Page 51 of Cannon (King Family Saga #3)

Queen

I woke to the sound of little boy voices and Cannon’s deep rumble.

For a disorienting moment, I couldn’t remember where I was—the luxury hotel suite was too pristine, too perfect to feel real.

Then yesterday crashed back like a tidal wave: Reese’s suicide, the boys’ tear-stained faces, Cannon holding it all together by a thread.

Rolling over, I reached for him, but his side of the bed was empty. Just warm sheets and the lingering scent of his cologne. I sat up, listening to the domestic sounds filtering in from the suite’s living room.

“Uncle Cannon, is this shirt okay?” That was Hunter, his voice higher than his brother’s.

“Perfect, little man. Now grab your backpack while I help Josiah with his shoes.”

I slipped out of bed, pulling on Cannon’s t-shirt that hung to mid-thigh on me. When I padded into the living room, the sight before me stopped me in my tracks.

Cannon was kneeling in front of Josiah, tying the little boy’s sneakers with a concentration that made something in my chest tighten. Hunter stood nearby, his small backpack clutched in his hands, both boys dressed in fresh clothes Cannon must have bought last night while I was sleeping.

None of them noticed me at first, and I took a moment to just watch.

Cannon’s massive frame made the boys look even smaller, but there was something so natural about the way he spoke to them, the way he spoke softly but firmly, the way his hands I’d seen knock men unconscious could be so gentle with those little fingers.

“We gotta hurry,” Cannon said, standing up. “The meeting with CPS is at ten, and I want us to be early. Shows we’re serious.”

Hunter spotted me first. “Miss Queen! You’re awake!”

Cannon turned, his eyes softening when they landed on me. Even with the weight of yesterday etched in the lines of his face, he managed a small smile.

“Morning, baby,” he said. “Sorry if they woke you. We’re heading out to meet with child protective services. They need to interview me, check my background, make sure I’m fit to take custody of the boys.”

I walked over, ruffling Hunter’s hair. “You look handsome this morning. Both of you do.”

“Uncle Cannon bought us new clothes,” Josiah said proudly, doing a little twirl to show off his outfit.

“I see that,” I smiled, though my heart ached for these children who’d lost everything in the span of twenty-four hours.

“I figured looking put together couldn’t hurt our case,” Cannon explained, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “They’re gonna look for any reason to take them from me.”

I nodded, understanding all too well how the system worked. “You need me to come with you?”

He shook his head. “Nah, this one I gotta handle alone. Besides, don’t you need to…” He trailed off, not wanting to mention my mother’s funeral arrangements in front of the boys.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I do.”

Cannon checked his watch. “We should head out. Boys, grab your jackets.”

As they scrambled to get their things, Cannon pulled me close, his lips brushing against my forehead. “You good?” he asked.

“I should be asking you that,” I replied, studying his face. Despite the calm exterior, I could see the storm behind his eyes. “Did you sleep at all?”

“A little,” he lied. The shadows under his eyes told the truth.

“Call me if you need anything,” I said. “I mean it, Cannon. Anything.”

He nodded, then leaned down to kiss me properly, his lips warm against mine. It was brief but held a promise. We were in this together now, whatever “this” turned out to be.

“Ewww!” Hunter giggled, covering his eyes dramatically.

Cannon broke away with a small laugh, the first I’d heard since yesterday’s tragedy. “Alright, alright, let’s move out.”

I knelt down to the boys’ level. “You two be good for your uncle, okay? Answer the nice lady’s questions honestly.”

“Will you be here when we get back?” Josiah asked, his small hand reaching for mine.

“Of course I will,” I promised, squeezing his little hand. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

The relief on his face nearly broke my heart. Children shouldn’t have to worry about people disappearing on them.

Cannon gathered the boys, ushering them toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back to me, cupping my face in his large hands and pressing his lips against mine in a kiss that felt like a lifeline.

“I’ll call you when we’re done,” he murmured against my lips.

“Good luck,” I whispered. “You got this.”

I knelt down as the boys approached for their goodbyes. “Be brave today, okay? Your uncle Cannon is going to take good care of you.”

Hunter hugged me tight around my neck while Josiah wrapped his little arms around my waist. The unexpected affection caught me off guard, making my eyes sting with unshed tears.

“Bye, Miss Queen,” they chorused as Cannon led them out the door.

When they were gone, the suite felt suddenly too large, too quiet. I sank onto the couch, the weight of everything crashing down on me at once. My mother’s funeral. I needed to start making arrangements, but my laptop was at my apartment.

