Chapter 6 #2
“I asked if you knew how to fight, not swim. Keep your head up. You can’t be afraid to get hit.” I squeezed her wrists tighter when she tried to break free. “There’s one more thing you have to do.”
The pretty lady could only hold on to her mean mug for seconds before a smirk dressed her face. “What is that?”
“Don’t be so cocky. There’s no way you can beat me from the shoulders.”
“Then how am I supposed to take you down?” she asked.
I stood and pulled her up with me, placing her on her feet. “Pressure points. Do you know a man’s most sensitive spots?”
A softness touched her gaze. “His heart.”
“What else?” I hurried to ask to will away the idea of vulnerability sinking in.
She made her brows jump. “His balls.”
“Good girl. Keep going.”
Kannon’s fingers roamed through my beard, then outlined the cross tattooed in the center of my neck. “Right here.”
“Right,” I replied in a voice so low I could hardly hear myself. “Back up. Let me show you something.”
I wasn’t an expert, but I taught Kannon combos that would allow her to take a man down.
An element of trust invaded our connection, allowing her to let me lead.
We went back and forth, jabbing and sneaking each other until she used a combo to get me on the mat.
Winded and panting, Kannon looked down at me with a satisfied smile.
“You feelin’ like hot shit now?” I asked.
“A little bit.”
A loud squeak from the door carried our attention across the room. Echo stepped toward the ring holding bottles of water and towels.
“Hello,” Kannon spoke softly.
“What’s good, pretty lady? You have no business in here busting a sweat.”
I sat up on my elbows with a grimace so sharp it hurt to move my face. “Aye! Why are you being so damn friendly?”
Kannon giggled as she stood to her feet and approached the ropes. “I’ll take a towel.”
Echo gawked at Kannon with a lustful stare as she dabbed blotches of sweat off her glistering, chocolate skin.
I could tell from the way he looked at her that his twin hadn’t told him my business.
I had no place to press my cousin for staring at Kannon, but the truth wasn’t registering in my mind.
A part of me wanted to pay it dust, while another part wanted to pluck his eyes out.
“What can I do for you, Cuz?” I interjected.
“Shit. I came to see who you had in my spot.” His attention drifted to Kannon. “It’s nice to meet you, beautiful. I’m Echo, Neptune’s older cousin. What’s your name?”
She glanced over her shoulder at me, then gave my nosy cousin her eyes. “Kitty.”
I growled, instantly upset at the thought that she was giving someone permission to use a name I gave her.
“I’m just playing. Kannon Blackstone.”
“Blackstone?” Echo’s sight raced to me. I knew he wanted an explanation, but I stayed mute. I wasn’t above explaining my moves because I would still do what I wanted to do. I also knew there was a time and place to handle shit, and now wasn’t the time.
“Echo, I appreciate the drop-off. We won’t be in here long.”
He rubbed his chin, visibly debating whether he wanted to leave or press the issue. “You rushing me off?”
“Echo!” I hollered his name. “Get out before I put you out of your own spot!”
He dropped a laugh into his fist. “All right. I’ll meet you at the spot tonight. Nine sharp, nigga!”
Once my cousin was out of sight, Kannon laced me with a scowl.
“You are mean,” she spat out.
“I’m not mean. I’m just not friendly. There’s a difference.”
“Well, I don’t like it. If I’m on your arm, you will be nice to me, Neptune.”
“And what happens if I’m not?”
Her tongue swept over her teeth. “I’ll lock your ass back up.”
“I’m not worried about it.” I waved her off. “Do you always introduce yourself by first and last name?”
“Sometimes. What’s the problem?” She lifted a brow. “You asked me to be your fake girlfriend, not a secret.”
“That’s not what I asked you. I asked you to be my date for a few functions.”
“Either way, people will see us together.”
“I know, Kannon, but you were being malicious.”
“Whoop-de-do! I asked how your family would feel about us, and you said it wouldn’t matter. Instead of trying to convince me you run shit, you should have spoken to the people you’re close to.”
Never one to dodge the truth, I stood firm as she went off. Though no one could change my mind, Kannon was right about giving my peoples a warning. Deep down, I wasn’t certain how serious the feud was between her father and mine, and I wasn’t in a rush to confront the chaos.
“Where are you going, Kannon? We haven’t talked about the event I want you to attend,” I reminded her when she exited the ring.
“I don’t like to feel kept in the dark, so I’m going to go. Your pockets ain’t empty, so I assume you’ll have a stylist grab pieces and send them to me. I’ll text you my measurements, and your stalking ass has my address.”
She quietly gathered her things, then left me the same way I did the last time we were together.
She was late.
I had been at Michael Delano’s birthday party for an hour, and Kannon hadn’t shown up.
Over the week, she had been acting funny, so I didn’t know how the night would go.
My texts went unanswered, and she was short when she picked up the phone.
Every day, I waited for her to send a message saying she wasn’t coming, but she reached out on Thursday morning, confirming she received the gowns I had delivered to her.
When I glanced up from my watch, I spotted my cousin Levi enter the room.
I called him a few times since I’d met Kannon, and a month later, he still hadn’t gotten back to me.
“You got that look in your eyes, Killa,” Pluto commented as he approached me. “You know we can’t show our asses here.”
I nodded and sipped from my glass of tequila. “He knows it too. That’s why his simple ass showed up after being missing. When did he get back to Slyde City?”
“I’m not sure. I heard he pulled up to the casino last night, but he didn’t come inside.”
“Make sure he knows I want to talk to him.”
“I got you.”
When I looked around the room, I saw my father walking my way with Michael Delano Jr, his lady, and his father.
Since I was a kid, our families worked together and invested in legit businesses in the city.
I never had a problem with the outsiders, though I couldn’t stand the youngest sibling in the pack.
“Neptune!” Michael Jr. slurred my name. “It’s good to see you come from underground.”
“It’s good to see you without a tight-ass suit on,” I clowned.
He freed a drunken laugh, then ushered a pale lady with red hair to his side. “You remember my fiancée, Anastasia.”
I grinned and extended my hand. When I pulled it back, I accidentally brushed against her round belly.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said quickly.
“It’s okay. My bump gets in the way.” She waved me off. “When are you going to have some kids of your own? All of your cousins have little ones.”
Chad, the Delano I hated, entered the circle. “You can’t have a baby if you don’t have a lady. I heard things with you and Chrissy are over.”
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 choose how 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.