Page 191 of River & Crown
I hung up, then sent her the location for Gravehart Cemetery. The forecast promised rain, and somehow, that shit was fitting.
"Destroy the coffin and burn that bitch," I told the groundskeeper.
"I got you, but what you gonna do with those?" He nodded toward the duffel bag filled with the remains that were in the grave I'd just spent the last two hours digging up.
"We got a dinner reservation." I smirked.
"Do I even wanna know?" he asked, looking just as weary as he sounded.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out a knot of twenties, and tossed it to him.
"Nah, you don't, and you better not say shit."
"I can't chat about something I know nothing about."
"Good, and make sure you have the camera footage ready for me."
He gave a nod, then walked off, the coffin and tombstone rattling behind him on the hand truck. I waited until he was out of sight before tossing the shovel aside and zipping the duffle bag.
"Why are we meeting at a cemetery? And whose grave did you dig up?"
The light humor in her voice made me smirk as I stood.
"Syn, how did we meet?" I asked, my voice low, tone unreadable.
Her brows pulled tight. "Why are you asking that? You know how we met. Ask what you really wanna know, because I'm not in the mood for another round of accusations. I let that shit slide at my brother's house. I don't do second chances often, so choose your words wisely."
"I thought we were better than that, Syn. You handle shit for me, and I do the same for you. We had an understanding... or maybe I got shit twisted. Lynx introduced us. He can't be trusted. You see where I'm going with this?"
"You think I'm on some foul shit like Lynx?" The mirthless laugh she let out was bitter. "What's the grave for, Cortez?"
"You. I heard being buried alive can be traumatic. Thought it'd be fitting to bury a heartless?—"
"Aht-aht! Don't disrespect me, Cortez. Not when I don't deserve it. What Lynx is doing has nothing to do with me. If I wanted to knock you and your brothers off, I wouldn't need to infiltrate your team. I'm a Teixeira, Crown. I don't need to remind you what that means... do I?"
An eerie silence slipped between us. We stared, neither saying a word, both searching for the trust we'd built this friendship on.
"Syn, keep talking to me like that and I'ma think I hurt your feelings," I warned, breaking the stare off.
"You can't hurt what I don't have, but I am owed an apology. And I want it in food, some good-ass soul food would do the trick. I heard about a spot in the Grove that's supposed to be fire."
"Nah, I got a better spot. You free tonight?" I asked, throwing the duffle over my shoulder.
"I'm free all day."
"Cool. You're chilling with me. Come on."
"Are we not gonna discuss you digging my grave?"
"Technically, it wasn't your grave. I pulled another muthafucka out of it. You were just next up."
"Mhm." She smacked her lips, following me as I led us back to the parking lot.
"This feels more like Wolfe's speed. Are you okay? Is everything good with you and Four?"
"Shit's over with us." It hurt to admit that shit. "As for this other shit, just be happy I didn't bury your ass."
"You'd really do that to me?" she asked as we reached my car.
