Page 52

Crown Gravehart

S hit felt off.

The fog rolled in heavy and thick enough for an enemy to catch his target slipping.

Looking out into the distance, I sucked my teeth.

Anything ten feet out wasn't shit but a shadow and a threat, that I didn't mind using as target practice.

My eyes cut to the left, where Wolfe stood, still as death, finger brushing his trigger.

A war was brewing. Lil' bro felt that shit in the air.

Shit felt fucking off.

Syn and Killian posted at the doors of the boathouse.

Syn stood a half step ahead of her brother, body angled like a shield.

The AR-15 in her hands was short, brutal, and loud, just like her.

The first time I saw her, I asked why that one out of all guns.

She chuckled, telling me she didn't need range for her enemies.

Syn's eyes cut to mine, and a subtle nod followed.

She peered over her shoulder toward Killian, then got lost in the darkness ahead.

Behind her, Killian stood just as still as the rest of us but without a gun.

Ghost and Grim flanked behind him like shadows carved from Killian himself.

Movement in the distance caught our attention.

Honor to my right, stepped in front of Wolfe and me.

"Nigga, you don't have to?—"

"Muthafuckas will always have to get through me to make it to y'all," he gritted over his shoulder.

Looking toward Wolfe, that nigga shrugged and motioned for me to shake that shit off. The sound of heels ricocheted across the dock, growing louder with every step. Grim and Ghost growled, rumbling the night like distant thunder.

"I didn't know we were bringing animals to a gunfight?" Choyce smirked.

"The fuck you say?" Syn stepped forward, erasing the distance between her and Choyce quickly. Choyce eyed the AR in Syn's hand and smirked.

"Nice to see another woman packing heavy." A light clap came from Choyce's hands until her meek smile turned into a scowl. "Stepping any closer is a wish for death that I'll be sure to grant."

Syn's tongue lapped her lips. She took a step back, turning to walk away, but she turned back, gun raised and ready to pump a few slugs through Choyce.

"Shoot her I kill you and the short list of muthafuckas you care about."

From the shadows, Kage appeared, jabbing his gun into Syn's rib. Ghost and Grim tensed, muscles tight, eyes burning with their focus on Choyce and Kage. Low growls rumbled as their hackles rose. Their teeth bared just enough to give a silent warning.

"The fuck is y'all doing?" Honor barked, stepping forward. "Choyce, tell your man to put his shit down. We're here to get a nigga who's fucking with our money and y'all stuck on fucking egos."

Choyce nodded toward Kage to lower his gun, then locked eyes with Honor.

"Let's this be the last time you interfere with my shit. I don't give a fuck what we came to do. Disrespect of any kind—" Choyce looked back to Syn, "won't be tolerated ever."

With that, Choyce sauntered over to where the boats were docked, with Kage moving with her. I shook my head ready to call this shit off.

"Honor. Crown."

"Yeah, man," I answered Killian, scratching at my jaw.

"I allowed you two to handle the situation because Choyce Mancinelli comes from your world. I deal vaguely with Lucian. However, I have no loyalty to him, only a treaty that I don't mind breaking. Keep a muzzle on your bitch or I'll put her down myself," he spoke with ease.

Ghost let out a guttural snarl that almost seemed like a laugh. Grim took a step forward, muscles rippling beneath his coat.

"Ight, we'll handle it. Tell Ghost and Grim," I said as Honor stalked off in Choyce's direction.

"Why? They're waiting for a reason, and something about Choyce tells me she's going to give them one."

"What time these niggas 'posed to be here?" Wolfe asked.

"Over thirty minutes ago?" Syn answered.

"Something feels off 'bout this sh?—"

Shots cracked in the distance. Short, sharp, and muffled.

Niggas had suppressors on their shit. Our eyes caught sight of smoke coming from the direction Honor walked just seconds prior.

Wolfe and I ran up first. Three masked men were too busy ducking from shots coming from inside the boat to see us coming.

We fired off. Bullets jerking their bodies.

Dropping onto the boat, Wolfe and I moved with ease.

Sweeping the main floor, Wolfe froze. Kage was down, slumped against the wall, blood pooling under him, and two bodies across from him.

"I got him," Wolfe said, already dropping to his knees to apply pressure. "Go! Make sure Honor is straight!"

Without hesitation, I moved on to clear the lower deck.

What I saw once I got down there mired my heart.

A masked man stood in the shadows, gun aimed at Honor and Choyce.

She barely had time to react as her hand reached toward the holster on her thigh.

Shots rang out. Honor threw himself in front of Choyce.

The bullets pierced him as my shots tore through the masked man's skull, dropping him.

Honor hit the floor, gasping, blood blooming fast through his hoodie. Choyce scrambled to him, eyes wide with panic and disbelief.

Everything was fucking blurring together, noise, shouting, movement, all of it. Shaking my head, I tore the mask off the nigga I'd just killed.

Fucking Dre.