Chapter 17 Kennedy #2
Kennedy tried to keep her distrust from bleeding into her gaze.
She couldn’t help but wonder if Relic was doing what he accused her of—omitting details or withholding important information.
The thought to tell him that she’d seen Mya crossed her mind and then left just as fast as it’d come.
If she brought her up, it would backfire since Relic was too intuitive to let it go over his head.
Kennedy took another route and hoped he’d give her something.
“Do I know the informant whose name was there?” she pried, studying his cool demeanor that didn’t change.
“You don’t know her, but you know her son. Pierre’s baby mother, Chalise.”
Kennedy screwed up her face before a dramatic gasp escaped her, and she slapped a hand over her mouth once the name clicked. The last person who’d crossed her mind was Paris’ mom.
“That one got me, too. She claims to have proof that I sent Pierre’s best friend to murder Jessica. She was fucking Jay behind my folk’s back, so there’s a chance his bitch ass was pillow talking.”
Relic broke down Chalise’s involvement, omitting the part where she’d also implicated Pierre for Jay’s murder as well.
Kennedy remained mum, struggling to grapple with what she heard.
It made sense why the girl was so fucking adamant about staying away and refusing to visit her son.
Chalise was biding time until she put Relic behind bars.
“Did you tell Pierre?”
“If I tell P today, she’ll be dead tomorrow. He’ll find her ass and do the shit in broad daylight. What’d you tell me? I have to protect my investment.”
“Fuck!” she shouted and then expelled a sigh.
“So, on top of Chalise having information more credible than your ass made it seem, you have a rat you can’t locate, and a CI you don’t know the name of,” she summarized, and Relic scrubbed a hand down his mouth.
He knew the situation was more dire than he was selling it to her.
“It was one thing when I knew what the Feds had on me and could control what was being relayed to keep my folks out of it. This infestation changes things. We have to improvise before they pick up everyone.”
“Wait, are they going to pick me up again, or are they waiting until you’re arrested?
See, this is why I wanted to fucking fight it, Relic!
We could’ve already dealt with the snitches, found the rat, and ended this shit, but you rolled over like a bitch, and I fucking let you.
I got sidetracked by bullshit when I should’ve kept my eyes on the objective.
I can’t believe I let you fold like a pussy. ”
Relic smirked before bending to cup her chin and kiss her glossed lips.
“Long time, no see, Big Dog Kennedy. I missed you.”
“Go to hell.” She pushed him away, and he chuckled. “I’m serious, Relic. We’re letting everything fall apart, and I can’t watch. I cannot fucking do this again.”
“Don’t run,” he stressed, grabbing her face in both his hands.
“That’s why I was hesitant to hand over the folder.
It’s a setback, but we can fix it, Kennedy.
You need to trust that I can keep you safe.
Can you do that for me? Nothing else about our plan has changed. You don’t have to choose right now.”
Her features pinched at the latter of his statement, but then it struck her. Relic had taught her to choose them, but when it came to him or her, he’d taught her by example to choose the selfish but logical route.
Relic had taught Kennedy to choose herself.
Before she could respond, the office door opened, and the secretary stuck her head inside.
“Mr. And Mrs. Morrone would like you to join them in the conference room, Mr. Blaise.”
“Will do, Mandy.”
Relic shot her a smile while taking Kennedy’s hand to help her stand, and Kennedy noted the red slowly pouring into Mandy’s bland face. When Mandy caught her staring, it heated a shade darker before she scurried off. Kennedy sucked her teeth.
“Where are your shades? I swear, it’s your damn eyes that have woman foaming at the pussy for you.”
“Is that what pulled you in?”
“Nope. I have big dick radar. It went off as soon as I saw you walking like you couldn’t close your legs.”
Relic spit out a bout of laughter, making her smile as they walked the echoing hall toward the conference room.
The closer they neared it, Kennedy’s breathing shortened like the air was thinning around her.
Her heartbeat firmed against her chest, and her gut coiled so tightly, she caught a cramp.
Kennedy would’ve thought she was walking the green mile with how her body was malfunctioning as they reached the door.
Relic pushed it open and then clasped a hand at the nape of her neck.
“Relax, Larenn. I can see your posture locking up. It’s just us and them. Alright?”
