Page 38

Crown Gravehart

F our laying on my chest, her curls hiding my fingers as I massaged her scalp was some of the most peaceful shit I've experienced in life.

We weren't doing nothing crazy, just laid up on the couch watching some shit Four put on the TV.

She was caught up in the show, and I was wrapped up in her.

It was hard for me to focus on other shit when she was this close.

She consumed my thoughts, leaving me to wonder if I did the same for her.

"Four," I murmured. She flicked her gaze upward and smiled.

"Yes, Crown?"

"You ever have birthday parties growing up?"

"Where did that come from?" She paused her show, then turned so that she was facing me as I looked down at her.

"Just wondering, for when your birthday comes around, I'll know how you want to celebrate."

"I never put much thought into it. My mom used to throw me parties when I was younger, but as I got older, I just did whatever with whoever I was... um dating."

I wasn't going to mention it, but I caught the discomfort in her face.

"Damn, so you don't do nothing special for your birthday?" I asked just to clarify.

"Chosyn and I usually do a brunch, but other than that, nope. Did you celebrate your birthday growing up?"

"Yeah, my moms did it up crazy for me growing up.

After she passed, and I went to live in Gravehart Homes, I didn't celebrate much.

A nigga was focused on trying to survive.

Then I met Gigi, and she always made sure Honor, Wolfe, and I had a birthday dinner and we picked the menu, and she'll bake a cake.

It was nothing fancy, but I appreciated it. "

"Sounds nice. I love that y'all still do family dinners."

"Yeah. Family is big for us. You already know how shit happened with Wolfe's family. My shit is similar. Pops was insecure as fuck. I didn't realize it then."

"How could you? You were just a kid, and your mom wanted to protect you from that."

This was a weird ass time for me to smile but Four remembering what I told her about my parents meant something to me.

"Boy, why are you smiling?"

"Cause you don't understand what you do to a nigga."

"What are you talking about, Crown?" She giggled.

"I'm saying you're the one for me, and I don't think you realize how much I need you in my life."

"Crown, you don't need me."

"Nah, I do."

"Crown—"

"I said what I said, Four. Go back to watching your show and chill on me."

She gave me one last look, then turned so that she was facing the TV.

I went back to massaging her scalp and closed my eyes.

Being at peace with Four in this way scared the fuck out of me.

The sins of the father were known to trickle down to their sons, and the last thing I wanted was to end up hurting Four the same way my pops hurt my mom.

"Okay, so this is what I've been working on since you first got in touch with me," Jax said, spreading out images of the party set up on the conference table for Honor, Wolfe, and me to see.

"Y'all might think it's a little corny, but I'm thinking the theme can be Fast Hearts & Open Roads."

We all stared at Jax blankly, causing her to let out a light chuckle. Jax has been the event planner at Grove Towers since Honor opened it. She stayed on her job and hadn't failed us yet, but this fast heart, open road concept was sounding lame as fuck.

"Jax this the best your ass could come up with? What happened to doing a Fast & The Furious Flip like I asked?" I quizzed.

"What did you want me to name it? Pulse & Pavement?"

"I don't fucking know but Fast Hearts & Open Roads is ass," I told her.

"Well, what you think doesn't matter. I ran the idea by Chosyn, and she loves it."

"How you gon' run some shit by Chosyn when she's not the one paying you?" I frowned.

"She's her best friend." Jax shrugged.

"And I'm her husband."

"Crown, you're not that girl's husband." Honor laughed.

"And you're Navy's best friend." Honor's face tightened into a grimace. "Yeah, nigga you don't like the sound of that shit, huh?" I smirked.

"Okay, okay, this is getting out of hand," Jax said. "The name doesn't even matter. Let me get through the rest of this and then give me your opinion. Cool?"

"Go 'head, Jax," I told her.

She shook her head, then started pointing to pictures as she explained the setup and vibe of the party.

"Okay, so the color palette for the party will be different shades of blue since that's her favorite color.

I already have most of the decor and flowers in the shades of midnight, cobalt, electric blue and a soft glacier color that's so damn pretty.

All of which are inspired by her name. So basically, the party will be street racing meets soulful sanctuary.

The Vault will feel like the city streets with LED strips in electric and ice blue, translucent curtains that ripple like water, and a fog machine that'll stay low to the ground to mimic mist off asphalt.

To add a personal touch, there will be pictures of her, the Briar Beauties, and her car.

