Page 1

Before Crown Knew River

" G o speak to her nigga."

Honor tried nudging me forward with his shoulder, but my feet were grounded.

Nothing was gon' make me hike my slightly sagged jeans to their proper place on my waist and approach baby girl across the street. She flashed a coy smile, stealing a piece of my heart every time our eyes connected. Shawty was fire, tall and slender with itty bitty curves like she played volleyball all summer and ran track in the winter, skin the color of toffee, warm and golden like the sun dropped from the sky to kiss her skin personally. Jet black hair swept her shoulders each time she turned in my direction. Our eyes met, hers the color of Biscoff cookies. Wide and untainted, they held a nigga hostage long enough to catch the simper parting her thick, glossed lips. I winked. She blushed. The two of us might’ve been match made in muthafuckin' heaven.

I chuckled inwardly at the thought and the fact I've never experienced no shit like this.

This must be some love at first sight type shit.

Most days, when Honor, Wolfe, and I hit the block, we post up outside the corner store, which is a few blocks from Gravehart Homes.

As small-time hustlers, we had to figure out how to cast a wider net and get to the fucking money.

This bodega was key. The system we set up with Ock, who owned the store, was simple.

Anyone who wanted to cop paid us first, then went inside to get what they paid for.

Sales were easy as fuck to make. The weather broke for 'bout three weeks, those thick ass coats got hung up the fuck, and the streets came alive.

Money was fucking booming, but spring wasn't the only addition to the block.

Shawty across the street appeared, never saying much or coming over to the store.

She chilled on the steps of her building with another chick known around the hood as Boppy.

Word was shawty gave that sloppy top to any nigga who threw a few dollars her way.

I never fucked with her. I couldn't have my seed intermingling with the next nigga's nut.

Any bitch I dicked down was mine in all aspects of the word.

I couldn't lie. Ole girl fuckin' with Boppy almost had me writing her pretty ass off.

That birds of a feather shit wasn't a saying for no reason.

The more I watched her, though, the clearer it was that she wasn't on the same type of timing as her friend.

Boppy stayed in a nigga's face, but shawty kept it calm, always staying on her steps and dismissing all niggas who tried to approach.

"Staring won't get you what you want. Go see 'bout her nigga." Honor nudged again.

"Shit, I just might." Licking my lips, I caught her gaze. That same shy-ass simper had her eyes dipping low.

"Nah, nigga go. I'm not gon' be out here with you while you eye fuckin' that girl for another week. Go speak or let it go."

"Ight, but what you 'bout to do?"

"Make a move right quick with Navy. I'll be back."

We hit the GD salute before going our separate ways. Hiking my jeans up, I swaggered across the street, eyes deadlocked on the prettiest girl I've seen thus far.

"Nigga move!"

Before I made it to the steps, Boppy was in my face, hip poked out, and lips pursed together like her ass smelled the dried nut on her upper lip.

"Move." I gently moved her to the side.

"What do you want over here, Crown?" She snaked the fuck out of her neck and slid back in front of me.

My jaw flexed. I didn't fuck with attitudes from hoes. The back-and-forth, arguing bullshit wasn't me. I liked for issues to be addressed in a peaceful manner.

"Chill moving your neck 'fore that bitch snaps. I didn't come over here for you, anyway."

"Then why are you here?"

I glanced down at this annoying ass cum rag, then glanced back to the shawty gazing at me. Damn. The distance that kept us apart over the last few weeks hadn't done her beauty justice. Across the street, her beauty spoke volumes, but up close, it was deafening.

"Her," I finally answered, grinning hard as fuck.

"She doesn't fuck with niggas like you but..." Her chalky ass tongue swiped across her paper-thin lips, making a nigga cringe. "I don't mind putting truth to rumors."

"Man, you still got nut on your tongue. Abort the last nigga's babies before tryna bring mine to the playground.”

"Hmph!" She glowered, stomping up the steps and into the building.

I stepped forward, watching how shawty's eyes dragged along my frame before she brought 'em back to mine.

"That was rude, don't you think?"

"Nah!" I chided. "That was me being nice. Rude is me putting my Glock to her dome for disrespectin' a nigga."

"How did she disrespect you ?" Her brows drew inward as her eyes fell into tight slits like she just knew I was about to game her.

"I came across the street for one reason, and her ass offered to suck my dick. I don't know where you're from, but asking to suck a nigga's dick in front of his future is disrespectful as fuck."

Her brow arched, and her lips parted slightly, stalling time. Flickering her gaze toward the ground, she brought it back to me, giggling.

"I mean, that's a little forward, don't you think?"

