Page 6 of Kentrell

I dipped out, towel around my waist, heading for the closet. Yam had a few spots posted up out South, but this one was sacred—his mama’s building on 63rd and Halsted, where he kept most of the apartments vacant for his girls. He’d turned thesame building he grew up in into a trap palace with blackout curtains and luxury sheets. I wouldn’t call it home, but it was a safe zone. I always kept a stash here for nights like this.

I threw on a pair of black jeans, layered a smooth long-sleeve shirt under one of Kensei’s yellow checkered wool jackets, then laced up my cream Balenciagas. The drip was effortless but heavy. A couple diamond bracelets, a Rolex on my wrist, chains layered just right, and studs in my ears. When I brushed my hand over my fade and glanced in the mirror, I had to nod at myself.

That boy clean.

“Look at you!” Star’s voice cut through the quiet, playful and sharp. I turned to see her leaning against the doorframe, wrapped in a leopard-print bodysuit so tight it looked painted on. Every curve popped—hips, thighs, the slight bounce of her tits when she shifted her weight.

I licked my lips, slow.

She smirked, eyes locked on mine, waiting.

"I hope you washed yo ass," I muttered as we stepped out, shooting her a sideways glance.

Star snorted, rolling her eyes. “Jumped in and jumped out, nigga,” she shot back. “And yes, the soap hit my crackandmy twat—don’t play with me, Kentrell. You know I ain’t never had a odor issue.”

She laughed, but I caught that flicker of offense in her eyes. I smirked, letting her have that little win.

“Nah, you ain’t never had no smell.” I confirmed, watching her chest puff a little like I handed her a badge of honor. Her grin returned, soft and cocky, just like I liked it. But I didn’t linger.

“C’mon.”

“Kentrell, you act like we a hour away,” she groaned, trailing behind me like I owed her more time. I ignored her, snatching up my phone and keys, flipping the lights off behind us. Ravenwas still holed up in the bathroom. Whatever she did after we dipped wasn’t my business.

“Y’all heading out?” Uncle Yam’s voice slid in just as my hand touched the doorknob. He leaned against the frame across the hall, eyes gliding over Star like he was sizing her up—same way he always did. Her body-hugging catsuit didn’t help, but she didn’t flinch. Star never did. She just folded her arms and arched a brow liketry me, nigga.

“Kensei opening,” I said flatly.

“Aw yeah… that’s tonight,” he muttered, like it had just hit him. Maybe it had. Running his operation left little room for calendars or courtesy. Kensei would understand. He always did.

Yam’s stare lingered on Star, jaw tight. I could feel him biting his tongue, but he didn’t say shit. He knew better. You didn’t tell Star what to do. Not even him.

Truth be told, Kensei never really fucked with Uncle Yam. And I never forced the issue. My baby brother had his reasons, and I wasn’t the type to pry. You grow up the way we did, you learn to respect silence as much as you do loyalty. Kensei’s silence said enough.

Popping the locks on my truck, Star hopped in quick like she’d done it a hundred times. By the time I got behind the wheel, she was already strapped in, legs crossed, smirking like we was headed somewhere private.

I buckled up, thumbed the engine button, and slid out the spot smooth. Traffic was steady, but I wasn’t in no rush—I let the city move how it wanted.

Soon as I reached to adjust the temp, her hand darted over mine.

“Girl—man, don’t get in my shit doing too much.” I swatted her hand away.

Star giggled, bold, tapping the heat back on anyway before flipping on the seat warmer. I cut my eyes at her when we hit ared light. She stuck her tongue out like a child, but there was a glint in her eye—she liked poking the bear.

We rode quiet after that. I wasn’t in the mood for chatter, and she knew when to shut up. Scrolled her phone, legs bouncing, chewing her gum like she owned the damn world.

She tossed two questions my way—some shit about Lex’s new building, and if I was gonna see a bitch I used to fuck with. I hit her with a “nah” both times and kept my eyes on the road. She snickered, then dipped back into her screen.

As we hit Wacker, the lights of River North washed over the windshield. The Apex was lit up like a jewel, crowds thick outside, flashes going off from phones. The block was damn near shut down.

“Ooh, this is nice!” Star said, face pressed to the window.

I couldn’t stop the smile that crept up. My little brother pulled this shit off. Big crowd. Big vibe. Big win.

Nigga really beat the odds.

Then she hit me with it.

“Oh, I almost forgot—some guy named Malcolm called me up looking for you.”

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