“Games?” She cackled before retorting, “That’s more your forte. I didn’t play about a thing. I told you that I was leaving because I needed space from you. I told you, I’d be here ‘til you handled that situation for me, too. Is the bitch dealt with, Relic? Did you take care of it like you claimed, or did fucking bitches in dressing rooms occupy too much of your time?”
“If I was occupied, I wouldn’t be here listening to you worry about the wrong shit, Kennedy. Get in the car.”
Relic moved aside, giving her space to do so, and her face screwed up at him brushing the Aura incident under the rug. She let it go for the time being and puffed out an exasperated breath.
“Look, I’m not leaving, but my mother wants to meet you. Let’s get this over with, and try not to embarrass me, please. Come on.”
Relic’s gaze flicked to the open door and back to her. “Come on where?”
“The damn house! And before you try to go back and forth about it, know that your only options are to come in or leave. I don’t ask you for shit, Relic, but I’m asking you to have my back this once. My mom is a worrier, and she told me, she can’t lose another kid. I—” She stopped and swallowed as Relic stared with an unreadable expression. “That got to me because I know I’mletting her down. I’ve been doing shit she wouldn’t be proud of and that I swore not to do after Koda passed.”
“But you did it anyway for me,” he tacked on, saying what she didn’t.
Her smoky eyes lined in smudged mascara grew soft, and Relic huffed but shut his car door to head toward the house before his mind changed about doing some shit that he’d never done a day in his life.
Kennedy hurried to catch up, cutting him off once he reached the door. She could make out her dad’s stentorian voice as she held up both hands to stop Relic in his tracks.
“Before we go inside—”
“Do you want me to do this shit or not, Kennedy?” he snapped, cutting her off. “Don’t try and give me rules. As long as your parents respect me, I’ll do the same. Can we make this shit quick because it’s not what I came for, and I have more important things to worry about.”
“Look, if what I’m asking is such a chore to you, make it easier for us both and leave. Believe me, introducing you to my parents was not on my bingo card, but you popped up to bother me.”
“So, I’m bothering you?”
“You’re damn sure not bringing me peace. But that’s what you need from me, right? The only time you pop up when I’m not talking to you is if you need a favor, and I peep your damn game. Tell me, I’m wrong.”
“I can’t because you’re not.”
Her shoulders sulked and chest deflated at that, but it didn’t convince Relic to elaborate on the things she hadn’t peeped. She was so focused on the negatives to where she overlooked his use for her exceeding favors and beneficial arrangements.
Kennedy had caused some type of internal damage to his brain and chest worse than Joseph and Judith because she’ddone the unimaginable. His biggest distraction had made him interdependent. Kennedy was his first call after his opposition had caught him lacking, but she’d deserted him, unlocking an emotion Relic had stored away after he accepted that Judith wouldn’t love him to the capacity as she did his brothers.
He suspected it was the very emotion his son endured when he didn’t show up to games or made promises that he couldn’t keep. Disappointment was a muthafucka. The shit hit harder from Kennedy because Relic hadn’t known she could make him feel it.
His head shook as he brushed a hand over his waves, taking a step back since walking away seemed like a better choice than allowing her claws to sink any fucking deeper into him. Before he could take the saner option, the screen door creaked open, and a slim woman whose aged beauty rivaled Judith’s stepped out with a warm smile that held a pinch of Kennedy’s sneakiness in it.
“Good morning. I’m Kennedy’s mother, Diane.” She held out a hand that Relic stepped up to take because her soft energy was inviting.
“Relic.”
“Mhm, Kennedy told me after I spotted you loitering in front of my house. Did she ask you in for breakfast yet, or is she not done giving you a hard time?”
“I asked him, Momma, but he—”
“I could eat,” Relic interrupted, making Diane’s smile widen while Kennedy sucked her teeth. “I can’t stay long, though. There was an incident at my restaurant where my niece and guard were injured. I need to get home soon to check on them.”
“Wait, what niece? Are you talking about Navy? Isn’t she your only niece?” Kennedy shot out questions as her pulse sped. “I talked to Savvy in the group chat yesterday. No one mentioned that to me.”
“Maybe it happened when your phone was on do not disturb, so no one could reach yo ass. Did you think about that?”
Relic didn’t give her time to respond before accepting his breakfast invitation from her mother. He raised a hand over Diane’s head, holding open the screen door for her to enter before he followed while Kennedy stayed put, trying to regain her composure he’d rattled with the information about Navy. She needed to get in contact with Savvy.
As soon as she stepped foot in the house, she hurried straight to the couch and grabbed her phone to call the girl who’d been there for her at her lowest point after shooting Lomar. The line rang as her gaze veered to Relic, where he was surveying the images of her, Koda, and Tekken lining the walls, while her mother expounded about when each photo had taken place. She doubted Relic cared, although he tuned in like he was invested to appease Diane, and she appreciated that.
“Have you spoken to Savvy today?” she interrogated, hanging up when the call went to voicemail. Relic glanced at her over his shoulder.
“I haven’t talked to her or my brother since I left the hospital last night.”
