Chapter 6

Phoenix

Her warm soft lips are on mine and there is nothing more I want to do than throw her down on this desk and fuck her. I’m not going to though. She came here to check out my club and what I dabble in. She didn’t come for a good fuck, at least not this time. Next time I’ll have her sprawled out on my bed taking my time on her but now? She wants to see what happens around here and I plan on showing her. Pulling away from her lips felt like hell, but I did it.

“A few things you should know about me. One, I will never fuck a drunk girl. When I fuck you, Kenna you will know what the hell is happenin’ every second of it.” She watches me with her eyes widening as if she wasn’t expecting me to say that. I’m sure she pegged me the same as all the other guys, but I was raised better than that.

“What’s two?” she asks with a drunken smirk. I slide my hands down her body, kissing her neck and letting her feel just what I can do for her. When I reach the bottom of these tiny ass shorts she has on, I groan. Why am I the good guy? I could tear these shorts off and just take what the hell I want. Instead, I let my fingers skim the bottom of her ass listening to her moan as I press my lips to the base of her throat.

“Two is, I respect my woman. I respect who she is and who she was. You were with a brother and I’m not him. I don’t want to scare you into anything you might not be ready for but know that I am who you belong with.”

I lick her neck, suck her perfectly tan skin into my mouth and listen to the sexy ass sounds that she makes. Damn! I wonder what it will be like when I finally get inside of her?

“Prove it. Your boy out there was a rude piece of shit,” she says when I pull back and look at her.

“What are you thinkin’, darlin’? You want an easy kill, or should I make him remember his manners when it comes to somethin’ that belongs to me?” Her breathing is sporadic and the chemistry between us can’t be denied but I can’t be the one to rush this. She must see what I’m doing is for the greater part of the city. I want this to work but I am not willing to put my city on the line for it.

“Make him remember it,” she winks. I chuckle and lean back in, kissing her softly. Something in her eyes tells me she wasn't expecting that from me, but this is what she wanted. I know it is. Why else would she show up unannounced? Grabbing her hand in mine, I lead her out of the office and back toward the main room. She watches intently as we move, taking in everything she can.

“I’m an open book, Kenna. Anything you wanna ask, just ask. My only rule is you ask me, so you get the truth, yeah?” She looks up at me with a smile that could get a motherfucker killed and nods her pretty head. My chest tightens as I let it all sink in. Holding her hand, her smiling. Fuck, a man could get used to this when it comes to a girl like her. As soon as we step into the main room, I stop.

“We got a little situation that needs handled. This is Kenna Vernon. Some of you know of her, some don’t. She gets the same goddamn respect that I get. You offer her any less and it’s like disrespectin’ me. Got it?” Most of the guys nod their heads and agree but there are a few, like Micky, that want to cause shit. Those are the ones I single out.

“We’re gonna show Kenna what happens in-house style when you disrespect me.” As the words come out of my mouth, the guys go crazy. The girls scream and jump up and down. They all know what it is, but Kenna just stares up at me with those gorgeous eyes that hold so much more than I can ever know. She has a past and she has things that haunt her, but I can be the one to make her look at a future. Not what she lost. What she can gain.

“You’re gonna love this shit,” Leo walks up with his hand extended to Kenna. Strangely, she looks to me as if to ask permission to talk to him. Something about that sparks more emotion inside of me than I thought I had. She’s being respectful of me.

“This is Leo. He’s my VP.” Kenna smiles and grabs his hand in hers before he says,

“Yeah, someone’s gotta keep this bastard in line. It’s nice to meet you, sweetheart.”

“You too, Leo,” she says before looking back at me. “What is happening now?” I grin at her unable to stop myself. She’s not only beautiful as hell but she’s observant and smart. I can tell by that little glint in her eyes that she is thinking and running situations through that head of hers.

“We handle all our problems with other members in house. We don’t take disrespect lightly. Regardless of who you are, you were right. We don’t disrespect women, it’s not who we are.” She cuts me off there.

“You are into prostitution, though aren't you?”

“I am but at the same time, I keep the girls safe. I make sure what they are doin’ is monitored by the club. No one raises a hand to any of my girls, Kenna. They choose this, and I protect them. I don’t force them into anything and I don’t treat them as less.”

“Yeah? For what price?” She snaps. I can see the fire in those eyes and God help me I fucking love it. The power she holds within her is going to blow this city apart when she lets loose and I can only hope I’m there to see it all happen.

“Ten percent. I don’t steal from them, darlin’. Ask any girl around here if you don’t want to take my word. I was raised to be a better man than some in this lifestyle. I’m shunned for it. Some even hate me because of it but I have to stay true to who I am.” Her attitude slowly slips away and the real Kenna shines brightly in her eyes once more. That’s the one I want to see more of.

“You ready for this?” Leo calls out catching my attention. I smirk at Kenna and nod my head.

“Get Micky out here,” I tell Leo as I pull Kenna toward the back door. When we step out into the humid air, I take a deep breath as she gasps. The guys have the ring pulled out and ready in the middle of the yard.

“What is that?” Kenna asks surprised by what she sees.

“In-house punishment.” She glances up at me, her eyebrow raised. Why the fuck does she have to be so goddamn hot?

“You have a boxing ring?”

“I like to stay in shape,” I shrug. “Besides, this is a great way to learn self-defense. I train some of the girls out here too as well as the guys. It happens to be the best thing to handle any shit too.” I wink making her giggle.

“Hey, Lynch! Grab my girl a drink!” Lynch nods quickly and heads back inside to grab her something as we stand and watch the guys finish up with the ring. Kenna turns to me, questions dancing in her eyes.

“Ask me, Kenna,” I urge her. She blows out a breath before she does.

“The drugs? I get it. There is so much shit tainting the streets these days and we want that control. Not everything you do is legal, and I get that. Are you into guns?”

“Occasionally. The club makes most of its money from our legal ventures.”

“Legal ventures?” She cocks her head to the side. I just smirk because not many people are privileged enough to know this shit. We don’t share it freely, but this is Kenna and I need to arm her with enough knowledge of me for her to decide.

“Leo has two shops in his name. The club set them up and runs them. The liquor store over on Seventh?” Kenna nods. “It’s ours. It’s in Lynch’s wife’s name. Hell, even the fuckin’ youth community center was set up by yours truly.” Her eyes widen at the last one. I don’t brag about what I do and I sure as hell don’t advertise it to others.

“You did that?” Her voice sounds a little more unsure, but I can’t help but chuckle.

“That was all me. Future plans are for a women’s shelter. It’s not common knowledge and I’d like to keep it that way, but my mom was beat before she met my dad. Guy nearly killed her. My dad took her in and they fell in love.” I shrug my shoulders.

“That’s beautiful, Phoenix. I had no idea that you were into all of that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me that’s kept out of other people’s business.”

“The prostitution would have to stop,” she says surely.

That doesn’t bother me. I can stop that at any given time. “One stipulation for that,” I tell her. Kenna looks up at with question in her eyes.

“What’s that?”

“Let me find them someone else that will treat them right. I won’t throw them out to fend for themselves.” Not an option. That isn’t me and I sure as hell won’t do it.

“Deal. Now show me how a real man defends my honor,” she smirks. I slide my cut down my arms holding it out to her. She takes it and folds it over her arm as she watches me carefully.

I lean in and kiss her once more, just for good measure before winking at her. “Let the best man win.”