Page 214 of River & Crown
"Be careful 'round that nigga," I said, turning toward Wolfe. "And remember who raised that nigga."
I walked out of the room, then out of the mill, muttering under my breath, "Fuck both them niggas."
Honor thought because he put me on and looked out when I had nothing that I was supposed to look past his transgressions and keep shit moving. Every time he kept something to himself, it came back and fucked all of us. First, it was the shit with Lucian. That nigga wanted millions to let Honor out from under his reins. That should've been a conversation between brothers, but he kept it to himself until shit hit the fan. Then it was this shit with him not saying anything about River and Sincere, or how he suspected Lynx was up to bullshit and put Honey on him. This nigga didn't know shit about honesty, and I refused to keep overlooking that. Back in the car, I got a text from Four. I laughed 'cause this was pure fucking irony.
Four
Meet me where we first met if you want your money back.
Another text came through of piles of money on a bed that was in a crib I kept in Ember Hills. I stashed money there in case of an emergency. Only one person knew about that spot, and it was only because it was in her name.
Me
Tell Syn I said wassup.
I leaned against the hood of my car, in the exact spot where I met Four. I walked over with the intention of speaking to Chosynafter I heard her ass was outside acting crazy again. I knocked Four's arm off Chosyn, and her ass was tight.
"Why do you look so mean, beloved?"
"Maybe because you knocked my arm off my bestie like she belongs to you."
Four's bark came with a lot of bite, but that pussy of hers gotta wetter than what her name implied.
"Why didn't you tell me you were friends with my wife?"
I smirked at the thought 'cause just from looking at Four I knew what was gon' happen between the two of us. Chosyn was supposed to be my best lady and River's maid of honor at our wedding. Back then, our future felt big, full of possibilities that all ended the same... Four as Mrs. Gravehart and me fucking on that pretty pussy for the rest of my life. Now it felt like all those possibilities had been tossed off the rooftop, like the memories of Four's ex.
I rubbed the back of my neck and looked up at the sky. Not a single star was in sight, just a lonely streetlight humming above me like it was mourning too.
Honor had secrets.
Wolfe had excuses.
And Four... she had my heart and hadn't done shit but crush that muthafucka from the moment I handed it over. Everyone I loved had somehow turned shit around and made me the villain in their story. They all wanted me to forgive without them acknowledging how their fucks up damaged my trust in them, but being back here, where a lot of this shit started, brought a strange kind of clarity. I already had plans to dip once Rakim was handled. Honor did me that favor, so a nigga was leaving sooner rather than later. I needed time to think without all the bullshit 'cause trauma has been tying me to everybody in my life, including Wolfe, Honor, Gigi, Chosyn, and Four.
We loved throwing around the termchosen family, but how true was it when survival kept us together? This shit with Honor was the first time we'd really been at odds, and the first thing we both reached for was a threat and a gun.
The family I loved needed to be tested. I needed to know that even when I didn't need my brothers, they'd still show up like I did. The same went for Four. All she knew was me chasing her, but what happens when I stop? Would all the shit she said still be true, or would she fold and be on to the next nigga? I didn't have the answers, but the universe had a way of revealing all things. I just have to give it space to speak.
Looking down the street, I noticed a shadow moving toward me. A slim, thick figure with a confident walk. Even in the dark, I knew my wife. She stopped a few feet away with her gaze locked on me like we were strangers.
"I didn't know if you would come," she admitted, voice low.
"You told me to come," I said flatly. "You should've known I was pulling up."
Four smiled. "Syn said you would. I misjudged her. She's really not that bad."
"You would say that after she brought you to my crib and showed you where I kept my money."
"Why didn't you tell me about the house?"
"I planned on it, but I wanted to make sure you were solid first."
"Telling me you love me should have proven that," she smacked, folding her arms across her chest.
"I've loved the wrong woman before and couldn't trust her. I can't go off that anymore."
Nodding, her gaze ran from mine.
