Chapter 3

The women with the highest walls have the deepest love. - R H Sin

Kenna

I drove as fast as I could to south Miami, to the one place where I needed to be more than anything. This was a lot of shit to process and I knew that I couldn’t do it alone, no way and no how. I may have acted cool in front of my father, but I was surely about to break down if I didn’t tell my best friend, Winnie, about all this quick. Her shop was in the heart of the ghetto, right where she was born and raised.

I own a stake in her shop, and without my investment she probably wouldn’t be working for herself and would still be stuck working for that pig Carlos. Winnie is super talented, and boy does she know how to paint. Her body and paint shop is the best in all of Miami, and I’m not just saying that because she’s my best friend, or because this is also my place too. I’m just being honest.

I walk straight on in, through the thick Florida humidity and into the cool air conditioning that flows through her office.

“Win!” I shout, waiting for her to pop into my view. She swivels around in the chair to my left and I nearly jump ten feet high and hit the ceiling. “Jesus! You couldn’t have told me you were right there?”

“Mmm. I could’ve but what would be the fun in that? I’d rather scare you until you’re prairie dogging it up”

“You are disgusting,” I comment, wrinkling my nose.

“We established that when we were five and I ate a whole container of glue. You decided after  that to be friends with me, so you’re kind of stuck with your choice.” She snickers, and I smack her on the shoulder, popping my ass onto the bean bag chair that sits a few feet away from her.

I sit in silence for a moment and tell her everything about my day, including the smallest details about the conversation that I had earlier with my father. There was no reason to hide anything and Win has always been a great sounding board, and my voice of reason when I need it.

“So, what’s the big deal? It sounds like you get to choose between two men who may have the potential to be a great fit for not only you, but Miami too. Just do me a favor and send whoever the loser is my way. I could use a nice big dick to get the cobwebs out of this pussy”

I can’t help but roll my eyes at her. She’s always had a way of being blunt as fuck, and never have I been able to get used to it. The girl still surprises me, even today.

“Nothing is ever simple,” I say, looking over to her. She sits back in her chair and cocks her head to the side, the gold hoop earrings she wears glisten under the light.

“Okay, so what’s the deets about these two guys? You’ve told me the gist of it, but I can tell you’re hiding something from me. Something you don’t want me to know.” She’s right. I’m not telling her details because she’s going to lecture me. “Cough it up, woman. I’ve got work to do and can’t keep yapping at this damn social hour”

“Ascher runs a car crew. I don’t know all the details, but I know enough to get an idea...and Phoenix…” I mumble, not sure how to say what I need to.

“Ah! This little secret information is about him. Chop, chop, woman.”

“Phoenix is the Prez of the Devil’s Ash MC,” I blurt it out, unable to break my eyes away from her own.

“Oh….”

I nod at her assessment, leaning back into the chair and allow my head to hang from the cheap furniture as I stare up at the ceiling, not wanting to think about anything regarding an MC. It hurts too much to think about it. Even after all these years, it aches in a way that I thought would eventually dissipate. Instead, my demons toy with me, constantly making me relive the pain.

“Phantom is dead, Ken. He’s been dead for years. Nothing will bring him back.”

“I know,” I murmur lowly, thinking about Phantom. Fuck. Tears well behind my eyes and I close them, but the second that I do I visualize his face. His soft blonde hair, those baby blue eyes and that southern charm smile that could make me do just about anything.

“You haven’t dated anyone since him and I’ve respected that. I know how hard it is to lose someone, especially in the way that you lost him...but you have to move on. You’ve spent the last five years in work mode, doing whatever you could for your Pops. I think it’s about time you start living for yourself again, and I’m sure Phan’ would agree with me. You know as well as I do he wouldn’t want you to be alone. He’d want you to be taken care of, to be protected and who knows which one of these dudes is gonna do that, but I’d bet ya a million bucks that he’d much rather you be with a brother. And, as much as you say this is about who’s right for the city, you need to follow your heart with this one. This can’t be another business decision. You have to think with what’s in here.” She points to her chest, and she’s right. I hate admitting that shit, but she is so right. I don’t want this to be a business decision, but at the same time...I need to do what is right for Miami and I will put the city before me every time.

I think it’s about time I get in contact with Phoenix. We’ve got a date to go on.