The two of them meshed well together, and although she was just one of the women on his team, most people considered her his main bitch. Nobody suited him like Lin. When it came to his lifestyle, she was easily the most compatible. Mozzi was charismatic and inked in tattoos, with mesmerizing eyes. Motherfuckers assumed he was a pretty boy, so growing up, he had to make an example out of niggas trying him.
“Pssh, it ain’t even about the money for her no more.” Mozzi leaned back in the soft leather of their booth. “She likes the attention.”
“Not necessarily a good thing,” Kong, his big brother, voiced after tossing back a shot and checking the time on his Patek.
“Aye, I’m not here to dictate what she do.” Mozzi shrugged and leaned forward after shoving his empty glass to the side.
The two of them were trying to unwind after their engagement earlier in the evening. Moose had to get to his tattoo shop and put in an appearance since it was the grand opening. He was one of the most sought out artists in the state, and his other ink mates, as he liked to call them, were blowing him up all night about the huge turnout they had. Most people were expecting him, and he couldn’t disappoint.
Nodding, Kong poured himself another shot while Brim enjoyed the show on stage and continued to hit the weed.
“Right, then you don’t mind that nigga Nickel front and center, throwing money at her?” Kong insinuated, swallowing the warm liquid.
Mozzi’s gaze immediately drifted past him to the stage and caught what Kong had witnessed.
“Nah, I ain’t worried about it.” He shook his head, but his nostrils flared.
“You should be. Been told you about that hoe.” Kong shook his head.
He always thought Lin was trouble. She had a history with both Mozzi and Nickel. The three of them attended high school together, but Nickel hated Mozzi from jump. Something about him triggered the hater in that nigga, and Mozzi didn’t fuck with that kind of energy. Nickel made everything a competition, and all Mozzi did was be himself. Girls loved everything about him, which caused envy among niggas like Nickel.
Mozzi didn’t discriminate when it came to women; he fucked with all shapes and sizes. His only stipulation was Black women. He didn’t play in the snow, and although he’d fucked a coupleof Latinas in his day, nothing compared to the beauty of a Black woman in his eyes. He loved everything about them.
Mozzi reached for the bottle of tequila on the table and brought it to his lips, watching Lin move on stage facing Nickel, like shit was a private show the whole time. He wasn’t in love with her, but he was possessive and considered her part of his inner circle. Seeing her giving another nigga attention, knowing he was in the building, triggered the disrespect.
“Yo bitch moving like the rent due.” Brim choked, exhaling a puff of smoke.
Mozzi’s phone buzzed against the table. It was Veronica, girlfriend number two, texting him to see if he was still coming through. The plan was to watch Lin’s set, then slide out and spend the rest of the night with Roni anyway. Lin probably knew this, and that’s why she was in there, showing her ass. One thing was for certain: even if they weren’t talking to him, his top three kept up with each other to try and figure out how he was moving. He quickly shot a text back to Roni and let her know he’d be there soon.
The music faded, and the crowd roared with applause for Lin. Taking another quick shot off the bottle of tequila, Mozzi set it on the table and brought himself to his feet. While she collected her money, he stood and watched Nickel approach her beside the stage.
“I’m heading out,” Mozzi announced.
“Which one of the sister wives you going to spend time with now?” Kong teased, bringing a Newport to his lips and sparking it.
“Gotta be Roni. She the only one he lay up with like that.” Brim cackled.
Mozzi flipped them both off.
“Worry about where you putting yo’ dick.” He aimed a finger at them and stepped away from the table after dapping them up.
Lin was in mid-conversation with Nickel when Mozzi bypassed them.
“So, you not even gon’ speak before you walk out?” she huffed, still in nothing but a G-string up her ass while scowling.
Mozzi paused, glancing at Nickel smugly standing there first before his gaze gamboled to her.
“Shit, you seemed preoccupied. I’m heading out. Got somewhere else to be.” Mozzi nodded over his shoulder.
“Oh, so that’s how it is? This is exactly the type of shit I be talking about, Mozzi.”
“Let that nigga go, Lin.” Nickel waved Mozzi off. “I can take you to get something to eat when you ready to go.”
Tittering, Mozzi pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t know why he let this nigga get under his skin.
“Listen to this shortchange ass nigga,” he mocked, watching the amusement immediately be replaced with hatred in Nickel’s stare.
He was nowhere near Mozzi on any level. Yet, somehow, he had it in his head that he was. His crew was only allowed to exist because a truce was called years ago between his uncle and Mozzi’s father. If there was one nigga everybody in Ree Heights was trying to emulate, it would be the one who had taken care of him and never faltered in his life. Mozzi might not have come from Audiemar’s nut sack, but nobody could ever tell him they weren’t father and son.
