Dangerous Desires (Minnelli Mafia Series Book 1)

I Ride for Mine

Golden Oak, Michigan
One week later
Wednesday Perriloux

Sunday suggested that I ride to the Induction Ceremony with her and Nia. I wasn't even sure if I could even attend but I was going for my sister regardless. I smoothed my dress down some and slid into my heels. I held Sunday's dress coat open for her to slide into and we left the apartment together.

Eve wasn't with us because well, her relationship with Aries was on the upswing. I liked them together. But I couldn't help but think there was something off about Sunday and Alessandro but I didn't have proof.

"I'm so proud of you sister. You deserve it all." I hugged Sunday before we went into the Minnelli Hall. They have so many damn buildings in their name. But that comes with power.

We arrived and got a good table in the middle of the room. I didn't want to miss a thing and I was starving. I should really get that checked out but anyway...

Sunday and I sat talking about what this meant for her when I saw Eve walk in with the Minnelli Family. She was absolutely glowing. I was so happy for her. She looked truly happy for the first time since I'd met her in high school, and her happiness was my happiness. I wanted all my sisters to be happy.

When they arrived, Nia disappeared to the back. She and another partner were serving. Sunday waved to Aries when he looked over. He smirked.

I looked up from my phone and my eyes widened. Cairo? I think to myself. I want to blush but not here. Not now. I could feel his eyes on me. I keep my poker face on, like him. No emotions, I shift my eyes to him for the first and only time. I shifted in my seat. No emotions.

A few minutes after everybody was served food, the ceremony began. I noticed that there was an air of something surrounding that table. Nia was increasingly uncomfortable with serving them. I bet!

"Nia Watson! Gimme some love." Missy stands up to hug her. Nia's eyes wanted to widen but she steps into the hug anyway. The woman I came to know as Zippy pulled her for a hug too and began to talk for a moment. Nia could die right there. I couldn't help but giggle.

A small intermission stopped the flow of the ceremony. I got up to go to Nia. Eve winked at me. I winked back but not knowing why.

"Breathe guh..." I tease her. Nia takes a sip of water.

"That woman wants to kill me with kindness. I'm convinced." She laughs. Nia hugs me again and I left the back.

I trip over my heel for a moment. The chick I've learned name is Sophia, Alex, and Missy are in the hallway. What the whole hell? I think to myself. Sophia looks me up and down, judging me.

"Wednesday Perriloux!" Missy turns all attention to me. Cairo walks up in that moment. Where is lightning when you need it?

I clear my throat. "Yes ma'am." I put on a shaky smile.

"When I heard you were claiming your scholarship, I was beyond ecstatic."

"Ma'am?" I blink at her.

"I expect you to join us in about a year or two." Missy says cryptically.

"I'm going to pretend I know what you're talking about." I politely step out of her embrace.

"You will in due time, shugga."

Soon, the ceremony began again. I scurried away from the colored eyed family.

Diane Minnelli brought the attention back to the stage. I watched her pin my sister, as its tradition since Missy Minnelli's graduate school days. I was bursting with pride. I couldn't help but shed a tear or two.

"And now for our induction speech by Sunday Perriloux." She announced her. I handed her the manila folder with a thumbs up. She stood up the podium and began.

Midway through Sunday's speech, I saw Eve come to the table where I was sitting. She pulls me to the back, tripping me in my heels.

"That bitch Sophia gonna make fuck her up."

"Why?"

"She's making noises and shit during Sunday's speech."

"Does she know that she and Alex fucked?"

"No...and Alex is planning to leave her, but he got some extra shit to tie up first."

"Oh so she think she got shit sewed up?" I didn't hear anything else. This bitch was playing my sister.

"Hold on Wynnie...just chill! Let's think about this."

"Too late for allat Nia!" I was taking off my earrings. Nia leaves us in the back, but I could hear Sunday still presenting her speech. A few minutes later, I could see Nia fast walking from the back to the Minnelli table. Her face looked worried and anxious. I don't know what for. It's go time as far as I'm concerned.

"Girl would you shut up!" Mrs. Missy Minnelli blurted out. Eve couldn't hold me in the back much longer.

Seconds later, I landed a fist to the girl's face. I landed three more punches to the face before Cairo dragged her off. I wrapped my hand around Sophia's weave, pulling her to the floor. I was beating this bitch for old and new shit. Shit she had nothing to do with. All my frustrations were let out on this girl's face.

"Keep Sunday's name out yo mouth hoe!" I lunge for Sophia again. Another girl, I remember her name being Deidra and supposedly been Sophia's sister run up. I elbow Cairo in the gut to let me go.

I land two punches to her face, although Cairo was holding me back again. He would not let me go, which was pissing me off worse.

"What is going on here?!" Sunday yelled in the crowd.

"Let me drag them hoes." I was irate at this point. Eve was whispering to her, calming her down.

"I knew somebody would beat yo ass one day." Missy looks down on Sophia in disgust. Sunday squeezed the bridge of her nose and snatched her speech down. I was fed up with everything.

"Say some bitch. I want you to." I growled at the shaken pair of sisters.

Cairo snatched me up. "Put me down!" I clawed my way out of his hands.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" he yelled at me in the private hallway. I was pacing back and forth. "At the ceremony though!"

"I don't know what cloth you cut from, but I ride for mine." I turn and face him. His cold, steely grey eyes don't shake me at all. "Sunday is all I got. That's my blood. And if your cousin won't stick up for her then I will. I don't give a fuck where it is." Cairo crosses his arms, unimpressed.

"You need to learn to control yourself. I understand, more than you think I do. But you can't go off like a loose cannon wherever you are." He pulls me into him. A blast of comforting heat catches me off guard. Cairo runs his nose up and down the side of my neck. I give in to the shivers, just for a moment.

"When your cousin learns to protect my sister the way he should, I wouldn't have to." I step away from his embrace to follow Nia so she could take me back to my dorm.