Chapter 5
After Kenzi ate, she excused herself to go back upstairs to attend her second class. I couldn't lie. When I first walked in and saw her and Jax hugged up, my first thought was to beat his ass. That was, until her head lifted, and I saw her tears. Those were the same tears I saw when I first rescued her. I quickly found out that I hated to see her cry. It tainted her picturesque features, and I wanted to do anything to turn off the waterworks. In a matter of two days, Kenzi's ass was making me feel shit that I never wanted to feel again. The danger of penetrating my heart was non-negotiable. The last woman I loved with my whole heart, I almost killed. That woman? My own mother.
Shayna Santana would beat my ass for no reason at all. She hated me for reasons unknown to me, but I just kept on loving her. She was my mother, the woman who gave birth to me, the one who was supposed to nurture and protect me. Yet, she never protected me. She loved Jax, though. He was her pride and joy and could do no wrong in her eyes. While I strived to be an overachiever and make her proud of me, she strived to make my life a living hell. By the time I turned seventeen, I was over it. My intense love for her and to be accepted by her diminished and filled my heart with hate.
One night, she had come home from partying and was drunk. My pops wasn't home yet from doing an event out of town, so only Jax and I were home. She came in late, so I made sure I stayed awake to have the door open and waiting for her. Honor always told us to wait up so we could watch her come inside for protection. That night was the night I almost took her life.
"Why the fuck are you still up? I don't need you watching me come inside," she spat, stumbling into the house.
"Honor told me to do it since I'm the oldest."
"Jax is more than capable of doing the job. Where's my baby at, anyway?"
That pierced me, but I said nothing. "Asleep."
"Well, you can get the fuck out my face now. Bye!"
"You're drunk, Ma. Let me help you to your room," I offered, wrapping my arm around her waist to hold her up.
"Get the fuck off of me! What kind of shit are you on? You tryna fuck your own mama, nigga!" she seethed.
Those words, that accusation, her mistreatment of me after all these years, made something snap inside of me. I grabbed her by her throat and squeezed with all the strength in my body. All I remembered thinking was how easy it would be to crush her windpipe. To watch her fall to the floor like a sack of potatoes and never hear her fucking voice again.
What brought me out of that moment was Jax yelling and begging for me to let go. Her face was apple-red as I sneered and dropped her to the ground. She gathered in so much air that she could have sucked the entire house down her throat. Vomit and tears coated her face as she cried out, and Jax went to her side. I walked over to the corner, placed my head on my knees, and wept. All I'd ever done was try to make her love me like I loved her, but the nicer I was to her, the meaner she had become.
After that night, my pops sent me to live with my grandmother, and I never saw her ass again. Jax, of course, still communicated with her. I, however, would never talk to that crazy, wicked bitch again. She was the reason for my disconnect from giving women my heart. She seared me with her hate for me, and I could never bring myself to give the one thing I had to protect over the years. The only woman who resided there now was my grandmother.
Seeing Kenzi cry was the first time I've felt anything after twenty years. I didn't dog women. I just never extended myself beyond bringing us both pleasure. However, with Kenzi, I could feel a shift in the atmosphere whenever I was around her. I didn't like that mean and rude shit. It was a trigger for me. So, whenever anybody jumped out of pocket with me, it made me want to do them harm. With Kenzi, I'd harm her ass so good that if I asked her what she liked, her reply would always be, "Whatever you like."
"What's that smell?" Jax asked as I helped him clean up the kitchen.
I frowned in confusion. "What?"
He stepped closer to me and sniffed. "Smells a lot like love around here."
"Fuck outta here," I protested, mushing him out of my face. He laughed and started placing his utensils back inside his case.
"You can deny your attraction if you want, but this is something I've never witnessed from you before."
"And what the fuck are you witnessing, Jaxson?"
"Let's see... you bring her to your loft, the place where you seek peace from the world when you're in the city. You called me over here to cook for her, and when you saw her crying, you comforted her. You've never hugged anyone but Grandma Inez."
