Page 52 of The Phyre that Burns
“Is that a threat?” Kavia questioned from behind me, elevating her voice.
“No, bitch. It’s a promise,” Devyn responded before Ginae could.
“Kavia, must you and your minion start shit everywhere you go?” Phoenix questioned, angrily.
“Who you calling a minion?” Bianca questioned with a frown.
“You, bitch,” Phoenix confirmed.
“Girl, shut up. If you weren’t my brother’s wife, I would’ve beat your ass a long time ago,” Kavia spat.
Phoenix must have forgotten she was pregnant for a minute and lunged toward Kavia. Thankfully, Kevin grabbed her and moved her to the corner. Although I stood between Kavia and Ginae, I was so focused on my sister that Ginae was able to slip from my grasp, step around me, and punch Kavia in the face.
“Maybe that’ll shut your crazy ass up!” Ginae spat as I grabbed her around the waist and moved her away from Kavia.
Kavia was too shocked by the blow to react, as she held her mouth. Devyn argued with Bianca and was ready to get active before Lennon picked her up and brought her to the corner where Kevin and I had Ginae and Phoenix.
Thankfully, security saw the commotion and rushed over. I explained what had transpired, and he asked Kavia and Bianca to leave.
“Why should we leave? She hit me. Do you see my lip?” Kavia complained.
“You came into our section starting shit, and now you’re mad because I finished it. Go find somebody else’s night to ruin,” Ginae shouted.
“Baby, chill,” I urged, trying to calm her down.
Ginae, Devyn, and Phoenix were still pissed when Kavia and Bianca finally left, but we managed to calm them down. I prayedwe didn’t have any more run-ins with Kavia because next time, she might get a lot more than she got today.
“Kevin, what’s up with your sister?” Devyn asked.
“Seriously, because she was about to meet a side of me that I retired a long time ago,” Ginae said.
“Oh, she got a quick introduction,” I said. “Baby, I never want you out here fighting, especially if it has anything to do with me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, baby. That punch in the mouth had nothing to do with you. She deserved it, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
I shook my head because there was no need to respond. Ginae would do exactly what she wanted, but I hoped her next interaction with Kavia wouldn’t lead to violence. It had been about fifteen minutes since Kavia and Bianca were escorted out. The ladies were calm but still annoyed by the situation.
“I wish I could tell you what’s going on with Kavia. She wasn’t always like this. As kids, we got along well and were close, but as we got older, she changed, and we grew apart.”
“Nah. She was always like this, but not to this extent. You’re the one who changed. Y’all got along back then because you were an asshole, and she was the female version of you,” I interjected.
Kevin nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. I talk to her all the time about her attitude and how she’s always in the middle of some shit, but she dismisses me and tells me to mind my business. She’s almost forty but still acts like she’s in her twenties.”
“Does it ever get weird between y’all? It has to be hard when your wife and brother-in-law can’t stand to be around your wife,” Ginae asked.
“Not for me,” Phoenix said. “Kevin knew I didn’t fuck with his sister before he stepped to me on some serious shit.”
“I did, but I thought things between them would improve over time. Unfortunately, it’s only gotten worse.”
“Most of the time, I pretend like she doesn’t exist, but when she’s on her good bullshit, I give her the same energy she gives me,” Phoenix said.
Kevin being married to my sister was one reason Kavia was alive, and I wasn’t in prison. The love and respect I had for Phoenix automatically extended to her husband, and I didn’t want my disdain for Kavia to create problems in their marriage.
I could admit that I had an unhealthy amount of anger and resentment toward Kavia for the shit she did, but I tried not to disrespect her too much in Kevin’s presence. As her brother, it was natural for him to want to come to her defense, which would create friction between us. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes, I failed miserably.
“What about you, Phyre? Does it get weird for you?” Ginae pressed.
“Weird? No. Difficult? Hell yeah. It takes a lot of restraint not to go off on her because she’s always on bullshit, but I don’t want Kevin to have to come to her defense. I usually don’t see her often as I have over the past month, so it’s generally not a problem.
