Page 55

Navy Achebe

" W e gotta get the fuck outta here," Wolfe said. His eyes pleading with me to not start my shit. Sirens blared in the distance, probably because of the shots we heard coming up from The Vault.

"Okay," I murmured, leaning further into Chosyn.

"We're gonna go check on Rize," Kyree called out, tugging her sister back toward the hotel.

Before I could say anything, River came running out crying. Chosyn quickly unhooked her arm from mine and ran over to her.

"Bring y'all asses on!" Wolfe called out. We all trekked behind him, following Wolfe a block over to a parked blacked-out Suburban.

"I'ma sit in the back with River," Chosyn said.

I wasted no time getting in the passenger seat. Wolfe sped off, and for the first ten minutes, it was quiet with the occasional sniffling from River.

"He's going to be straight," Wolfe murmured, but I caught it.

"How sure are you?" I asked.

"I'm not, but for my own sanity, I gotta believe he will be."

"What the fuck happened?"

"I don't know for sure."

"Don't bullshit me, Wolfe!" I spat.

"Let's watch our tones when speaking to someone else's husband," Chosyn offered as advice, but it was a threat.

"Chill my heart," Wolfe advised her soothingly. They caught eyes in the rearview mirror. He winked at her, and she blushed, disarming for her man.

"We had a meet, but it was a setup. I was helping a nigga who'd gotten shot when Crown went to the lower deck of the boat.

After that, I don't know much else other than Crown came up with Honor slumped on his shoulder.

We had to get the fuck out of there, so Honor got in a car headed to the hospital and Crown and I came to get y'all. "

"Y'all let him go to the hospital alone?" I frowned, wondering when the tables had turned between the three of them. "Honor wouldn't have left either of you to come get me."

"I'm not gon' speak on what Honor would or wouldn't have done. I came and got y'all because that’s what Honor wanted. As far as I knew, y'all were safe at the party with Rize and Lynx. I owe Honor too fucking much to leave him for dead."

"But that's exactly what the fuck you did!"

"Bit—"

"Chosyn!" Wolfe gritted.

"I'm sorry, but I don't take well to anyone screaming at you. Friend or not, Navy knows your heart and knows you wouldn't willingly leave Honor," Chosyn smacked.

"You're right. I'm just scared. Honor was shot, and he's alone. If something happens to him and I'm not there?—"

I shook my head, hoping that would stop the tears and the terrible ache gnawing at my heart.

"He's not alone."

"Who's with him then?" I asked.

"Choyce but hear me out. Choyce was with us at the meet.

Like I said shit popped off. Kage got hit and was bleeding badly.

We needed to call him an ambulance but having them pull up where we just laid out six muthafuckas was gon' jam us up.

Choyce drove Honor to the hospital, and Killian dropped Kage at a different one. "

"Okay but why would Choyce drive Honor and not Kage?"

"Killian knows a doctor with a private practice, and Choyce is willing to lie to the police about Honor's shooting."

"What's the lie?"

"Does it matter? We got everyone where they needed to be. Everyone will be strai?—"

"Wolfie, what was the lie?" Chosyn asked.

"Honor and Choyce were on a date when someone started shooting."

"So, she's his girlfriend." My tongue cruised over my teeth as realization set in.

"Navy it's not no funny shit I swear. It's an easy story to sell to the cops."

"Okay," I whispered.

"It's about to be a long ass night." Chosyn sighed.

"I couldn't agree more," I murmured and didn't say shit else for the rest of the drive.

The walk down the hall to Honor's room seemed never fucking ending.

So many fucking thoughts, gassed by a million emotions I had to suppress because this wasn't about me.

Honor was shot. Whatever I was going through internally didn't matter, but if I was being honest, when did it ever?

I love Honor, but our relationship has been something like an emotional prison, and I've been doing consecutive sentences.

I tried expressing my thoughts to him, but they were often pacified with sweet I love yous.

My heart swelled every time. I love Honor in ways I didn't think were possible.

As a young girl, I was wrapped in that man.

As a young woman, I became feisty. I spoke up more, rumbled with the best of 'em behind my man, who the world didn't know was mine.

At this big ass age, I've found peace in mellowing out and allowing situations to play out.

I didn't question much and kept my opinions to myself.

Through all our different phases, I was loved.

That was more than what most women could say, but was it enough?

"Navy," Chosyn called out, stopping me from opening the door to Honor's room.

"Yeah." I sighed.

"When you go in, don't let my sister get in your head. You know Honor loves you. Don't let Choyce make you believe differently."

"I won't." Opening the door, I walked in and had to catch myself. Just that fast, I had forgotten everything Chosyn had said.

"Who are they?" the officer standing at the foot of Honor's bed asked.

Choyce with her naturally pouty lips curled in a smile, looked toward us and said, "Chosyn is my sister and Navy is Honor's sister. I called them because, as you can see, we need all the support we can get."

Choyce was a charmer. That much was true from how smitten the white cop seemed to be with her. The two continued their conversation as Chosyn and I stood there. I watched their interaction, mentally recording everything.

"Remember what I said," Chosyn whispered.

I nodded and continued listening. The cop asked standard questions about what happened.

Nothing too out of the ordinary until Choyce said Honor jumped in front of the bullet, saving her life.

