Chapter 10
Neptune
“Tune. What’s wrong, baby?”
My head hit a sharp right. “What makes you think there’s something wrong?”
“We’ve been sitting in the car for ten minutes, and you haven’t said a word.”
Kannon’s lighthearted tone cracked the shell that had my body tight.
For hours, I debated on whether or not I should go to my father’s birthday party, but I knew my absence would stir the pot.
Ever since my run-in with the man who confronted me outside of Kannon’s house, I kept my distance.
I didn’t know if I believed we were brothers like he claimed, but the possibility kept me up for days.
“Tune, we can find something else to do if you’re not ready for me to meet the rest of your family.”
“That’s not the problem. There is no problem. You look too pretty to be in the house. Plus, Easy is looking forward to meeting you.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “I’m ready.”
I exited the car and walked around to open Kannon’s door.
Since the night I made love to her, I had been extra gentle with the sensitive lady.
Though I got thrown off the night I had to use my gun at her place, I still believed Kannon was pregnant.
She wouldn’t give me a clear answer when I questioned her reluctance to take a test, but little did she know, I wouldn’t give her a pass today.
As we made our way through the open side gate, I ran my finger up the back of Kannon’s thigh.
“Cut it out.” She groaned. “I’m already nervous about meeting your family. I’ll be damned if I walk around with a wet spot on my pleated skirt.”
“Don’t worry, Kitty. Those who matter will love you.”
“But what if they don’t?”
“They better keep that shit to themselves.”
The party was reserved for family, but we still walked into a houseful.
Half of the guests were in the entertainment room, while the rest were on the golf course.
Echo and Pluto called me over when we made it to the open field, but I asked them to give me a second.
Before I could relax, I wanted to get the hardest introductions out of the way.
My uncles had been asking about Kannon since my dad met her at Michael’s party.
I didn’t want one of them to corner her when I wasn’t around, but I also didn’t want her to feel like I didn’t trust her to roam free.
“All right.” Kannon released a heavy huff as she pulled down her vest. “Take me to the wisemen. We may as well handle that first.”
“I can do that, but I need to feed my babies.”
With a cozy grip on her hand, I guided Kannon to the food.
A large room, big enough to split into two full kitchens, was decked out with black and blue balloons and props that highlighted my father’s age.
Once it was our turn to order what we wanted, Kannon swore she wasn’t hungry, but she couldn’t keep her lips off my fork when we sat down.
“If you gon’ eat, at least say grace.”
Her eyes went around in a circle. “Oh, please. I’m not really eating, . . . more of a munch.”
“Either way, you’re fueling your body. Give the Lord thanks.”
Kannon rolled her neck and placed her hand on one hip. “When did you become a God-fearing man?”
“That’s the only man I fear—cooking and Christ. Those are two things my mama left me with.” I scooped up a forkful of fruit. “Open up.”
As Kannon savored the fresh food, I saw my brother enter the room with his favorite lady. I pointed out Easy and Stephanie to Kannon, and as soon as they had plates in hand, I invited them to sit with us.
“No, thank you, Neptune. I would like to spend alone time with Stephanie,” Easy replied.
I smirked. “I respect that. Well, before you get ghost, can I introduce you to Kannon?”
My brother’s downturned gaze swept over to Kannon. Being the gentleman he was, Easy extended his hand. When she accepted the gesture, he bowed like he was meeting a queen.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kannon.”
“Same to you. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about you, Easy.”
“Yes, there are only amazing things to hear,” he replied with confidence that was befitting. “I’m going to go now.”
“All right. I hope we can hang out soon,” Kannon countered.
“I will check my calendar,” Easy answered, then went to sit with Stephanie at a table nearby.
“Okay. That was easier than I expected.” Kannon whistled out a breath. “Now that I’ve met the most important person in your life, my headache should go away.”
My brows bunched together. “You’ve been complaining about your head hurting for two weeks. Make a doctor’s appointment.”
“Neptune, please don’t start worrying about me.”
“Then put my mind at ease and make an appointment. I’ll go with you.”
“Sounds like a date. For now, a little sunlight may actually help.”
I nodded. “I’m done with the food. Let’s go golf. I’m sure the old heads are out there.”
I had lived on the estate since I was five, so I was no longer impressed by the luxury amenities, yet Kannon seemed impressed. She mentioned how our kids would love going to Papa’s house, but with the way I felt about my father, I didn’t know if things would play out that way.
