“Not that I know of. Koda and Zeke were closer, so he would know more than me. You’ve been searching for the money all this time?”
“Nope. I took it as a loss, but it crossed my mind that maybe Koda had found someone he loved. A person he’d want to make sure was straight, knowing we would be.”
“That does make sense.”
“Anyway, can we get back to our drinks, bitch? I got a few more in me before I’m popping this good ass bussy on a handstand.” Sonny diverted their awkward conversation and bit his finger in pretend coyness.
“I’m actually going to call it a night. I’m not built like I used to be,” Kennedy replied.
“You know what? That’s perfectly fine because now I don’t have to feel bad for ditching you for the nigga I saw watching me at the bar. Zeke will walk you out.”
Sonny gave her a quick hug, handed over her keys he was holding in his clutch, and then pranced away, leaving her to wait for Ezekiel. Kennedy watched the man that she used to love as he locked his office door before leading her through the lounge, along with Sarge, like they were her secret service team. She realized that was one of the things she’d missed most about having them and her big brother around—the protection. The very thing she’d argued Relic down about not doing for her.
Even that nostalgic recollection didn’t change the fact, she didn’t know present day Ezekiel or Sarge and possibly had never known them at all. Between her discussion with Ezekiel, and the sketchy answers Sarge gave her; they had her mind reeling, and she wished she could talk it through with Savvy. Kennedy knewthat was a foolish move since Savvy was Shabu’s wife, and Relic’s sister-in-law, first and her friend second, no matter how many times Savvy tried to tell her otherwise.
Kennedy decided she’d figure out her own problems and stick to the plan, especially since she preferred being inaccessible at the moment. Tapping back into her fucked up reality didn’t sound appealing, so the bullshit and the frustrations she wasn’t in a mood to face could wait until she was good and fucking ready to address them.
Kennedy wasin the best sleep of her life when a hard pinch to her thigh sent her shooting upright in alarm. She glanced around, squinting from the light before realizing where she was after noting her mother standing above her with a chastising glower. The last she recalled, they’d been on the couch talking after she got in from meeting up with Sonny, so she must’ve dozed off while Diane was chatting a hole in her head. She adjusted the top of her halter dress before groaning because her head was spinning from the shots she’d drunk kicking in more than she’d anticipated.
“Sorry, Ma. I swear, I didn’t get makeup on the couch. I’m getting up.”
“Ain’t no point in rushing now. You’ve been there the whole night like you don’t know, I hate y’all stanking tails sleepingon my furniture,” Diane chided as she strolled to the window. Kennedy frowned and sniffed herself before sucking her teeth.
“I don’t stink!”
Her mother hummed while spinning the tilt wand to open the blinds, as if the living room wasn’t brighter than her sensitive eyes could take.
“So, you went to Sarge and Zeke’s lounge last night, I assume? You got to see them?” Diane pried, glancing over her shoulder.
“I did.”
“How was that for you? Seeing Zeke after all this time and whatnot.”
“I guess it was shocking, but it didn’t move me or stir up old feelings, if that’s what you mean. Have you known all this time, too?”
“I did. I was hoping that you’d come to me about it at some point, but you never did. That kind of hurt my little old feelings, but you were always closer with your brother and Butch. A girly tomboy if I’d ever seen one.”
A sigh fell from Kennedy as she stood. “I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it and still don’t, honestly. I’m mad that y’all know in the first place. I prefer to keep my dumb decisions private.”
That pulled a laugh from Diane before she peeked out of her window, causing her amusement to abruptly cease. Her arms crossed as she pivoted to face her daughter, who seemed to attract men problems worse than flies on shit.
“So, this new guy that your father told me about. Is he considered a dumb decision, too?” she checked, garnering a childish pout from Kennedy.
“Why is your husband telling my business?”
“Because that’s what we do. My husband and I don’t keep secrets in this house. Answer the question.”
“Ma, I don’t know. It’s complicated.”
“Well, you need to uncomplicate it fast because if he’s a dumb decision, you have about a minute left of keeping it private. A random man is standing outside of my house, and judging by that fancy car, I think it’s him. I can go and get Butch to check if—”
“No!”
Kennedy dashed to the window in an instant, peeking outside before her stomach flipped at the sight of Relic at her family’s home. He was leaning onto the same car he’d chauffeured her in on their first business date to meet with Tolliver, while his iridescent eyes lasered at the house as if he were contemplating whether to leave or break inside to drag her ass out by her braids. She released a dry laugh at the irony of the bullshit and frustrations she’d shut herself off from following her miles away. Relic’s audacity didn’t surprise her.
Kennedy stomped to the couch and pulled her phone out of her purse since she refused to go outside. With her emotions running the show, there was no telling the way she’d react once face to face with him again.
Her brows pinched at the incessant text messages that popped up, but she bypassed them before her head reared back at the unexpected twenty next to Relic’s name when she checked her call log. A mass explosion of flutters filled her stomach, but she disregarded it and thumbed his icon. His prosaic voice wafted through the line before she could brace the phone against her ear.
