Page 33 of Kisses Behind The Spotlight 2: Finale

“Yeah, kind of like how Amill has your head gone.” I tossed out and waited for his reaction.

The accusation didn’t make Stepp flinch, but that didn’t mean shit for real. He was a master at not letting a motha fucka rattle him. It was a prerequisite for his lifestyle. Something as simple as showing an unfavorable reaction could cost you your life.

“How did you know?”

“I saw you and Amill in the parking garage the other night. I hoped you were just taking her somewhere, and it wasn’t what I thought when she sat in the front with you. Come the fuck on, Stepp,” I groaned, slapping the steering wheel.

“Did you really fuck the girl you were supposed to be protecting?”

“Don’t use the word girl in this conversation! That shit sounds bad. Amill is a grown-ass woman,” he refuted.

We approached a red light, and I turned to face Stepp. Disappointment hardened my scowl as I shook my head from side to side. Stepp waved me off.

“Don’t try me with that disappointed-ass look!” He fumed. “You are the same nigga who used company devices to get into Yaseer’s car without his knowledge to press him about personal shit. Miss me with that holier-than-thou bullshit. Technically, Khaleesi is a client too. Besides, I refused a permanent position on your team after we got back from Milan. Meanwhile, you’re still employed. When are you going to resign for going against company policies?”

“Never. It’s my fucking company,” I laughed, tapping the gas to follow the flow of traffic. “Stepp, I don’t know. You must love her, though, to be playing second to that lame ass nigga she’s dating. What the fuck is up with that?”

“I’m not playing second to no nigga. Amill is just trying to make me jealous. I’m not dumb. She just wants me to act right,” he sighed, running his hands down his face. “How the fuck can I be with a woman who is recognized at least once a day when she’s in public while I’m still doing my thing? How can I bring her into my life knowing that also puts a target on her very visible back?”

“You right, you don’t. Plus, we both saw her pops just as crazy. That nigga gon’ have steam floating off that bald head when he finds out,” I joked. “Niggas hate to see their daughters with a man just as crazy as them.”

“Nah, we chop it up every time we cross paths. I think he’ll be cool.”

“Y’all cool because he don’t know you dropping dick in his spoiled princess,” I clarified.

“Aye man, shut the fuck up for the rest of the ride or Killa gon’ be putting something on yo ass next.”

“Please, my face is just starting to look somewhat normal from the last animal attack. I’mma put a hot one in Killa, and then yo’ ass gone wanna shoot me,” I retorted. “I’m going to say one last thing about the situation. I can move on from my divorce with Salena because we had different desires when it came to kids. If that wasn’t the case, and she would’ve divorced me because I was spending too much time in the streets, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to recover from that. The game can’t love you back.”

He nodded, and I had to add the hard truth he really needed to hear.

“Plus, the next nigga Amill decides to entertain might not be a lame ass nigga. He might sweep her off her feet, and you gon’ be round this bitch hiccuping and snotting. You better look at how that shit fucked Quinten up. He ain’t been right in the head since Marissa got with Yaseer. The nigga moved to Thailand to find himself, and Q and Quincy haven’t heard from him since.”

“Killa,” Stepp called, then made a kissing sound to summon the dog. His furry head shot through the middle of our seats, and he stared at Stepp.

“See, just hearing the truth got you about to turn on me.” I shook my head. “I thought we were better than that. But for real though. Why the fuck are you still holding on to that? You’re not in by blood, and Vincent’s pull gets you out any day of the week. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t know what else I would do.”

“Nigga, just start throwing shit at the wall. See what sticks. Take a year off, and travel with Amill while you get a degree. I don’t fucking know; the options are endless. I got this security shit going on right now, but I’ve been enjoying training Noah. If you don’t try something else, you won’t ever know what you’re capable of.”

Stepp was silent, but listening. I focused on the road, and he broke the silence a few moments later. “I hear you. Don’t think I don’t.”

“Good, I think me and Vincent are doing alright if you ask me,” I noted.

“Y’all do,” he agreed. “But I can’t make shit shake if I can’t speak to her. Where the fuck has she been hiding? I know you know,” Stepp pried. “I’m blocked on everything, and I know she ain’t been home because she didn’t revoke my access to her security system. She probably forgot about that. Her door hasn’t opened or shut in days.”

“I can’t break confidentiality and tell you that.” I stared ahead.

“Alright, the next time you need something, I ain’t helping yo ass either.”

“You know, you kind of sound like Amill’s spoiled ass right now. Maybe y’all were meant to be together,” I laughed.

“We are supposed to be brothers,” Stepp argued.

“We are brothers. Amill is family too, though. I just want to stay out of it.”

“Ummm hmmm.”