Page 136 of Kentrell

“Yeah,” I said dryly, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I didn’t.”

There was a pause. Then his voice dropped a notch.

“I’ve been noticing you spending more time with her.”

Just like that, the warmth Zoe left on my skin turned cold.

“I came to you because I thought you were the best in the city—no, Iknowyou are,” he said. “And I allowed you to operate the way you saw fit. But I’m growing impatient, and I still don’t have a definite answer from you.”

“Who the fuck is you talking to?” I snapped, my voice low, dangerous.

I pulled the phone from my ear, just to confirm the name on the screen.

Still Malcolm.

This nigga thought his name, his pedigree, and his trust fund put me in my place. But all it did was confirm what I already knew—he was soft.

I bowed to no man.

Nobody on this side of the dirt scared me.

We all got a date. I just made it my business todeliversome of ‘em.

“Look, Kentrell, I’m not trying to make an enemy out of you,” Malcolm exhaled. “But I need this handled.”

“Nah, you couldneverbe my enemy.”

And that? I meant.

“Good to know.” He breathed through his nose, then asked, “Do you know how I found you?”

My jaw clenched.

I didn’t answer.

I was listening to the water running behind that door and thinking about how much longer I had before Zoe finished up and came looking for me.

That thought alone irritated the fuck out of me.

I didn’t wantanypart of Malcolm interrupting the peace I’d just found in her body.

“I see you’re not in the mood,” he chuckled, slick. “So I’ll keep it short. I needed someone detached. Someone ungrateful enough to cut the life of the man who raised him—and you? You’re that cold and calculated.”

The fury hit me slow, then all at once.

Malcolm kept going.

“You’ve played by a certain set of rules for so long, Kentrell. I’dhateto see you toss all that aside for a piece of pussy?—”

“You ain’t got no more times to disrespect my shorty.”

I growled into the phone, venom in every word.

“Malcolm, I’mreallynot the muhfucka you wanna play these Country Club Hills games with. Nigga, I’llreallydo something to you—and everybody you think can’t be touched.”

He laughed.

That smooth, entitled little chuckle told me everything I needed to know.

---