Chosyn has already sent those over, and they're in the process of being blown up.

Honor agreed to turn one of the parking garage levels into a race course.

I have my people coming tomorrow to get started on that.

I've also been in touch with the people at the racetrack you linked me with, and they're willing to provide the cars. "

"Sounds dope but what about having something that show's Four how much people really fuck with her?"

I wanted River's birthday to be a celebration not only for her but for her foundation as well.

River went above and beyond for her community.

A few nights, when I slept on the couch at Lakelyn's crib, we stayed up talking about River and how she pours so much into others but never allows people to pour into her.

"Already on it." Jax handed me a picture of a mechanic shop with the words The Memory Garage on it.

"I plan to turn two of the sections into a garage, and inside, her friends and family can write notes, take a picture, or record a video about what River means to them.

Think of it as a tribute to her. I'll make sure everything is later uploaded onto a flash drive, and she'll have it to look back on and see just how many lives she's touched. "

"That's fire." Wolfe nodded. "Why you ain't do no shit like that for my wedding?"

"Because you had me throwing together a wedding in a week nigga. Crown came to me with what he wanted almost four months ago."

"Damn, you've been planning this for four months?" Honor posed what he said as a question, but he meant it as admiration. The nigga smirked, dapping me from across the table.

"Yup, and that's why he's getting all my best ideas.

Now on to the food and cake. The food will be finger foods, such as sliders, tacos, wings, and fries.

All the drinks will be custom-made and named based on the theme.

For the cake, I was thinking something like a blue chrome tire with the Briar Beauty logo in the middle. "

"Nah," I shook my head. Pulling my phone out, I showed Jax my screen, which was a picture of Four. "Make the cake resemble her glasses."

"This nigga," Honor groused.

"Keep fucking around and Four gon' think her glasses are a kink for you," Wolfe said.

"They're not a kink. I just fuck with how she looks wearing 'em."

When I met Four, she seemed hardened, like life was weighing her ass down. The next morning, she put on her glasses and shit seemed lighter for her. She was at peace, smiled more. Happiness seemed to follow her whenever she wore her glasses. That was a sign her ass needed to keep wearing 'em.

"Look, I'm not going to argue with the man. The cake will be her glasses. Send me that picture. Now, about her gift. The flowers you asked for are not cheap, so filling a car with them is going to up the bill."

"Cost isn't an issue," I assured Jax.

"Good to know. Let me know when the car arrives. I'll start having my people?—"

The door to the hotel's conference room opened, grabbing our attention.

Grim and Ghost walked in first. Killian walked in behind them but stayed close to the door while Ghost and Grim circled the table, eyeing each of us.

They lingered around Jax, lowly snarling, then settled at an empty seat that was to my right.

"Gentleman." Killian took the seat his dogs rested beside, then looked toward Jax. "Ma'am." He nodded.

Wolfe and Honor started laughing until Jax shot them a look.

"Ma'am?" She frowned.

"I'm sorry, but I was raised to respect my elders," Killian replied, showing little emotion.

"Nigga, I am not your elder. I'm willing to bet I'm the youngest in the room."

"Maybe in age but not in?—"

"Ight, Jax, thank you," I cut in, having an idea of how this was about to play out. "I'll be in touch about the car. Make sure you send the invoice."

"Trust, I will with a nice tip added since niggas want to be rude." Jax gathered her things, then chucked her middle finger up at Killian. This nigga snickered, then leaned down toward Ghost.

"Don't," I warned. Killian shrugged and sat up just as Jax left the conference room. "Jax is good people. Fuck color did you see?"

"Color?" Wolfe quizzed.

"Yeah, Syn said when he looks at people, he can read them based on whatever color illuminates their skin or some shit."

"Damn," Honor nodded.

"You make it seem so simple, Crown. It's not just colors," Killian said, voice low, eyes unfocused like he was looking beyond what was in this room.

"It's more like I can see a person's emotions bleeding into the air.

When you three look at people, what you see is the side of people that they want you to see. What I see is their soul bruised."

"Ight, but how do you know what the colors mean?" Honor asked before I could.

"My Vovo helped me to understand. This isn't something that randomly occurred in my life. For as long as I can remember, I've seen people through color."

"Nigga, if you can do all that, why ask me to find you a wife?" Honor frowned.

"Sometimes I want to make decisions without relying on my sixth sense." He shrugged. "I've been meaning to tell you, I no longer need your help. I've found my wife."

