Page 28 of Cannon

Cannon’s fist met his jaw mid-sentence.

He didn’t finish.

Cannon’s fist cracked against his jaw like thunder.

Darius flew back, hit the bookshelf, then slid to the floor like his body had been unplugged. His mouth hung open, leaking blood. He looked up in a daze, blinking slow like his brain was buffering. But then something shifted in his eyes.

Recognition.

His pupils locked on Cannon, and for the first time since he burst into my office, Darius looked scared.

“Wait…” he breathed, struggling to sit up. “You—yo, I know you. You Cannon Price?”

Cannon didn’t respond. Just stared down at him, blank and still.

“Shit,” Darius muttered, holding up his hands like they’d protect him now. “My bad, man. I ain’t know who I was talkin’ to.”

Cannon cocked his head slightly. “Now you do.”

Darius nodded so hard I thought his neck might snap.

“Listen, I was just heated. That’s all. No disrespect. We cool.”

Cannon didn’t say a word. Just stepped back and opened the door like he was offering Darius a second chance at life.

Darius scrambled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. “It’s all good, Queen. No hard feelings. I’m out. For real.”

He rushed out like his shoes were on fire.

The door clicked shut behind him.

I looked at Cannon, slower this time, really looked at him.

So that was who he was.

One of those whispered names from the game. The kind of man people didn’t talk about unless they were drunk or dying. I should’ve been nervous. Maybe even scared.

But all I felt was steady.

Like the club and my safety were finally in the right hands.

“You were made for this job,” I said quietly.

His eyes met mine, unreadable. “I know.”

Something thick and electric buzzed between us. I stepped back, needing air. Needing distance I suddenly didn’t trust myself to keep.

“Go make sure he leaves the property,” I said, turning toward my desk.

He didn’t move.

“What?” I asked, glancing back.

He raised an eyebrow. “You forgot a word.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“If you want me to do something, ask politely. I don’t take orders. I follow respect.”