Page 17 of Heavy Is The Crown

“Come on, ma,” he murmured, low enough that only she could hear. “Let’s roll.”

Just as they were about to turn, one of the officers glanced their way. Then did a double take.

“Miss Davis?”

Krys paused, then plastered on a smile as she turned toward the cop, an older, slightly pudgy Officer Calloway, a familiar face.

She should’ve figured someone would recognize her. Her father had had contracts with half the city, and her name carried its own weight.

“Officer Calloway,” she greeted, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “How’s the wife?”

The cop grinned, nodding. “She’s good, she’s good. How’s your dad…I haven’t seen ol’ Ed down at the bar in a while.”

Krys chuckled, shifting the bag in her hand. “Daddy’s doing well, but you know Lauren got him on a tight leash, but he still sneaks a beer or two in. I’ll let him know you asked about him.”

Officer Calloway chuckled almost forgetting why he was there in the first place. His eyes flickered to Kenyatta, scanning him longer than necessary.

“This your…?”

Kenyatta kept his face unreadable, but Krys could feel his energy shift. This was the moment.

Krys smiled, taking Kenyatta’s hand into hers like she had every right to. “Yup, date night with bae.”

The officer’s brows lifted slightly, but he didn’t push. “That so?”

Krys sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Mmhmm. Bae insists we go out at least once a week.”

Kenyatta’s smirk reappeared, just slightly.

Officer Calloway chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, enjoy y’all night. Try not to spoil her too much. I bet she’s a handful as it is.”

More relaxed, Kenyatta responded, “You got that right.”

Once the pleasantries were over, they stepped outside, walking toward her Mercedes like they belonged to each other. Like this was routine.

“You wanna tell me what that was about?” she asked, voice even.

Kenyatta pulled the car door open for her. “You really wanna know?”

She slid inside, tilting her head up at him. “I wouldn’t have helped if I didn’t.”

For a moment, he just looked at her. Like he was studying her reaction, deciding how much to say. Then, finally, he exhaled. “A bad situation I wasn’t tryna be in.”

Krys arched a brow, clicking her seatbelt into place. “That much I figured.”

Krys continued to study him, contemplating her next move. His gaze shifting between what was unfolding inside the gas station and to the street, his hands flexing at his sides, his jaw tight.

She didn’t know him. Didn’t know if he was actually dangerous or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But something told her he was grateful for whatever chance she just gave him.

“Get in,” she said, unlocking the doors.

He turned, brows raising slightly. “Yeah?”

She sighed. “Yeah.”

He hesitated for half a second before making his way around the front of the car and slipping into the passenger seat.

As Krys pulled out of the lot, merging onto the main road, she wondered what the hell she had just gotten herself into.

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