They knew he didn’t like taking pills. It was always a last solution type of situation with him. Smoking and drinking was one thing. Unlike Moose, he couldn’t afford another vice in his life because he was already taking medication for his bipolar disorder.
“That’s ridiculous,” Coast chimed in. “Look at you. You’re obviously hurting.”
“I can take it.” Mozzi sucked in a deep breath through his nose and turned to press his back against the wall.
“Why can’t you just take a pill?”
“Not now, Trouble. Aight.”
“His mama was an addict. She told him she used to get high with his pops all the time. That’s how Mozzi was conceived. Lost a couple of homies to overdoes too. So, he has a thing about taking pills aside from the mandatory ones,” Kong volunteered, snatching his phone out of his pocket when he received a message.
“There are mandatory ones?” Coast queried, one brow lifting as Mozzi lowered his head and sucked in a breath this time.
“For my bipolar shit,” he told her.
“Oh,” Coast whispered, looking straight ahead.
Mozzi couldn’t tell what that was about, and he was in so much pain that he didn’t have the energy for it right now anyway. He would check her temp at another time. Coast, on the other hand, struggled with the way her heart thrummed anxiously. To her, Mozzi was the most confident, self-assured man she’d ever met. He was only twenty-four and carried that type of presence. So, to know he waged some type of war with his mental left her not only curious but impressed with his creed. He was unorthodox, that was for sure, right along with his brothers, but she had to admit that was what she liked most about him.
“So, have you been off your meds this whole time?” She lifted her eyes to his.
Moose tittered. “Fuck nah. You got him during his regularly scheduled programming.”
“Shit!” Kong hissed.
“What’s up?” Moose and Mozzi straightened up.
“It’s Ayla. She’s worried about Inari.”
“What happened?” Coast queried as the elevator doors opened.
Brim and another one of their armed men met up with them on the other side.
“I’ll go check on her,” Moose offered, nudging Coast’s chair out of the tight elevator space and into the underground parking garage.
A black Denali waited for them with the engine running. Bee immediately hopped out to check on her niece.
“Are you okay?” she asked, grabbing Coast’s hand and kneeling in front of her.
“I’m fine. Tired as hell,” Coast grumbled, her slanted eyes looking past Bee at Audiemar rounding the back of the truck.
He didn’t have to utter a word. Coast knew exactly who he was. Sharp eyes, salt and pepper beard and goatee with a tapered fade and hair about the same fine texture as Mozzi’s on top. She knew that none of them were blood related, but the similarities between him and his sons were damn sure eerie. A diamond earring flickered off the fluorescent lights of the garage, and she admired the flashy pinky ring and ink on his hands when he crossed them in front of him. The casual Brioni slacks and button up shirt hung off him like a custom, and she had a feeling he could see himself in the patent leather of his loafers. Mozzi swayed dizzily, and Moose stepped up so he could lean on him.
“So, you’re the young lady who got my son wide open out here?” A half smile toyed with Audiemar’s lips. “Audiemar Blackmoor,” he introduced himself. She admired the Patek on his wrist with the Cuban link bracelet.
“Coast,” she replied timidly, shaking his hand and glimpsing Mozzi over her shoulder with sweat gathering at his forehead.
“Get him to the car.” Audiemar nodded, indicating for Moose to help Mozzi to the car. “It’s very nice to meet you, Coast. I hope you don’t mind, but to ensure you and Mozzi’s safety, I’vemade arrangements to keep you comfortable at my estate. There will be a doctor there to manage you and your child’s health in the meantime. Bee has agreed to come as well, just to make sure you’re settled. Although I did offer her a room as well.” Audiemar cut a glance in her aunt’s direction.
Coast couldn’t say for sure, but the annoyance that Bee rolled her eyes with was out of familiarity. She and Audiemar clearly knew each other.
“And I said no. I just want to make sure Coast and the baby are good,” Bee argued. “I’m not trying to make that commute to Haven House.”
“Fair enough. You ready?” Audiemar checked with Coast, the hardened expression on his face diminishing as Brim appeared at her side.
She nodded, and Brim knelt to scoop her from the wheelchair. Mozzi was already in the back seat, head pressed against the headrest, pistol in his lap with his face wrinkled in pain and taking in deep breaths. Brim eased Coast gently in beside him and backed away.
“Take it easy, ace. I’m right behind y’all,” Brim noted, stepping back to give Audiemar a path.
