Page 43 of Disrespectfully, Relic

“Why?”

“The same reason you make eye contact better than men when we talk, or clean your house more than most women. Those things were taught to you. Joseph taught me a good hit or two would shut a woman up or make them act right. I’ve been trying not to, though. I don’t want Jah going to Shabu all the time because he sees me as a bad role model,” he added, staring off into space with that confession. “Been trying to remove myself from situations when I get the urge, but that doesn’t always work.”

“I don’t care what does or doesn’t work. Just don’t try that shit with me.”

“And what happens if I do?”

Kennedy peered up as if she had to think about it before leveling him a serious look. “I’ll show you what every bitch should’ve done that let you try them.”

Relic poured a glass of liquor, staring into it while digesting her warning before he tossed it down his throat. He hissed a breath before planting those beautifully cold eyes on her.

“I believe you, and that was your last question.”

“I’m not done,” she replied in a stern tone. Relic leaned back as she snatched his bottle to drink straight from the mouth—cringing from the burn before passing it back to him. “Secret for a secret?”

The suggestion made him pour his second glass that he didn’t hesitate to toss back. One remained. His eyes shut as his closeted skeletons went into a frenzy at the prospect of being let loose from their prison. When his lids peeled apart, Kennedy was giving him that eye contact that forced him to prove he was better at it. He decided to push the envelope—to reveal his flaws until Kennedy realized she couldn’t stomach him.

“What do you want to know, big dog Kennedy?”

“Did you try to rape Michi?”

“No.” The conviction in his tone left her no choice but to believe him.

“Did you know who assaulted Savvy but hid it to protect Jessica?”

“Yes. I hid it, moved Savvy’s snake ass friend in, so she wouldn’t tell where she got the drugs from to knock Savvy out, and then—”

Relic paused, holding in the truth thrashing at the back of his throat for a release. He grabbed the bottle to pour his final glass, swallowing down the harsh liquor with his confession that he’d given the word to set Mya’s salon on fire after she ratted him out to Shabu about giving her and Kiko the drugs.

“And then what?” Kennedy pressed, but he shook his head.

“And then it was my turn. Are you disgusted with your scars?”

“Hate ‘em more than anything in this world.”

His lazy eyes roamed the marred side of her face before he swore, “I love everything about them, and one day you’ll realize they’re the best thing that ever happened to you. Do you believe, I’ll hurt you?”

His statement frazzled her to where it took her some time to register his second question. Her nails raked the table as she considered telling a lie but then figured the truth held more weight.

“Yes, but I hope you know, I wouldn’t give you a reason to. Maybe your paranoid ass will even trust me one day. Did Jessica give you a reason not to trust her, and that’s why you set her up?”

“Who said, I set her up?”

“Did you not?”

Kennedy raised an arched brow, waiting for him to decline or confess playing a hand in Jessica’s death. The answer was right in her face as she watched his bright eyes deaden the longer they matched gazes.

His tone was acidic when he threatened, “Ask a new question before I end this shit.”

“Fine. Why don’t you trust women?”

“Because the one that was supposed to love me most did this.”

Liquid courage and an axe to grind with the woman who’d birth him sent Relic to his feet before he unbuttoned his shirt, not caring that he was giving Kennedy a part of his past he didn’t share with a soul. No one knew what happened that day besides his brother and Los. His gut tightened as he recalled the terrified look on his mother’s face before a searing heat had met this torso, causing his knees to buckle from agonizing pain. The smell of burnt flesh had made him black out before he’d heard Judith scream and Shabu yelling while Los enveloped him in a bear hug. Relic didn’t regret shit he’d done and wished he’d done worse.

“What is this?”

His eyes dipped when soft fingers met his skin, grazing over the imprint that he could easily hide, unlike the scars Kennedy showed the world on a daily basis. She kneeled on the couch, outlining the discoloration before she gasped once figuring it out.

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