Page 8 of Disrespectfully, Relic

“Anyway, are you out? I’m at his people’s restaurant, picking up Promise. You can meet me here, or I can swing past your place later.”

“I’ll meet you. I just finished an interview that almost ended with me beating a bitch’s ass.”

“Girl, what? Who and why?”

“One of the hoes who worked at the salon before it burned down. I tried to give her a chance, but she ran her mouth too damn much and then tried to buck up.”

“Oh, I know you hate that.” The sarcasm in Lexi’s voice didn’t go unnoticed, and Kennedy cackled while shifting gears to back out of her parking spot.

“Don’t be shady. It’s natural to gossip here and there, but her mouth ran like it had the fucking bubble guts. I felt like I was interviewing Promise,” she jested, making Lexi snigger. “I’m so glad, I made it a point to do the hiring process. Nubia should’ve done the same because she may not even like the people Savvy hired for her spot.”

“I don’t get why Savvy oversees it anyway. It should’ve been y’all or Relic since those are his businesses. I’m starting to believe the rumors about them ain’t just jokes.”

Kennedy scrunched her face as she scanned the flowing traffic for a break before easing out into the nearest lane. “What rumors?”

“That Relic fucked her just like he fucked Shabu’s last girlfriend.”

“Girl, stop! I highly doubt Savvy cheated on Shabu. Even if she did, it damn sure wouldn’t be with the person she thought raped her. You can’t tell me, you believe that bullshit.”

She pursed her lips, switching lanes to hook a turn at a yellow light before it changed. The hearsay that churned out of the rumor mill regarding Relic amazed her. There hadn’t been one instance where she’d heard a positive remark about him, and it made her curious to know whether his reputation proceeded him or if he was exactly who everyone purported him as.

According to her girls, Relic was a known narcissist, philanderer, and quiet as it was kept, a rapist and abuser. His fine ass was also at the top of the drug game—the same game that had taken away her brother and left her caring for Tekken when her parents couldn’t. Kennedy had sworn off and avoided that lifestyle since Koda’s death because men like her brother and Relic ended up one of two ways when they didn’t quit while they were ahead. Dead or in prison.

She’d witnessed the former with her brother, so if it wasn’t about the salon, she preferred keeping communication with Relic at a minimum. The less they interacted, the more she could ignore her physical attraction to him that she refused to mention to her friends. Kennedy could picture them grabbing their shovels to bury his name in dirt if she did.

“I mean, it’s not like Relic hasn’t done it before,” Lexi reasoned, reeling her back into the conversation. “I don’t think Savvy would, but you never know. I can’t put shit past none of them since her sister fucked my baby daddy.”

Kennedy sputtered a laugh. “Just because you let a freshman take your spot does not mean that my girl is grimy. She’d be a fool to play Shabu like that.”

“She would, but hell, anybody would be a fool to fuck with Relic. That nigga is as crazy as a bed bug.”

“Look who’s talking. Have you forgotten who your child’s father is, boo?”

“I know exactly who Pierre is, and I’m telling you that Relic puts him to shame. Hell, Los isn’t even on that level. Any man that’ll whoop is own momma’s ass ain’t got all his marbles.”

“Relic hit Ms. Judith.” She repeated it in disbelief, struggling to wrap her mind around the notion.

“Don’t tell anyone that, Kenn. Nubia told me that Los told her, Relic did it back when they were in their mid-teens. One minute they were fussing, and the next, Relic had slapped her to the ground. I’m not surprised ‘cause Pierre told me that their dad used to beat on her, and Relic worshipped that nigga. That’s why Shabu shot him.”

“Shot who?!”

“Their dad, girl. Keep up! This ain’t even the half of it, trust me. Just know, Relic is the head of the fucking snake, leading all those Blaise niggas. I can’t see how bitches stomach him. I barely speak to his ass.”

“So, if Pierre wasn’t your baby daddy, you wouldn’t fuck with Relic? Knowing he has power, money, and I’m just taking a guess,” she stated, checking for cars in her blind spot before swapping lanes. The restaurant was a couple of blocks away. “A big ass dick to fuck the shit out of you with. You’d still turn him down?”

Lexi smacking her lips reverberated around the car, but that was as much of an answer as Kennedy received. After a few seconds, she burst into laughter.

“Yea, bitch. That’s what I thought.”

“Hear me out, though, Kenn! I’d do it, but I’d be smart about that shit. Get the money and get out. Ain’t no way in hell, I’d waste my time trying to change his ass or make him fall in love. But then again, that might be too risky for me ‘cause my mouth is reckless. He’d probably do me like he did Jessica’s ass.”

“What do you mean?”

“Girl, everyone knows his baby momma getting shot wasn’t an accident. Relic set that shit up.”

That unexpected response caused Kennedy’s eyes to dart to her dashboard as if she could see Lexi’s face to gauge if the statement was bullshit. The silence was loud. When she shook off her bafflement and placed her attention back on the road, a shriek shot from her before her foot mashed the brakes a second too late. Her body lurched forward as her car bounced to a halt from crashing into the vehicle in front of her. She cursed under breath, turned on her hazard lights, and then shut her eyes to calm her racing heart that tried leaping out of her chest at the impact.

“Kennedy, are you good? Kenn!” Lexi’s concerned voice urged her eyes open.

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