6. Off Guard #4
Sitting behind the wheel of her Lexus, Niva thought about the good times between them while watching Essence step out of her front door in a hip hugging red Roberto Cavalli dress and a pair of gold heels.
Hair slung over one shoulder, gold accessories on point, she locked her front door and descended the steps to a black SUV waiting on the curb.
Midas hopped out. Tall, slender and adjusting his pants on his hips, he rounded the front of the car to greet her with a hug and kiss before opening the passenger door for her.
Niva leaned forward in her seat. This was news to her.
She knew Midas from back in the day. When he left Bull on stuck, it was some real ‘we don’t talk about Midas’ shit. The nigga was exiled. He pretty much vanished into thin air anyway, which was probably for the best. What she was witnessing now was damn sure a new development.
Suddenly, she wondered if Eazy knew. Once Midas got back behind the wheel, he whipped his car from the curb and pulled into traffic.
Niva decided tonight was as good as any night to find out what the hell was going on.
They arrived outside Bellafonte, one of Prospect Pointe’s local Italian cuisine spots.
Niva cruised past them in the black Denali while Midas whipped into a spot.
She luckily was able to locate one about three spaces down.
Backing in so she could see them when they got out, Niva pushed her seat back just enough to see but not be seen.
She cracked her window just in case since they had to walk past her car to get to the entrance.
“Baby, I’m just asking for you to play nice, at least for the weekend,” Essence pleaded. “This is a community event, it’s important to the whole town. I don’t want any drama with you or Eazy, or none of them for that matter.”
“You mean Bull?” Niva heard Midas question, a little bitterness in his tone.
“You fucking for real? You want to throw that shit in my face?”
“You get tight every time that nigga’s name is brought up. You sure this where you wanna be, shorty?”
They’d passed Niva’s car, but they were still close enough to hear when Essence swung her 47-inch lace front and got in his face.
“I fucking married you, didn’t I?” Essence shot back, flooring Niva where she sat.
“I don’t get no credit from any of you muhfuckas for having a mind of my own.
For Eazy, I’m with you because you made me be here, like I’m just some bird looking for somewhere to land.
You think I’m stupid as fuck like I don’t know you used me to get to my brother, and now you feeling some kind of way about it? ”
“I don’t know what the fuck you talking about.” Midas tried to step past her, but Essence blocked him with her slim frame.
“Oh, you don’t know what I’m talking about, Marchonne? You a lil slow? Need me to break it down for you?”
“You making a scene, and you know I don’t like that shit,” he warned.
“Well, I don’t like being lied to or used!” Essence spat.
Niva thought that might be her cue to step out of the car. She slammed her door hard enough to draw Essence’s attention. Anger quickly dissolved into surprise when she squinted at the familiar face.
“Niva?”
Midas swung around in time to find her hovering at the hood of her car.
“Hey. Long time no see.”
“What are you doing here?” Essence rushed toward her and pulled her into a hug.
She didn’t care what kind of beef she and Eazy had. At the end of the day, she’d been there for her over the years too. Thinking she died shifted something in her. There were times when she could reach out to Niva before her own family, and Essence missed that.
“Oh, just thinking about grabbing something to eat.”
“You by yourself?” Midas questioned.
“Yeah,” she answered, face forming a slight frown. “I thought that was you two, but I wasn’t sure because what the hell would you even be doing together. I didn’t even think you knew each other.”
“We didn’t.” Essence looked at Midas and tucked some hair behind her ear. “But we got married.”
“Married?” Niva’s brows lifted even though she’d already heard most of their conversation. “Wow. How does Eazy feel about that?”
“Girl, let’s not even go there,” Essence grumbled, eyes rolling.
“Heard you and Oracle was together now. Tell that nigga to hit me up.”
“That’s not gonna fucking happen. Maybe you can reach out to his baby mama, Staci, though. I’m sure she can give you all the tea you need.”
“Well, you don’t have to dine alone. She can join us, right, baby?” Essence looped her arm through Niva’s and glanced at her husband.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Midas nodded. “Gives us time to catch up.”
“Come on. We were just grabbing drinks before heading over to the Night Market to eat. You can come with us. It’ll be fun. ” Essence pulled her along, not knowing she’d played right into Niva’s hands.
Eazy was keeping his distance, so she had to find a way in, or at least close enough that she could keep up with what he had going on.
First things first, she had to help Essence repair her relationship with him.
Midas was a dead man walking, that much she knew.
So, he was going to be handled with a long-handled spoon until further notice.
He and Braxton were the reason she almost died in the first fucking place.
Right now, she needed allies, though, and this was as close as she was going to get to Eazy until she figured out how to make things right.