Chapter 5 #2
“Relic!” Savvy waved a hand in his face, making him store away the intricate parts of Kennedy he’d been sorting out like a thousand-piece puzzle. He shoved down her hand, making her suck her teeth as she complained, “You’re the one that zoned out! I said come on. The lounge is upstairs. I doubt we’ll be here much longer since Shabu is ready to go.”
“Is that why he sent you to pay for your dress when I told him, I was coming?”
“You caught that, huh?” She glanced over her shoulder at him with a light smile as they ambled around the gown racks and then ascended the corner staircase. “He was just getting it out of the way in case you missed us. You know how you do.”
“Nah, I don’t, because I show up for the important shit. I would’ve shown up for the first bootleg ass wedding, too, if he’d asked me.”
Savvy slowed so that Relic was at her side once they reached the top floor and then directed him toward the private lounge area. She smiled before nudging him with a shoulder.
“Aww, are you jealous he didn’t ask you?”
“What the hell do you think? He asked Titan and Pierre over me like I’m not the oldest and didn’t take care of his ass.”
“Shabu wanted to ask you but assumed you’d say no. He didn’t want to deal with that disappointment, so it was easier to ask someone who’d agree and would be happy for us.”
“So, he doesn’t think I’m happy for him?”
“He thinks you’ve come around and loves that we get along now. You agreeing to walk me down the aisle made his day, but offering to pay for my dress, that did it.”
“I heard the nigga, telling the whole world I was paying,” Relic said with a laugh as she joined in. Savvy pushed open the door to their room as he expressed, “That alone would’ve gotten me here even if I hadn’t planned to show.”
“Like I said, I had faith in you. Tell that to your brother.”
She pointed across the room at Shabu, who had his back facing the door. His arms were outstretched, and legs gaped like he was being searched by the boys in blue, while a frail red head squatted in front of him with tailor’s tape, measuring his inner thighs. Relic spit out a laugh when his brother jumped from her getting too close to his crotch, and Shabu craned half of his body around before showing all thirty-two teeth.
“Oh, muthafucka, you lucky! On my kids, I was riding past that goddamn studio the minute we got out of here.”
Relic removed his coat, tossing it on the nearby chaise lounge before sauntering straight to his brother without acknowledging anyone else in the room. He gripped the side of Shabu’s head and meshed their foreheads together.
“When I give you my word, believe it. I already paid for her dress, so what else do you need from me?”
“We picked out the tuxedos, so grab a drink and get measured.” Shabu flung an arm around Relic’s shoulder and whispered, “Michi got the good shit in that body bag she’s holding. Drink half the champagne out ya flute and then fill the rest with liquor.”
Relic shook his head. “Y’all won’t ever have any fucking couth.”
“Nigga, stop talking to me in rich and just grab a goddamn drink ‘cause you need it. You’ve been more uptight than usual.”
“You try juggling these businesses, a family you been taking care of since a teen, and a fucking son who won’t even acknowledge you as his father and then tell me you wouldn’t be uptight.”
Before his brother could respond to his unwonted word vomit that spewed out against his will, Relic made an about face and headed for the table lined with flutes of bubbling liquid. Appetizers he’d seen Judith sell out of their small apartment before he started making real money were aligned beside it. He hadn’t eaten from the family’s restaurant in a while. After picking up a fried patty to bite, he redirected his attention toward the lush couch where Titan sat with Michi in his lap. Pierre and his girl were beside them, but the final guest he hadn’t expected caused his mouth to stop working mid-chew.
Relic was convinced he’d conjured Kennedy up as he stared at her, seated feet away from his folks in a single chair, nursing a glass of champagne. One corner of his mouth rose when she crossed one leg over the other, causing her wide legged jeans to rise and give him a glimpse of her pumps. His eyes grazed upward, taking the time to appreciate her oversized blazer layered over a lace top that concealed his most favorite part of her. When her glossed lips pursed at his obvious assessment, his dick jumped, making him frown. That involuntary reaction wasn’t one he expected.
He took another bite of his patty and crossed the room to greet his baby brother, dapping him up and then Pierre, who wore a goofy ass smile that forewarned Relic his folks was about to piss him off.
“Hungry ain’t you, gang? You fucking that patty up,” Pierre cracked, making Treasure stuff her face into his shoulder to muffle her laughter. Relic chewed with a slow nod.
“Fuck you laughing at, brainiac? Matter fact, have some. You need to eat.” He held out his patty toward Treasure whose chin dropped to her chest in incredulity.
“I eat, thank you very much!”
“I can’t tell, zèl.”
“What’d you call me?!”
Pierre and Titan fell over each other in laughter, while Relic finished his patty, unmoved by the guileless eyes cutting into him. He was surprised Treasure had spoken to him at all.
