Chapter 1

1

D ali

Twenty-One Years Later

Not even sloppy head from my favorite stripper would dull the anxiety of us being at this club for Germany’s pre-bachelor party. He was playing a dangerous game being here. Twila told him she didn’t want him going to a strip club or Vegas for his bachelor party. That’s why they’d agreed to a joint bachelor and bachelorette party so she could watch him. Now, I wouldn’t say Twila’s paranoia and rules weren’t warranted because Germany had cheated on her, but I felt like if she had to go to such extremes with her boundaries to be able to trust him, she shouldn’t have taken him back.

Germany straddled the line between wanting to assure her that she could trust him and wanting to do his own thing. I could respect him wanting to do what he wanted, but at the same time, it was now his responsibility to protect his wife. That didn’t just mean physically—it meant emotionally protecting her heart too. My conflict came from knowing that truth. A lot of our family, his mother included, didn’t want Germany and Twila together because their relationship had been toxic. I felt that way, but I wanted to support him through this journey of becoming a better man.

That’s why I was here instead of at home resting knowing I had a long day tomorrow. He decided at the last minute to come here to celebrate getting married with his guys, and though I knew he didn’t have any ill intentions, I worried about how this would play out if Twila found out we were here. When I realized Loco’s wet mouth and long tongue wouldn’t be a good enough distraction to keep me from worrying about how the night would end, I gently pushed her off my semi-erect dick.

“Is… everything okay?” she asked, stroking me with her palm.

“Yeah. I’m about to call it a night,” I said, going into my pocket to retrieve a few bills for her.

“Already?”

Not bothering to confirm what I’d just told her, I handed her the money and put my dick back in my boxers before zipping and buttoning my pants. As I stood, I looked around the red, dimly lit room for Germany. As I suspected, he wasn’t in here. Cursing under my breath, I said a silent prayer that he hadn’t ducked off into one of these private rooms with a stripper.

While some men may have spent their bachelor party sowing the last of their royal oats, Germany wouldn’t have that luxury. The last time Twila thought he was cheating, she keyed his car, busted the windows, and flattened his tires.

I made my way out of the smoky room in search of him. Though I felt like it would be pointless, I pulled my phone out and gave him a call. Not to my surprise, he didn’t answer. The moment I made it to the main room and my eyes locked on Twila, my heart stopped beating.

“Ah shit.” Taking steps backward, I hoped she didn’t see me. “She must got an air tag on this nigga.”

Turning swiftly, I headed back to the room I’d just come out of as I called Germany’s number again. Our family was scattered all across the room while his friends were huddled around one table. I made my way over to my brother first.

“You seen Germany?” I asked as his phone went to voicemail again.

“Not for a lil minute. Why wassup?”

“Twila is out front.”

“Shit.” Dynasty jumped to his feet. “How did she find us?”

“I don’t know but she did, so he needs to leave ASAP.”

Dynasty nodded his agreement. While he went to half the room, I took the other, telling everyone about the situation and that we needed to set eyes on Germany before Twila did. The longer it took us to find him the more frustrated I got. I told his ass this was a bad idea. Now, instead of ending my night in peace, I was hoping his crazy ass fiancée didn’t find him.

It took a little time, but eventually we found him upstairs. To my surprise, he wasn’t having sex, but from the look of his disheveled clothing as he stumbled out of the room, he was close.

“I ’preciate you, cuz,” he said, hurrying behind me as he buckled his belt.

“This the last time I’m doing this. The next time you try to fuck off, I’m sending Twila straight to you.”

“Man, say,” Dynasty said, “I don’t know why you marrying the girl anyway. It’s clear you don’t want to be with just her.”

“I wasn’t about to cheat.” I didn’t bother responding to that lie. In fact, I didn’t say anything else as we rushed out of the back door. Since we weren’t sure how Twila was tracking him, he dropped his phone in his car and took Dynasty’s home. Dynasty was going to go out and make it seem as if he was in Germany’s car and he didn’t know his phone was in it.

I wasn’t with that lying-to-your-woman shit, so I took my leave. If Germany wasn’t my cousin, his ways would have been the reason I cut him off long ago. All I could do was hope he got himself together soon. Or, at least, realized a committed relationship, especially with a woman like Twila, was the last thing he needed to partake in.

The Next Day

“All right, guys. I think that’s it,” Siri said cheerfully. She cupped her hands and twiddled her thumbs as she rocked on her heels. Siri was adorable and one of the sweetest women I knew. My best friend, Kennessy, was lucky to have her. “Are you absolutely sure we can’t pay you for your services, Dali?” she asked, walking over to me.

Before I could even answer her, Kennessy sucked his teeth and spoke up. “Don’t even bother asking. I tried to pay him at least for his time and team and he said no.”

“And I’ma say it again,” I replied, looking around the living room that was filled with boxes.

“Can I at least fix you dinner?”

“Now that, I’ll take.”

Me and two of my crew members had spent the last three hours moving Kennessy’s things into Siri’s home. Since they’d decided to take their relationship to the next level, it made more sense for him to move in with her and her daughter, Samantha, since she had a three-bedroom home—which was bigger than his one-bedroom bachelor apartment.

I hadn’t always planned to have a moving company, but when I stopped doing what I truly loved, boxing, I opened a few businesses that would be quick and easy ways to make money and keep myself busy. Along with the moving company I had a tow truck, lawn care service, and several rental properties.