"Who?" Wolfe asked.

Killian stood up with Ghost and Grim following suit. "I left the car with the valet," was his only reply.

"My nigga!" I beamed standing up. Dapping Killian, I pulled his ass into a hug. He tensed at first, then returned the gesture.

"Don't forget about our situation coming up. I made sure Syn did her due diligence."

"'Preciate it," I told him.

"Hol' up, Killian," Honor said, getting up. "Who did you find to be your wife?"

Smirking Killian answered, "Kysre." Then left the conference room just as quickly as he came.

"Kysre... River's Kysre?" Wolfe asked.

"Yeah." I chuckled.

"How did that happen?"

"Nigga, you weren't on your job. A real nigga had to step in and play matchmaker," I told Honor, laughing.

"I was with him when I got the call about Four's accident.

Ghost ran in the room and jumped on Kysre's bed on some protector type shit.

Killian came in and said whatever to Kysre then the nigga left.

Since then, he hits me up to check on her. "

"That's one less thing on my plate." Honor sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You good? It's been a minute since we all checked in with each other," I noted, feeling like shit for not being there for my brothers the way I've should've been.

"Shit's been hectic for you," Honor said. "Then this nigga's got a baby and a wife. Y'all have priorities now."

"Always been understanding." Wolfe chuckled.

"Gotta be. Not everyone's gonna see the world how I do. We all look at life through differently. It’s shaped by where we've been, the things we feel, and our beliefs. To not understand is to miss the chance to grow and see beyond yourself."

"Nah, that's real." I nodded.

"Wassup, tho'? Chosyn told me about Navy feeling a way about you working with Choyce," Wolfe said.

Honor scratched at his jaw, then glanced at us with tired eyes. That shit was new. Honor was one of the few people I knew who handled stress with ease. In the midst of chaos, it was Honor we looked to, reminding us that a calm head always prevailed.

"Aye, don't be pillow talking 'bout me and mine." He chuckled.

"It wasn't like that. Chosyn was worried about you and asked how you were. She normally doesn't ask 'bout you, so when she did that, it piqued my interest," Wolfe explained.

"Tell sis I'm good. Ain't shit I can't handle."

"You know we're here for you, right? If you wanna get back to getting the money up for Lucian, we can do that," I offered.

"Nah, I'm good. Navy just has some shit she gotta work through."

"Ight. Aye, come see Four's present."

We left the conference room and headed toward the parking garage. I had some ill shit planned for Four's birthday. With all she'd been through, she deserved the world and more.

"Aye, this you?" Honor whistled, eyeing the car.

"River's gon' lose her mind when she sees this," Wolfe added, dapping me up.

"My baby deserves the best." I was smiling proudly.

"I'm proud of y'all," Honor said.

"Nigga, chill with the emotional shit. You know this nigga is a crier," Wolfe joked, tossing his head in my direction.

"Fuck up nigga, 'fore I have Chosyn hide your weighted blanket," I teased, laughing.

"My heart wouldn't do that shit. Not for the nigga calling her the fake Mrs. Gravehart. I still need my fade 'bout that too, nigga."

"Come on, nigga." Throwing my hands up, I stepped back on my right foot, ready to work this nigga.

"Honor you see this nigga?" Wolfe chucked his chin in my direction, then threw his hands up. The two of us slap boxed, breathing heavy and sounding winded as fuck.

"Aye, y'all done?" Honor asked. He was leaning against Four's new car with his arms folded. Wolfe and I threw our hands up, laughing.

"Yeah, we done," I said, pulling my phone out. A text from Four came through.

Four :

Hungry. Please stop and get me some smothered turkey wings, cabbage, and baked mac & cheese.

Me:

Say less

"Aye, I'm outta here. Four's hungry and wants food from Angie's Soul House."

"Chosyn hit me, saying the same. I'ma roll with you," Wolfe said.

"Ight. What you about to do?" I asked Honor.

"Head back to the crib to chill with Navy."

"Ight."

Wolfe and I dapped Honor up and watched as he pulled off. I tossed Wolfe my keys and told him to give me a second. Heading toward the booth in the garage, I made sure the valet knew to move Four's car to the rooftop and to throw a tarp over it.

"If you value your life, don't let shit happen to my wife's car," I warned dude.

"Nothing will happen, sir, I promise."

Dropping the keys, I jogged back to my car and hopped in, smiling. Four had a nigga gone.