Page 84 of Disrespectfully, Relic

He spit out a laugh at that before bopping over to Savvy and flinging an arm around her shoulder. “Man, he’ll be back soon. He already said if Relic ain’t ducking off, he ain’t doing that shit either. You’re a Bonnie Jr., though, so you ain’t new to this shit. You’re true to it.”

Savvy’s features pinched before her narrowed eyes shot to Kennedy, who sat in the driver’s seat with a compunctious gaze that told Savvy so much without uttering a single word. Her girl had known. Kennedy had been aware of that shootout well before it had taken place. Savvy snatched the keycard from Pierre and stomped over to her.

“Bitch, you could’ve told me that my husband was in that van,” she hissed.

“Like you told me that Relic had gotten shot?”

Savvy didn’t debate that rebuttal because she’d played that information close to the chest while relaying to Kennedy what’d gone down at the club. Shabu had told her in confidence, so she couldn’t break his trust.

“A point was made,” she admitted as a gentle smile broke through on her face. “Look, I don’t know how you feel, what’s going through your head, or how much you already knew. Shabu never told me his plays, so I’m unfamiliar with this part. What I can tell you from experience is, what you do at this moment will shape what you don’t or do have with Relic. I’ve been there and almost let those conflicting emotions you’re experiencing ruin my relationship. Get out and take care of him, Kennedy. If you still feel like running tomorrow after the dust settles, I’ll understand. Relic won’t, but you know you’re my girl, so I’ll have your back.”

“If you’re my girl, be real with me.” Savvy’s smile fell as Kennedy angled in her seat, pinning her with an intense, unblinking stare. “Don’t be Shabu’s wife or Relic’s sister-in-law. As my friend, tell me what the hell I should do?”

“You picked the wrong friend to ask that because, unlike them, I love it here.” Savvy held out the keycard for Kennedy to take. “If you want someone to talk you out of it or to say run, I can call Nubia, Lexi, and my big cuz over here.”

“Don’t.”

Kennedy sighed before she reached inside to shut off her car, grabbed her purse, and then hopped out to shut the door while hitting her locks. Pierre cheesed when she accepted the keycard and trudged toward them as they started for the elevator.

“Big dog Kennedy! Ain’t that what my folks call you?” he pried with that shit eating grin of his that exposed gleaming grillz and soured Kennedy’s stomach. Her eyes rolled.

“Don’t try to be my friend now, Pierre. Leave me alone.”

“See, I was ‘bout to give you a proper introduction, but don’t worry about it. I’ll leave it for Relic to do the honors.”

“Stop messing with her,” Savvy hissed, slapping his arm as he laughed and hit the button for the elevator to open. They filed inside as she whispered to Kennedy, “It’ll pass, I promise.”

Kennedy didn’t ask what Savvy was referring to because she was experiencing it firsthand. Her palms were so clammy that she rubbed them down her thighs and then leaned against the nearest wall. The elevator jerking upward sent her gut lurching with it, and it refused to settle back into his rightful place. She peered up at the red numbers ticking at a steady motion before stopping as the elevator stalled.

“Michi!” Titan’s voice boomed into the suffocating space as soon as the doors opened.

Kennedy stared as he rushed in, hugging his girl before guiding her out without a word to anyone else. She didn’t blame him. Pierre tossed his head for his crew to exit next—inspecting them for injuries as they passed before he pulled Sojourney to his side but laid his sights on Kennedy.

“You straight?” Sincerity spilling from his tone made her mouth open, but she shut it when no words came up. She nodded her head instead. “Aight, bet. Some quick advice, get your shit together before this elevator hits the top floor. Relic will smell the weakness on you and turn your ass into shark food.”

“I bet you’d love that.”

“I would.” Pierre beamed a smile and stepped back as the doors shut between them.

The air thinned around Kennedy as she tapped the keycard and then pressed the button designated for the top floor. Those antagonizing numbers rose, but Kennedy felt as if she were sinking the further up that she went. Screams and gunshots engrained in her core memories, along with Slim’s body feet away riddled with bullets that could’ve struck her because Relic hadn’t waited for a clean shot like he’d claimed. Her digestive system tried coming up when the elevator slowed to a stop.

That ding as the door cranked open pressured her to push the first-floor button so that she could flee and take her ass home. Kennedy froze up when Relic appeared on the other side, waiting bare chested with the necklace she’d gifted him around his neck.

“Get out, Larenn.”

His order caused her body to waver, but her feet rooted to the floor. She grazed her teeth across her bottom lip and bit down, focusing on that pain versus the nausea that made her plant a hand on her stomach as she grew lightheaded. Her mouth dried as the doors came together before reopening when Relic stuck his hand through it in time.

“That adrenaline wore off, and you’re in shock.” His tone held a softness she’d never heard, but it didn’t convince her to step out. “It hit too close to home because it made you think about your brother, right?”

His accuracy sent her fingers digging into her stomach as she stared, vexed. Relic had known how it’d affect her, even though she hadn’t, but he’d still put her up to the task. She locked her eyes on his and didn’t pinpoint an ounce of remorse about it.

“That’s what trauma does Kennedy. It stunts you. It clams you up, but you can’t let it fuck with your head or get the best of you,” he schooled, tapping a finger against his temple. “You gotta still handle your business through all that shit.”

“You told me, you’d make a move once I was a good distance away. You lied,” she pushed out, and his head shook.

“I improvised. He punched the shit out of you, Kennedy, so I made a move. Not because of that, but because I knew what you were about to do when your hand went inside that fucking purse.”

Relic stalked inside the elevator to snatch her purse away, unlocking it before he peeked inside to see that gun she didn’t leave home without. His gaze lifted to hers as he cupped her chin. Those alluring, dark eyes sent his fucking stomach tumbling as she gazed at him like she needed his validation—like she needed him well past what their contractual agreement stated.

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