Relic stood, brushing a hand down his shirt to remain composed. Aura was sticking her nose into shit that didn’t concern her, and his patience was wearing thin.
“Where’s your phone, Aura?”
“It’s in the dressing room with my stuff. Why?”
“Because the quicker we get this over with, the better for you. Let’s go.”
He didn’t leave an opening for backtalk as he waltzed into the changing room, peering around before he spotted her phone on top of her pile of clothes she’d come in. Aura rushed in behind him and locked the door as he swiped it up.
“You gon’ get us kicked out the store if they find us in here together, Relic!”
“I’ve been kicked out of better places. Hit her up and let me see what you said.” He held out her phone and she snatched it, punching in the code as he added, “Her name is Ronnie runs the show or some stupid shit close to that. Figure it out.”
Aura’s eyes went wide at the name, and Relic picked up on her sudden nervousness but didn’t address it as she opened her social media and typed in the correct account without having tosearch it. His antennas shot up when he saw they followed one another. As soon as she opened her inbox, and he peeked down to see they’d previously been deep in conversation, he ripped her phone from her hand.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
She lunged for him, and Relic gripped her by the thin bralette, tearing the fabric as he slung her aside like a rag doll while skimming a conversation that revolved around someone who wasn’t thinking about either of them. Aura hit the wall with a thud before pouncing at him again, but a scream lodged in her throat when he snatched her up by a handful of hair. Relic yanked her head back so hard that she thought her neck snapped, and then slammed her on the floor, bashing her head onto the bench to hold it there.
“Scream if you want to,” he gritted, mashing his palm harder on her face as she whimpered before clawing at his arm.
“Get off—”
“Shut the fuck up! I tried to do this the easy way, but you bitches love to piss me off. Why the fuck do either of you have Kennedy’s name in your mouth?”
“Ronnie messaged me,” she whimpered, wriggling in pain from the pressure he was applying to her skull. “She asked which stylist did my hair at the grand opening and then mentioned working with Kennedy. I didn’t say—”
“You didn’t say what? Because you did a whole lot of fucking talking to me. You claim to not like bitches, but as soon as it came to talking shit about Kennedy, now you’re friendly. You don’t even know, if it weren’t for her, you’d be locked in with me until the hairs on your pussy turned gray. Instead of hating, you should be on your goddamn knees, kissing her ass to thank her.”
He shook his head in disappointment and continued scrolling their conversation, making sure to check the date on their first interaction to verify it was around the time of thegrand opening. An amused chuckle slipped out at the fact Ronnie was talking cold cash shit about Kennedy to a chick she didn’t know from a can of paint. It told Relic all he needed to know about her ass.
The hoe ran her muthafucking mouth too much, and if the wrong person got a hold of her, she’d spill the beans on why Lomar tried robbing Kennedy in the first place. It was imperative, he got to Ronnie before the police did. He continued scanning their discussion until he reached their last conversation that sent his lids fluttering as the sudden urge to beat Aura’s face to a bloody pulp swept over him. Relic squatted and took off his shades to stare in her eyes.
“So, this bitch sent you to Tekken for information on what happened to Kennedy?”
“It wasn’t like that! I swear,” she cried, attempting to shake her head to no avail. “She asked did I hear about it, and I told her no. She told me what was being said in the stylists’ circle and mentioned Tekken may have better tea. I didn’t tell her anything, and you can see that!”
“Because Tekken didn’t tell you shit since he’s not as fucking gullible as you. Yo dumb ass is telling business to a girl you never met in yo life without knowing who she’s affiliated with. Since you love running those dick suckers, let’s give muthafuckas something to talk about, Aura. Tell the people how your so-called sister really came out your pussy.”
Aura burst into instant sobs at Relic threatening to tell the world her little sister was her daughter. Her father was still processing her label interview where she revealed that she’d been raped at thirteen, so his heart would break if he found out her sister was the product of it. The truth would decimate their family because her dad would find out her mom knew who the actual father of her little sister was the whole time, and her sisterwould hate her for not choosing motherhood over living a child free life. Aura grew sick at the mere notion.
“Please,” she whined as Relic stared at her without an ounce of pity. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t bring my sister into it. She’s innocent.”
“You think I give a fuck about that? See if the original video Treasure thinks she deleted won’t pop up online if you try me, Aura.”
He released her face and stood, sneering down at her as she wiped an arm across her nose with a sniffle before covering her exposed breast with a hand. Relic balled his face in disgust.
“Fuck are you covering up for? You show your naked ass online any chance you get. Invite your little friend out with you like I said. If you even think to tell her that I—”
“I won’t say anything,” she promised, and he slipped back on his shades with a subtle nod.
“Let this be a lesson to watch your mouth, Aura. You better pretend that you forgot how to use your goddamn tongue before you ever speak on my bitch again. That’s a first and final warning, so don’t take it lightly.”
He exited the dressing room, adjusting his attire as he scoped the vicinity for prying eyes and trekked toward the main door. A group of young girls scampered off when he passed, but he doubted they heard the exchange between him and Aura. If they did, he didn’t give a fuck.
Relic kept his head on a swivel as he strolled through the overcrowded mall and to the double doors that parted once he neared, allowing him access to the parking garage. A bout of paranoia struck from being in an enclosed area, and he pulled out his phone to call Drish who he’d picked up once dropping off Jahleel.
“Yea, boss man.” Drish answered on the first ring.
