Page 130 of Heavy Is The Crown

Krys stood up, smooth, unrushed, and deliberate. Her movements drew eyes. Not because she was small, standing in the middle of bigger, stronger men, but because her presence alone made the air crackle. Even Rico wasn’t expecting her to step up.

Krys tilted her head, brown eyes narrowing. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you talking to,” she said, voice low, deadly, “but if you ever put my dog in your mothafuckin’ mouth again, I’ll make sure the last thing you hear is that same growl right before he takes your fucking throat out.”

Thick unwavering silence lingered.

Rico exhaled sharply through his nose, amusement flickering in and out of his expression. He wiped a hand down his face, glancing around, like he was debating how much further he wanted to push this.

He grinned again. But this time, it was thinner. Sharper.

“That’s cute, but you need’ta cool it lil mama,” he muttered, looking Krys up and down, then nodding toward Kenyatta. “You must be the reason this nigga feeling hisself and ain’t thinkin’ ‘bout what he owe.”

Krys didn’t blink. “If you tryna get in your feelings about another man’s situation, just say that.”

A few War Lords chuckled under their breath. Even Nub cracked a smirk.

“That’s cool, but I don’t argue with bitches.” Rico licked his teeth, turning back to Kenyatta. “Get’cho bitch, my nigga.”

Krys didn’t wait for Kenyatta to motion for her to chill. She yielded and took her place between him and Nub.

Keeping his eyes on Kenyatta, Rico sneered, “I guess you tryna pillow-talk your way out the hole you in? Is that what it is? Figured you’d be man enough to handle your own debt, but I guess that blue-collar shit got you feeling too comfortable.”

That was the thing about players like Rico; they only respected aggression.

Kenyatta let out a slow chuckle, dark and humorless, tapping his fingers against his thigh. His stance shifted, loose, reckless, like a nigga who wasn’t scared to let shit fly.

“You real loud for a nigga who been eating off another man’s plate,” Kenyatta said finally, voice low, lethal, dripping with venom. “Talking like you top dog, but we both know you just a runner, a middleman with a mouth too big for his position.”

Rico’s grin froze.

Kenyatta stepped forward slightly, just enough to make Rico’s people clock the movement. Tension snapped in the air.

“See, I don’t gotta talk my way outta shit, nigga,” Kenyatta continued, eyes locked onto Rico’s. “But if you keep fuckin’ with me…you gon’ find out real quick that debt ain’t the only thing a nigga can lose.”

The War Lords chuckled again, nodding amongst themselves, but this time they were watching Rico.

Rico’s jaw clenched. His crew shifted slightly, that restless energy creeping in. “Talk yo’ shit, my nigga,” Rico said, voice still light but edged with something darker. “But all that talk don’t pay what you owe, nigga.”

Kenyatta exhaled through his nose, staring him down. “You want your bread so bad? Come get it in blood.”

That did it. The War Lords stood up. The East 7’s spread out. The whole atmosphere became smothering.

Hands hovered near waistbands. Chairs scraped. A few people started backing up, sensing the shift. Somebody was about to get dropped.

Engines roared, louder than before snatching everyone’s attention.

Steel and a handful of Dem Boyz peeled their bikes in tighter, trying to create a space between both groups.

Steel’s second-in-command, Fang, a massive, bearded roughneck with tattoos up to his jawline, let out a dry chuckle. “Ain’t nobody tryna die over some street math tonight.”

Steel let out a long breath, adjusting his gloves. “K9’s city don’t move like this. Not here. Not on a day like this.” His gaze cut to Rico. “You wanna make a play, do it somewhere else. But right now, you disrespecting The Water, and we can’t have that.”

Hesitation. Then Rico chuckled low, shaking his head. “Niggas talk liketheygot Midtown coins, but you out here fixing sinks for a bitch.” He glanced at Kenyatta. “I hope you got that bread ready, nigga.” He paused, a smirk creeping back. “‘Cause time’s up.”

Then Rico turned to Krys because he wasn’t done.

“I been hearing things ‘bout you though, shorty.” His eyes raked over her, a knowing gleam sparking behind them. “Real close to some powerful people in the Bay.”

Krys stayed still, gaze locked. She let the moment stretch, letting the weight of his words settle over the crowd.

---