Page 2 of A Hood Wife And A Rich Goon 2

“Damn, no lie, that shit just made my dick hard.” He bit his bottom lip and grabbed his semi hard dick.

“We’ve secured the packages,” a low, even voice said from behind Braxton Andrews.

Swallowing the whiskey he’d just inhaled, he turned and found Chai sauntering inside, holding an ice pack against her jaw. She’d cleaned her bloody nose, but it was starting to swell now too.

“How is she?”

“I’m gonna kill that bitch.” She flexed her jaw and applied more pressure with the ice pack. Their sedatives will be wearing off soon.” Chai paused in front of his desk and ran the tips of her first two fingers along the smooth cherry wood finish. “What’s next?”

“You played your part. You can go.” Braxton took a pull from the Cuban cigar between his fingers and exhaled.

Sneering, Chai scoffed, perfectly threaded brows drawing together in confusion.

“Go? But, I thought⁠—”

“You aren’t paid to think, Chai! You’re paid to do what the fuck I tell you!” Braxton hissed, startling her with his urgent, callous tone. “You need to move accordingly. I will take care of this situation from here. Are we clear?”

“As glass.”

Turning, she marched toward the door and nearly bumped into the tall figure making his way inside. Licking his lips, Midas looked her up and down, eyes lingering over her ass in her black leggings.

Ice grilling him, Chai stomped out, and he shook his head with lust bouncing around his eyes. He stroked his chin, stopping in front of Braxton’s desk as he tipped his glass of whiskey to his lips and swallowed.

“That’s a bad bitch right there, even with a busted lip,” Midas St. James declared, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “And Bulls’ wife. Shorty got hands.” He laughed but gained no response from Braxton. “So, what’s the next play, Boss? You sure you ready for what comes next?”

Braxton lifted his dark eyes to meet Midas'. Like Oracle and Eazy, he’d known this one since he was a youngin’ getting in trouble every turn he took. Bull and Bronx assembling a crew based off their individual talents was the best thing any of them could have done. Braxton benefited greatly from it. Not a completely reckless crew, but there were times when ego, pride, and even pure greed got in the way of a job.

“Been ready,” Braxton insisted, studying the cigar between his fingers. “Bull set this in motion. Nobody told him to come home and interfere with a damn thing. Nigga wanted to play captain save a hoe, and now he’s gotta learn a hard lesson.”

“Crazy.” Midas shook his head. “After everything we been through, I hate it’s come to this.”

“Hate the game, son. It is what it is. A casualty is a necessity. Ain’t no other way. Bronx wanted to go against me. My own son double-crossed me, and he paid the price. Bull ain’t obsolete from this shit either.” Braxton brought the cigar to his lips once again. “I’ve been waiting four years to put him in his place. He made the mistake of showing his hand with Toni and those kids. A man’s family is always his weakness.”

“Unless that man is you,” Midas tittered, and Braxton shot him a glare.

“That shit supposed to be funny?”

“Not even a little bit, Boss.”

“Get the message to Bull. Send him the picture of Frank. He’ll reach out,” Braxton ordered.

“Copy that.” Midas bowed out, letting himself into the hallway of Braxton’s massive home.

He had no idea as he passed the small arched hallway leading to a private bath that Brenda was nearby, ear hustling. Stepping from the shadows, she watched Midas exit through the front door before going to confront her husband. Brenda was a lot of things, and not all good. She’d be the first to admit it. She supported her husband over her sons, even when he was dead wrong in his treatment of them. He was never a father, more like a dictator.

The do as I say type, or else. Bull or Bronx didn’t have a chance to be themselves or explore anything that they might give a damn about. It was always Braxton’s way or no way. Bull went to jail for Midas years ago, and he disappeared. As far as she knew, nobody had seen or heard from him until now. After hearing his conversation with Braxton, it shattered what was left of humanity inside of her. Had she heard him right? Was he the reason Bronx was dead?

All this time, she’d bought into his theory that Toni set him up with some rivals, and that’s what happened to Bronx. Now the puzzle pieces were beginning to come together, and she didn’t like what was forming. She didn’t always agree with her husband or his tactics, so she preferred that he keep her out of shit. Trusting him meant letting him lead the ship, and until now, she believed he was steering them in the right direction.

“Brenda.” Braxton’s expression fell. “I thought you were taking a nap.”

The truth was, she’d passed out after a day of shopping and wine tasting. Brunch with the girls put her on her ass, so she came home to sleep it off. Listening to Chai talk shit and slam the front door is what stirred her from her sleep.

“Yeah, that’s what it sounds like.”

Scrutinizing him, Brenda suddenly didn’t know who the hell she was looking at anymore.

“You know… I never deemed you a saint, Braxton.” Blinking slowly, she stepped past his desk to grab her own drink. “I know you always had your own code. Andrew’s code. I never questioned it, and I always let you lead, even when I knew I should have stepped in, especially when it came to Bronx and Bull.”