Page 15 of Still Forever
“I miss him so much,” I broke as she pouted, and I did the same. Life was so much simpler before things got complicated between Jax and me.
“I haven’t talked to Jaxon in months. I want to mace him Kenn. Then I asked Jrue what would possess him to just go missing, and he’s acting clueless like he doesn’t know what’s going on either.” She reached out and touched my hand.
“I know I’m going to have to heal from that relationship, but it’s hard. I’ll be okay, though. My week was hell. Aside from work, I met with the Karen of all Karens yesterday, and you know how that goes.” I shifted on the bench just thinking about it. My mother was definitely the one they had in mind for the Karen stereotype.
Her eyes widened. “I thought you took a step back from that relationship after what she said when she found out about Jax.”
We sat under the steam in the room while I poured my heart out. She listened; she wiped my tears and even dropped a couple with me. I felt bad for ruining the relaxation day with my drama, but Storm was the only person that I trusted with my thoughts and feelings.
After our session, my tears of sadness became tears of joy. We went from crying about my current circumstances to laughing about the past and reminiscing about old times. This is what I needed. Our Spa day came to an end, and even with my little breakdown, I felt more relaxed than ever.
“Are you coming to your godson’s birthday party next weekend?” Storm questioned. I received the invitation two weeks ago, and I had spoken to her almost every other day since, but I hadn’t mentioned it. I knew that Jaxon would be there. And I don’t know if I was ready to face him just yet. It was too soon, and the wound was still raw. But Storm had never not been by my side, so I wasn’t going to miss her moments by feeling sorry for myself.
“I’ll be there,” I assured her as I took a deep breath. If I was going to fully heal, I had to do the work necessary to get over him. That included being okay with seeing him.
“In all fairness, just so you know, Jaxon will be there too. But I still would like you to come. You’re there for me and BJ, not him.” She laughed and nudged me.
After convincing her that I would show up, we hugged, got dressed, and went our separate ways. I felt so much lighter until I heard that man’s name and images of him flashed through my brain as I drove down the road. I missed everything about him. The way he walked, the way he called me KD instead of Kennedy, and the way he could only sleep if I was lying on top of him.
Then my mind raced to the dirtier thoughts. To the way he dominated my entire body and slutted me out in a way that no man before or after him could ever do. How he pulled my hair and said the nastiest shit to me. That his favorite position was me straddling his beard. The times that he spat in my mouth or the phrase he always said as I reached my peak that drove me crazy, “be a good girl and finish for me.”
I wanted to scream as the thought of this man fucking me in every hole on my body started to literally cause throbbing between my legs. I gripped the steering wheel of my car and pushed the thoughts out of my mind with a deep sigh. I had to get over Jaxon soon, and if I couldn’t, I would probably have to rain check that birthday party.
CHAPTER 6
Jax
Trouble sat beside me in the truck as I swirled the bourbon around in the glass. The ice hitting the side of the cup was the only noise between the two of us. I wasn’t in the mood for conversation, especially not right now. It was the day I was supposed to meet Bronx Cross’s daughter, and I had been tight since they told me about the meeting two days ago.
The elites had set a strict timeline for the wedding to take place. No more than four months from the day that we met until the wedding. Judah, though, was given six months. That meant that as soon as I pulled into this estate, the clock was officially ticking. Less than one hundred twenty days for me to find a way out of this.
“You need to lay off that shit. I need your mind clear; you’re the damn negotiator and underboss,” Trouble spoke up just as I took another sip. I turned my head toward him slowly.
“I don’t want to hear shit none of y’all muhfuckas got to say. You're home with your wife. My girl out at breakfast with niggas.” I gritted.
Trouble put his hand on my shoulder. I mugged him. “Look, bro, if I didn’t think you were hurting. We’d have a fuckingproblem in this truck,” he chuckled and patted it twice before he got quiet again.
I threw back the drink as the images of Kennedy and her mother at the table with some nigga replayed in my head. I had Judah send me back information on that nigga before the check even came out. I knew everything about him. His name, that he worked for her pops, where he laid his head, who he banked with, and even where his folks lived.
She had fired my detail months ago, and I let her think it was that simple. I let her think that she was cutting ties to me. But since she was out of the estate and living on her own, I had three rotating teams who gave her around-the-clock surveillance and protection.
No matter what happened, no matter what the elites said, nothing was going to happen to Kennedy as long as I had breath in my body. She could get a flat tire, and they’d be there to change it before she could call roadside assistance. It was that deep for me.
Going through the gates of Cross’ estate, we stopped in front of his house. The man had what seemed like servants standing outside in the heat, tuxedos on, ready to serve us. Me and Trouble exchanged glances before getting out.
“Welcome to the home of Mr. Bronx Cross.” He said with a thick accent as he bowed. The front door creaked, and Cross came out.
“Thank you, gentlemen, for agreeing to meet with me and my daughter. Welcome to my home.” He said as he extended his hand for me to shake. I kept my hands by my side. Fuck respect, I wasn’t here to fellowship. I was here to handle business and go home.
He cleared his throat and extended his hand to Trouble, who mirrored my reaction. I didn’t expect anything less; boss or not, I knew for a fact that he was on the same time as I was. And if Iwasn’t cool, then neither was he. That’s what made us different. They tried to copy our organization, but our bond was deeper than Mafia ties.
“Listen, fellas, it wouldn’t benefit us to be enemies. I’m bound by the same terms you are, trust me.” He pleaded.
“Let’s get this shit over with.” I gritted. He sucked in a sharp breath before he nodded and walked away, leading us into the backyard. It was set up like a tiki bar, with an open space, bar area, and cabanas.
I took a seat at one of the tables. Trouble and Bronx stood off to the side. Not together, but there making sure the interaction went smooth. I sat back in the chair and waited, my arms folded, for his daughter to come outside. The glass door of the house opened, and she eased out, sliding it closed behind her.
She spoke to Trouble, and that nigga didn’t open his mouth. The bourbon I had almost made me break and laugh. Nigga was cold. Then she came over to the table and took a seat in front of me with a slight smile.