I showered quickly and dressed in the clothes I’d worn yesterday, wrinkling my nose at the thought. I’d need to stop by my place anyway to get fresh clothes if we were staying at the hotel another night.

Downstairs, the doorman hailed me an Uber. While waiting, I checked my phone, scrolling through missed calls and messages. Nothing from ZaZa. The hurt was still fresh, but I pushed it away. I couldn’t deal with that particular pain today.

The Uber pulled up, a sleek black sedan with tinted windows. I slid into the backseat, giving the driver my address.

“Harlem, right?” he confirmed, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

“Yes, please.” I leaned back, watching the city blur past the window. My phone buzzed in my hand. Nori’s face lighting up my screen.

“Hey girl,” I answered, suddenly grateful to hear a friendly voice.

“Queen! How you holding up? I’ve been worried about you.” Nori’s warm voice filled the car.

“I’m…” I hesitated, not even knowing where to begin. “It’s been a hell of a day, Nor.”

“How is Cannon holding up? That shit is tragic.”

I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cool glass of the window. “He’s being strong. We’re staying at the Waldorf with the boys right now. Cannon’s at a meeting with CPS. He’s trying to get custody.”

“Damn. Y’all moving fast, huh? Instant family.”

“I guess we are.” I hadn’t even had time to process that part yet, that if everything went as planned, I’d be helping Cannon raise those boys. This would be a totally new life for me.

“You know, you’ve had a rough few days,” Nori said, her voice softening. “You wanna link up for dinner later? Take your mind off things? We can hit that new spot on Malcolm X.”

The offer was tempting. An evening with my best friend, good food, maybe a drink or two to numb the edges of everything that had happened.

“Yeah,” I said, surprising myself with how quickly I agreed. “That sounds good. I need to get out of my head for a minute.”

“Perfect. I’ll text you the details. Seven work?”

“Seven works.”

We chatted a bit longer before hanging up. By then, the Uber was pulling up in front of my building. I said goodbye to the driver and headed inside, already mentally listing what I needed to pack for another night at the hotel.

When I unlocked my front door, I immediately sensed something was off. Someone else was in my little oasis.

“Hello?” I called out, my guard instantly up.

ZaZa appeared from the hallway, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. Her eyes widened when she saw me, like a deer caught in headlights.

“What are you doing in my house?” I demanded, anger flaring hot and immediate. After stealing from me, after everything that had happened, she had the nerve to just let herself in?

“I’m just picking up more clothes,” she said defensively, clutching the duffel tighter. “I didn’t think you’d be home.”

“So you broke in?”

“I still have my key, Mama,” she shot back. “It’s not breaking in if I have a key.”

I was about to lay into her when I heard the bathroom door open. A tall man stepped into the hallway, and my blood turned to ice. I recognized that face immediately from the security footage at Sylk Road, from the night Jupiter died.

“Who the hell is this?” I asked, though I already knew.

“This is Marcus,” ZaZa said, moving toward him. “Marcus Dixon. He’s been letting me stay with him since you kicked me out.”

Marcus Dixon. The name hit me like a physical blow. Dixon. Like Alfred Dixon, the man from the hotel room all those years ago.

He approached with an extended hand and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Nice to finally meet you, Ms. Davenport. I’ve heard so much about you.”

I backed away, my survival instincts screaming. “Get out of my house. Now.”

“Mom!” ZaZa exclaimed, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “Don’t be rude!”

“No,” Marcus said calmly, his hand dropping to his side. “It’s okay.”

Something in his tone made my skin crawl. I turned to ZaZa, desperate to get her away from him. “That man is dangerous. He’s the one who sold bad drugs at my club. He’s the reason Jupiter is dead.”

ZaZa’s eyes widened in confusion, but before she could respond, Marcus let out a low laugh.

“I’m glad you recognize that,” he said, his voice chillingly calm. “Because I’m going to kill your daughter in front of you. I’m going to take everything away from you, just like you and your mother took away from me.”

ZaZa’s confusion turned to terror. She bolted toward me, but Marcus was faster. He grabbed her by her hair, yanking her back against his chest as he pulled a knife from his pocket, pressing the blade against her throat.

“Marcus, what the fuck!” ZaZa screamed, tears instantly springing to her eyes.

“I was just going to kill you and leave you here for your mother to find,” he told me, his eyes never leaving mine as he spoke. “But this works better. Killing both of you will save me time.”