"What's your point, Bro?"
"Oh, I think you know my point, brother Kai."
Jaxson gave the goofy ass grin he always gave when he thought he had the right answer to something.
"First, you know my condo is in renovation right now, and she wasn't coming to my main house. Secondly, her ass can't cook, and I'd be damned if I did it, so yo' ass was the alternative. Third, she's going through some shit with having to hide out here because some niggas are after her, and the only family she has is the cause of it. I saw a need, so I handled it. Stop trying to make this shit more than what it is."
Jax didn't reply and kept that stupid ass grin on his face. "Whatever you say, my guy."
"Are you done, nigga, because you're about to piss me off?"
"Say less, Bro." He closed up his little rolling case and headed toward the elevator. "Let me know when to get fitted for my tux. Wes can put together the event, and your nieces are already prepped for flower girl duty."
"Yeah, I'll make sure I'll get fitted for that black tux. A funeral at a wedding... imagine that."
Jax guffawed as he got onto the elevator. "I luh you, nigga. Be ready tomorrow. Time to end this shit."
"Indeed. Luh you, too."
The doors closed, and I grabbed my coffee, newspaper, and glasses from the table, then moved to the couch. Taking the remote from the drawer beside me, I hit the button to allow the ninety-seven-inch to descend from the ceiling. Turning the channel to the Channel 4 news, I placed my glasses on and opened my paper. I liked to read the paper and watch the news at the same time to stay in the know of everything. Certain things our news didn't cover, and some things the newspaper didn't cover either.
Grandma Inez turned me on to the newspaper. Every Sunday, she'd sit in front of the television watching reruns of All My Children , One Life to Live , and General Hospital while simultaneously reading the paper. I'd ask her how she could focus on both things, and she would tell me she loved using all of her senses. The smell and taste of her coffee, the noise of the television, and the feel and visual of the paper brought her peace, allowing her to enjoy the small things while she had them. At the time, I didn't get it until she started giving me the funnies in the newspaper and a cup of coffee. After that, it became a routine for me. I made a mental note to go see my favorite girl.
While I read up on the going-ons in DC, out of my peripheral, I could see Kenzi coming down the stairs. I didn't turn to look at her, though, because from what I could tell, her ass wasn't dressed appropriately.
"Is there bottled water?" she asked, now coming into full view.
I glanced at her briefly, and just as I thought, she was rocking some fucking boy shorts showing off that fat ass pussy print, with a crop top that barely covered her mango-sized titties. I chuckled and picked up my mug. She was trying to bait me, and in honor of Grue's wishes, I wouldn't fuck his sister... Like I said, he needed to tell her not to fuck me.
"Instead of going to check, you felt the need to ask me?"
She shrugged. "It's your house."
"I'm sure you've looked in that refrigerator countless times. Stop playing with me." She giggled and walked away as I shook my head and sipped my coffee.
This fucking girl.
She returned moments later and sat on the other end of the couch. She crossed her legs, and I caught a glimpse of her pretty white toes. I tried not to pay her any mind, but it was hard considering I was what Jax said I was... attracted to her. While she played around on her phone, I decided to break the silence since her ass distracted me from reading the paper.
"Are you done with your class?"
"Yeah... I was about to take a nap, but I feel like I need to be productive. Your brother is a great cook. That steak hit the spot. But now, I'm looking for a job since I got fired on my day off." She giggled.
"You didn't need to work there, anyway."
"Oh yeah? And where do you think I worked, Mr. Ruger? Wait, what is your real name?"
"Mekai."
"Mekai... where?—"
"You worked at Truth Gentlemen's Club. You're thirty-years-old, attending Wayne County, and aiming for a degree as a psychiatrist. You live in Rochester Hills in a one-bedroom apartment, and you own a red 2019 Chevy Impala. Am I right?"
