Page 16 of Kentrell

“A’ight then,” Kensei chuckled, withdrawing his arm with that same easy confidence. His eyes shifted over his shoulder, and instinctively, mine followed.

That’s when I saw Malcolm.

And the man walking beside him.

My breath caught.

The stranger’s gaze was locked on mine—steady, intense, and unrelenting. I swallowed hard, then again, trying to calm the sudden flutter in my chest.

His eyes didn’t budge.

Did anyone else see this? The way helookedat me? Like I was a problem he intended to solve—or keep.

He towered over Malcolm, broad shoulders pulling attention like gravity. When he stepped up beside Kensei, their height nearly matched, but the energy? No comparison.

This man radiated a kind of quiet aggression that clung to the air like smoke.

His presence was overwhelming, dark and magnetic, with eyes that dared me to look away—but I couldn’t.

His glare was sharp. Sharp enough to draw blood if I wasn’t careful. But something about it pulled at me.

He’s not safe,I told myself.

But I didn’t move.

“Kensei Sensei,” he said suddenly, the edges of his mouth lifting as he reached out to clasp Kensei’s hand. The change was startling—his coldness melted the moment he touched him. He pulled Kensei into a half-embrace, slapping the back of his neck in a warm, brotherly gesture.

“I’m proud of you, man.”

Kensei lit up, the tension in his shoulders falling away like this man’s presence made everything lighter.

“I ain’t know you was down here,” Kensei grinned, his tone bright with surprise.

I watched them closely. The resemblance was subtle but present—something in the jawline, maybe the posture. Family, probably. Or close enough to count.

It was hard to focus on anything beyond the heat still rolling off this man in waves.

And then he looked at me.

Really looked.

There was a flicker in his eyes—hunger, curiosity, maybe both. His tongue flicked across his lips, slow and deliberate, before he blinked and shifted his attention back to Kensei.

It happened fast. Too fast.

But I saw it.

And so did my friends.

When I glanced around, they were all watching him now—through the lens of matchmaking mischief. Their faces said everything:That’s him. That’s the one.

Stars in their eyes. Smirks they couldn’t hide.

Even Kensei looked amused, clearly clocking the change in the air.

Whoever this man was—friend, cousin, or something else—he wasinterested. And they all knew it.

Hell… so did I.

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