Page 47 of River & Crown
"Crown? Why him?"
"I don't know. Emersyn. I was told of his arrival, the same as you."
"Whatever," I huffed.
"Gather him and his friend."
"How do you know he brought a friend if you don't know why he's here?"
"Just a hunch. I'll be there after I clean up."
I wanted to say more, but knew it was best to leave it alone. Sauntering into the foyer, I stopped a few inches away from the door, waiting to hear the chime of the doorbell. Years had gone by since the last time I'd seen Crown in person. The two of us spoke on occasion whenever he needed my expertise and didn't want to involve his brother. Wolfe was good at what he did, but sometimes death required the touch of a woman. Those conversations lacked the humor and laughs I missed the most. They were brief, stoic even, and always about business. The opposite of what I hoped our interaction would be today.
The doorbell finally chimed. My cheeks hiked, taking the corners of my mouth to new heights. My foot barely moved forward before I heard faint clicks of nails against the floor approaching from behind me. Metal tags clanked together,adding an almost muted chime to the rhythm of the nails and the deep yet steady breathing of my protectors. Grim to my left and Ghost to my right, their presence alone was a quiet reminder of their strength and the lengths they would go to protect.
"Sit. Eyes up," I commanded, stepping in front of both dogs.
With my back toward the front door, I waited to make sure they listened. They lowered their stout frame into a poised and controlled sit. The doorbell chimed again, making their ears tilt, and their dark eyes lock in. As the front door opened, my smile grew. Crown stood handsomely, grinning in my direction, but something was different.
"Isn't this a great surprise?" I beamed, pulling him into a hug.
Oddly, his body tensed against mine. That was a first. I pulled away, then angled my body off to the side to allow him entrance into the house.
"This is Rize," Crown announced with a nod in Rize's direction. The young man who followed behind Crown I wasn't familiar with by face, but I knew him by name.
"Rize, huh? Crown, you know I don't play that street name nonsense. You are the exception, not the rule," I scolded, never taking my eyes off Crown. He was uneasy and defensive, but why?
"Rivian, but I prefer you call me Rize." The young man stepped forward, entering my space, causing heavy breathing to shake the room.
I peered over my shoulder, and my two guards were still in their poised position, breathing steadily but deeply, making their nostrils flare.
"They prefer strangers not to be in my personal space. See the way their tail sways?"
Rize nodded, his eyes shifting from the dogs to me, then back again. Fear didn't gleam in his irises like I expected. He was tough. That was good to know.
"Do you believe a conversation can happen without words?" I pried.
"They say movement of the body is a language."
"The same can be said about animals. My friends are letting you know they're showing restraint. When their tails stop, it's best you say your prayers and ask God to watch over your loved ones. Those two will send you off to glory..." I paused, then chuckled. "Or to flames."
For a fleeting moment, Rize's eyes ballooned, then slowly deflated. A confident smile spread across his handsome face, but the space he created between us didn't go unnoticed.
"I mean no harm, but I'd be a fool not to question your intentions. Was that your way of asking if a nigga been naughty or nice?"
Rize couldn't have been older than twenty-five, and that was me being generous. He had the face of a sophomore in college but the voice of a man who'd lived more years than he had ahead of him. His young and inexperienced stare cruised along my frame. When I saw pink slip from between his lips and then glide across, I knew I had him. I matched his smirk as his eyes reintroduced themselves to mine.
"So, what list would you like to be on?" I cooed, toying with him.
"I'mniceat a few things. None of 'em being things your gorgeous self might be interested in."
"Oh really?" My smirk deepened. It was clear Crown walked Rize into the lion's den without telling him it was the lioness who protected the kingdom at all costs.
"Not to sound sexist or anything, but someone as breathtaking as you deserves to be put up. The shit I'm nice at gon' have a nigga seeing flames before them pearly gates."
I stifled my laugh. Rize was a charmer. Maybe if I was some innocent wet behind-the-ear bitch I might've fallen for it.
"A bitch like me... gorgeous or not, is the last person to beput up." I frowned. "I'mtheeshooter, the blade thrower, fire igniter, the lethal substance injector. My gorgeous self is interested in many things other women find gory or sadistic. Just like you, those pearly gates will never see me, but those flames... I'll make sure to send you to them if you ever think aboutputting me upagain."