Boxing had always been what I knew I’d do professionally. It started with a love of wrestling that blossomed when I joined the wrestling team for my high school and college. After eight years of professional boxing, I retired earlier this year and devoted my focus on my businesses. Life outside the ring had been less exciting and structured but there were some positives to it.

I always said I’d retire by thirty to start preparing for the next phase of my life. By thirty-five, I wanted to be married and starting my family. With more wins under my belt than losses, a part of me ached to get back in the ring… especially since it was becoming increasingly more difficult for me to go after the woman I really wanted.

After my crew took the last of the boxes into the master bedroom, I gave them the rest of the day off. They had my permission to take the truck back and I’d ride home with my brother since he was here too. We’d always been big on family and friendship, which was why I wouldn’t charge Kennessy and Siri for the move. I told them they could tip the crew, and they did, so that was good enough for me.

When I heard the door open, my eyes shifted to see who it was. Thanks to the open concept of the home, I was able to see Kassadee walk inside from the living room. Like always, at the sight of her, my heart skipped a beat. She seemed to look more beautiful every time I saw her.

With a growl, Dynasty scooped her up for a bear hug, causing her to giggle. Envy filled me. I wanted her in my arms. Sadly, that probably wouldn’t happen. Kassadee and I had always had a strange relationship.

As kids, I was her protector. As teenagers, she crushed on me hard. In college, I yearned for her, but serial dating on both parts and my boxing started to put distance between us. Now, it often felt like we were strangers.

“Is that my girl?” Siri asked from the kitchen at the sound of Kassadee’s laughter. They were best friends, and it was through their bond that Kennessy found the woman I was sure he’d marry… even if he was being slow and careful about it.

“It’s me!” Kassadee replied, heading toward the kitchen. Her eyes landed on me briefly and her steps slowed. Twisting her mouth to the side, she avoided my eyes. “Hi.”

“Hey.” I told myself not to stare, but that was easier said than done. “How are you?”

“Good.” Her eyes met mine. “You? I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Yeah. I’ve been keeping busy. Not being in the ring has made life boring as hell.”

Her posture relaxed as she crossed her arms over her chest with a smile. “If you miss it that much, why don’t you go back?”

I asked myself that same question every fucking day. “I achieved everything I wanted to achieve. The money, the sponsorships that still roll in, the championship belts. I literally got to live my childhood dream.” Pausing, I closed the space between us. Licking my lips, I had to keep my dick from hardening at the sight of her chest rising as she pulled in a deep breath and held it. Her nipples hardened, and knowing her body reacted to me led me to believe there was hope for us yet. “I have… different goals for my life now.”

“What’s at the top of the list?”

I wanted to tell her it was getting her, but before I could, Siri was grabbing her arm and pulling her into the kitchen. My eyes stayed locked on Kassadee until she was no longer in view. I loved everything about her physically—the curvy, stacked frame, ginger hair, pouty bowtie-shaped lips, almond-shaped eyes, honey brown skin. Every time I saw her, I wanted to pick her thick ass up and bury my face in her curves and rolls. Bury my face in her pussy. Slide my dick between her fat ass titties.

Shaking the visual from my head, I cleared my throat and tried to force myself to look away. She turned back, staring at me with those coffee-brown eyes. A hint of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth before she turned around, and only then did I have the strength to look away.

Squeezing the back of my neck, I sighed and plopped down on the couch. Kassadee had no idea how much I wanted her. I’d trade in half my time on this earth for just one night with her. Unfortunately, choices made over the years while we were younger put a wedge between us. Even though I was retired from boxing, I wasn’t sure she’d ever take a relationship with me seriously. Maybe it was pride or fear, or a mix of both that kept me from straight up asking her—and that was proof of just how distant we’d become. There was a time when Kas and I could talk about everything. Now, we barely talked about anything.

“You talked to your cousin?” Kennessy asked as he sat in the recliner on the right side of the leather sectional.

“Who Germany?” I asked as Dynasty came and sat next to me.

“Yeah. What ended up happening last night?”

“Twila didn’t fully believe the story, but since I was in his car and had the phone, she let it go,” Dynasty answered.

Kennessy chuckled as he kicked his shoes off and leaned back in the recliner. “He better quit playing with that girl, man. She gon’ fuck around and be on the next episode of Snapped .”

“Man, say,” I replied, nodding in agreement. “After last night, I ain’t fucking with that nigga. He playing a dangerous game. Plus, he know I don’t respect that cheating shit.”

“I’m still tryna figure out why he’s even going through with the marriage,” Dynasty said. “I mean… I know he asked her to keep her from leaving the last time he cheated but damn. If he so unsatisfied that he has to be with other women, that’s clearly an indication that she ain’t the one for him.”

“It ain’t even about him not being satisfied,” I countered. “Twila won’t ever be enough for him because he’s unhappy with himself. Until he gets his shit together, he’s not going to be faithful to her or anyone else. I really hope he calls the wedding off. Twila is crazy and even crazier for staying with him, but she doesn’t deserve the type of time that mane been on these days.”

As if he felt us talking about him, Germany called me. “Speak of the devil,” I said as I stood to accept the call.

My eyes shifted toward the kitchen, instantly landing on Kassadee as I accepted the call. She looked away quickly, and all I could do was chuckle as I shook my head. It was crazy how in one season a person could be your comfort and the next… someone that made you feel awkward as hell.