She nodded before easing out of his grasp to claim a seat next to Abiza, while Relic rounded the table to sit next to Morrone. Her oval shape nails raked the table, exposing her nerves, but stopped after Relic glanced down at them.
“Alright, let’s get started. Contrary to what I thought, the contract seems cut and dry, but I’d still like to go over it with my client.” Abiza got straight to work. “She’s also given two things she’d like to add.”
“Go over his fake ass bucket list first,” Kennedy said, making Relic chuckle before crossing his arms.
“It’s a lot of shit in this contract that I’d never do on a normal day, so it’s a bucket list to me, but proceed.”
“Firstly, is the custody of Jahleel. Morrone has started the petition for temporary guardianship, but it takes time. Once Relic is arrested, it’ll speed up the process.
Jahleel’s other parent is deceased, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
For the time being, Relic has given you power of attorney.
It gives a non-relative permission to make decisions about his schooling and medical situations. ”
“So, this thing with Jahleel is temporary? I won’t have custody of him.”
“One step at a time, Larenn. I can’t just hand over the rights to my son. I won’t have Jah thinking I abandoned him, no matter the situation. Yes, it’s temporary for now.”
She nodded. “Understood.”
“Second is the house. Kennedy, once they finalize the sale, it won’t be in either of your names, but of course, for obvious reasons.
You must live there at least a year before the process to change that begins.
Also, if you relocate or leave within that time frame, you breach contract and will have to pay back all monies made in this deal. ”
“Wait, why is there a time frame?” Her eyes bounced from Abiza to Relic. “We didn’t discuss that.”
“It’s to make sure you don’t leave him or run off. It’s to give Jah a chance, even if you hate me.”
“I want his grandmother and sister to be able to visit him,” she blurted, watching his face morph to stone.
“It’s one of the things I’d like to add.
He’ll need family. If you don’t want yours to know where we live, at least let him have them.
Do you really think Jahleel will just move and never see his sister or grandma? ”
“That’s what a car is for, Kennedy.”
“I want her to be able to visit him as she pleases. Since you’re changing shit, so am I.”
Relic plucked his chin hairs before countering, “If she can visit, you have to take Jah to my mother’s house every other weekend, and you have to stay with him there.”
“Done.”
His face fell at her cooperation since he figured she’d put up a fight. Relic narrowed his eyes.
“You’re up to some bullshit, Kennedy.”
“Far from it. It’s called a compromise. You’re just not used to giving something to get what you want. You like a more forceful tactic.”
“What else?” he asked Abiza, glossing over her retort that was more spot on than he cared to admit.
“There was a previous contract that stated she will get full ownership of her salon once you’re arrested. I’d like to add that into this one as a soft reminder. Morrone, if you’d be so sweet to start that process for me, thank you.”
Morrone glowered at his wife and then cut a side eye at Relic, who laughed.
“She’s a shark like her husband. I respect it.”
“Thank you, Relic. At least someone does. Now, back to this contract. My only issue I have personally is the wait time to receive the money. Why?”
“Hold the hell up. What wait time?”
Kennedy snatched the contract out of Abiza’s hand to skim it until she spotted where Relic had added a month’s wait time before she could receive her million dollars. She knew bullshit when she saw it.
Relic was giving himself time to adjust to any possible hiccups. A month was more than enough time to deem her unsuited for the delicate task he’d bestowed on her. It was the perfect amount of time to have his fucking folks to put her on ice if he made that call.
“Take it out, or I’m not signing shit.” She smacked the contract onto the table as Relic rolled his neck with slits for eyes.
“What’s a month going to make or break, Kennedy?”
“You know exactly what it’ll change. Do you want me to trust you or not?”
She caught the minute slouch of his shoulders before he leaned forward, resting both forearms on the table and clasping his hands together.
“A week.”
“And I want some kind of protection. I have no damn idea what or how, but I want it, Relic. You know why.”
Relic glanced at Morrone, whose head was shaking in disagreement to whatever their exchanged look meant.
He leaned toward Relic, and a whispering match commenced between them before Morrone conceded, sitting back with his sharp eyes going to his wife.
Abiza lifted her shoulder like it wasn’t her fault.
“What just happened here?” Kennedy whispered in her attorney’s direction. Abiza shrugged again before she grabbed the paperwork her husband slid across the table.
“Oh, wow. So, he wants her to—”