Page 54 of Disrespectfully, Relic

“That stopped working long ago, Kennedy. Just make sure that whatever you do or say makes sense to my logic, and we’re good. That other bullshit you’re talking about doesn’t and will never matter to me.”

Relic might as well had tossed a pail of cold water in her face with how much he’d jilted her with his decree. She sighed at the fact he believed such an asinine falsity about himself, but a part of her wasn’t surprised. He’d voiced it before. Kennedy wasn’t certain whether he’d come to that conclusion, or if others had forced that notion into his head.

Her gaze softened as she stressed, “You’re not the monster everyone paints you as, Relic.”

“Oh, but I am, baby. I just make that shit look good.”

She didn’t have time for his words to register before he walked off, bringing their conversation to an abrupt close. Kennedy hopped off her desk to race around it before he could leave.

“Wait! The card you gave me. What does it say?”

Relic stalled at the door with his hand on the knob. He glanced at the box stored in a corner with the roses he’d given her stacked on top like his gestures didn’t compare to the nigga’s whose gift she’d stationed on her desk. His stare stoned before landing on her.

“If you haven’t taken the time to figure it out, maybe the shit doesn’t matter to you as much as you just made it seem, Kennedy. Your mouth said one thing, but your actions prove another.”

Her mouth gaped and then shut along with her office door that Relic opened, slid out, and gently closed behind him. Kennedy rolled her eyes with a heavy breath, realizing she’d probably never figure his ass out.

Instead of dwelling on his baseless accusation, she returned to the salon’s main area to continue entertaining her guests. Relic’s frame heading toward the door caught her attention before she peered at the bar where she’d left Savvy and Michi. She smiled once noticing Michi was missing, but Shabu had taken her place with Navy clinging to his leg, and Indigo propped on his hip.

“Aww, look at daddy daycare,” she teased.

“Kenn dog! What’s good?” He held out a hand in greeting once she neared him. Kennedy dapped him up but then frowned when he kept hold of her hand with a raised brow. “What the hell did you just do to my brother?”

“I didn’t do anything to his moody ass!”

Shabu laughed, letting her go before digging his fingers in Navy’s golden coils as she peeked at him with a sheepish smile. Savvy wrapped an arm around his waist, and Kennedy grinned because they were the cutest little family.

“Nigga has been moody as fuck,” Shabu agreed, refocusing on the topic at hand. “I’m gon’ try to get him drunk off his ass tonight ‘cause he needs to relax.”

Kennedy’s gut toppled at the mention of Relic going out. It was the second time her body had reacted to that news, and she was convinced her intuition was giving her a warning. Koda had told her once that his sixth sense saved his ass plenty of times.

“Watch after him,” she blurted, wiping Shabu’s playful expression off his face. “Relic can handle himself, but keep an eye on him still, and don’t let him drink too much. I doubt he will since he has—”

“A cap,” he finished with an inquisitive stare. “He told you that?”

Kennedy fabricated a lie so fast; she surprised herself.

“No, but I noticed it when we went to a business dinner. Either way, play him close, okay? Relic is cautious, but he can’t be the only person on guard because if he’s watching all of you, who’s watching him?”

Her valid point made Shabu bob his head, although his eyes squinted because it was as clear as day that she was worried about his brother. He planned to chop it up with Relic to see what the hell was going on between them.

“I got him, Kenn Dog. Ain’t shit going on like that, anyway. We just turning up and having a good time. No bullshit,” he promised, lifting a hand for added measure.

Kennedy wanted to believe him, but that nagging feeling wouldn’t allow his vow to ease her doubts. If she thought for even a second that Relic would listen to her, she’d convince him not to go because she’d endured the exact feeling the night that Koda had been gunned down.

“Aye!Hold that nigga up, Titan! Keep him steady! Fuck is yo big ass good for if you can’t do that?!” Shabu shouted, and Titan flicked him off.

“Nigga, I got him! Record and shut the hell up!”

Relic didn’t have many regrets, but as he watched the circus in front of him, he regretted bringing his ass to the club—business related or not. Music droned in his ears, and strobe lights flickered through the section, giving him a clear view of his brothers and label artists turning up while he stood tucked off in a corner. His scrutinous stare beamed on Titan holding up Pierre as some bitch rode him like they were back in high school at a house party. He pushed out a breath, recalling the time Harmony had her first party where they’d snuck upstairs to fuck since her brother wasn’t present. Relic should’ve known when he’d peeped her grinding her ass on his cousin’s dick, in the same manner as the hoe riding Pierre, that she wasn’t shit and would solidify what Joseph had taught him about women. That night was the same night him and Los had run a train on her.

His concealed eyes wandered to the table where three beverage tubs sat, each filled with ice and two bottles that made him swallow to moisten his dry throat. It’d been close to a week since he’d drank because he couldn’t wrap his mind around how he’d allowed Kennedy to coax him over his limit. Not indulging in liquor or her were the punishments he’d given himself. Relic hadn’t decided which was worse until seeing Kennedy at the grand opening, looking as good as her pussy felt. Had she not soured his mood by talking about emotions and his mutilated heart; he would’ve caved and bent her ass over the office desk.

“Gran frè!”

Relic blinked, tearing his gaze away from the table when Shabu called for him. The annoyance he’d felt since entering the packed club intensified when he spotted three bottle girls entering their section, fanning sparklers in the air while bouncing a Relic Records sign above their head. One girl carried a black case instead of liquor, and Relic figured it was for him when Pierre’s drunk ass stood beside her and waved him over.

“Bring yo fucking ass nigga!” he rushed. Relic walked slower just to piss him off.

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