Page 197 of River & Crown
"Fuck what I said! Before that night, you told me you loved me. You told me you wanted us because I made you feel safe. Remember that?"
"Of course, I do, and I meant every word."
"Nah, you didn't."
"How can you say that after I just held a knife to your bitch's throat for you... for us?"
"Do you remember what you said to me on that rooftop? I tossed your shit, and you screamed you hated me, Four. Not once since this bullshit started have I told you some shit like that. I make it clear that I'm pissed, but that you're still mine."
"That was my emotions talking. I didn't?—"
"Must be nice to have that excuse in the tuck.It was my emotions talking," he mocked.
"Okay, I said it. Now what? How long are you going to be mad about a man who is dead? You sound more obsessed with him than I ever was."
The room went still. Crown tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with something I couldn't place, but it sent a chill down my spine. Without speaking, he grabbed the duffle bag, unzipped it, and tossed it at my feet.
Bones.
My stomach churned at the smell — damp earth, rot, and something sour beneath it all. Inside, bones were thrown together in a careless heap, some still clumped with dirt and clinging bits of decayed flesh. A cracked skull sat near the top, one empty eye socket staring back at me.
"Why do you look sick, Four? I thought you'd be happy to see this nigga."
"Crown, who the fuck is that?" Chosyn asked, leaning over Wolfe's shoulder to get a better look inside the duffle.
"The muthafucka Four played with my heart for?" he gritted.
"This is some sick shit," Kyree mumbled.
"Wh-why... wha-what," I stammered, tears spilling before I could blink them away.
"Look at you, crying 'cause I brought bones to dinner, when this nigga died digging another bitch out raw. He doesn't deserve your fucking tears! Dead or fucking alive, Four. Fuck you don't get 'bout that shit?" Crown barked, his voice shaking with havoc.
I flinched and took a step back, needing space. Crown felt the opposite. He grabbed me by the wrist, pulling me into him.
"After all this, you're still gon' stand in my face and cry 'bout this nigga," he spoke through clenched teeth, letting his exhales breeze across my lips.
"Crown, please stop!" I sobbed. "I'm not crying for him, but this whole situation is a lot. You dug him up! How am I supposed to react to that?"
"Unbothered, Four. Seeing this nigga's skeleton isn't supposed to faze you. We can go dig up Emily right now. I don't give a fuck about that bitch or any other bitch who isn't you. No hoe on this planet can have me disrespect you by crying for her."
"Crown, I love you."
"You don't, but it's cool."
"It's not, and yes, I?—"
"Four, stop." He sighed, feeding me his frustrations. "I fought tooth and nail to feed your soul. That shit was looking malnourished when I met you. Meanwhile, you were letting a dead nigga drain your heart."
He kicked the duffle bag full of Sincere's remains
"I guess now you don't gotta look far for the nigga you love."
Crown didn't say another word. He didn't have to. He gave me one last look and then turned, walking out of the dining room with Wolfe following him. I stared as the silence pressed in on me.
"River," Kysre whispered.
The girls moved closer, but I pushed them back.
