Page 34 of River & Crown
A Couple of Weeks Later...
"Ilove you, Crown."
Hearing what Emily said had me stuck for a minute. Her saying it was nothing I didn't already know, but her saying the shit in the midst of me getting in her ass was her way of sweet talking herself out of the conversation she brought up.
"You're not going to say it back because you're mad?" she snipped, flicking her finger against my chest.
Grabbing her wrist, I watched my thumb overlap the rest of my fingers with the thought of how easy it would be to snap her wrist.
"You're hurting me," she whined, but knew better than to move.
"Keep your fuckin' hands to yo' self, Em. I don't play that handsy shit in any capacity."
"Okay, now let me go."
I jerked her crybaby ass back, then leaned against the counter. Something I wasn't used to masked her normally loving gaze. Tossing my chin in her direction, I asked, "Wassup with you?"
"Huh?"
"I'm not tryin' to argue, Em, on god I'm not, but if you keep acting dumb, I'ma show yo' ass what stupid really looks like."
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to tell me why I pull up to this bitch, and my muthafuckin' key doesn't work."
"I changed the locks. It's not a big deal." She shrugged, really thinking that nonchalant shit was gon' fly with me.
In the years we've been dating, Em should've known me better. I paid attention to detail, and when it came to the woman who I considered mine, I put a microscope to her ass to make sure I didn't miss a beat. Em and I had been so locked in that the change in our relationship had thrown me off.
"You changed the locks to an apartment yo' ass not even 'posed to be at. Since when you start spending nights over here?"
I knew the exact date she started talking about needing space and how I was suffocating her. Still, I asked to see if she was gon' continue to bullshit me.
"Why does it matter? I love you, Crown. Since when is that not enough? Love is all we need to make it in this world, remember that? So why are you now questioning me about petty shit?"
"Yeah, ight Em," I scoffed. "You got it."
"Whatever. I'm not about to feed into your insecurities. You sound just like your fucking?—"
Before the name slipped from them pouty ass lips I loved, I slammed my palm into her throat, not giving a fuck about damaging her esophagus. I choked her simple ass until her nails clawed my wrist, her eyes bulged, and her breath no longer breezed against my hand. I leaned in, bringing my lips to her ear to make sure what I said didn't go unheard or misunderstood.
"I'm not a violent nigga when it comes to the people I love. Those I fucking hate tho'... they get the worst side of me. Bringing up shit I told you 'bout my parents will have you ranked number one on that hate list. Keep fucking with me, and I'ma do you the same way Gael did Shadae."
Bringing my eyes back to hers, I watched them bitches flutter shut and her body go limp. I scooped her into my arms and laid her dumbass on the couch, then dipped from her apartment. Getting in my car, I reached into the middle console to grab my pill bottle. Popping the top, I tossed back two xannys and leaned my chair as far back as that muthafucka could go. Getting comfortable, I powered off my phone, ready to sit outside Em's crib to find out who caused the change in my bitch.
The doors of the slaughter mill opened, gaining my attention from past bullshit to present bullshit. Walking in, Rize and Lynx were chopping it up 'bout something while Honor strolled in last, not saying a word, but the stress lines on his forehead said enough.
"Take the money in the back and run it through the counters. Band it by the thousand and set two-fifty to the side."
Lynx nodded, dapping me up, and Rize followed suit. I waited until they were both out of the room to zero in on Honor.
"You good?"
"I'm straight," he coldly answered.
"Nigga, this is me you talkin' to," I scoffed.
"Fuck that's supposed to mean?"
