Continuing behind Dasani, I was trying my hardest to focus forward instead of on all the buzzing around me. This was very much an underground casino, and I was floored that I’d never been invited here. Marble floors, printed carpets, wood grain surfaces, skimpy waitresses, rich niggas, Kush-filled air, and expensive alcohol blended throughout the open space that housed every machine and table you’d find in Las Vegas. The way Dasani spoke to the waitress and how she hadn’t been checked or questioned by the guards, I automatically knew this was her husband’s business.
There was just so much happening down here that I couldn’t stop looking around. I wasn’t much of a gambler, but the machines were so loud and pretty that they were inviting. Men of all nationalities and backgrounds filled the space. I had even spotted a rapper when we first came in when Dasani stopped the waitress. I could have sworn I saw the governor, too, and with the way Jagoda Bay hid their scandals, his being underground was on brand. Street guys, CEOs, and law enforcement all underone roof was unheard of. However, people of different sectors were mingling, but for the most part, everyone was doing their respective gambling, making Demise even richer. It would also mean jail time for many, affecting hundreds of lives. I’d never compromise those around me. I didn’t even like cheese like that.
This place was a gold mine for content. If my viewers only knew where I was right now, they would want a tour, some interviews, and some food reviews. With the size of the venue and the goal being to get people to stay and gamble, I knew this place probably had some amazing food.
“Look who I dragged from the house.”
I was expecting to be reunited with the women, but what I didn’t expect was for everyone to be sitting in their husbands’ laps. The whole inner circle was here, except for Vello and Discover. Three men had empty laps; well, two, since Demise had reached for Dasani’s hand and pulled her onto him. That left Tunan and Shio as the unoccupied seating choices.
All eyes were on me, and the ladies didn’t look too happy to see me. Missy was the only one who offered me a small smile as she sipped her drink while Essex squeezed her thighs.
Demise looked from Tunan to Shio, who sat next to each other. This area was arranged almost like a VIP section, with an extra-long, curved sectional that fit everyone. It was also roped off, but it was positioned so that not many could see over a small wall, yet Demise could see everything from his spot in the middle of the comfortable sectional.
“You messy as hell…” Demise told his wife with a chuckle and a kiss on her lips.
“I get it from you, Messy Boots.”
“Hi everyone.” I simpered.
Jisei’s spoiled ass folded her arms and turned to face her husband, as if she wasn’t already in his lap. Mocha wasn’t sitting on Zo’s lap, but she might as well have been, considering howshe was leaning on him. All she did was snicker at our friend without looking my way. I could feel Tunan’s eyes on me, but I refused to look at him or Shio’s. When we first approached, they were engaged in a conversation that didn’t look heated but also didn’t look pleasant. I was hoping it wasn’t about me.
“Well, well, well… If it isn’t the brother fucker herself. What’s good, Glow?”
Leave it up to Nel to crack a joke. I rolled my eyes and threw a tight-lipped smile his way. I could feel my skin heating and knew the tinted moisturizer wouldn’t hide the embarrassment on my face.
“Stop, bae…” Pia playfully hit his chest.
“Glow know it’s all love. These niggas just found out they were brothers three days ago, so it don’t count. But I will say… You chose the right brother. T.D Jakes here come with too much shit. I’m talking… long-lost daughters, Mexican princesses, grenades?—”
Matteo grunted, which I knew was his way of telling Renello to shut up, but the whole conversation further embarrassed me.
“Nel, shut the fuck up,” Shio said as he stood. “Glow ain’t fuck us both. She ain’t on no Jerry Springer shit.” Shio turned and slapped his brother on the back. “Congratulations, you two!”
As he swaggered past me, I stilled. He looked and smelled good, even though he looked like he had a lot on his mind. He winked at me, and shamefully, I had to swallow the saliva that had formed from the gesture. Shio was undeniably fine, but Nel was right. I married the right man because there was just something about Tunan that made me want to come from just looking at him. However, I was standing on business about our arrangement. He was my play husband and nothing more.
“Ain’t no need to act modest now. Y’all done fucked and took vows before God.”
“Nel!” Pia laughed. “Please leave Glow alone.”
Wishing I could ball up in a corner and die, I avoided Tunan’s gaze and took the now-empty seat next to him, ensuring I left some space between us. I wasn’t particularly upset with Tunan. He’d done what I asked, but the woman in me was not happy that he could easily let days go by and not feel an urge to even check on me. I knew I had some sorting out to do when it came to my feelings for Tunan, but in the meantime, I wanted him to want me. Play husband or not, I was still a woman who liked to be desired.
The waitress from earlier came over and handed out drinks to all the women. I took the cold glass and nodded curtly in thanks. There were two more waitresses behind her, passing out bottles to the men. I couldn’t see the labels, but they looked expensive from the shaped of the bottle and the deep color of the liquor. It was early in the afternoon, but that didn’t matter to this crew. There had been plenty of days when the ladies got drunk at brunch, and most of the time, it was early morning. The Rinaldi Mob was made up of young, rich, and flashy men and women. They had a lot to celebrate, and most of the time, bottles were flying, and blunts were in rotation for even the smallest occasion.
With my hand gripping the cold glass, I sat stiff as a mannequin. Nel wasn’t letting up as he peered at me from behind Pia, whose belly had grown even more in my absence. She hadn’t gained any more weight in her face, so that was a plus.
“Damn, it’s trouble in paradise already? Y’all just got married last night.”
Only then did all the ladies snap their heads our way. I could feel heat creep up my neck, so I placed the cold glass to my lips and took a sip. I needed something to take the edge off. I also wished Nel would shut the hell up.
“Aye.”
Peering at Tunan with my peripheral vision, he was removing weed buds from a clear baggie and dumping them into the wrapper held in his left hand.
“Glow.” His voice was stern.
Turning my head completely, I licked my lips out of nervousness. Tunan, as always, had a hat propped on his head, but it sat sideways. The short-sleeved Fear of God T-shirt hung from his broad shoulders, but I could see his biceps and chest muscles through the fabric. On his lower half were the matching shorts in the same gray color, and on his feet, a pair of white and gray Nike Air Maxes. He looked too damn good. He looked like his last couple of days had been well spent, unlike mine. Jealousy shivered down my spine thinking of who he’d been spending his time with, but I shook it off just as it appeared. I have a whole baby in my house now. My business needed my attention. I had content to post, money to make, and a sister to look after. That was all I needed on my mind at the moment. Still, my pussy didn’t get the memo because she was thudding to the point I had to squeeze my thighs together. To make matters worse, our gray and yellow complemented each other nicely.
Ugh, I thought until we locked eyes.
