Kenyon
K ross was struggling to keep things afloat without Megan wrangling the girls. He called this morning in a panic, rambling about a bunch of shit I didn’t care about. Phoenix and Diamond weren’t getting along, making his job harder, while Rajah threatened to burn the building down if anything went wrong tonight.
“Everything okay?” Zara asked.
“Yeah, I have to handle something for Kross.”
“So much for a lazy morning in the bed,” she smiled while Kyce played with the remote.
“It’s always some shit to do.”
“Shit!” Kyce repeated, causing Zara to narrow her gaze.
“Really, .”
“Come on, Mama, you’re getting me in trouble,” I smiled, tickling her tummy.
“I don’t want any excuses about being tired later. Kyce is going to my Mom’s, and you’re coming out.”
“You’re Kyce’s mama, not mine.”
Zara ignored my comment, scrolling her phone while I headed to the bathroom. I had to go to the dock and receive the shipment from Javier’s people because Kross was losing his shit. I decided to wait until afterward to tell him Zara solved his problem, leaving him to suffer a little longer for all the times he got on my damn nerves.
After getting dressed, I leaned across the bed and kissed both of my girls on my way out the door. Halfway to the warehouse, Sydney’s name popped up, but I was relieved to reach her message.
Syd: Hey, finalizing the guest list for my donor dinner. Do you need a plus one?
Me: Yeah.
Syd: Gotcha. Thanks!
After John’s case was officially closed, Sydney took that as a sign to live in her truth. Now, she was getting into politics to do everything her father wouldn’t. Some days, the guilt ate at her, and she’d call for a reminder that she did the right thing. Outside those moments, Sydney was the happiest I’d ever seen her.
We received the shipment, and I didn’t have to curse anybody out. That was a blessing, so I quickly hopped in the car to go home and relax before we hit the club later.
“Everything straight?” Kross immediately asked, answering my call.
“No, it’s not,” I smirked, knowing my response would send Kross spiraling.
“Where are you?”
“On my way home. That went straight, but I saved your ass twice now, so you owe me nigga.”
“What the fuck do I owe you for?”
“Just now, and solving your little problem at the club.”
“Zara agreed to help?”
“Fuck no, but she suggested getting Rajah to do it. That’s not a bad idea.”
“Hell no. The last thing I need to do is give Rajah more power than she already has.”
“She’s your best option, and despite her not listening to shit you say, we both know she could run Utopia in her sleep.”
The line grew quiet because I was right, as much as Kross hated to admit it.
“The words you’re stuck on are you’re welcome.”
Kross groaned. “Fuck you, Keyes.”
Hanging up, I drove back to the crib. Zara and Kyce were already gone, so I decided to take a nap because I knew I was in for a long night of playing chaperone.
I leaned against the bathroom doorframe, watching Zara in front of the mirror, twisting her curls into a style I couldn’t name but knew would look good, like everything she did.
She caught me staring in the mirror and smirked.
“You gonna stand there, or are you planning to help?” she teased, brushing a hand through her hair.
I grinned. “I’m just here for moral support.”
She laughed and returned to her hair, her fingers moving quickly as she pinned the last few curls. “I think I’ve got it covered. You just focus on getting yourself together.”
I was already dressed. Simple but clean, nothing too flashy, but I knew I looked good, and Zara’s eyes on me every few seconds told me she thought the same.
“Do I look okay?” she asked, stepping back to check herself in the mirror. She was wearing a red dress, showing just enough to have me biting my lip, knowing I’d be thinking about peeling it off her all night.
I walked over, sliding my hands around her waist, my chest against her back. “You look more than okay,” I murmured, kissing her shoulder softly. “You’re gonna be why I don’t make it through the night.”
“Let’s go before you change your mind about leaving the house.”
Before we left the house, I grabbed the keys to my grandfather's old ride—the '69 Chevelle. I’d been working on that car for years, ever since it was handed down to me, but I finally finished. Every piece of chrome was polished, the engine purred like a beast, and tonight was the perfect time to take it out.
When we pulled up to Utopia, the bass from the music rattled through the parking lot. It was a typical Saturday night, packed like always, but tonight had a different vibe. Rajah was the star of the show, and we were all here to support her.
I felt eyes on me as we walked in. Women glanced my way, some bold enough to hold their stare, but none moved. Not like they used to. I had Zara on my arm now, and that alone seemed to keep them at a distance.
And I liked it that way.
We found our crew near the VIP, and Nolan was already nursing a drink while Shaudi chatted with a new dancer.
“How’d you get this nigga out the house sis,” Shaudi asked as Zara greeted everyone.
“ Keyes knows who the boss is,” Zara joked.
“He wasn’t letting you out of the house without him,” Nolan added because he knew me well.
“It worked,” Zara shrugged. “Can I see Rajah, or do I need an escort?”
I raked my bottom lip between my teeth, pulling Zara into me. My grasp was firm but gentle enough to make her laugh.
“Don’t get in front of these nigga’s and forget who the real boss is,” I warned.
“Okay, Daddy . I’ll be back. If Brandy gets here, text me.”
She excused herself to check on Rajah before she took the stage, but it wasn’t long before I spotted Sydney making her way through the crowd. Her tall frame was hard to miss, and her bold style always made her stand out.
“Hey, Keyes,” she said, greeting me with a friendly hug.
“Wassup Syd.”
“I’m surprised to see you around these parts tonight.”
“Zara dragged me,” I admitted.
“Well, I couldn’t miss Rajah’s Last Rodeo.” A theme that Zara helped curate when Rajah decided she was hanging up the floss, “I know she’s going to show out tonight.”
“I bet yo’ ass couldn’t.”
“Preparing for this campaign dinner has me stressed. What better way to unwind than with ass and titties.”
Sydney signaled the bottle girl, ready to start her night when I noticed Zara twisting and turning her way through the crowd. Sydney waved with a polite smile, greeting Zara. It wasn’t icy, but it wasn’t warm either. Considering our complicated past, that was their relationship, and I couldn’t ask for more.
“Back so soon.”
“Rajah kicked me out. You’re making me emotional, Freshie, and I don’t need this shit ,” Zara mocked.
The music kicked up, and I slipped my arm around Zara’s waist, pulling her closer to me. I didn’t care who was watching, and from the way she leaned into me, neither did she.