Mozzi sucked his teeth.
“I’m just saying. It’s exquisite, and it suits her,” Desiree conveyed.
“I know. That’s why I chose it.” He leaned in to peck Coast’s sweet lips. “I gotta roll for a minute.”
“Really, Moses?” Coast jerked back from his kiss and studied him with annoyance. “Now?”
“I’ll be back before you close those pretty ass eyes tonight, Trouble. I promise.” He stole another kiss and grabbed her stomach with both hands to show her bump the same affection.
“Promise me you’re going to be careful. Whatever you’re doing.” Coast grabbed his hand, and Mozzi stood tall, so he could look into her eyes.
“I know what’s waiting for me.” He nodded to everyone else and strolled away.
Coast didn’t take her eyes off him until he disappeared. Stopping in the foyer to grab his black trench coat off the nearby hook, he paused when Audiemar emerged from the living room with a glass of Marek Reserve Whiskey in his glass.
“Where you off to?” he asked, taking a sip with his pinky lifted, showing off the ruby red diamond ring sparkling on his finger.
“Just handling something last minute before we hop on this flight.” Mozzi adjusted his coat on his shoulders.
“Take Moose or Brim with you,” Audiemar advised.
“Pop—”
“Humor me, Moses. Shit is tense right now. You already been shot once,” Audiemar reasoned.
Mozzi tugged on his coat at the wrist and dropped a sigh.
“Aight. Moose!” His brother was high, but that never stopped him from being on point.
He wanted to get him away from Inari’s bitch ass baby daddy anyway before he started some shit. Shirt wrinkled, eyes red, Moose stepped into the hallway.
“Roll with me. Just for a minute.”
“Fuck it.” Moose shrugged and brought the blunt to his lips.
He moved toward the door to meet up with Mozzi, but Audiemar slapped a hand against his chest. Moose’s dark gaze drifted to his father’s tatted hand on him then up into his serious eyes.
“Shake that shit off and stay on point. You hear me?” He warned, still holding his glass and lifting his index finger to emphasize his point.
At this point, everyone knew Moose’s recreational habits were becoming a problem. Now, waking up and getting high was the norm. He smoked less weed because he was always coked up, but his alcohol intake had increased. There was never any controlling him, and they were all aware of it. Moose was good for pushing you away if he didn’t like how you were coming at him. He would shut down, isolate himself, and tune the world out if you let him. Audiemar, Kong, or Mozzi had to pull him back from the brink plenty of times.
“I hear you.” Moose shook him off and turned his nose up, not realizing Inari was heading their way from the kitchen.
“Then, hear me, Morgan. Deal with your shit.”
“Let’s go.” Mozzi pitched one of the double doors open, leaving it open for Moose to pass through.
He followed him, closing the door behind them as the cold wind slapped them in the face. Mozzi hit the alarm on his black Range Rover and hiked in that direction with Moose behind him.
“The fuck we going?” Moose grumbled, searching the ashtray for something to smoke.
His brother kept a blunt within reach.
“Got myself a loose end I need to tie up.” Revving the engine, Mozzi squeezed the steering wheel and cruised to the gate opening.
About thirty minutes later…
Whomp!
