Page 22

"I don't mean it like that, Crown. Relax. River fell asleep not too long ago, and the doctor said she needs her rest."

"The fuck happened?" my voice trembled, keeping my need to wreak havoc at bay.

"She was racing, and then I'm not sure what happened. She spun out and crashed into a guardrail," Honey explained.

"Wrong answer." I shook violently. The chances of River crashing were equivalent to seeing a fucking pig fly. It was never gonna happen.

"What do you mean, wrong answer? This isn't a pop quiz," Honey smacked. Her nostrils flared. She was pissed, but so the fuck was I.

"This is a muthafuckin' pop quiz. A quiz that has one muthafuckin' answer," I snarled, closing the space between Honey and me.

"I'ma ask again, but this time, we're raising the stakes."

My gun came out. My fingers gripped the handle, but it rested against my leg, and the safety was on. I didn't have to aim. Honey knew what was up.

"What the fuck happened to Four?" I gritted, my voice low and heavy with anger.

"I'm not even mad at you for pulling out your gun. I expect nothing less from you, but I told you what happened. A gun won't change my answer." Honey stood confidently, matching my relentless glare.

Had I not been pissed off, I might've smirked at her act of bravery. Then I heard it. The safety came off a gun that wasn't mine.

"Pain can cause you to crash out on people who don't deserve it.

I know 'cause I'm ready to act certifiable behind my twin right now.

Understand, though, if you shoot her, I'ma have to shoot you.

Then River will wake up and hate both of us for harming people she cares about.

I'm telling you this because I need to know if that's something you can live with. "

The voice speaking wasn't loud or coated in panic.

It was soft, dainty, and confident, as if killing came naturally to her.

I turned around, wanting to meet the young girl who thought lecturing me about my wife's feelings was okay for her to do.

Holding the gun was a young girl who couldn't have been older than nineteen, or maybe she was.

She hung around Four's pool hall often, but I couldn't put a name to the face.

Looking into her hazel eyes that should've been full of life but were dull, I knew she didn't give a fuck about what I had to say.

If I shot Honey, she wouldn't hesitate to shoot me.

"Ight." I nodded, lowering my gun and backing away from Honey.

Ole girl did the same with hers, then dipped back behind the curtain that divided the room.

When I first walked in, I didn't pay much attention to it.

Leaning against the wall, I rubbed my hand along my jaw.

"How the fuck did Four, of all people, crash? "

I didn't wanna think Honey was lying about how shit played out, but what else was I supposed to think? I've watched Four control the wheel of her car one too many times.

"I don't know. She seemed a little off, but she insisted on racing. Maybe she was in her feelings about whatever the two of you have going on."

The fuck was River telling this girl about us?

Ignoring the slight jab, I let my eyes dance around the room before they fell back on her.

"What?" she asked.

"Where are your bandages?" I hadn't noticed until now that her ass was in good health. River never rode alone. I wasn't there, and Chosyn was at home when she called me about what happened.

"Huh?"

"Four doesn't race alone. You didn't ride with her?"

"No. Kysre did."

"Nahhh," I shook my head. "Four wouldn't disrespect me by having a nigga in her fucking car. I don't know what?—"

The curtain dividing the room swung open. In the bed was a girl who looked just like the chick standing with the curtain still in her grasp and death looming in her stare.

"Nigga, lower your tone and stop tossing your head like you wanna get hyphy in this bitch. Kysre isn't a nigga. She's my fucking twin."

I chuckled, impressed by her insult. "Aye, what's your name?" Shawty's eyes were just as puffy and red as Honey's. Only sadness wasn't the only thing glossing her view. Murder lingered there as well.

"Kyree, and yes, our donors thought it was wise to give us boy names."

"I wasn't 'bout to say shit about tha?—"

Ghost came running into the room, his nails scratching against the floor. Before anyone could react, Ghost leaped onto the hospital bed, gently resting his head on her stomach and curling his body protectively beside her as if he'd known her his whole life.

"What the fuck?" Kyree screeched.

"I'm going to get security," Honey announced. I stepped in her way, knowing security was the last fucking thing we needed in this room.

"Crown, move!" she shouted.

"You gotta chill and let me handle this," I tried to reason.

"Whose fucking mutt is this?" Kyree asked, aiming her gun at Ghost, who wasn't posing a threat.

"Aye, y'all gotta chill the fuck out."

I gently tossed Honey into a chair, hoping she kept her ass there. "Kyree, you gotta put the gun down and let me handle this shit."

"Look how big this mutt is, and you want me to chill?"

Kyree's need to protect her sister was understood. Ghost was big as fuck and deadly, but in this moment, he wasn't doing nothing but lying next to a sleeping Kysre.

"I get that. Trust me, I do, but I'm telling you, shoot Ghost, and shit's gon' get hectic."

"I don't care! What if it was River in that bed... oh my bad, I mean Four? "

"You're being a smart ass when I'm trying to save your fucking life. I'ma put it like this, shoot Ghost, and you won't have to worry about protecting your sister 'cause y'all both gon’ be dead.”

"Crown!" Honey spat.

"Is that a threat?" Kyree asked, cutting her eyes toward me.

I groaned, hearing a low growl. Killian was now here.

"No, you crimson burning bitch, it's a muthafuckin' promise."