Before we had the chance to start a game, my father and uncles walked over. As usual, each man held a cigar and a glass of dark liquor. They all wore golf clothes, but my dad wore a Kangol hat I wanted to knock off his head.
“There’s my beautiful daughter-in-law.” My dad spread his arms wide.
Kannon played into the facade and fell into his embrace. “Happy Birthday, Mr. Sinner.”
“I appreciate it. It’s good to see you, Kannon.”
Uncle Lester snickered into the top of his glass. “I wish I could say the same. You’re a troublemaker.”
“Moi?” Kannon placed her hand on her chest. “I’m not all bad. I just protect my folks, and I love hard.”
My favorite uncle, Luke Sinner, stepped forward, making his presence felt. “Ain’t nothing wrong with a little trouble when it’s this pretty. When are you going to bless my nephew with a baby girl with eyes like yours?”
“What the fuck?” Uncle Lester’s bushy brows crowded in the center of his forehead. “Why are y’all encouraging this bullshit? We don’t fuck with the Blackstones. Why do you think we would want to mix bloodlines?”
“Is that another rule?” I interjected.
“It’s common sense!”
Out the corner of my eye, I saw Kannon flinch at his loud outburst.
“Hey, this isn’t a conversation we need to have right now. If you have a problem with who I love, keep it to yourself.”
Uncle Lester stumbled back while releasing a phony laugh. “Oh, shit. Your speech at the casino was real? You aren’t just fucking her.”
My chest swelled with rage as I shuffled in my elder’s direction, but Kannon caught me by my shoulder.
“Baby, let’s just go,” she insisted in a sweet cadence.
“Baby?” Uncle Lester sounded like her echo. “Little girl, does your daddy know you’re running around town with a Sinner?”
“Well, my father is out of the country. My daddy is right here.”
My lady’s lighthearted joke made everyone laugh except the angry bird, who kept inciting an argument. Sick of my family member’s poor attempt at bullying, I stepped in front of Kannon, blocking his view of her.
“I don’t know what your issue is, but address all your questions to me. I respect you enough to give you an answer, but I love her enough to check you when you’re talking to her sideways.”
As if I didn’t say a word, Levi’s enabler glared at my father. “Ryan, you really approve of this?”
He shrugged. “I tried to tell him. It is what it is.”
“So you don’t have no control over your son.”
I snarled at the hypocrite. “You so worried about me being controlled when you’re blind to the bullshit Levi is into.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Levi’s dumb ass borrowed over a hundred bands from the Blackstones. That’s how I met Kannon in the first place,” I said without going into details.
“Tune.”
I heard Kannon, but I kept staring my uncle down. “Your son is a fucking bum, and you have to accept the fact that you raised him to be that way. You’re the reason we don’t get along. You’ve always put us against each other, then you get pissy because he can’t compare.”
“Boy! I will beat you down!”
“Tune!”
A name only Kannon called me soared into the air for a second time, but this go around her voice held an uneasiness that led me to glance over my shoulder.
For what felt like ages, time moved in slow motion, seeing Kannon’s eyes roll in the back of her head and her body hit the grass.
Like a fish out of water, her frame convulsed then locked up repeatedly.
After she revealed what we believed were our biggest flaws, I researched Kannon’s condition.
I remembered it was best not to touch the person and make sure there were no hard objects around.
I felt helpless watching her seize, so I laid in the grass beside her, not giving a fuck who was watching.
“Come on, baby. You’re all right. You’re all right, Kitty.” I coached Kannon once I saw her limbs relax. When she came to, I could see the light return to her pretty, brown eyes, though tears made them glossy.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, breaking my heart.
“Baby, you don’t have shit to be sorry about.” I pushed her hair back off her forehead. “You hit the grass hard. I need you to get checked out.”
She shut her eyes and nodded. “Just give me a minute.”
“I got you. We’ll stay here as long as you need to.”
Echo and Pluto came over and sent everyone watching to the other side of the yard without me having to ask.
Eventually, Kannon allowed me to pick her up and drive her to the hospital.
Once I told the nurse what we were there for, she took Kannon to a room without making us wait.
My stubborn girl got upset when I insisted the nurses give a pregnancy test before performing an X-ray or CT scan, but she agreed when I reminded her of the risk she would take with not knowing.
“Neptune, you are being dramatic. We could’ve taken the test at home.”