Page 16 of Heavy Is The Crown

The police.

They were rolling slow, creeping up toward the gas station. Looking. Searching for the car he had just stepped out of.

Fuck! For the second time tonight, his past had caught up to him. His pulse jumped, and instinct took over. He needed a diversion. Fast.

And if he didn’t act quick, he might not make it out of this one.

Chapter 4

Krys never made it to Meisha’s boyfriend’s house. After her call with Zahir, she needed a moment, a breather to cool off before facing anyone else. The west side wasn’t her usual stomping grounds, but it felt safe enough. And really, she didn’t have much of a choice, her bladder was on borrowed time.

She pulled into the gas station, parked her Mercedes, and stepped out into the warm, damp night air, still heavy from the rainfall of the day. She barely paid attention to her surroundings, missing the slow crawl of two police cars rolling down the block, their lights flashing low.

Inside, she made a beeline for the restroom. After handling business, she moved toward the coolers, twirling a lock of her hair as she debated on what to drink. Flavored water or something carbonated? Maybe a juice?

“You got it, right?”

The voice, deep, smooth, just a little too familiar came from just behind her.

Krys’ body stiffened, her hand still on the cooler handle. The audacity of some men.

Before she could spin around and check him, he reached right past her, grabbed a bottle of lemonade, and leaned in just slightly.

“I mean, I paid last time, so it’s only fair.”

That’s when she saw him. Guard thrown off. Tall. Latte-skinned. Muscular with a quiet, effortless swagger. The type of fine that should’ve come with a warning label.

But what really caught her attention was his eyes. There was confidence in them, but underneath, desperation. A silent plea:Go with it. Please.

Krys barely had time to process what was happening before two police officers stepped inside, their eyes scanning the gas station.

She put it together quick. This wasn’t a pick-up line; this was a lifeline. And for reasons she couldn’t even explain, she took it.

She sighed, grabbing a drink of her own and rolling her eyes up at him like they had this argument all the time. “You always say that. But who paid for the movies last weekend? And dinner?”

His lips twitched, like he wasn’t expecting her to be this smooth with it. “Oh, so we keeping tabs now? That’s crazy.”

Krys arched a brow, turning toward him fully, playing into it like this was just them. “What’s crazy is me always covering your ass.”

His smirk widened, but his shoulders relaxed.

The cops took their time browsing, but they weren’t paying them any attention. Good.

He shrugged, tucking his lemonade under his arm. “Ain’t that what love is? Being there for each other?”

Krys scoffed, grabbing a pack of gum. “Boy, you lucky you cute.”

They walked to the counter together, his body close enough to feel familiar, to look natural. She set her items down, scanning his face from the corner of her eye. Sharp features, full lips, deep brown eyes that carried a weight she couldn’t place.

Once the cashier rang them up, he pulled out a few crumpled bills and slid them forward. Krys wasn’t sure why, but she let him pay.

“Thanks, babe,” she said smoothly, grabbing the bag.

One of the officers turned slightly toward them.

Krys took the risk. She reached up and adjusted his collar like she had every right to. “I keep telling you to stop crumpling up your money like that,” she scolded playfully. “You got your whole life in your pockets.”

The officers barely gave them a second glance as they waited on the transaction to complete and get their change.

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