My vision raced to my father. He was already glaring at me, and I could hear his disapproving thoughts.
“You’re late. We’ve been over for at least a month. Not that it’s any of your fuc?—”
“Watch your mouth.”
A soft voice slid over my shoulder, extinguishing the fire I was about to set. I didn’t have the chance to face Kannon before she was at my side, introducing the aroma of citrus to the group. She left her Diana Ross wig at home and rocked her pixie cut, giving her high cheekbones and unique tattoo room to be showcased. Draped in a brown corset dress, she matched my fly, though the dress wasn’t a gown I picked out for her.
“Are you over here getting into trouble?” Kannon caressed my beard.
My straight face cracked into a grin. “You’re late.”
“Forgive me, love. Beauty takes time.” She attached her frame to my side. “Introduce me to your friends. Well, your family. You and this gentleman share the same handsome face.”
My father blushed like he had never received a compliment. “Ryan Sinner. And you are?”
“Kannon.”
His brows lifted. “Last name?”
“I don’t have one,” she replied, sending my lips into a sideways smirk.
My father shared the same expression as he kissed the back of her hand and welcomed her to the party.
“Kannon.” Anastasia chimed in. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a nurse.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father place his hand over his chest. “Damn, I didn’t expect that. Pretty women in our world believe spending our money is their job.”
“Well,queens have the right to choosehow they live. I choose to work, but trust me, I do my fair share of spending too.”
Chad straightened his tie while he looked at my date like she was a piece of meat. “Damn, Neptune. You and Chrissy broke up yesterday, and you’ve already snatched up another woman?”
I simpered at Kannon. “Nah, she snatched me up.”
Kannon continued to impress the group with her alluring energy and interesting small talk until Michael Jr. reached for her hand.
“Appease the birthday man. Let’s dance,” he suggested.
Quick on her feet, Kannon pinned me with her seductive stare. We didn’t exchange words, but when I winked at her, she understood I gave her my blessing.
“As long as your wife is fine with it, I don’t mind,” she replied to the waiting man.
Michael Jr. freed a belly-shaking laugh. “Anastasia is a secure woman. I’m more worried about your man. I can see the vein in his forehead popping out.”
“Trust me, Neptune has no reason to worry. Let’s go dance.”
Michael Sr. asked his daughter-in-law to join him on the dancefloor, and Chad slithered to the bar. I hung back, flattered by how Kannon seduced every man within arm’s reach with just her presence. Her dance moves weren’t inappropriate, but I could see Junior fall deeper in love every time he blinked.
“Neptune!” My father’s voice interrupted my daydream. “Let me talk to you for a second.”
Already knowing the topic, I prepared to bite my tongue. Anytime someone questioned me, it felt like a sign of distrust, and I hated feeling as if I needed to defend myself.
“What the hell are you doing with Kannon Blackstone? Isn’t that Jeremiah’s daughter?”
“His youngest.”
My father’s chunky cheeks crowded with air. “Why is she here?”