The air caught in my throat, escaped in a sharp, involuntary gasp.

Chosyn's eyes cut toward me, begging me to play it cool, but it was too late.

The unplanned, dramatic sound had already silenced the room.

"I'm sorry. Hospitals turn me into a wreck. I'll just wait in the hall until you two finish." Smiling weakly, I exited the room with Chosyn on my heels.

"Navy, you have to be cool."

"How? How am I supposed to be cool when she fucking reduced me to being his sister? His fucking sister, Chosyn!"

"I know, but?—"

"Please don't," I snapped in a hushed tone. "You were on my ass because I yelled at Wolfe in the car. I don't wanna hear a damn thing about playing it cool."

"Fine." She shrugged and leaned against the wall.

I did the same, blinking back tears that probably weren't even worth crying. Ten minutes or so later, the cop came out of the room, flashing Chosyn and me a faint smile as he walked past.

"You can leave." Walking back into Honor's room, I got right to the point.

Choyce glanced at a sleeping Honor, then brought her devious stare to me. She sauntered in my direction, her curvaceous hips leading the charge. I frowned, annoyed by how, even when upset, Choyce still possessed sex appeal. I didn't even think she was trying. It just oozed out of her.

"I'm not leaving."

Choyce stopped maybe a foot away from me, and only because Chosyn positioned herself so Choyce would have to get past her to get to me.

"We don't need you here."

"And what happens when another cop shows up? What are you going to tell him... as his sister, of course, who wasn't there?"

Her snobbish tone caused my fingers to curl until my nails dug into my palms.

Choyce's gaze flickered downward.

"Navy, I don't fight. Balling your fists is a waste of our time. Any problem we have will be resolved with words or... I'm shooting you," she gave a nonchalant shrug, then turned to Chosyn.

"Hey, sis! Long time no see. I've been texting you, but I'm sure you know that already."

"Please don't speak to me." Chosyn frowned.

"I'm not surprised by your little attitude. You hate me because I forced your hand. I get it. But our differences shouldn't be the reason our daughters don't know each other." When speaking to Chosyn, Choyce's voice softened. It still held an edge, but that wall of hers wasn't all the way up.

"Choyce, I'm not here to discuss our family drama."

"Of course not." She grimaced, her tongue poking the inner part of her cheek. "You only show up for your chosen family."

"I show up for those who show up for me. What you did was wrong, Choyce. All you had to do was ask—" Clicking her tongue, Chosyn scoffed, then held her hands up in mock surrender as she backed away. "We're not doing this here."

"Then give me a time and place."

"Fine. If you want to have a sit-down, we can do that, but please leave."

"Did you not hear me say?—"

"Oh, I heard you. I also know a relationship with me means more to you than staying in this room where you're not wanted."

The friction between the sisters was too sharp to miss. Their glares held years of unspoken resentment.

"You're right," Choyce gave in. "A chance to mend our relationship means more to me than watching Navy cry over spilled milk."

"Bitch," I murmured as Choyce walked past me.

"Speak louder next time. Nobody hears a mouse when it dies." The door clicked shut a moment later.

"She's not wrong," Chosyn said. Catching me off guard, I grimaced in her direction for agreeing with her sister.

"Fix your face and just hear me out. Honor isn't just some guy you met.

Maybe that's how it was in the beginning, but you've been with him long enough to know who he is and the power that comes with it.

Most men will never be shown the same respect as Honor.

His power is yours, Navy. You gotta learn to carry it. Move like you know it belongs to you."

"I don't want it? Not for myself or Honor."

"That's a conversation for you to have with your man.

As far as everything else, find the woman who had all the attitude in the world for me when we first met.

That Navy made it clear without speaking she wasn't to be fucked with but respected.

Not finding her means women like Choyce, who already have the power you want to be free of, will step all over you. "

"I hear you."

"Don't hear me, feel what I'm saying, Navy. I'll give you some time with Honor. I'm going to check on Wolfe and River."

"Okay."

Chosyn hugged me tight before stepping back. "Call me if you need anything. I won't be far, just in the waiting area."

I nodded, holding onto her warmth long after she was gone.

I slowly made my way over to Honor's side.

Seeing him like this, so still and what had to be his version of vulnerability, felt unreal.

Most people lying in a hospital bed looked broken, but not him.

True to his name, he laid there, bandages wrapped around his abdomen, looking strong and unyielding.

His face hardened instead of softening because of the pain.

Hearing he'd been shot shattered me, but looking at him now, I realized my worry was misplaced.

No matter what, Honor would always be Honor.

A protector.

A leader.

The love of my life.

The weight of that brought tears to my eyes. As proud as I am of him, I couldn't ignore the truth. His need to protect his family and those he empathized with would always cast a shadow over our relationship.

"Navy," he groaned.

I quickly wiped my eyes, forcing a weary smile to grace my face as his eyes fluttered open.

"I'm here, baby," I whispered.

His weakened gaze drank me in, full of love. Slowly, his hands lifted from the bed and reached toward my chin. Pinching it gently between his fingers, he guided my lips to his.

"Don't cry over a nigga," he rasped against my lips. "I'm gon' always be good. I love you too much to let death separate us."

Right then, I pressed my lips against his, letting my fear melt away. The only thing that mattered was the truth. I loved Honor, and he loved me.