Ezekiel chuckled, but it waned when he didn’t detect an inkling of playfulness in her eyes. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. It happened a few days ago, and I was detained for a while, but a friend of mine has a mean ass attorney that got me out. It was self-defense anyway.”
“A friend.” He parroted her descriptor like she hadn’t heard herself. “What kind of friend, and what does he do that he can afford the type of attorney that’ll get you out of a murder charge?”
“Let’s just say, I have a type,” she alluded, evoking a contemptuous scoff from him. She could tell from his tight expression; she’d crossed a line she wasn’t aware had been drawn.
“I guess, you didn’t learn your lesson, huh? Why the hell would you go find another me?”
“Another you?!” She cackled before assuring him, “I can say with the utmost confidence, you two are nothing alike.”
“We’re all the fucking same, Kennedy! Every nigga in the game is. So, while you’re thinking he’s different, know a time will come where he disappoints you or you end up hating him for some bullshit just like when you were with me. It’ll always be issues with street niggas like us because you’ll never be first over our self-interest, especially while we have the world at our fingertips. Me and Koda put you on game to where you should know this shit by now.”
His rant struck a chord and hit too close to home with Kennedy, but her face remained lax and her poise unfazed like none of it bothered her. Ezekiel had done a number on heremotions for years; she refused to give him a fresh tick mark on the list of damages he’d caused her spirit.
Ezekiel inspected her face for signs of being triggered by his words but spotted none. He got up to stand in front of her with his arms folded while digesting that, either she didn’t care about him in the capacity he did her, or she’d mastered her poker face and concealing her emotions like Koda had tried teaching her for years.
“Look, I ain’t trying to hurt your feelings,” he fibbed, staring in her sensual eyes that used to bring him to some of the best nuts of his life. He pushed those thoughts aside to explain, “I’m just reminding you of the truth. The same truth Butch or Koda would tell you if he was here.”
“Do you miss him? Do you even think about him?”
Jarred by her abrupt topic shift, Ezekiel’s features fell as he scrubbed the nape of his neck. The sadness that crept into her expression at the mention of Koda made him wish he’d stayed home with his wife versus creeping out to see a woman who’d tried to kill him physically and mentally. Kennedy was dredging up memories that Ezekiel had left behind and didn’t care to rehash.
“Was it a hard question? Koda was your best friend, right?” she pressed.
“You know he was my fucking best friend. More than that, he was my brother. I miss him more than you know, but I don’t dwell over it because life goes on.”
“So, what? You put him in the dirt and forgot about him like he wasn’t shit? Did you even try to avenge him?”
Ezekiel frowned at her interrogation about a situation she couldn’t comprehend, but he didn’t get the chance to repudiate her claim before his doorknob jiggling sent both their eyes shooting toward his door.
“Bitch, you been fucking Zeke since we were kids and ain’t tell me shit?!”
Sonny stormed inside the office with his older brother behind him. Kennedy huffed a dramatic breath before she hopped off the desk to amble over to him while Sarge shot her an apologetic smile she didn’t care to accept.
“I thought he already knew.” He copped a plea before embracing her in a tight hug. “When one of the bartenders told me Sonny was here with someone and then described them, you’re the first person who came to mind. I had to see for myself, but I should’ve known Zeke would beat me to it.”
“I didn’t think I’d see either of you so soon, but since you told my business, when did you find out about Zeke and me?”
“At his bachelor party. Dumbass nigga got drunk and started reminiscing, forgetting about how he told me years ago that he never—”
“Shut yo ass up,” Ezekiel gritted, cutting Sarge off to address her. “None of that shit matters. It was years ago.”
“Agreed. So, Koda never said anything to you about finding out about us?” she investigated.
Kennedy pretended not to, but she caught the pointed looks they shared before Sarge turned the other cheek, and Ezekiel shook his head.
“Nah, he ain’t say shit to me, Kenn. You know that.”
“I was making sure because I technically never asked, and Tek mentioned recently Koda and my dad had argued about it. Apparently, Butch heard a conversation between us, but Koda didn’t believe it.”
“Well, there’s your answer right there. Koda wouldn’t accuse me of something he didn’t believe.”
“Yea.” She went silent before prying, “Another thing, and this is it. Did my brother have anyone else he trusted that he might have told about his money? A chick he was dealing with or—”
“Hell no.” Ezekiel gave a vehement shake of his head. “You know Koda would’ve told us if he was serious with someone.”
“Sarge...” She batted her classic lash set at him to hear his opinion, and he cleared his throat.