She tended to avoid him since he’d seen her naked, thanks to Jessica, who’d lured the destitute girl into his sheets. Had Relic not assumed she was underage at the time; he’d have broken her in and turned her sheepish ass out for his baby mother to have her selling pussy out of a strip club like they’d done Michi. He deemed Treasure off limits once finding out that she was Savvy’s sister.
“He ain’t say shit bad, Bird. It means wings,” Pierre translated for her between laughs.
“Nah, it means, you’re so thin that it looks like you have bird wings. Why do you think he dubbed you Bird?” Relic exposed with a mocking grin. “I know, he sprinkled Blaise dust on that shit to make it nice and shiny, though. It ain’t yo fault, you can’t tell glitter from gold.”
Treasure leaned against her man and shook her head. Relic wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t already know about Pierre’s gift of gab.
“That’s not why he calls me Bird, and the reason he does isn’t meant for you to understand. It’s ours. Besides, he doesn’t use glitter... he has a secret sauce.”
“Say that shit, baby!” Pierre smacked a kiss on her cheek, making her cheese. “Folks trying to start shit, but he doesn’t know that we’re locked in. You know, he ain’t ever had a solid girl, so he doesn’t know nothing ‘bout this kind of bond. Both of his exes were hoes. You saw how his baby momma got down, and I think my bro fucked the other one.”
“You tell her, you fucked Jessica?” Relic snitched.
Michi stood to her feet at that, glancing around before she lied, “I swore, I heard Savvy call me. I’ll be back.”
“Nobody freaking called you! Why didn’t either of you tell me that!”
Treasure snatched away from Pierre who tried to hold her waist, so she wouldn’t leave. Her arm jammed into his gut, making him grunt before he hunched over as she glared at him and then leapt to her feet to follow her cousin. The moment she was out of earshot, Pierre shot Relic daggers.
“You’re taking shit too far now, folks.”
“When do you not take shit too far?” Relic countered, dusting his hands clean. “I’m just returning your energy. Ti frè, you think I went too far?”
Titan smirked and shook his locs from in front of his eyes. “No further than that nigga would’ve gone.”
“Exactly. What about you, big dog Kennedy? You think I overstepped?”
His eyes settled back where they’d been craving to land since he’d walked over, and he caught Kennedy’s frown at him mocking the big dog moniker his folks had given her. The unenthused bat of her curled lashes as she tapped a nail against her flute made him wonder if she’d been too deep in her head to pay attention, or if she simply didn’t care. Her shoulder lifting in response told him it was the latter.
“He talks shit all day. He’ll survive,” she answered, evoking an irked chuckle from Pierre. He spun to prop an elbow on the arm of the couch, and her mouth pursed as a diamond gleaming, shit eating grin spread across his face.
“I can’t wait ‘til Relic stops playing with his food and tosses that shit out like he’s ‘pose to. I know it’s coming. Plate ain’t even that fucking appetizing, if you ask me.”
“Nobody asked you. Now, walk the fuck away before I show you why I run shit, and you don’t.”
Relic removed his shades and tore his gaze away from Kennedy to lash down on Pierre like a firm belt to his ass for speaking out of turn. His folks still hadn’t learned when to hold his tongue, and Relic was close to carving it out of his running ass mouth. Pierre didn’t have a clue about the woman he was threatening, her background, or the fact that their encrypted lingo wasn’t safe around her because she’d been taught a game meant for grown men.
A simple search for her brother’s name had warned Relic that Kennedy was dangerous because she’d been raised by a nigga just as calculative and street smart as him. He realized, it was the reason she kept her mouth shut and him at arm’s length. It also explained his unyielding interest that he’d tried shaking since finding out she was a liability to everything that he’d built. Kennedy was an untied loose end that held a rare power he could use to his advantage.
Pierre lifted to his feet, hiking up his jeans with a roll of his jaw to bite down his grievances. He didn’t have to voice them aloud because he could see the damn wheels spinning behind Relic’s tepid eyes as they locked gazes. His cousin knew they’d made a potential mistake.
“I’m leaving, but not because you told me to,” he spat and then turned to Titan with a toss of his head. “Let’s grab another drink before we head out. I’m gon’ need it to deal with Treasure in my fucking ear ‘bout Jessica’s hoe ass.”
“Nigga, that’s still my nephew’s mother!”
Titan shook his head as he stood to push Pierre forward before slapping hands with his brother in passing. Relic slid his shades into his pocket and then claimed the seat where Pierre had sat once his annoying ass kinfolk was gone.
