Chapter 11

Never announce your moves before you make them.
- @FutureSuccessors

Kenna

“He’s such a fuckin’ tool. You can’t seriously tell me that you like him.” Ascher grumbles as Phoenix walks away, that brotherly hatred spewing right through his tone.

The thing is, I do like him, and I like him a fucking lot. I probably shouldn’t... Okay, I really shouldn’t, but I do, and it has something to do with that booming personality of his and the fact that he is concerned about Miami and what happens in it. I was expecting some sort of blow back to what I had to say last night, but nope - Phoenix didn’t argue with anything I said. He nodded and agreed with my opinion. That is the type of man I’m looking to have by my side, not some schmuck who’s a complete asshole like Ascher has proven to be tonight. To be honest, I don’t know what my father sees in this motorhead who’s before me. Is this just my father’s plan to somehow ploy Phoenix into being more serious about me? Or does my father already know that Phoenix is the better choice, and this is some pony show? I’m not sure, but I’m aggravated.

“I like him a hell of a lot more than you. The only thing you’ve done this entire time is disrespect me and my capabilities. Phoenix is smart enough to not make that mistake. I’m not some little girl who’s afraid to run business the way it needs to be done. Fuck, you haven’t even told me what you do because I shouldn’t be worrying about it. It’s the man’s job after all, isn’t it?” I snap at him, rolling my eyes as I wait for a response. I’ve about had it with this “I am a man, I take care of things” bullshit, cause that’s what it is, a hefty serving of bullshit.

“Shit, you are a lil’ firecracker, just like your daddy told me you were. He warned me about this, that you’d wanna control everything, that you wouldn’t allow me to take over jack shit ‘cause you feel obligated to handle it. Just because Miami knows the Vernon name.” With each word that Ascher speaks, I find myself getting more and more irritated, but I’m not sure where my frustrations lay. Is it with my father, or with Ascher? Maybe it’s both.

“I’ll tell you this once, and I mean it - once. Got it? My father isn’t me. He can tell you things, but unless it’s coming out of my mouth, don’t read into it too much. He’s right in one thing, I won’t allow anyone to have control over what’s mine, over my damned birthright but never have I felt obligated to run this city. It isn’t an obligation, Ascher, it’s my damn choice and I’m choosing to do it.”

He doesn’t utter a word for a moment, so I take that as an invitation to continue. “I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t fucking like you. I think you’re crass, disrespectful and an ass. I don’t even know what you do because you haven’t had the decency to tell me. So, why should I waste my damn time?”

“I don’t meet a lot of women who want to hear about the way I run my business. Most of them just want to be kept in the dark. It’s easier that way.”

“I’m not most women.”

“True,” he smirks, before he continues. “I’m a street racer, and I’ve got a crew. We do some shady shit, but it puts cash in our pockets and that’s what matters. I gotta keep my people safe, happy and fed, so we do odd jobs every once in a while. Sometimes we race and collect bets, other times we’re transporting guns, cocaine...depends on the day. We’ve got our hands in a couple of other things but from that look on your face I can tell that ya aren’t really liking what I’m tellin’ you much.”

“No, I’m not,” I admit. I don’t know Ascher, and granted while I don’t know Phoenix either, I do know enough about Phoenix that he means what he says when he’s going to stop shit. I can trust his word. He makes me feel safe and valued. What I can’t trust is Ascher. From the first second I met him he’s done nothing but rub me the wrong way.

Fuck.

Why am I even wasting my time?

“Look, I think you can tell that you and I are never going to make anything work. Professionally, or personally. No hard feelings, but I have some place I need to be.” I whiz around and dart out the front door. I take two steps down onto the street when I hear laughing from behind me, coming from a voice that I’m beginning to come familiar with.

“See, told you she’d be out in less than ten minutes, but you didn’t wanna believe me,” Leo chuckles as I turn around and see him jabbing Phoenix in the side with his elbow.

“Lookin’ for somethin’ darlin?”

