Page 54 of A Hood Wife And A Rich Goon 2

With empathy, Lotus returned to the kitchen with the kids. Toni led Brenda down the hall to a guest room. She hit the light switch at the door which flicked on each beside lamp as she walked her to the bed. Flopping onto her side, Brenda drooled onto the covers, and Toni knelt to help her out of her other shoe. She’d had her share of experience with Onika in this same state, so she was familiar with it. She made sure to turn Brenda on her side the minute her breathing turned heavy, then went to grab her a bottle of water from the mini fridge in the corner and aspirin from the medicine cabinet. She set everything up on the bedside table and turned the lights out for Brenda on her way out.

Lotus waddled from the kitchen with a bowl of ice cream in her hand, Jou Jou at her side holding a fresh bag of microwave popcorn, and Breeze snacking on a bag of Sour Patch Kids.

“She good?”

“Yeah. Just let her sleep it off. I’ll call you when I know something at the hospital.”

“Okay, say bye, Mama!” Lotus encouraged the kids.

“Bye, Mama!” Jou and Breeze squealed together.

“Mmm, nobody can say fine ain’t in those Andrews genes.” Shenai slid across from Bull at a table inside the bakery.

She’d already placed her order for pickup, and he eyed the dozen cupcakes in front of her as she settled in her seat. Dumb thick, with hips that drew you to the wagon she toted behind her, Shenai obviously was well taken care of by somebody. With a fresh set of nails, a wavy 50 inch bust down melted to perfection, and a natural beat, she grinned at Bull. The open face golds in her mouth gleamed against her perfect teeth as she swiped her tongue across her lips.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you since you were fresh out of high school. You and your brother used to practically live in my mama’s restaurant.”

“Sorry to hear about her,” Bull acknowledged.

“She lived a long, full life,” Shenai countered. “I’m on my way to drop these cupcakes off for my grandbaby’s party at school tomorrow for her birthday. She’s turning six. So, what exactly is it that I can do for you?”

“How long was you fucking around with Bronx?”

“Now how you know we wasn’t just on the prayer line together?” Shenai quipped, curling her lips.

Bull gaped across the table, and she snickered.

“Don’t be looking at me like that. I know Jesus!”

“My brother been gone four years, Shenai. I need to know everything and everybody he dealt with before he died.”

“Okay, Mr. Serious.” She rolled her eyes. “We fucked around for about a year. Bronx was cool people. Nigga had dope dick too for a YN.” Shenai sighed. “We hung out at my place mainly. I cooked for him and made sure his laundry was done. He paid bills and car notes. Shit was cool. The week before he died, he asked about Mama’s restaurant and what I was doing with it. It’s had been two years at the time. I still can’t bring myself to sell it.”

Bull listened, trying to put himself in Bronx’s head. If he was already plotting on a place to move the paintings he damn sure did that ahead of time, and it was more than likely a solo mission. He wouldn’t want anybody privy to that information until it was time to move it.

“Anyway, he said he knew a realtor, and I could probably make a decent coin if I didn’t decide to do something with it myself. I was starting to consider it, so he said he would go over with an estimator and look at numbers. I gave him the key and lockbox code to get inside.”

Bull listened and stroked his beard before eyeing her again.

“Anybody else know about this?”

“Just me, Bronx, and the walls in my apartment. Everybody knew he was fucking with that bitch, Fancy, so we were keeping it discreet.”

“So did anything ever come of him going over to Ruby’s spot?”

Shenai shook her head, eyes suddenly filling with melancholy.

“Nope, he died before we could ever get the ball rolling, and I’ve just been letting the place sit.”

“I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me, Shenai.” Bull scooted off his seat, both hands on the table and pushed himself into a standing position. “How much those cupcakes cost?”

“Oh, for a dozen it’s like thirty dollars,” she told him.

Bull went into his pocket and retrieved a fifty-dollar bill from a wad of cash and placed it on the table for her.

“Consider them on me.”

“Thank you, sweetie. I’m a phone call away now. Consider me the head of the Prospect Pointe tree. All the tea starts with me.” She winked, and Bull simpered.