"Maybe." I shrugged. "Wassup?"

"You tell me since you walked over here."

"Honestly, I came over here not really knowing what to say but knew I had to say something," I chuckled, realizing just how fucking lame I sounded.

"Then why come at all?"

"You're worth the trip."

"Smooth." She giggled. "Real smooth. I bet it works with all the girls."

"Wouldn't know." I shrugged, scratching against my curls. "Never said no corny shit like that before."

"It's not corny. I'm Emily."

"Everyone calls me Crown, but you can call me Cortez."

"Crown, huh? Where did that come from?"

"It's some my mom used to call me. She tucked me in at night and spoke greatness over my life."

"Oh yeah? What greatness did she speak of?"

I rubbed my hand against my jaw. Not 'cause a nigga was lying, but it'd been a minute since I spoke about my mom with anyone.

"You don't have to if?—"

"You carry the strength of generations in your veins. Their greatness is yours. Their mistakes are your lessons. Keep your heart pure and your mind free. Stand tall, rise above, and all things will be yours. The crown doesn't have to be visible to know that your spirit is kingly."

"Wow, she has a way with words."

" Had ," I corrected.

"Oh." That pretty ass smile of hers fell from her lips, taking my heart along with it.

"I've dealt with it. I'm cool. No need for the somber look. I'd rather see you smile."

It took a second, but the corners of her mouth eventually curved, and my heart rose.

"Well, Cortez. If everyone calls you Crown, I'll do the same. I don't think I'm special enough to?—"

"Fuck out of here. You're not ordinary, so what does that make you, Emily, if not special?"

Her lashes fluttered, lowering her gaze. I smirked 'cause if she felt what I did, then I understood the need for her to look away. Reaching out, I pinched her chin, slowly bringing her attention back to me.

"Emily," I spoke softly yet sternly.

"Cortez," she croaked.

"Let that be the last time I hear you say some disrespectful shit about yourself."

"But you don't know me. How can a stranger be special?"

Taking Emily's hand into mine, I brought it to my chest. Her nails raked against my hoodie, trying to escape from what I needed her to feel.

"Nah, don't run."

Covering her hand with mine, I applied pressure, making sure she felt how fast and heavy my heart knocked for her.

"Why... why is your... are you okay? Should I call 911?" Worry glossed her eyes, causing me to smirk.

"Strangers or lovers in a past life. I know you're special because of what you do to me."

"Please stop." A warmth bloomed against her cheeks.

"Why, when you?—"

"Oh my god, Crown, get down!"

Her frightened scream and the buck of her eyes slowed time.

Turning around, I knocked Emily to the ground in time to see a masked nigga hanging out a car window with a fucking semi-automatic in hand.

I reached for my gun, but it was too late.

Shots fired vibrated through the air as I dove on top of Emily.

I got off a few shots but was sure they didn't hit shit.

"Ah fuck!" Bullets ripped through my clothes, sending a shockwave of heat and pain through my fucking body

"Crown!"

"Stay the fuck down!"

Closing my eyes, I sent one up to the big homie asking him to see me through this shit. Tires screeching sent my head up quick. The niggas were gone, but the pain was still fucking existent.

"Fuck my shoulder!" Gritting my teeth, I moved off Emily.

"Crown, you need?—"

"Aye, fuck I tell you 'bout that shit?" A nigga was drowning in pain, and the world seemed to tilt slipping in and out of focus.

"Huh, what are you?—"

"Cortez," I forced out as the fog set in. I was fighting to keep my eyes open, but shit seemed easier when I closed them.

"Really! You're fucking bleeding, and you're worried about what name I'm calling you?" Emily sniped, frowning.

Even pissed, she still looked good. I couldn't tell if it was the sexy scowl or the fact a nigga was probably gon' bleed out on this fucking stoop, but my heart was going crazy.

"Crown!" The heavy footsteps didn't compare to the bravado of my muthafuckin' brother.

"The fuck happened?" Honor gritted toward Emily.

"Chill. She saved a nigga's life."

"We gotta get you to?—"

"Cortez!" Navy's frightened shrill fucked me up.

"Nah, don't do that, Navy. A nigga is still... still... aliv?—"

My words slurred. That tilt turned into full-blown spinning, blurring my vision into red and black streaks.

"Aye, y'all hear that shit?" My pulse thundered in my chest. I just knew they had to hear it with how loud it was fucking knocking.

"We have to get him out of here now, Honor!"

"Ight, Navy."

"The fuck happened?"

My nigga, Wolfe . Smirking, I was happy to see the youngest nigga in charge.