The Ties That Bond | Chapter One (unedited)

A jagged lightning bolt ripped through the sky, illuminating Iniko’s otherwise dim bedroom, followed by rolling thunder loud enough to wake the dead. As she watched her husband dress, her eyes loitered on the ugly scar on his chest—a reminder of how she’d almost lost him six months prior. The two had been separated for so long that she’d nearly forgotten there was a different side to the man she exchanged vows with. When it came to protecting family or anyone he loved, Kenyon shifted from the playful, shit-talking teddy bear she’d fallen in love with years prior into a silent, deadly adversary no one wanted to tangle with. At least, no one with good sense.

Hugging her legs to her chest, Iniko elected to express her feelings about the upcoming night’s events despite knowing it would do no good.

“I don’t like this.”

Kenyon paused long enough to shoot her a smile. “Let me find out you’re worried about me.”

“I’m not laughing, Ken. This is serious.”

They’d been living in a land of delusion for the past few months, and she knew it. No reality existed where her father, Marquise, would let what happened at the Policeman’s Ball slide without repercussions. Iniko had been on edge, dreading the day he decided to take action and retribution against whoever tried to kill him. He’d finally called a meeting with some of the key members of his organization to address his concerns, and as expected, he'd requested Kenyon’s presence.

Trekking around the bed, he bent just enough to kiss her forehead. “I know, Nik. I won’t pretend as if things aren’t about to turn for the worst. But I don’t have any more control over this than you do. It’s your dad’s decision, and he’s not backing down. Jin crossed a line. And at the risk of pissing you off, I fully agree with Marquise’s decision to handle it. And we both know there’s no one better than me to help see him through it.”

Iniko fell silent for so long that it created tension that momentarily worried him.

“Niko?”

“You and my dad have done very well at hiding things from me over the years, but the same way you two know me, I know y’all. There’s something deeper about this situation that my dad isn’t sharing, and it bothers me.”

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Kenyon opted to be completely transparent as his previous decision to try to shield her only resulted in turning both of their lives upside down.

“I won’t lie; I feel the same. But Marquise isn’t the type to reveal anything until he’s ready. I don’t like it, but I respect him enough to trust him. Cut him some slack and do the same.”

“Uh, I think I earned the right to be a little nosey when my father’s best friend had my car blown up to prove a point. I still can’t hear on my right side.”

Kenyon snorted. “Your lying ass. Shut up.”

“Just promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll keep me in the loop. I don’t want to be in the dark about anything anymore.”

“I got you, Nik. Whatever I know, you know. I promise.”

“I’m holding you to it.”

“And I’m holding you to finding us a new place to live because I’ll be damned if I reside in the same spot you had your lil’ boyfriend in and out of.”

“Don’t even think about starting some shit with me over that man. One, he was not my boyfriend, and two, that never would have been a thing had you not abandoned me in the first place.”

“Hmm, holding grudges? Do I need to add that to the list of things for us to discuss with our marriage counselor?”

“Oh, kiss my ass.”

“I love you too, Nik. But duty calls. Rock’s keeping an eye on you until I get back.”

“Kenyon.”

“Iniko,” he replied sternly. “Don’t test me. Not right now and not about this.”

“Fine,” she begrudgingly agreed.

“Be careful, and I’ll see you when I get home.”

“You be careful and make it back in one piece. I just got you back. I’m not trying to lose you again.”

“Oh, I’m definitely bringing this up in marriage counseling.”

“Boy, goodbye.”

“I love you,” he grinned, going in for a kiss.

“I love you too.”

***

Kenyon’s good mood didn’t last long. The moment he was settled in his car, a sense of unease swept through him like a wave, putting him on edge.

Despite his attempts to convince his wife that everything was okay, he wasn’t entirely sure what he and Marquise were wading into or, more importantly, why. Jin’s last attempt to get at Marquise could only be described as reckless. There was an underlying hatred there that’d yet to be explained. Kenyon didn't know exactly what the beef was or how deeply it ran, only that it would endanger and complicate more lives than necessary if it weren’t resolved.

Mainly his.

Especially since he was still wrapped up in his own situation regarding Jin.

Sighing heavily, he turned off his headlights while approaching the docks where the Marquise instructed his caporegimes to meet for the night. Kenyon was more of an underboss due in part to his accuracy as a hire for kill and to being Marquise’s son-in-law.

A few envied his position but knowing what he knew now, if Kenyon could go back and choose a different life path, he’d do it in a heartbeat. His first plan once Jin and Marquise’s war was over was to remove himself as far away from their current lifestyle as possible and enjoy sharing a quiet life with Iniko and the family they’d built. But for now, there was a situation to handle. And from the looks of the scene when he arrived at the docks, Marquise meant nothing but business.

“I’m sure most of you know why I’ve asked you here tonight.”

Kenyon silently watched his father-in-law study every man in attendance as if he were searching for something. He was already on guard, but his shoulders tensed further as he realized Marquise was out for blood. Someone was leaving the docks in a body bag—however, for what exact reason, Kenyon was unsure.

With his arms behind his back, Marquise paced slowly. “I would have to be deaf to not hear the whispers about me behind my back. The comments about how my life has grown cushy, making me soft. I’d go as far as to say that it may have crossed some of your minds that it’d be easy to move in and snatch what I’ve built from underneath me. Correct?”

No one answered. Lightening split the sky, followed by a violent rumble of thunder, almost a warning as to what was coming.

Stopping in his tracks, Marquise released a humorless laugh. “What? No one has anything to say? I mean, I’m sure my best friend wouldn’t have been bold enough to try to push me out of the organization I built if he didn’t have support. Right, Keith?”

It happened quicker than Kenyon could blink. There was a flash of silver followed by the gunshot masked by thunder that sent the man closest to Marquise to the ground. A non-weather-related chill ripped through the air, and finally, there were a few mumbles.

“I’m sorry,” Marquise antagonized the group. “What was said?”

No one dared repeat their words.

“Keith hired the lil’ bastard who hid the device in my daughter’s car. And now his daughter has to bury her father.”

The men shifted nervously as Kenyon wondered what Marquise’s next move would be.

“But he wasn’t the only one who overstepped, right?”

He swiped a blade that Kenyon only saw because of another lightning flash across a man’s throat, resulting in him dropping to his knees. Besides thunder, the gurgling sounds of the man choking on his own blood before finally succumbing to his wound was the dock’s only sounds.

“Brian assumed I was unaware of the side-hustle he decided to start using my money,” Marquise mused, pacing the wooden planks.

“Shit,” Kenyon murmured.

“Let that be a warning and a wake-up call that you can think whatever you want to think about me, but you damn well better remember that I’m the one who started this organization. The organization you all choose to be part of to help feed your families. But I’ll never put another family’s well-being above mine, and I don’t fuckin’ play about my daughter. Keep those two things in mind and we’ll continue getting along just fine. Now, clean up this mess.”

Without another word, Marquise left his men to do as he instructed, approaching his son-in-law with a grim expression.

“Damn, you could have at least warned me that you planned on catching a body tonight,” Kenyon joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I didn’t need you getting in the way of me making an example of anyone. I’ve been soft enough as it is, and that’s on me. You think they would have appreciated making easy money with little to no threat or risk.”

“All you can do is provide the opportunity. What they choose to do with it is on them.”

“Which is why I’m tightening up ranks. Anyone who’s a risk is out. I need you to watch and listen. I also need you prepped for Monday.”

“What’s happening Monday?”

“We’re going to see Jin,” Marquise announced, brushing past Kenyon, who gaped after him.

“Oh, shit.”