Page 133 of River & Crown
Get out of the house and bring Cherish to the condo I purchased in Briar Ridge.
Cherish's Father:
Why?
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out a ragged breath. This man played the bitch role a little too well.
Me:
Talon, please just do what I ask. I'll explain once I finish up with Honor.
Locking my phone, I tossed it into my purse and walked over to where Kage was parked and waiting. At the sight of me, he hopped out to open my door.
"You straight?"
"I'm cool. Let's go because we're behind schedule."
Kage nodded, but his gaze did a quick sweep of my body language. As the door shut, I closed my eyes one last time, locking away the parts of me that were still vulnerable.
"Something is off about you. I'm not gon' force you to speak on it, tho'."
"Appreciate it." I smiled. Kage didn't say anything, and I welcomed the silence, as I prepared to bring the bitch out.
Chapter 34
Crown Gravehart
Shit felt off.
The fog rolled in heavy and thick enough for an enemy to catch his target slipping. Looking out into the distance, I sucked my teeth. Anything ten feet out wasn't shit but a shadow and a threat, that I didn't mind using as target practice. My eyes cut to the left, where Wolfe stood, still as death, finger brushing his trigger. A war was brewing. Lil' bro felt that shit in the air.
Shit felt fucking off.
Syn and Killian posted at the doors of the boathouse. Syn stood a half step ahead of her brother, body angled like a shield. The AR-15 in her hands was short, brutal, and loud, just like her. The first time I saw her, I asked why that one out of all guns. She chuckled, telling me she didn't need range for her enemies.
Syn's eyes cut to mine, and a subtle nod followed. She peered over her shoulder toward Killian, then got lost in the darkness ahead. Behind her, Killian stood just as still as the rest of us but without a gun. Ghost and Grim flanked behind him like shadows carved from Killian himself. Movement in the distance caught our attention. Honor to my right, stepped in front of Wolfe and me.
"Nigga, you don't have to?—"
"Muthafuckas will always have to get through me to make it to y'all," he gritted over his shoulder.
Looking toward Wolfe, that nigga shrugged and motioned for me to shake that shit off. The sound of heels ricocheted across the dock, growing louder with every step. Grim and Ghost growled, rumbling the night like distant thunder.
"I didn't know we were bringing animals to a gunfight?" Choyce smirked.
"The fuck you say?" Syn stepped forward, erasing the distance between her and Choyce quickly. Choyce eyed the AR in Syn's hand and smirked.
"Nice to see another woman packing heavy." A light clap came from Choyce's hands until her meek smile turned into a scowl. "Stepping any closer is a wish for death that I'll be sure to grant."
Syn's tongue lapped her lips. She took a step back, turning to walk away, but she turned back, gun raised and ready to pump a few slugs through Choyce.
"Shoot her I kill you and the short list of muthafuckas you care about."
From the shadows, Kage appeared, jabbing his gun into Syn's rib. Ghost and Grim tensed, muscles tight, eyes burning with their focus on Choyce and Kage. Low growls rumbled as their hackles rose. Their teeth bared just enough to give a silent warning.
"The fuck is y'all doing?" Honor barked, stepping forward. "Choyce, tell your man to put his shit down. We're here to get a nigga who's fucking with our money and y'all stuck on fucking egos."
Choyce nodded toward Kage to lower his gun, then locked eyes with Honor.