His elbow rested on the couch’s arm as his mind alternated between watching his family enjoy a moment he was already over and preparing for Kennedy to press him about the statement from Pierre. His eyes kept fleeting to his watch, counting down the time that passed without an interrogation ensuing from her. It wasn’t until the frail lady who’d measured his brother strolled over with a warm smile, a champagne glass, and a wave of her boney hand for him to stand that he figured Kennedy had no intention of addressing the matter. She hadn’t uttered a fucking word, but Relic felt as if she’d one upped him.
“Your brother told me to give you this.” The lady shoved the full glass against his chest, leaving him no choice but to take it. She twirled a finger and directed, “Turn and hold out your arms, so I can measure your back. You and the best man have very strong statures, but the groom and groomsman didn’t get that gene, huh?”
A sputtered laugh drew Relic’s eyes to Kennedy as he rotated to face her. She hurried to stuff her glass between her lips for a sip while containing her amusement.
“Something funny?” he quizzed.
Her head shook as her eyes betrayed her, trailing from one of his outstretched arms to the other to take in the nice fit of his button-down shirt against his solid build. She hadn’t once seen Relic step outside in street attire. Her gaze plunged lower, and the print he couldn’t hide if he tried jumped out at her, sending her eyes springing back to his face. Her eyes rolled when his full lips quirked into a smirk.
“You need security,” she blurted, hoping to settle the light throb between her thighs by focusing on business. His mouth downturned, and she expounded, “For the studio. You need security in the lobby, and a receptionist. Maybe even a guard or driver for P and your other artists while they’re out. Your team is too accessible, and whether you believe you’re untouchable or not, that’s risky.”
“You heard about the studio incident?” he assumed, making her nod. Aura crossed his mind before he pried, “What else did you hear about, big dog Kennedy?”
“Nothing worth addressing with you.”
That pulled a smirk out of him because he wasn’t dumb enough to believe she’d heard about the incident but not about him fucking Aura moments prior. If she were his first girlfriend, the conversation would’ve ended with tears, hands thrown, and rough sex that wouldn’t have stopped him from screwing another bitch. Kennedy not being pressed by the next woman forced him to jot down another notable quality she carried.
“So, what is worth addressing? Talk to me,” he said, watching as the lady circled him, exposing a knowing smile before measuring his front. “You don’t have anything else to ask me about?”
“Besides business, nope.”
After that lie, Kennedy guzzled down the drink she’d babysat since arriving at the bridal shop. It was the only thing she could do to prevent herself from grilling Relic about Pierre’s statement. The question was burning a hole straight through her damn tongue, but Koda had trained her not to react to bullshit because no reaction screwed with a person’s head one hundred times worse.
Relic lowered his arms, studying her for tale signs while gaping his legs when the lady tapped his thigh for him to do so. Kennedy’s relaxed features and comfortable demeanor tempted him to apply pressure on her ass to see if she’d crack—to prove she was a fluke like every other woman that’d crossed his path. The mere thought sent his blood pumping because, for once, he had an opponent who’d make him work hard for his win.
“You know what attracted me to you, Kennedy?” He asked the exact question he had at the gala, causing her to burst into laughter he doubted would last.
“Here we go with this again. What, Relic?”
“Your brother.”
Her amused expression morphed like a light switch had been flipped, and he watched those chocolate eyes darken while her chest rose from a rugged inhale that she held. Relic waited until she released it before he continued.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what made you stand out besides the obvious, and it’s him. You were raised by a thorough nigga, so you move different. I did a little background check,” he confessed, making her fingers tighten around her empty glass. He snapped his finger to garner the tailor’s attention and held out his drink. “Take that to her for me.”
Kennedy tried steadying her breathing as the clueless lady happily pranced over to pass her the glass that she accepted because she needed it to refrain from spazzing on Relic. She regretted mentioning Koda to him. Her hands trembled as she chugged the whole flute and then set both glasses between her feet. When her eyes lifted, Relic gave her a subtle nod.
“You good?”
“What the fuck do you think? Why are you in my business, researching my brother, and—”
“You told me it wasn’t boss-like to hire you without doing my homework, so I did,” he cut her off to state as if it weren’t a big deal. “I found out some interesting shit, but not as much as I’d like, so I need you to fill in the gaps. Tell me the full story about your brother’s passing.”
Kennedy slouched in her seat and gnawed her inner jaw at his request. He was chartering into territory she didn’t speak on with anyone outside of her nephew. Koda was sacred. Her brother’s illicit lifestyle wasn’t one she spoke about in leisure, and their special talks weren’t meant for sharing with the world. With Relic being in the same line of business; he knew that of all people.
“I’ll pass,” she murmured, peering around the suffocating room that she wished she hadn’t entered.
“One mention of your brother, and you’re folding. Look at me, Kennedy. I like it when you give me the eye contact I know he taught you.”
