“Fine.”
Kennedy retreated backwards down the hall with her eyes on him before finally pivoting on her heels to sashay away, and Relic caught a gut-coiling, chest deflating ache deep in his damn soul. In days, his world would crumble, and he was still uncertain about where she stood.
Kennedy made it damn near impossible for Relic to decipher whether she was for them or choosing herself as her final move.
“Areyou sure you’re going to make it home for the funeral, Kennedy? I really need someone here because my parents are a damn mess, Bean and Shyanne’s extra asses are competing for most distraught baby mother, and their kids aren’t eating or talking. I cannot do this alone. It’s just too much.”
Kennedy dipped her eyes down to her phone situated on the sink before she refocused on her reflection to finish her hair. She flat ironed her last strands, bumping the ends so that it followed the shape of her soft glam face. In less than half an hour, Savvy and Shabu’s engagement shower was set to begin, but between Sonny crying in her ear, and Relic’s moody ass being no help, she was running behind schedule. Kennedy was trying to care about Sonny going through a rough time because she had been there, but she found her eyes rolling since Sarge could burn in hellfor all she cared. In the week since his death, she hadn’t felt an ounce of remorse about it.
“I told you that I’ll be there. My bags are packed, and I’m hitting the road as soon as the party is over.”
“Thank you. I just can’t believe that he’s gone, Kenn, and of an accidental overdose of all things. I thought Sarge stopped that shit years ago.”
“It’s crazy. We never know what people are doing or going through. Maybe life was getting the better of him.”
A corner of her mouth lifted before she grabbed her phone and padded into the bedroom to get dressed. Once Ezekiel had time to calm down and think, he had come up with a fool proof plan that’d leave them in the clear while causing the least doubt.
Unbeknownst to Kennedy, Sarge had a little pill habit back in the day, which was the reason her brother didn’t want to work with Sarge. Once Ezekiel saw the man he’d once considered a brother high as a kite off those pills, he decided to drive Sarge home, put him in bed, and let him go in a manner that his family could at least bury him. If it’d been left to Kennedy, she would have made Relic put a bullet straight through the nigga’s skull, but as long as the deed was done; she was satisfied.
The only things that lingered in the back of her mind was where her brother’s money was stashed if no one had stolen it, and whether or not Koda truly had a child.
“Yea, Bean said he’d stopped past before he left with Zeke, and he was acting weird.” Sonny continued filling her in. “She couldn’t put her finger on what it was. When she asked him, he got all defensive and left.”
“Yea, it sounds like he was being erratic. He seemed normal to me at the concert, though. I mean, but we were all fucked up, so nothing seemed off.”
“I believe it. Judging from Zeke’s face, that nigga had to be drunk. I refuse to believe he got his ass whooped like that sober.”
Kennedy cackled before she plucked her long sleeve, powder blue bodycon dress off the bed to wiggle into. The color scheme was shades of blue, while Savvy and Shabu were supposed to wear white. She hoped Titan and Michi had done their jobs of convincing them to do so since their brother and cousin assumed it was just a regular cookout in Relic’s backyard.
“How is he holding up since finding out?” Kennedy inquired about Ezekiel, and Sonny gasped.
“Bitch, you haven’t checked on that man?! I know you have a new nigga, but Zeke lost both his best friends. That man is hurting.”
“I honestly don’t even know what to say to him. My dad talked to him and said he sounded bad. I think I’ll just wait until the funeral to see him,” Kennedy said with her eyes going to the doorway. Relic had materialized like his spider senses tingled at the mention of another man.
His eyes seemed as if they’d irradiated shades lighter to match his blue polo shirt and trousers that coordinated with her dress. He tipped against the door frame, crossing his legs at the ankle while tucking a hand into his pocket. Kennedy tried not to smile. Relic looked so goddamn fine for no reason other than it was a day of the week.
“Sonny, let me call you back. The guests are rolling in, and I need to make sure everything is in order.”
“Do your thing, boo. I’ll see you soon.”
“Yea, you too.”
She picked up her phone to end the call and stuffed it inside of her clutch while Relic sauntered toward her with his eyes doing a casual sweep of her from head to toe. He licked his lips with a hum.
“Are your hips spreading, or is it just me?”
“Just your delusional ass. Is everything finished in the yard?”
He nodded and clasped his hands on her waist to tug her toward him. Kennedy melted against his chest before inhaling his scent with a contented sigh. A yelp shot from her when Relic smacked her ass.
“I’m tossing this out with all those thin ass track sets you love to throw on.”
“But don’t I look cute?”
She stepped back and twirled, making sure to pause so that he could appreciate how good her ass looked in the clingy material, before spinning to face him. Relic nodded and averted his stare.
“You look beautiful. I’m heading downstairs to check on Judith and my Aunt Esther. They put most of the food on the tables already, and my uncle Akon started the grill. Is there anything else?”
