Page 22 of Tainted

5

Kenyon

“It’s Keyes motherfuckin’ birthday!” Sydney yelled, standing on the bar.

The way she was pumping the champagne bottle, you would’ve thought it was her birthday. I didn’t take for granted turning another year older and wiser, it just didn’t bring the same excitement the older I got. Sydney didn’t think so, twirling around the bar. Unfortunately, I had seen this movie and was close enough to step in when she took a wrong step.

“My knight in shining armor!” Sydney smiled, landing in my arms and resting her head against my chest.

Security fought the sea of patrons eager to say they attendedKenyon Keyes's Birthday Bash.When we reached the back, I sat Sydney in the chair,taking the bottle out of her hand.

“You gotta’ chill, Syd.”

“Chill?” She slurred, pouting her lips.

“Yes, otherwise I’m locking your ass in Kross’s office.”

Sydney’s shoulders slid backward as she did her best impersonation of a sober person. Kross opened the door with Pedialyte in hand as if on cue. I took the bottle from him, cracked it open, and passed it to her.

“I’ll be good, Kenyon,” she slurred, using my government name to prove she was serious.

“You’re full of shit.”

“I promise,” Syd moved closer, snaking her arms around my torso before pecking my lips. “Besides, I need to sober up for later when the real party starts.”

Her mischievous grin had Kross covering his eyes.

“Do I need to give y’all freaky asses a minute?”

“Shut up!” Sydney hit him on her way out of the room.

“What are you going to do with her?”

I brushed off his concern and said, “Surprised to see you out tonight.”

“It’s my shit. Where else would I be? Besides, who else is going to watch you? It damn sure isn’t Syd.”

“Nobody needs to watch me.”

Kross let out a single chuckle. “Yeah, okay.”

“I know you have strict rules and shit,” My fingers curled into air quotes underscoring my sarcasm. “But try to relax and get some ass tonight. That’s what I want for my birthday.”

“Nigga, I didn’t ask,” Kross rebutted.

“Oh fuckin’ well. I love you, but shutting the world out won’t bring her back. It ain’t healthy for you either.”

“Neither is taking care of Sydney, so you don’t have to worry about your own shit. I guess we got that honest,” Kross patted my shoulder while taking the beer bottle out of my hand.

“I wasn’t done!”

“You are now.”

It might have been my birthday, but I was on a mission to make my brother enjoy himself. He deserved happiness after everything we had been through, but that seemed the farthest thing from his mind.

The evening unfolded like a scene from a music video with flashing lights, bass rattling the walls, and an air thick withsmoke. The club was filled with guests, each one seemingly more thrilled than the last to be part of the festivities. And then, Sydney got on stage.

“I need the birthday boy on the stage!” She yelled into the mic.

---