Page 25 of Disrespectfully, Relic
“He talks shit all day. He’ll survive,” she answered, evoking an irked chuckle from Pierre. He spun to prop an elbow on the arm of the couch, and her mouth pursed as a diamond gleaming, shit eating grin spread across his face.
“I can’t wait ‘til Relic stops playing with his food and tosses that shit out like he’s ‘pose to. I know it’s coming. Plate ain’t even that fucking appetizing, if you ask me.”
“Nobody asked you. Now, walk the fuck away before I show you why I run shit, and you don’t.”
Relic removed his shades and tore his gaze away from Kennedy to lash down on Pierre like a firm belt to his ass for speaking out of turn. His folks still hadn’t learned when to hold his tongue, and Relic was close to carving it out of his running ass mouth. Pierre didn’t have a clue about the woman he was threatening, her background, or the fact that their encrypted lingo wasn’t safe around her because she’d been taught a game meant for grown men.
A simple search for her brother’s name had warned Relic that Kennedy was dangerous because she’d been raised by a nigga just as calculative and street smart as him. He realized, it was the reason she kept her mouth shut and him at arm’s length. It also explained his unyielding interest that he’d tried shaking since finding out she was a liability to everything that he’d built. Kennedy was an untied loose end that held a rare power he could use to his advantage.
Pierre lifted to his feet, hiking up his jeans with a roll of his jaw to bite down his grievances. He didn’t have to voice them aloud because he could see the damn wheels spinning behind Relic’s tepid eyes as they locked gazes. His cousin knew they’d made a potential mistake.
“I’m leaving, but not because you told me to,” he spat and then turned to Titan with a toss of his head. “Let’s grab another drink before we head out. I’m gon’ need it to deal with Treasure in my fucking ear ‘bout Jessica’s hoe ass.”
“Nigga, that’s still my nephew’s mother!”
Titan shook his head as he stood to push Pierre forward before slapping hands with his brother in passing. Relic slid his shades into his pocket and then claimed the seat where Pierre had sat once his annoying ass kinfolk was gone.
His elbow rested on the couch’s arm as his mind alternated between watching his family enjoy a moment he was already over and preparing for Kennedy to press him about the statement from Pierre. His eyes kept fleeting to his watch, counting down the time that passed without an interrogation ensuing from her. It wasn’t until the frail lady who’d measured his brother strolled over with a warm smile, a champagne glass, and a wave of her boney hand for him to stand that he figured Kennedy had no intention of addressing the matter. She hadn’t uttered a fucking word, but Relic felt as if she’d one upped him.
“Your brother told me to give you this.” The lady shoved the full glass against his chest, leaving him no choice but to take it. She twirled a finger and directed, “Turn and hold out your arms, so I can measure your back. You and the best man have very strong statures, but the groom and groomsman didn’t get that gene, huh?”
A sputtered laugh drew Relic’s eyes to Kennedy as he rotated to face her. She hurried to stuff her glass between her lips for a sip while containing her amusement.
“Something funny?” he quizzed.
Her head shook as her eyes betrayed her, trailing from one of his outstretched arms to the other to take in the nice fit of his button-down shirt against his solid build. She hadn’t once seen Relic step outside in street attire. Her gaze plunged lower, and the print he couldn’t hide if he tried jumped out at her, sending her eyes springing back to his face. Her eyes rolled when his full lips quirked into a smirk.
“You need security,” she blurted, hoping to settle the light throb between her thighs by focusing on business. His mouth downturned, and she expounded, “For the studio. You need security in the lobby, and a receptionist. Maybe even a guard or driver for P and your other artists while they’re out. Your team is too accessible, and whether you believe you’re untouchable or not, that’s risky.”
“You heard about the studio incident?” he assumed, making her nod. Aura crossed his mind before he pried, “What else did you hear about, big dog Kennedy?”
“Nothing worth addressing with you.”
That pulled a smirk out of him because he wasn’t dumb enough to believe she’d heard about the incident but not about him fucking Aura moments prior. If she were his first girlfriend, the conversation would’ve ended with tears, hands thrown, and rough sex that wouldn’t have stopped him from screwing another bitch. Kennedy not being pressed by the next woman forced him to jot down another notable quality she carried.
“So, what is worth addressing? Talk to me,” he said, watching as the lady circled him, exposing a knowing smile before measuring his front. “You don’t have anything else to ask me about?”
“Besides business, nope.”
After that lie, Kennedy guzzled down the drink she’d babysat since arriving at the bridal shop. It was the only thing she could do to prevent herself from grilling Relic about Pierre’s statement. The question was burning a hole straight through her damn tongue, but Koda had trained her not to react to bullshit because no reaction screwed with a person’s head one hundred times worse.
Relic lowered his arms, studying her for tale signs while gaping his legs when the lady tapped his thigh for him to do so. Kennedy’s relaxed features and comfortable demeanor tempted him to apply pressure on her ass to see if she’d crack—to prove she was a fluke like every other woman that’d crossed his path. The mere thought sent his blood pumping because, for once, he had an opponent who’d make him work hard for his win.
“You know what attracted me to you, Kennedy?” He asked the exact question he had at the gala, causing her to burst into laughter he doubted would last.
“Here we go with this again. What, Relic?”
“Your brother.”
Her amused expression morphed like a light switch had been flipped, and he watched those chocolate eyes darken while her chest rose from a rugged inhale that she held. Relic waited until she released it before he continued.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what made you stand out besides the obvious, and it’s him. You were raised by a thorough nigga, so you move different. I did a little background check,” he confessed, making her fingers tighten around her empty glass. He snapped his finger to garner the tailor’s attention and held out his drink. “Take that to her for me.”
Kennedy tried steadying her breathing as the clueless lady happily pranced over to pass her the glass that she accepted because she needed it to refrain from spazzing on Relic. She regretted mentioning Koda to him. Her hands trembled as she chugged the whole flute and then set both glasses between her feet. When her eyes lifted, Relic gave her a subtle nod.
“You good?”
“What the fuck do you think? Why are you in my business, researching my brother, and—”
