Page 131 of River & Crown
"Talon is a liability. I thought allowing him to be the face of this family, while Choyce?—"
Lucian's gaze fell on me, commanding that I fix my posture. Rolling my shoulders, I slightly parted my legs and focused on the window.
"Now, where was I... oh yes. Talon was to be the face, while Choyce commanded plays for you and your brothers to carry out. Since making this deal, I've kept an eye on my son. Talon does not move as the future leader of the Mancinelli Mafia. He's too careless, and the other men of the Sovereign circle do not respect him. I guess what I'm trying to say is... my organization has too many cooks in the kitchen. Choyce will step into my place, and you'll be her second in command. Your brothers will continue being her picchistore and?—"
"The other families won't respect Talon, who is your blood, but you expect me to believe they'll respect and follow Choyce? A negrone?"
I frowned at the insult I've heard Lucian use when referring to black people.
"The details will be worked out once Talon is dead."
"What if I say no?"
"You won't."
"Threatening my family won't continue to work. You're starting to sound like the boy who cried wolf, Lucian."
"The boy cried wolf, sure, but eventually the wolf did come, and no one was left to hear the screaming."
"Your threats don't scare me, Lucian. If you want Talon dead, do it yourself or have her do it." Honor chucked his chin in my direction, his stare coated in disgust.
"It must be you. If not, I'll have Choyce kill Navy."
My eyes swelled for a second before they rested lower than their normal stance.
"Choyce isn't dumb. Blinded by power, maybe, but dumb, she isn't. Choyce killing Navy will end with me killing and her."
"Or not killing Talon will end with me killing both Choyce and Navy."
"She's your daughter," Honor groused.
"A daughter who wants nothing to do with me. I figured I'd return the favor. I'll give you some time to think things over. If you agree, then I'll do what's necessary to find out who tampered with River's car."
Lucian walked away, and I spun on my heels to follow him out. Opening the door to the room, he stalled and peered over his shoulder.
"Stay with Honor. I hear he needs your help with a meeting down at the docks."
I froze, wondering how he was privy to that information, but knew better than to question him. Lucian left the room, the door closing behind him with a muffled thud. A chill swept across my neck, alerting me to danger. I slowly turned to face Honor, my hand clutching the C pendant hanging from the necklace around my neck. I locked eyes with emptiness, settling behind his lashes.
"Honor," I croaked. His heavy steps quickly cleared the distance between us. I swallowed hard. "Honor, I didn't know he was going to?—"
"Shut the fuck up," he gritted, jaw clenched, and eyes narrowed. His hand swiped at his mouth, and that's when I saw the tick. The flex of his index finger squeezing against his jaw.
"Honor, listen to me. We can get out of this. We just have to?—"
Honor didn't speak to silence me. He didn't have to. His gun jammed against my lips said enough. Like at his jaw, his finger flexed against the trigger. I opened my mouth, ready to play a game of chicken. My tongue met the steel of Honor's gun. Hisexpression gleamed with amusement for less than a second, but the flicker of change in his mood was all I needed to recognize myself in him. I licked around the barrel before rearing back to speak.
"Don't pull out a gun if you don't plan to use it. That's what you told me, right?"
"Choyce." A low, gravelly laugh rumbled from his throat... rough, wicked, and enticing. Keeping my composure, I squeezed my thighs together to nix the tingle running rampant on my clit. "I don't have a problem killing you right fucking here. I'll step over your body, walk out that door like nothing happened, then come back with my brothers and act shocked."
Now it was my turn to let a smoky laugh slip from my lips.
"Honor, please don't threaten me with a good time. Other than leaving my daughter, death sounds peaceful." My fingers found the hidden button on the pendant. In one swift motion, I yanked the necklace from my neck and slashed it across Honor's wrist. His jaw clenched, and at the same moment, his free hand closed around my throat. My eyes widened as the blade slipped from my fingers, falling uselessly to the floor.
"Ple... please... Cherish," I rasped my words barely more than air.
Honor let out a ragged breath, then shoved me back. Gasping, I took in all the air my lungs would allow.
