom with him and slammed the door shut behind them.
After steaming up the shower, the two got dressed and headed downstairs.
Finn and Luna were spread out on the floor under a blanket, both naked as the day they were born.
Minx shook her head, grabbed a pillow from the sofa and tossed it at them.
Finn stirred and lifted his head from the floor while squinting and taking in his surroundings.
“Damn, what time is it?” he asked, glancing down at Luna in his arms.
“After eleven,” Rose answered. “We gotta move. Mila already called a meeting at the office.”
“And Luna, we are on a property hunt, and we have to start planning this party for Mrs. Jenkins,” Minx reminded her friend as she came to beside Finn.
She groaned, not wanting to wake up. Before heading out, Minx and Rose went to the kitchen to get something to eat. Luna rolled onto her side, and Finn pressed up against her. His lips brushed into her forehead, and Luna whined.
“We got some shit to take care of today. Let me know if you find something. I can get you the money whenever you need it,” Finn said, running his fingers through her head.
“Will I see you later?” she asked, searching his hooded gaze.
“Shit, you ain’t even gotta ask that,” Finn conveyed, stretching beside her. “What you think about dinner? I can pick you up around seven.”
“Oh yeah, you wining and dining now too?” Luna smirked, and he swept some of her hair from her face.
“Whatever I can do to keep that smile on ya face,” Finn vowed, and Luna blushed.
She didn’t know where things were going with her and Finn, but she was excited about it.
He gave her all the feels, like she was floating with a million butterflies dancing her belly.
She thought things between them might actually be going somewhere, something she’d never admit when dealing with a man.
Luna didn’t have boyfriends. She got hers and kept it moving most of the time.
Most niggas couldn’t handle a woman like her, and they often came with good dick and way too much baggage.
She didn’t want to bother with them on any other level than sex.
It took years, but she’d learned how to cut her feelings off.
Finn managed to break through without even trying.
She found herself falling harder for him by the day.
All she hoped was that the relationship wasn’t too good to be true.
After that thing with that bitch Rye at the club, she was secure that he wanted her and only her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was waiting for more shit to hit the fan.
“The only thing we should be talking about is how we handle this mothafucka Lynch going forward,” Finn spoke up, blowing a cloud of weed smoke from his lips.
“Agreed.” Rose clasped his hands together and his sharp eyes darted around the table at everyone seated. “What’s the move on this? We can’t be sitting around, waiting on this fool to strike again.”
“Galena is the one behind the scenes pulling strings. I can almost guarantee that,” Mila responded.
She rose from her chair and circled the table, studying each man.
“Keep your ears to the streets. This family is lethal. That means we have to move just like them. Eye for a fucking eye, and nothing less. Keep your families and loved ones guarded and on point. They will strike at any given opportunity.”
“Then I say we take their lead,” Rose chimed in as Finn passed the blunt to him in rotation.
“What’s your plan?” Mila put her hands on the table and leaned forward attentively.
“Because whatever it is, you need a backup. This isn’t a game, Rose.
They blew my husband into pieces. I won’t lose anyone else that I love to this bullshit.
It’s time for them to take a few L’s.” She pointed the tips of her long acrylics into the table.
“We hit them where it hurts. Much like they did. Who’s running shit over there? Is it Eirian, or is it Gannon’s mother?” Rose inquired, taking a deep pull of the kush between his fingers.
“Eirian is Derrien’s son, but Galena is not his mother. She always had a thing for younger men. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s fucking him.”
“Damn. Ain’t she somebody’s granny by now? She still getting it like that?” Finn queried, arms draped over his stomach while he relaxed in his chair.
“Oh, Galena is a glorified hoe. Always has been. She was the HBIC in Derrien’s camp. He trusted her with everything. Too damn much if you ask me.”
“Right now, they are all setting up shop at Dynamite it sounds like. So let’s make that mothafucka blow.” A dark smile curved the corners of Rose’s mouth, and he peered around the room at everyone else.
“So I heard some bumping around while me and Finn were downstairs, and I notice you got a little pep in your step.” Luna checked Minx out from head to toe.
She tucked some of her hair behind her ear as they walked through the doors of the building they were viewing. Luna loved the location. It was in midtown. There was other shopping opportunities around her, and there was plenty of parking.
“Nosy ass.” Minx teased, bringing her eyes to the ceiling.
She liked the space. For as long as she can remember she and Luna dreamt of going into business together.
They’d been through the thick of it, but Minx thought they made a great team.
Luna was going to handle the creative side, and Minx would take care of the business aspect; that was always the plan.
As she took in the space, she could see them running things there. It was pretty perfect.
“Bitch, you know you just gonna tell me anyway. So… does this mean things are official with you two?”
“About as official as it can get,” Minx answered while her girl walked through the space.
“Is it me, or is this everything we’ve been looking for?” Luna queried.
“It’s pretty dope. And they are only asking for fifty thousand.”
“Hmm, well, I happen to have an investor that’s willing to cover the cost,” Luna said, flexing as she paused behind a counter just ahead.
“Hmm, I bet you do.” Minx teased, and they laughed together.
“Can you believe it, Minx?” Luna gushed while looking around.
For so long, she’d been working around town to make her own dreams come true.
She planned kids’ birthday parties, baby showers, sweet sixteens, and the whole nine.
She was in her element when she was party planning, and it made her money at the same time.
Her dream was coming true, and she had her best friend in her corner to back her.
“Yes, I can. We dreamed this. We worked for this. I have been booking you consistently for the last three years. It is your time, Luna. A bitch will be sick as fuck if she can’t get you to plan her next event.
So let’s leave these bitches gagging! I love this.
This is the one.” Minx clapped her hands together.
“Make those calls, girl. Tell him you only need twenty-five. I got the rest.”
Luna set up a meeting with the realtor for later that afternoon. After going through the entire space and plotting design changes with Minx, they got ready to leave and locked up the space behind them.
“Shit, I am starving,” Minx said, staring down into her phone to check for any messages.
“Me too. Good dick will do that to you. Let’s go get some food.” Luna nodded down the street.
Just as they turned to go, they came across Rye and one of her friends heading their way. Luna’s eyes rolled to the back of her head, already annoyed by her presence. Rye was smug when they met up on the sidewalk, making it a point to address Luna.
“Hmm, so this the little bitch he choosing over you?” Rye’s homegirl, Shyenne, mumbled.
“Shy, chill—”
“Yeah, get your little lap dog before she gets put down,” Luna snarled, mugging both bitches as she and Minx sized them up.
“Hmm.” Rye pouted her lips cockily. “Hope you’re enjoying my seconds.
Funny thing about that… Finn likes a certain type of woman, and you ain’t it.
No wonder he’s still been texting me. Bitches like you go around playing the main bitch, letting him show you off around town, and whole time, he’s fucking heavy with a bitch like me in the background.
So enjoy your role, sweetie.” Rye tried to bump past her and Minx, and that was the wrong fucking move.