Page 3 of Safe Word
“Yeah, well tonight, I’ll keep you safe. Be ready by midnight,” he said, ending the call before I could further protest.
Chapter
Two
Kannon Glover
I sat backon the couch with my arms splayed across the back as the mellow music filled the air and soothed my racing nerves. Four of my guys were on tour with a new group, leaving my roster short as hell. I filled in when necessary, but I usually didn’t do late nights. Sometimes, I made an exception. Tonight, I had to. A frantic call from my girl had me out way past my bedtime.
Carteay’s album release party was an exclusive event with less than fifty people in attendance. The low-key nature was the number one selling point aside from her personally calling to express the need for my help. I liked her. The same type of situation had led us to become friends in the first place.
Filling in for one of my guys had me joining her for a few weeks on her last tour. Somehow, we ended up spending time together. Being up close and personal showed me that she really didn’t have anybody in her corner on the road. Everybody wanted to serve the greater good of the label. Seeing howgenuine and sweet she was made me want to get to know her better.
Carrie was a sweet girl, too good for the world she chose to live in, but to each his own. I watched her from across the room, and I could tell that she was drunk off her ass. The long copper box braids swept across the round curve of it as she danced and swayed to the music.
I was proud of my girl. She had the right to celebrate the album. It was good as hell. I could tell that she fought hard to be true to herself. If she only questioned two of the songs, I considered that a success. I’d heard stories of artists being forced to change their entire style hoping to reach some level of success. She made it clear that preserving her integrity was important to her.
So far, she seemed to be doing that. She threw back a shot of whatever was on the table before picking up another. I kept my eyes on her as she danced her way over and plopped down on the couch next to me. The mixture of tequila and her expensive sugary perfume permeated my senses.
Even in her drunken state, Carteay was adorable. Her smooth, bronze skin glowed, and her eyes were bright and glossy. Her plump bow-shaped lips were painted a shade of purple that just seemed to work in combination with her hair and skin tone. A warm smile covered her gorgeous face as she cozied up next to me. Pretty and drunk was a recipe for disaster in some spaces, but not on my watch.
“You have to learn how to have fun, Kannon.”
“I’m not here to have fun, C. I’m working.”
“Work, work, work, that’s all you do,” she fussed.
“What else is there to do?”
“Live life!”
“Well, I could say the same about you.”
“I’m literally at a party,” she replied.
“So am I,” I countered. “This is an album release party for your album, Carrie. I would say that this probably counts as work too.”
“Touché.”
I shrugged. “I don’t mind working. Look at what I do for a living. You of all people should be able to relate. When you do what you love, work isn’t really work, is it?”
She giggled that cute little giggle that all girly girls seemed to do. “Not you making sense again.”
“Nigga, please,” I said, shoving her playfully.
“I’m glad you came. These other people work for the label. I can’t really trust them like I trust you, Kannon. You work for me.”
“I don’t work for you, little bit.”
She smiled. “You know what I mean, big head.”
“I do, and you know what I mean when I tell you if you feel like you’re not safe, just say the word and I’m moving. It doesn’t matter where I am.”
“Thank you for that. I wish you were with me full-time. You’re the only one who ever truly makes me feel safe.”
“I’m just doing my job, C.”
“I know. Well, let me get my ass up and play hostess a little more before they think I’m being antisocial again.”