Her lids fluttered over damp eyes before finding the demanding voice that was closer than before. The lady was strolling away, while Relic was sauntering so close that she could smell the luring scent of his cologne. Bergamot with a hint of sandalwood. Her stomach churned as he reached her chair and rested a hand on each arm, trapping her in place while leering at her with the icy eyes that made bitches moist and niggas march to his powerful drum. She sat up to return the gesture, refusing to fold a second time.
“That’s what I’m talking ‘bout. Keep that fucking energy.” A set of pearly teeth emerged from behind his full lips, causing a flittering in her belly. “How about a secret for a secret. I’ll give you something, and you give me that.”
“There’s nothing I want to know.”
“Let that be the first and last time that you lie to me, Kennedy.”
Her stomach tanked before she glanced away and swallowed the sudden knot in her throat. The uneasiness cloaking her doubled when Relic cupped her chin to direct her eyes back on his.
“Now, ask me what you want to know.”
“Why are you so eager to hear about my brother?”
“Let’s just say, there’s a magic survival number in the game. Thirty. Your brother didn’t make it past that and neither did my mentor. I’ll be thirty-one this year.”
“If you make it past thirty,” she concluded, catching a flicker of emotion in his eyes that left as fast as it’d come. A sigh spilled from her before she asked, “How did your mentor die?”
Relic huffed a breath with his thumb grazing her cheek burns like it was natural, while a mental game of tug of war ensued in his head. He couldn’t determine whether to starve her with lies or to feed her truths to gain the information he desired. The latter won because her past held more value than his.
“I killed Bishop because he tried to pop Los behind a bitch. I fucked his sister the same night as an alibi, and she went to bat for my innocence. Harmony is the reason I’m still breathing.”
He left it at that instead of expounding on the fact that Harmony was dumb because she’d thought with her heart and the wet slit between her thighs rather than her brain. A part of him believed she’d known the truth but had rather believed the lie.
“Wow. That wasn’t what I expected to hear. Is she the one that fucked Los?”
Kennedy catching on to that from Pierre mentioning his two exes vexed him, but he didn’t show it. “Yea,” he uttered, and she nodded.
“What was she like?”
“Wild, spoiled, and more focused on finding love through her pussy than getting money with the skills her brother had taught her. She was nothing like you.”
His confession made Kennedy tuck her lips before pushing them outward with a heavy exhale. She flipped her hand palm up, placing a finger in the center to explain the night of her brother’s death in the same terms Koda would’ve broken it down to her.
“Koda went out guns blazing a week after his thirtieth birthday. He had this big ass party, but when it was time to go, he was drunk off his ass. So were his pawns.” Her finger swiped across her imaginary chess board to knock away the pieces on the front line. “Tekken’s mom died during childbirth, and my brother took that loss heavy. No queen.” She picked up another imaginary piece off the board to toss over her shoulder. “His knight and bishop were home with their families because, even though they held him down, they had bowed out of the game before him. I guess, they cared about that magic number more than my brother.”
Los . Relic immediately thought of his cousin leaving the game after getting shot while grabbing a pregnant Nubia ice cream from the corner store. His folks still came through whenever he called, but Los had played it safe since then.
“Your brother was wide open,” he surmised, dissecting her imaginary board. It struck him, he lacked even more pieces than Koda.
“Yes. By the time anyone noticed what was happening, it was too late. They got the guys, but my brother went down first. Checkmate.”
“Where were you?”
Kennedy blinked, taken aback by his question. Her tongue grazed across her top row of teeth when that night flashed through her mind. She and Tekken had sat up all night, waiting for Koda to walk through the door, but it never happened.
“I was supposed to go, but Koda changed his mind at the last minute. He always wanted me home, even though I was old enough to roll with him by then. I should’ve pushed harder to go since I knew he’d get wasted and that his people wouldn’t watch him like they should. I always told him that, but he didn’t see it. I swear, as much as he taught me, sometimes I still saw the board clearer than he did.”
“Two eyes are better than one,” Relic stated before he stood. “Take a ride with me.”
“What?”
“The only person I know hard of hearing is Paris. Get up and let’s go, Kennedy.”
She cackled before shaking her head. “You need to learn how to talk to people because I’m not a woman you can boss around. Ask me nicely.”
Relic contained the smirk threatening to form on his face at her demand. His fingers toyed with the watch on his wrist before he pulled out his shades to slip on.
“The fact that you’re serious is almost cute, big dog Kennedy. I’ve hustled to put myself in a position where I give orders but never have to take them. I’m not asking you shit nicely.”
“In that case, this conversation is done. Not so nice talking to you, Relic.”
She stood from her seat and tried strutting past him, but his fingers clenching around her arm stopped her dead in her tracks. Her eyes narrowed to slits before her head rotated to see a cocky grin on his face.
“Be a woman of your word, Kennedy. Don’t you owe my son a date?”