Chapter 9 #2
“Let’s go get our table cleaned up so we can load up the car. I’m sure your father will want to clear out soon.” Ayla briefly lifted her eyes to Kong’s, who remained stiff as Nayelli draped herself over him like cheap jewelry.
When Ayla grabbed Kara’s hand to walk away, and she didn’t fight her, Kong was impressed. His daughter was very independent, a lot like her mother, and often didn’t want to accept help or any type of leadership from anyone. Her tantrums had minimized in the few days Ayla had been with them.
Once they were far enough away, his jaw tightened, and he shrugged Nay off him before facing her. The anger flickering through his stare alarmed her.
“What’s wrong?”
“The fuck was that?” He sneered, watching her face crumble into a frown.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t ever do no shit like that in front of my kids again. When we at the house, we choose to be discreet, so why the fuck you wouldn’t think to do that shit in public?”
“Kong, what are you talking about? We go out together all the time. People have seen us,” Nayelli reminded him.
“That’s one thing, but my kids don’t need to be confused by what the fuck this is!” he spat, sending her neck rearing.
“And what exactly is this to you?” she asked, both of her precisely threaded brows lifting, then forming a bridge above her piercing champagne tinted eyes.
Kong inched into her space, voice low so only she could hear.
“A mutually beneficial situation that gets us both what we want. No strings, no confusion.”
“So, I’m just some toy to you that you occasionally pick up, have your way with, and then put back on the shelf? How is that fair to me, Kong?”
“Fair?” he snarled, looking her up and down.
“Yes, fair! I care about you. I want this to be more than you fucking me into a coma!”
“What you require, I can’t provide.” He backed up and shook his head. “You knew that three years ago when we started this. I told you then, don’t put everything into us because I didn’t envision a future with you or anybody else.”
“I refuse to believe that, Kong.” She moved her head in denial. “You feel something for me.”
“We grew up together, Nay. You’re familiar. Whatever you think is between us beyond that is in your fucking head.” He aimed two fingers at his temple like a gun.
Insecurities getting the best of her when he stepped around her, she grabbed his upper arm.
“Don’t do this,” she pleaded through misting eyes. “It was already written for us before you went and married that little project bi—”
Within seconds, his fingers locked around her throat, closing her airways. Teeth gritted together, he brought his face closer to hers and breathed heavily.
“I dare you to disrespect the mother of my children,” he challenged in a low growl.
“I’m s-sorry,” she sputtered, losing her footing when he shoved her away from him.
“This shit is done.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“I mean stay the fuck from around me!” he barked on her.
“Bitch!” Mozzi co-signed in his Too Short octave as he started up the stage to the steps.
He’d read the entire situation making his way up to Coast as she tried to bargain with Bee. Nay and Phoebe was some frauds, and he didn’t fuck with them.
“I didn’t bid on anything. How you just gon’ throw me to the wolves like that?” Coast demanded, arms crossed over her aching breasts.
“The wolves, Coast. Really?” Bee tittered. “Mozzi is harmless.”
“He’s a few grapes short of a damn fruit basket.”
“Don’t be talking about your future husband like that. I’m glad you know, though.” He joined in on the conversation. “Bee, good looking out.” He rubbed his hands together.
“This is my niece, Mozzi, and she’s carrying precious cargo.”
“I’m knowing. You know she safe with me.” He grinned.
“Tell Audiemar I said hello.” Bee picked up a few slips of paper and her mic and started toward the stairs. “I’m sticking around to clean up. You look like you and that baby could use a nap, though.”
“I’m so tired,” Coast whined.
“I got you. Pass me the keys to your hoop ride.” Mozzi held his hand out.
When she didn’t respond, he slid his hand into the pocket of her romper to retrieve her keys.
“Meet me in the parking lot.” He gently pecked her lips and moved toward Bee at the top of the stage steps.
Now that he’d kissed her, he wanted more.
Any type of proximity to Coast was like dopamine.
His first hit of crack, and he was hooked!
He hadn’t even busted her open and was already preparing himself to unlock all levels to her.
It was one thing to capture a woman’s body, or even her mind, but when you had her soul…
that was a tie that was hard to fucking break.
This was the first time Mozzi ever wanted someone to have his too.
He paused long enough to kiss Bee’s cheek and pull her into a warm hug before jogging down the steps and into the grass.