"Okay, how the hell do you know all of that?"
"Being friends with your brother, I know your whole life story, mama."
"Wow. And what's your story?"
"I don't have one," I deflected.
I didn't disclose my upbringing because the memories were too painful for me. My peace journey began when I left home and moved in with my grandmother. I wouldn't tell Kenzi that, though. It would only lead to more questions that I refused to answer.
"Everyone has a story. Whether good or bad, everyone has one. But I understand if you don't want to share. Tell me something good about you. What do you like to do?"
"Mona, just because I'm sitting here doesn't mean I want to talk to you about my life."
"Why? I don't have anyone else to talk to."
"I'm only here to buy time and to be present for your scary ass, not talk."
"You're so damn wishy-washy. You comfort me and give me encouraging words, making catcalls to my pussy, but then act standoffish when I'm trying to get to know you."
"I'm not here for you to get to know. And as far as me comforting you, you needed it. That shouldn't give you any indication to make this more than what it is."
"I like your brother better. You're such an asshole." She stood abruptly, walking over to me and knocking the mug from my hand.
Quickly and swiftly, I yanked her ass over my knee, wrapped my arm securely around her waist, and delivered a hard slap to her exposed ass cheek.
Whap!
"Uhhhn! Wait! I'm sorry!" she screamed and tried to get loose.
"Nah, you ain't sorry. You've been begging for this shit for two days. You're not sorry, but you're about to be."
Whap!
The sound of my palm on her skin and her moans circulating around the loft excited me. I rubbed both of her cheeks gently and placed soft kisses on them. She writhed beneath me as I pulled those tiny ass shorts further up, exposing her big, round ass.
She groaned. "Oooh, Mekai... I swear, I'm sorry. Please..."
"That's right, Mona. Let me hear you beg. You wanted this. You got it."
Whap! Whap!
"Oh, fuck, Ruger!"
I pushed her shorts to the side, sliding two fingers down her slit and pushing them inside of her. My eyes rolled to the back of my head, feeling the softness of her walls. Fuck! I wanted to eat it, fuck it, suck it, entangle my tongue around her fucking soul, and snatch that bitch. This girl had me fucked up with her attitude, and I hated that I was trying to honor Grue's words. I couldn't fuck her, but I was going to get some of that attitude up out of that ass and make her think again about who she was talking to or putting her hands on.
"Pretty ass pussy... This is what you want, right? You want a nigga to stroke this kitty?"
"Uhnn, yesss, baby. Yes!" My fingers plunged deeper, tapping at her G-spot. Her body rocked uncontrollably as I slapped her ass over and over again while soothing it.
"Shit! Shit! Shiiit!" she cried out as her body convulsed and her wetness soaked my fingers and my palm.
A groan escaped me, licking her creamy juices from my fingers. My ass was tripping the fuck out. Her smell, her moans, and her cushy, gushy walls all had my head floating into dumb land. I didn't know Kenzi's health status and just licked my fucking fingers clean. She tasted like fresh strawberries, and it was already too late. Just from tasting her juices alone, I was fucking addicted.
When her body relaxed, I scooped her up and carried her up the stairs. Once inside the bathroom, I placed her on her feet and turned on the water, plugging the tub and turning on the jets. When I turned to help her inside, she pulled at my jeans, trying to undo them. I grabbed her wrists, putting them above her head and pushing her against the wall. I slipped my tongue in her mouth, slowly kissing her as she moaned into my mouth. I could feel the desperation in her body language and the way she kissed me back and thrust her hips into me. I bit her lip. She flinched, then I sucked the pain away. I pulled back and stared into her eyes.
"I'm not fucking you," I told her while my lips graced hers.
Her big brown eyes looked up at me as she smirked. "You will."
My phone rang, breaking me out of the trance her ass had me in. I wanted to beast her out so badly my dick hurt.
"Soak them cheeks. I know they're burning." I pulled away from her, leaving her in the bathroom while I took the call.
