“I don’t need a babysitter. I don’t even do nothing for real but kick it with girls and smoke a lil’ weed.”
Block pushed out a sigh and shook his head. Watching after three brothers for the past ten plus years had his ass not even wanting children of his own. He was tired. “I keep telling you that you don’t need to be smoking. The way these folks out here lacing shit. I had to grow up fast. You don’t. Matter fact, scratch that. Ichoseto grow up fast. Enjoy being a kid man. I’m not telling you nothing wrong.”
When he was younger, Block’s mother’s favorite thing to tell him when he got in trouble was that he liked to learn things the hard way. Finally, he knew what she meant because he felt the same way about Mario. He needed to be with their father. That was one of the best ideas he’d had in a long time. Block’s mother got with Tech when she was seventeen. Thirteen years and three kids later, she was a different person and no longer interested in being tied to Tech. She became a dental hygienist, took her kids, and left.
Currently, Tech was fifty, but Mario’s mother, Selena was thirty-nine. She kept a clean house and liked nice things, but she wasn’t interested in being an independent, boss chick. She partied and ran through dope boys like she was still twenty. Tech made sure that Mario was taken care of, but Selena was no longer his, and he wasn’t funding her lifestyle. Her anger lately could be from financial frustrations, Mario’s behavior, something else, or a combination of things. Block didn’t really care. Anything she needed for Mario, he had, but he didn’t care about what she might be going through. He lost all respect for her when he saw her in the club one night, and she was all up on him like she didn’t have a child by his father.
Block made the effort to shield his brother from certain things, but the older he got, it was hard. The same way he tried to drill it into Brazil and Lethal’s heads that the streets weren’twhere it was at, he did the same with Mario. He could look at his brother and tell, however, that he was attracted to the allure of the game. Looking after his brothers and seeing the gold-digging ways of most women, were the reasons that Block didn’t want kids until he was married and from the looks of it, he might not get married until he was fifty his damn self.
The music paused, and Block’s gaze diverted from the road to the screen to see who was calling. When he saw it was Brazil, he connected the call.
“What up, broadie?”
“You talked to Lethal’s hoe ass? He won’t answer the phone, and I’m trying to decide whether or not to give Eliane this extra ticket I have.”
His comment got a laugh out of Block which wasn’t something he did often. “Yeah, he’s coming. You already know when he’s in training mode, he keeps his phone on DND majority of the day. Why you trying to hide your lil’ shit? You don’t want Lethal to know you still fucking his girl?”
Brazil kissed his teeth. “I couldn’t care less about him knowing. She’s the one that acts weirded out about being in his presence.”
“He’s coming. You want him to stay at home, so your pass around can come through?”
“Fuck you, nigga.”
Block laughed as his brother ended the call. Brazil and Eliane lived in the same building. Two months after Brazil moved in, Lethal was visiting him and ran into Eliane. They had sex a few times before Lethal ghosted her. Six months later, she began sleeping with Brazil. She knew he was Lethal’s brother, but she didn’t care. Brazil didn’t care either because he knew Lethal didn’t care. More than likely, she was ashamed because she slept with brothers. That didn’t stop her from continuing to sleep withBrazil or attending a few of his games. She would only attend if Lethal wasn’t going to be there.
Block was actually surprised that Brazil was still letting her attend games. He was more the relationship type than his brothers, but Block knew he’d never wife a woman that slept with his brother multiple times.
“Why is Brazil messing with Lethal’s old girl?”
Block glanced over at his brother. “First off, you nosey. Second, because she wanted to smash them, and they wanted to smash her. We don’t get in our feelings over females, and we’d never beef over one. She can be a pass around. Nobody cares.”
Block pulled up in front of Mario’s house, and he could see that his brother wasn’t thrilled to be home. Block attempted to give his brother routine and structure when he was at his home. There were also rules that Mario had to follow but still, he was more lenient and fun than Mario’s mother, and the young man preferred being with his brothers. He couldn’t wait until his father came home. He was sure his father wouldn’t let him do everything that he wanted, but Mario had a feeling he’d be way more understanding and laid back than his mother. She loved fucking bad boys, but she didn’t want her son to be one.
“Don’t get in no trouble,” Block eyed him while warning laced his tone. Mario only had three more years until he graduated from high school. More than anything, Block wanted his brother to walk across that stage with no kids and no criminal record.
“Yes sir,” Mario mumbled with a hint of sarcasm as he got out of his brother’s car.
Block stared after the young man and watched him until he was safe inside the house. “Let me go get some condoms right the fuck now,” he murmured under his breath. The way it was looking he might opt not to have any kids.
CHAPTER TWO
Blak saton the edge of his bed smoking a blunt while watching Averi get dressed. Her shapely hips gave her hell, as she pulled on the white and brown mini skirt while he puffed on the weed filled cigar. Taking his time, he took her in the same way he was slowly ingesting the weed. The thickness of her tall frame. Her perky C cup breasts that sat up without a bra. The exotic hue of her rich, brown skin with red undertones. Feeling his eyes on her, Averi looked over her shoulder and tossed a smile his way as she put the fitted, matching button up on.
“Why you staring?” her simper was a bashful one. Heat warmed her cheeks as Blak’s intense gaze poured over her 5’8 frame.
Blak liked what he saw, but that wasn’t the reason he couldn’t take his eyes off Averi. Expelling smoke, he continued to study her. “I’m about to go get my marriage license.”
The seriousness of his tone made Averi aware that he wasn’t joking. Turning around with hiked brows, she wanted him to elaborate. Clouds of smoke hung suspended in the air as his eyes narrowed after he took another toke of the marijuana.
“Care to explain how you’re going to get a marriage license when I’ve been under the impression for the past ten months that you were single?”
Averi liked Blak because he was honest. Even if what he had to say might hurt your feelings, he didn’t hold back for anybody. She never had to worry about him lying or running game. His bluntness and honesty made it so he was deemed an asshole by most, but one thing she hated was a liar. No matter how gritty or ugly it was, Averi could appreciate the truth. If she found out he’d been lying, she was going to look at him differently for sure.
“It’s like some arranged marriage type shit. Long story, but my uncle was that nigga before he was sentenced to fifteen years in the feds. He only has to serve twelve years, and he’ll be home next year. One of his old associates came up with a way to keep my folks connected and allow him to enjoy the perks of the life without having to come home and get his hands dirty. That’s by me marrying his daughter. I’ve legit only met shorty like three times.”
Averi swallowed down a lump. The way Blak spent money like it grew on trees and his flashy lifestyle told it all. Of course, she knew he made money the illegal way, but she never asked details because that was his business. She also didn’t know that arranged marriages among black people existed for real. At least not in the states. It gave her a slight sense of relief that he was only going to be married on paper, but Averi was compelled to ask questions.
“So, this is only for business purposes? You’re going to live separate and what?”