“I don’t know what you did to him, but you got everybody around here talking.”
“Well, tell everybody to mind their own damn business.” Coast scooped up Mozzi’s basket and headed to the parking lot. “There’s nothing going on.”
“Nothing looks a whole lot like something, and it doesn’t look like you know what you’re in for.” Bee sniggered.
By the time Coast got to the parking lot, it was jam packed with people still lingering near their cars, drinking, smoking, and figuring out plans for when they left the park.
Mozzi and his brothers stood near Coast’s jeep.
He lingered on the driver’s side while Moose hung out in the passenger seat, rolling a blunt.
Kong helped his kids into the back seat of his whip and Ayla filled the trunk area with her empty baking containers.
She’d sold everything she came with and gave Bee the proceeds.
“So, what’s the play? I’m meeting Inari tonight at Artisan.” Moose licked his blunt closed as Coast neared Mozzi.
“Here.” She shoved the basket into his arms, knocking the wind from him.
“We’ll meet y’all there.” Mozzi slung his arm over Coast’s shoulders and pulled her closer.
“You can’t just make decisions for m—” He shut her up with another kiss, this time feeding her his tongue too.
“This muhfucka crazy as hell.” Moose cackled.
It silenced Coast, leaving her stunned, eyes bouncing around his curiously.
“We’ll be there,” Mozzi responded.
“Yeah. I’ll have Audiemar watch the kids,” Kong voiced after getting Kara buckled in. “We’ll be there too.”
“Bet. I’m gonna run by the shop and check on some things first then head to the house and get cleaned up.” Moose tucked the blunt behind his ear. “I’ll see y’all tonight.”
Kong chucked the deuces at Mozzi before climbing in his driver’s seat and pulling off. Coast pulled away from him, but he didn’t let her move as he leaned against the side of the car and drew her closer by her hips.
“You ready to go?”
“Is this some type of game for you?” Coast’s pretty face balled into a frown.
“Girl, what are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about all this extra shit you on. You trying to use me to make them jealous?” She looked past him to where Gillian and Roni stood with their heads together and Lin not far in the background, talking to Nickel near his Benz.
Mozzi’s nostrils flared. Not out of jealousy. He hated that nigga on sight, so it rubbed him wrong every time he ran into him.
“Fuck them.” Mozzi sucked his teeth. “Get in the car, so we can bounce.”
“Do you know him?” Coast caught the flicker of hate between Mozzi and the guy standing with Lin.
“Just some weak ass nigga.” Mozzi brushed it off.
“Don’t get too comfortable, sweetie!” Gillian called from across the lot. “You’re just something shiny and new he wants to play with. He knows where home is!”
“It damn sure ain’t with you,” Mozzi replied, shaking his head and hopping in Coast’s driver’s seat while she took the passenger.
“I don’t know why I’m entertaining you,” she grumbled, settling in her beat up leather seats.
“Because I’m your fucking man.” Mozzi started her engine and whipped her jeep toward the parking lot exit.
When they hit the highway, she didn’t question it.
The wind blowing her hair allowed her to somewhat relax until she was drifting off.
Remnants of the sun glowed against the backdrop when Mozzi pulled Coast’s jeep up his driveway nearly forty-five minutes later.
She stirred slowly, taking in her peaceful surroundings with a frown.
The home was modern, with a big wraparound deck on the second story, a garage big enough for four cars, and behind it a lake with a view of the hills and trees.
It was breathtaking as she sat up in her seat.
“Come on, it’s hot as hell, and I’m hungry.” Mozzi took the keys out of the ignition and placed his feet on the ground.
“This is where you live?”
“Sometimes,” he answered. “I spend a lot of time in the city at my apartment, too. This is my honeycomb hideout.” He met up with her on the other side of her car and helped her out of her seat. “You cook?”
“I’m decent.”
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the front door.
Using his keys, he let them inside and immediately went to disarm his alarm.
His home smelled masculine, like mahogany teakwood.
His style was simple, with Ikea modern style furniture and lots of open space.
The cold air from the central air unit left her hugging herself as he kicked off his shoes at the door.
“Take your shoes off.”
Coast mugged him but did as he asked and planted her feet on the cold marble floors.
“It’s freezing in here. What do you have the air on, polar?” She shivered.
“Yeah, get used to that. I keep my shit on all year round.”
“Crazy ass,” she muttered.