Page 8 of Follow Me to Your Heart
“You tell me. What you doing out this way?”
I wet my lips and asked, “Have you seen Marquis?”
Keith’s round eyes bucked, and he slowly shook his head. “Not here, man.”
“I’m not about to do shit but talk to him. I don’t even have my piece on me. There’s something I need to address with him.”
Slowly, Keith bobbed his head in understanding as he looked around the crowded room. He paused. I followed his line of sight to see Marquis talking to a girl in the kitchen area.
“I’ll be right back,” I informed Keith and walked away. Marquis was so engrossed in the conversation with the girl, he didn’t notice me leaning up against the counter beside her. Shedid though. Her attention was solely locked in on me, staring me up and down with lust clouding her eyes. She was fine, but she wasn’t what I came for. “Hey, beautiful. Do you mind if I have a word with your boy right quick?”
“Will you have a word with me once you’re done with him?” she boldly asked as if Marquis wasn’t standing there.
“I got you.”
The girl walked away, leaving Marquis and me alone.
“What do you want, Cage?”
I racked my knuckles against the counter. “You’re bold to be putting your hands on Korren after I warned you the last time.”
Marquis snorted and crossed his arms as he walked up on me. He was about three inches taller and had more muscle. I wasn’t sure if he thought I was intimidated by that when I didn’t give not one fuck. Out the corner of my eyes, I could see a few of his friends watching us. He thought he was protected. It was the only reason he was acting out.
On many occasions, I’d show him what it was with me.
“I can’t remember what your warning was. You may need to remind me.”
“Where was this energy at the restaurant, Marquis? You think because you have friends around that I won’t beat your ass and theirs?”
I didn’t give him a chance to answer. He was too close in my personal space. I delivered two quick jabs, one to the nose and one to his stomach. Chaos ensued around us, but I drowned it out as I beat Marquis’s ass. I was on the verge of blacking out when I felt someone yank me off him.
“Chill out, Cage!” Keith demanded, shoving me toward the door.
“I’m good. I’m good.” I held my hands up and walked to the exit with him in tow.
Everyone that was once outside was inside being nosy. Keith followed me all the way to my car. My adrenaline was pumping. I could’ve gone round for round with Marquis and not been tired. He needed his ass whupped for old and new.
“You good, man?”
I nodded and spat out blood onto the concrete. “I’m good. Better that I got his ass.”
“What was that about? Korren?”
“He put his hands on her again. I wasn’t about to let that shit ride, Keith.”
“I feel you. No man should ever put his hands on a woman, even if it’s being too rough. You never move without reason, so I figured it had something to do with her. How is she anyway?”
I stopped pacing and leaned against my car. My jaw ached. Marquis got some good licks in, but he couldn’t handle me.
“She’s good. Doing school and her nail shit. I’m proud of her.”
“Have you told her how you feel about her?”
My head lowered. Keith was the only person I’d been open with about my true feelings toward Korren. Outside of my mother and sister, he was the only person I trusted with the information.
Keith was one of those friends every man like me needed. One who was headstrong and smart, not in the streets, and doing something different with his life. He was the type of friend I looked up to. He never judged me for my choices and encouraged me to do better. I could talk to him about anything and vice versa.
That was my brother, for real.
