Page 19 of Cannon (King Family Saga #3)

Cannon

I shouldn’t have been thinking about the feel of her pussy through her panties while heading to a funeral.

But there I was, adjusting my black tie in the rearview mirror of Reese’s car, and all I could see was Queen’s face when my fingers slid under her dress. The way she lost her breath. How her eyes went wide, then heavy. The heat of her through that thin fabric, already wet for me.

Fuck.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to focus on what was ahead.

Tyran’s funeral. The man who’d been my boy for years.

The same man who died with my crypto fortune locked in his brain.

Millions gone because this stupid motherfucker couldn’t stay alive long enough for me to get out and claim what was mine.

I should’ve been thinking about that. About the money I lost. About how I was going to retrieve it.

Instead, all I could think about was Queen.

But she was even more of a reason to get that cash.

Even though I was a broke nigga right now, I knew I could pull her.

But she deserve so much more than a nigga who ain’t have no money.

So, I needed to be at this funeral and repast to see what I could find out.

I pulled into the church parking lot, my mind still torn between Queen and the bullshit I was about to face.

The church was packed. He was a good dude so that was to be expected.

I smoothed down my suit jacket and stepped out of Reese’s car, my face a mask of indifference as I joined the flow of mourners heading inside.

A portrait of Tyran smiled down from beside the pulpit. I shook my head thinking “Damn, my nigga. An overdose?” The casket sat open at the front, surrounded by arrangements of white lilies and roses.

I took a seat in the middle, not too close, not too far. The preacher was already going on about how Tyran was “called home” and “in a better place now.” Bullshit. Tyran was face-down in a pile of coke when they found him. The only place he got called to was the morgue.

When it was time for the viewing, I waited my turn. Row by row, people filed past the casket, some crying, others just nodding respectfully before moving on. Finally, I approached, looking down at what remained of my boy.

He looked waxy, artificial. They’d cleaned him up nice, put him in a suit I knew he would’ve hated. This wasn’t the Tyran I knew. My Tyran was loud, always moving, always talking shit. This shell in front of me was just that—a shell.

I leaned down, my face arranged in what anyone watching would assume was grief. My lips nearly touched his ear, like I was saying a final goodbye to my brother. But what came out was pure rage, whispered so only he could hear.

“I should kill yo’ ass for dying on me. Left me hanging with no way to get my money. Selfish-ass nigga.”

A woman behind me sniffled, probably thinking I was whispering sweet prayers. If only she knew.

I gave my boy one last hard look before moving away from the casket. Nothing but anger churning in my gut. This mothafucka had the key to my entire fortune, and now he was laid out wearing a suit he would’ve clowned if he was alive.

After the service, I followed the procession of cars to Tyran’s house. I thought it was odd for the repast to be there, but then I remembered he probably had the largest house of his family.

I stood in the corner of the living room, nursing a drink somebody had pressed into my hand, watching. Observing. Waiting for an opportunity. Draya had been busy at the funeral and I didn’t want to disturb her but I did come here to support her and find out about my money.

“Cannon?”

I turned and there she was. She was still as pretty as I remembered. We broke up back then because I wasn’t ready to commit. I was too focused on hustling.

“Hey,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.

“I’m so glad you could come. Ty looked up to you so much. He was anticipating your return. He said yall had business to handle.” Her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

“Yeah. We had big plans,” I said through gritted teeth.

Before I could say more, her face crumpled. Just broke wide open like a dam giving way. She stumbled forward and I caught her against my chest, her body shaking with sobs.

“I can’t believe he’s gone. And for something so stupid!”

I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her tears soaking through my shirt. Something twisted in my chest…not just anger now, but something else. Grief maybe. Or guilt. Tyran had been my boy, after all, before he became the keeper of my fortune.

“I know,” I said, rubbing slow circles on her back. “I know.”

I held her like that, in the middle of the living room with people watching and whispering. I didn’t give a fuck. Let them talk. Draya had always been special to me, even after we ended things.

When her crying finally slowed, she pulled back just enough to look up at me, her hands still gripping my jacket.

“You look good,” she said, wiping at her face. “Real good. I’m glad you’re out.”

“Thanks,” I replied.

“Where are you staying?”

“Uptown.”

“You’ve always been a man of so little words. But maybe now that you’re out, maybe we can link up? Maybe go to dinner and catch up sometime?” she asked.

I didn’t want that. Draya was pretty and sweet but I wasn’t feelin’ her. And I knew dinner would mean more to her than it would me. The only woman I wanted to take to dinner was Queen. Yo what in the hell am I talkin’ about? I’m not supposed to be taking anyone to dinner.

“Maybe once things settle down. I’m still figurin’ shit out…” I attempted to soothe her. I didn’t want to say a flat out ‘no’ because I needed her help.

“Listen,” Draya said, clutching my forearm. “I know what you’re really here for. Tyran told me about the business arrangement you two had before you went away. He was so excited when he heard you were getting out.”

My pulse quickened. “What exactly did he tell you?”

“Not much, just that you entrusted him with something valuable. That you two had plans.” She lowered her voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

“He kept all his important documents in his office. Maybe there’s something there that could help you move forward with whatever you had going on. ”

I tried not to look too eager. “You wouldn’t mind if I took a look?”

“Of course not.” She wiped at her eyes again. “Ty would want you to have whatever you need. His office is upstairs, second door on the right. Take your time.”

I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before making my way through the crowd of mourners. The stairs creaked under my weight as I climbed, my heart hammering against my ribs. This was it. The key to my fortune might be sitting in a drawer upstairs.

The office was exactly where she said, a small room with dark wood paneling and a desk that looked more expensive than my entire apartment. I closed the door behind me and went straight to work.

First, the desk drawers. I pulled each one open, rifling through papers, folders, receipts.

Nothing about crypto wallet or the seed phrase.

Second, I tried the filing cabinet tucked in the corner.

More useless shit…tax returns, property deeds, car notes.

Nothing with my name on it. Nothing about digital assets or passwords.

“Did you find anything yet?” Draya asked, slipping into the room behind me. She closed the door quietly.

I ran a hand over my face, trying to mask my desperation. “Not yet.”

After going through everything, I realized it wasn’t there. A part of me was relieved because that would’ve been reckless on his part. But the larger part of me was pissed. Millions of dollars were lost.

I slammed the desk drawer shut, frustration bubbling up like lava. “Fuck!” I kicked the chair, sending it crashing into the wall.

“Cannon, please,” Draya whispered, her eyes darting to the door. “People will hear you.”

“I don’t give a fuck who hears me!” I growled, tearing through the bookshelf now, pulling volumes out and shaking them open, looking for anything… flash drive, a piece of paper, a goddamn Post-it with my seed phrase on it. Nothing. Not a fucking thing.

The walls of the office started closing in on me. All those years locked up, planning, waiting, knowing my fortune was safe with Tyran, only to come home to this bullshit. My hands shook as I ripped through the last drawer.

“I think you should leave and I’ll call you if I find anything,” she said as she gripped my arm.

“Aight…” I said as I stormed out.

That wallet needed both of us to open it. I wasn’t worried about her stealing the money but more so worried she might not be able to find it.