Anger seared through me, and my vision saw nothing but red as I listened to Jax on the other end of my line. I knew Nino wouldn't let this shit linger. I even anticipated when he would attack, but my timing was off, because I allowed Kenzi to distract me. I wouldn't totally blame her, but she was part of the reason my brother was on my phone telling me my shop had been set on fire. This beef had become personal. That nigga just signed his own death certificate. I was going to go about this the right way and offer the nigga more than just paying his cousin's hospital bill, but nah, my nigga was about to feel me.
"Load up. We setting shit off tonight. Get Meeko to round up the crew."
"Say less."
I hung up and counted down from twenty three times. It wouldn't completely go away, but it would calm me enough not to harm the people around me.
Once my heartbeat settled, I put on my boots and vest, then grabbed my keys from the table. I went back up the stairs and found Kenzi coming out of the bathroom.
"Ghana, this is my third time calling you. Please call me back. I'm getting worried. If you don't call me back in the next ten minutes, I'm leaving here and coming to find your ass. Call me!" she stressed, hanging up.
"He's good, Mona. He's somewhere where there's no service."
"Well, how am I supposed to talk to him? We talk every day."
"I promise when I get to him, I'll have him call you." She nodded.
"My butt hurts. Look what you did." She turned and lifted the towel, showing me the purple handprints on her perfect ass. I licked my lips, temporarily finding peace in the pain I caused. A half smile lifted on my face as she turned back to me with her eyebrow raised. "You're insane."
"I told you not to fuck with me. Come here." I walked into the bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet, and grabbed the witch hazel cream. I closed the lid on the toilet, sat down, and pulled her close to me.
"Turn around." She turned and lifted her towel as I fought the urge to eat her ass. "I gotta go. Some shit went down, and I have to go take care of it," I told her, rubbing the cream on her.
"W—Is my brother okay? I tried calling him three times today but didn't get an answer." She turned her head slightly to look down at me.
"I said he's good. I spoke with him after Jax left earlier."
"Could you please tell him to call me when you see him?"
"Yeah... I gotta go. I'm going to lock you down?—"
"Lock me down? What do you mean?"
"I have to use the security system to lock down the building and the windows."
"Ruger, tell me what's happening, please."
"Just know that by this time tomorrow, you'll be safe and free to go."
"But—"
" Cálmate , Mona Lisa," I told her.
Rarely did I ever use my native tongue because it reminded me of the woman who gave birth to me. Each time I'd use it when she told me not to, I got beat. She told me I wasn't a part of her Latin heritage, so I dared not speak the language. I hated that bitch, so it was fine by me. However, my pops used it to calm us down and run his fingers down our faces.
Kenzi sighed and closed her eyes. Her arms came around my waist, and I could feel her heart beating fast.
"Please bring my brother back to me. He's all I got left."
I kissed her forehead. "You got it, mama." My phone went off again, and I saw Jax's number on the screen.
"Yo—"
"Them Blaze bitches headed toward you! Take girly and get the fuck outta there!" I didn't reply as I tossed Kenzi's luggage on the bed.
"Get dressed. We gotta move."
"What? What's happening?"
"Baby girl, listen to me. We don't have time for me to explain. Get some clothes on, and let's move," I told her, moving to my closet, opening my secret compartment, and pulling out my twin Rugers.
I placed them in my holster, and by the time I walked out of the closet, Kenzi was dressed and ready to go. I took her hand, hurried down the stairs, then onto the elevator. As soon as we stepped off, Benzo and Rocky stood guarding the door.
"Shut it down," I instructed.
"Got you, fam," Benzo replied.
"Come on." I pulled Kenzi through the emergency exit, where my bike was parked. I handed her my helmet and hopped on. I started it up and revved the engine as Kenzi held on to me tightly.
"Are we going to be okay?"
"You're always good with me, mama," I reassured as I peeled out of the parking lot.