Page 219 of River & Crown
"Nigga, you think I don't know that?" I stepped toward him, my voice rising. "Nobody knows that better than I do. Wolfe and I have always done what you asked and been by your side through all your bullshit. The same way my heart pumps blood for y'all, I'd drain my veins dry behind the two of you, but what are you willing to do for us?"
"Wolfe, get this nigga outta my face askin' stupid shit," Honor sneered.
"Y'all gotta chill with this bullshit. We're family," Wolfe cut in, trying to hold back the tension.
"Tell the nigga tryin' to break up the band that shit." Honor laughed dryly. "Talkin' 'bout 'what am I willing to do for y'all?' I've done it all. I carry the weight of this family on my muthafuckin' shoulders. Neither of y'all ask if I'm straight, but you're mad 'cause I keep shit to myself?"
"I'm mad because you don't trust us enough to talk, nigga! Navy ain't the only one who should know shit about you. Realshit? Wolfe and I don't even know you. We know what you show us."
"You sound like a bitch wantin' to know my every thought."
I scratched along my jaw and stepped back.
"I'll be that, but this family shit between us? It's a wrap. I can't fuck with a nigga I can't trust to tell the truth."
Without waiting for a response, I started walking away.
"Nigga, fuck you!" Honor's voice cracked, full of hurt. "How you not gon' fuck with me when I made you nigga! Without me, yo' ass would still be popping pills and crying behind the bitch that snaked your dumbass. I made you my nigga. You're a fucking millionaire because of me. Shit, you're alive because of me. I handled that Rakim shit... me not fucking you. Fuck you think is gon' happen now that you're not fuckin' with me? Huh, Crown? Fuck you think gon' happen?"
Wolfe's voice came quick. "Aye, chill!"
But it didn't matter. The damage was already done, and it cut too deep to ignore.
"Nah fuck that shit and fuck you, Crown. You a bitch-ass nigga forreal!"
I stopped and turned back toward them.
"You didn't make me, Honor." I grimaced. "You helped a lost little nigga find his footing in a cold-ass world. And for that? You get a pass for the bullshit you just said, but say some wild shit like that again, and I'ma use what you taught me to put you down."
"Put me down then, nigga! I'm right here!" Honor shouted, slamming his palms into his chest. "I'm right fucking here, Cortez! Put what I taught you to good use!"
"Wolfe. Get him outta here," I warned.
"Nah, nigga!" Honor barked. "Come put me down!"
I stared at him for a second, chest heaving, pride bleeding from every word, and shook my head. I walked away, not sayingshit while this nigga kept shouting. I got in my truck and pulled off.
"Fuck that nigga," I muttered under my breath.
As kids, blood didn't guarantee us love in life. Honor, Wolfe, and I created our family, thinking we built bonds rooted in love and loyalty, but it was feeling more like shared pain we never healed from.
Trauma wrapped in brotherhood.
Survival dressed up as love.
Wreckage disguised as roots.
And instead of seeing it for what it really was, we let the things we lost blind us, just to be left standing in the ashes, wondering why it all went up in flames.
Chapter 57
River Ashland
"Not you trying to get cute for your date." Chosyn giggled through the phone.
"I'm not getting cute. I'm going to an early business dinner and Kysre is coming with me."
"Yeah, okay. Not dressed like that."
