“Tek, why do you have Toot out this late, or early, or whatever the hell it is?”
Both their heads shot up before Tekken sprang to his feet and raced over, embracing Kennedy in a hug so tight that her spine curled. He pulled back and let his tired gaze roam over her before he sighed with a shake of his head.
“I always knew your bad taste in men would land yo ass in jail one day.”
A cackle erupted from Kennedy before she playfully pushed her nephew just to pull him into another hug. She needed his comfort. Tekken was the sole person outside of Koda who she trusted without lingering doubts about if it was safe to do so.
“Man, I thought they took you from me. I was scared out of my fucking mind when I saw the video footage,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head as she stuffed her face in his chest. She had to get her shit together, or she’d break down again. “I guess my dad teaching you to shoot paid off.”
She nodded and let him go. “It did, and I’m going to teach you soon. I know you don’t get into shit, but you’re around niggas who do, so it’s a must. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Bet, but who’s the mafia looking ass dude following us?”
Tekken tossed his thumb over his shoulder as they all strolled out of the precinct with Morrone redirecting in the opposite way, respecting their privacy.
“He’s Italian, and he’s Relic’s attorney.”
“Oh, so that’s why my cousin was here,” Toot chimed in. Kennedy’s steps faltered before she played it cool.
“Relic was here?”
“He didn’t come inside, but I saw his car like an hour ago when I came out to take my brother’s call. That might be why Pierre hit me up. He didn’t have another reason to randomly call at five in the morning, claiming he wanted to make sure I was cool.”
Tekken scoffed. “He definitely was trying to see what was up, but I ain’t even tripping. They got my aunt out of this bitch, so I’m good. How did Relic know?”
“Because I was with him.”
Kennedy ripped off the band-aid, knowing it’d hurt their relationship in the long run if she lied and it got back to him through the grapevine. Her heart lurched when her nephew mugged her, and she saw nothing but Koda in his heated glare.
“So, youarefucking with Relic?” he verified, but she couldn’t admit it aloud. “And let me guess, all the bullshit you dealt with last night is because of him? That’s why he sent his lawyer and had Pierre call to make sure you were straight.”
“No, it’s not because of him, Tek.Iwas fucking with Lomar, and my dumb ass let him see too much. The only reason I’m telling you about Relic is because I don’t want lies between us or beef again. I know you’re mad, but—”
“You’re damn right, I’m mad, because what the fuck are you doing, Kennedy?!”
“Nigga, you better take that bass out yo tone, talking to me like I’m one of your little hoes!” she snapped before stalking into his face. Her finger poked at his chest as she reminded him, “We’re close in age, but I’m still your aunt, Tekken. Respect me!”
“Respect yourself! Make better decisions about who you’re fucking, like you tell me. Then, you were tripping about me selling, but you get with the biggest fucking—”
Tekken stopped to drag a hand over his mouth before peering around the empty parking lot for prying ears once remembering where they were. Toot moved beside him to entwine their fingers.
“Y’all should have this conversation later. Like, not in front of the police station later,” she whispered, squeezing his hand as he nodded in understanding but kept his eyes on his aunt.
“We don’t have to talk about it again because youaregrown, Kennedy. I’m just trying to look after you like my dad would. I ain’t trying to see you hurt like when you got burned and yo wack ass ex left you for dead, or after Zeke cut you off.”
The mention of her first love took her aback and sent her brows dipping in surprise. Kennedy recovered just as fast, rolling her eyes while her heart tried leaping from her chest at the reminder of a sordid past she assumed Tekken knew nothing about.
“Nobody was broken over Zeke. What’re you talking about? And unlock the damn door!”
He twisted his mouth to one side, pulled out his keys, and hit the locks before calling her out on her bullshit.
“You ain’t gotta lie about fucking with him, big dog. Pops heard y’all fussing on the phone one night, and you said Zeke’s name. Pops ain’t talk to you about it since you were acting like the world was ending, but he snapped on my dad for not protecting you. Pops was saying that Zeke groomed you, and he would check the nigga himself, but dad said he’d handle it. I don’t know if he got a chance to say anything because...”
Koda died a few weeks later.
Kennedy felt like she was slowly dying, too, as those painful details sank in. The air thinned to where she grew lightheaded the more that she wracked her brain about it and why Ezekiel hadn’t once mentioned to her that Koda had found out about them.
She leaned against the car before murmuring, “Why didn’t you say anything, Tek?”
