Page 212 of River & Crown
"Breathe, Choyce. Feel the weight. This is power. This is control. This is everything you want, wrapped in a fucking bow. Pulling your gun is cute, but that's not enough. Real power... has to be taken with your own hands."
"I've killed..." I started.
"That's a lie you tell yourself or a truth you believe," he cut in. "Either way, you've never killed like this. And once you do, you'll never be anyone's pawn again."
I stepped forward, looking her in the eye. I couldn't tell if she was afraid or if she pitied me. It didn't matter. I inhaled and squeezed. As I exhaled, the shot rang out, and she stilled.
Honor smiled, "Now we're partners. I'll be in touch so we can talk about how we're gonna kill Lucian. You can leave."
I walked out in a haze. My body moved, but my mind was stuck somewhere between what I just did and who I used to be.
"You did it?" Kage asked, waiting by the truck, arms folded and face tight.
I nodded. He stared at me for a long time before shaking his head.
"This is what I meant when I said you weren't all the way gone."
I frowned. "What?"
"You've been through a lot of shit. You talk a lot of shit and throw threats around like you're the grim reaper, knowing I won't hesitate to carry them out. Chosyn used to fix your problems. Then I stepped in and made sure you never had to get your hands dirty."
Kage stepped closer, staring down at me as if he didn't recognize me anymore.
"What you let that nigga talk you into tonight is gonna change you forever. It'll rob you of what was left of the girl Chosyn raised."
I looked away. "Can we go?"
Kage opened the door for me. I climbed in, silent. He followed, and we pulled off as the first drops of rain started to fall. Even though I knew Kage was right, the worst part was that a piece of me didn't even care.
Chapter 54
Crown Gravehart
Bringing the car to a slow stop, I tried to shake the ill thoughts I had 'bout meeting up with Honor. Wolfe and I were on our way back from checking out property and a therapist upstate when Honor called. I hadn't seen or spoken to him since the blowup at the hospital, and damn sure didn't know they'd discharged him after he passed out. Knowing him, he probably raised hell until they gave him his walking papers. We weren't seeing eye to eye, and as far as I was concerned, it was best we kept our distance. Still, the fact that he called Wolfe instead of me rubbed me the wrong way. Honor was in the wrong, yet he was treating me like a foot soldier who came running 'cause he asked for a fucking meet. I didn't say anything to Wolfe 'bout it because it wasn't on him. He knew what happened between Honor and me, but anything other than that wasn't his burden to carry.
"Let me know now if I've gotta call Rize to help me keep you off this nigga." Wolfe laughed as I parked.
"You think this shit is funny?" I scoffed. "That nigga lied to me, and you're joking like I'm not ready to forget he's my brother and kill his ass."
Before he could hit me with that kumbaya bullshit, I hopped out and stalked toward the mill. The second I stepped inside, my nostrils flared.
"Yo, what the fuck is that?" I muttered, tucking my face into my hoodie.
"I know this nigga didn't go in my room," Wolfe asserted, brushing past me and heading for the hallway he always said was off-limits.
"Honor, the fuck you doing in here?" he barked, pushing open the door.
"Oh shit... " I froze. Bones dangled from a hook and slumped in a chair was a body.
"Taking care of business," Honor casually replied.
I laughed under my breath.
"You got something you wanna say?" Honor asked.
"Nah, but you might wanna text Navy. You're leaking."
He glanced down at the blood seeping through his clothes. "Fuck," he gritted. "I didn't even feel that shit."
