Page 62 of Disrespectfully, Relic

Beyond that, Michi began to wonder if Relic’s explanation made more sense than hers. She sucked in a breath and held her tears while recalling Jessica convincing her to give away a part of herself that’d been taken advantage of for years. Michi wasn’t ready back then but had grown used to it over the years.

That night with Relic had haunted her because all she’d seen was her stepfather on top of her with a sneering grin, stealing her innocence once again. She could admit that Relic had made valid points, and those traumatic parts of her had blurred so long ago that she couldn’t see that night clearly to confirm or deny he was right. The only thing she’d gone by was how he’d reacted and made her feel in that instant. That wasn’t enough to let Titan fall out with his brother while knowing her man adored Relic to no end and that the unconditional love was mutual.

“It’s okay, Titan. Let’s go like you said,” she whispered, straining to push his boulder of a build backward to no avail. Titan’s glower trained on Relic, making her antsy. “Titan.”

“Don’t ever talk to her like that again.” He disregarded her suggestion and addressed his brother. “On everything that I love, we gon’ have to shoot the one and shake it up afterward. I may be the baby brother, but you know my temper is just as big. This is my fucking girl, bro! Whether you like it or not, that’s what it is. Disrespecting Michi is the same as disrespecting me, and you taught me not to take disrespect lightly.”

Relic stared at the little boy who used to cry whenever Shabu forced him down the other end of the bed and wouldn’t let him sleep between them. Another brother had slipped through his fingers. Titan was stepping to him like a grown man in the exact way that Shabu had when he’d defended Savvy well before she was his wife. Relic wondered if Titan would choose him over Michi if he forced his hand but couldn’t risk finding out. He’d done it with Shabu, and it backfired.

“What I was getting at before you interrupted,” he grumbled, staring between the two. “Was that I don’t need you to tell me what Titan needs because I know when it comes to him and Shabu. Nobody loves my brothers like I love them, Michi. You and Savvy are close runners up, though.”

Michi’s defenses softened as she snapped, “Well, you should’ve led with that!”

“Nah, dead ass. Nigga always gotta slide some slick shit in. I don’t want to get to where you and Shabu were, but I meant what I said, Relic, and it’s still all love.”

Titan walked up on his brother with outstretched arms and a playful grin, but Relic backpedaled.

“Nigga, fuck out of here. I got my dick out.”

“You got on a fucking towel. If hugging your brother gets your dick hard, you got bigger problems to worry about.”

“Get the fuck out, Titan, and leave my key.”

“And ain’t! Come on, bae. We know not to stay where we ain’t welcome.” Titan laughed while grabbing Michi’s hand to head out.

Relic didn’t correct him about not being welcome because both his brothers had access to each of his homes except one that neither knew about. Once Titan and Michi were gone, he started for his room but stalled when his burner phone juddered across his coffee table. He contemplated whether to answer but then picked it up, flipping it open after studying the unknown number.

“Speak.”

“It’s me, boss man. I been doing that job you told me to do, and I think we got a problem.”

Relic tensed, his eyes shutting as he pinched his nose bridge and then inhaled to prepare for the news Drish was about to give him. His plate was full, but more bullshit was piled on top of it by the day.

“I’m listening.”

“That little situation you told me to keep an eye on and the shit that happened at the club might be connected. I don’t know if—”

Relic deaded the line and launched his phone across the room. It collided with the wall, shattering on impact as he dropped onto the couch and cradled his face in his hands to regulate his breathing. It didn’t work. The bomb Drish dropped on him was the last thing he’d expected to hear because that possibility hadn’t crossed his mind.

His hands trembled and mind veered straight to murder because muthafuckas were playing with his mental lately more than ever. He lifted his head and gazed at nothing, formulating a Plan B because Kennedy had been right about one thing; there was always a loophole or cheat code to the game. Relic intended to find it, but he had one other situation to handle first.

“So, what time you gon’ be out of here today? They have you in this bitch all night like you ain’t the boss. Aren’t you supposed to just call the shots and make money off them?”

Kennedy rolled her eyes before biting into her fresh chicken thigh, breathing through the heat searing her tongue. She angled in Lomar’s passenger seat to face him while covering her mouth to finish chewing. Since they’d kicked it after her event, he’d made it his mission to bring her lunch every day or dinner if she stayed after closing to finish up with a customer. Kennedy thought it was cute but grew irritated whenever he pressed her about working too much. His kind gestures were beginning to seem clingy, but even though she disliked it, she tried not to ghost his ass. Lomar was showing his interest in a manner she wasn’t used to, which she needed.

“It doesn’t work like that. I’m the manager, but I’m also a stylist. I have clientele that I’ve serviced for years who don’t want people playing in their hair,” she explained as he bit into his chicken sandwich. “I work long hours and on my off days if I have to because that’s what I’m used to, and I like it.”

“You like the money,” he revised around a mouthful of food, and she frowned.

“Nigga, wait until you finish chewing, but you’re right. I like both. You need to get used to being with a bitch that’s on her shit and not waiting at home for you on her knees or with her hand out. That’s not how I roll.”

Lomar choked on his food, patting his chest to help it down before his mouth quirked into a grin that made Kennedy struggle not to return the gesture. His smile was her favorite feature about him. It held a twinge of mischievousness in it, like he wasn’t as sweet as he portrayed and could get rough in the ways that she’d need him to. They hadn’t taken it as far as sex yet, but Kennedy couldn’t lie and claim the thought hadn’t crossed her mind because the nigga looked good every time they linked. The sole thing stopping her was the fear of being disappointed by lackluster sex after getting fucked through the mattress by Relic.

Her pussy spasmed at the reminder, but she brushed it off since that shit would never happen again. After she reached out to check on him for weeks like a simp bitch and received no response; Kennedy realized what it was. Relic was far from her nigga, but hell would freeze over before she let him use her in his business and the bedroom whenever convenient for him. If it wasn’t about the money, Kennedy didn’t have any words left for his ass.

“What’s wrong with waiting at home for me on your knees or with your hands out? I wouldn’t mind either,” Lomar jested, making her muster a smile as she shut her food tray. Relic crossing her mind had spoiled her appetite.

“Not going to happen, and the real question is why do you have so much time on your hands? I thought you’d be busier with your fancy appraisal job.”

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