“I was, but I’m pretty sure I found it.” I smile, peering up at those blue eyes of his. “I’m not a fan of wasting my time,” I add, taking his hand in my own I start to tug him down the street to where my car is.

“Where are we headed?”

“You showed me your place, it’s about time I show you mine”

I drive Phoenix down to my place, weaving in and out of the now illuminated streets of Miami. The air is hot, sticky and humid as all hell, but it’s home and I’ve come to love it, even if it is a giant pain in my ass. The car ride is silent, not because it’s awkward, but because it doesn’t have to be filled with senseless chatter. Sure, there is loads I want to learn about Phoenix, but it doesn’t have to be right this second. Right now, all I really want is to be in his presence.

I pull into my driveway and park just in front of the front steps that lead up to my place. Before I even step out of the car, Phoenix is already up the steps, looking at my grand front door. “You’ve got some fancy shit.”

I nod, laughing before I walk up the steps to meet him there, opening the door wide and allowing him to step foot inside.

Phoenix assesses my house, eyes lingering over the tiniest of details. I’m sure it looks so much more different than what he’s used to at the clubhouse. I just hope he realizes that with me he gets the finer things too. Now, I have no problem getting down and dirty with the MC, but he needs to expect that he’ll need to clean up for gala dinners and charity events. This is a two-way street where both of us will have to make sacrifices within our lifestyle.

“House looks like you designed it,” he mutters, and I can’t help but smirk.

“I did. Every square inch of this place is of my own making. I couldn’t imagine having one of my father’s girls come in and put their stamp my home. My mom always used to tell me as a little girl that it was the woman’s touch that made the home. I’m a firm believer in that...so that’s how all this happened.”

“It’s nice, a lot nicer than my room at the club. Shit, at least your furniture matches.”

“Your furniture is lovely,” I laugh, taking a few steps towards him until I’m in his embrace. He wraps an arm around me, skimming the small of my back as he pulls me close and leans down to press his lips onto my own. Nothing about Phoenix looks gentle, but I can see through the thick skin that his life has branded him with. He is an extremely caring man, and one of the most genuine people I have met. There’s something about him that makes me feel safe, as if nothing could ever harm me if I have him in my corner. I doubt anything will, considering where my future is headed with him.

A loud popping sound interrupts my thoughts, until I realize that it’s coming from outside my front door. Right then is when I realize my glass is broken, shards cover the floor. The next thing I know I’m in Phoenix’s arms, his body acting as a human shield before he races us both into the kitchen. “Where the fuck is your safe room, Ken?” he snaps it out, eyes scanning through the open space.

“Wine” I whisper, unable to speak. I’ve never been in the middle of gunshots before. The question is, who are they shooting at? Phoenix, or me?

He lifts me up and heads behind the bar, right next to it is a full-length wine fridge that holds about thirty bottles of wine. I stand up straight, knowing that the longer we waste time, the quicker we’re screwed. I put my hand over a bottle of a 1995 Sauvignon Blanc, only it isn’t wine. I yank off the cork and out a small blue light shines from the bottle. I bend down and put my eye right over the light, so it can scan, signifying for the door to open. The only three people who have access to this room are me, my father and Winnie. After a few moments the door opens, bottles of wine disappearing out of nowhere and a space big enough to slide down into the safe room appears. “You need to come with me. I know you don’t want to, but please...just come with me,” I ask Phoenix. I know his type, he wants to pull out his gun and start firing back. I don’t blame him, but I don’t want him to be killed either.

“Kenna,” he grumbles, cocking his head to the side.

“Fine. You want to go die, fine, have at it. I just thought you were here to stand by me, to be my partner, not leave me the fuck alone when I need you to be with me.” I don’t look back at him as I position myself at the entrance and slide down the chute. Within a few seconds I’m in the safe room, the lights automatically come on at my sudden arrival and the entire room lights up. When I say room, I mean apartment. It’s the size of a small studio apartment, with everything that I may need. Much to my surprise, I hear him come in right behind me and stand next to the panel to lock the door, which will make the wine fridge go back to its normal state.

Fuck.

What the fuck do we do now?