Page 63

"Next time you wanna try to convince me of bullshit, leave this hoe wherever you found her."

Rakim grabbed Leah's arm and brought her body to his. She wrapped her arms around him lovingly, and it all made sense.

"River, I didn't take you to be a dumb bitch.

Sincere used to brag about how smart you were and how you weren't like any of the bitches we grew up with.

I don't know what you did to blind that nigga, but you're just like them lowlife bitches.

You'll see soon enough, tho'. The loyalty you have for your nigga is one-sided.

The way you poked your chest out for dude is some he won't ever do for you. Pussy niggas are like that, tho'."

"I'll bet my life that he'll do the same and more," I said what I knew in my entire being to be true. I'm Mrs. Gravehart even when I'm not.

"Ight Riv, we gon' put that shit to the test soon enough," Rakim smirked. "There's no saving you, so I'ma respect that. For your sake, I hope you're right 'bout dude. It'll be fucked up to find out he did you how he did his once he finds out you drove the car Sincere was shooting out of."

My eyes widened, and my breathing stilled.

"This is the last olive branch I'm going to extend. I can protect you from Crown."

"Good thing I don't need protecting. Now, if you don't mind."

Now, over the conversation, I started to walk. I was barely a step away when Rakim's hand clamped around my arm. He yanked me back, my body jerked, colliding into his as Leah stepped out of the way. I inwardly cursed myself for not allowing Chosyn to teach me how to carry a blade under my tongue.

"Get the fuck off me," I grumbled, fighting to free myself from his grasp.

"Chill the fuck out. I'm not going to hurt you... yet. I'm willing to give you another chance to accept my protection."

"I don't want your fucking protection! Just let me go!"

"Siding with your nigga makes you an enemy. I'm the nigga in charge now, and my enemies never go untouched." Rakim's breath ghosted over my earlobe, sending a chill down my spine.

"Are you threatening?—"

The screeching sound of tires cut through the air like a warning shot. I used the moment to pull away from Rakim. A matte black truck whipped into the parking lot with the engine growling low and angry just like its owner. The windows were blacked out, but I didn't need to see him. I felt him.

The passenger door opened, and Wolfe hopped out, smirking toward a scowling Rakim. Crown stepped out wearing a frown that carved deep across his handsome face, and with his gun in hand, making my breathing hitch. Without speaking, the air changed around us.

"The fuck going on?" Crown barked, eyes cutting between Rakim and Leah.

Rakim smirked. "Just catching up with River. Thought it was time someone told her what really happened to Sincere."

"Word." He chuckled. "Four, what this nigga tell you about me?" His eyes locked on mine as if they were tethered there.

"You called me Four," I murmured.

Crown stepped forward, calm and controlled, with his jaw tight. Pinching my chin, he angled my face in different directions, inspecting my face.

" Four." He chuckled. "What did this nigga tell you about me?"

"Tha-that you killed Sincere," I answered.

"Do you give a fuck if I did?"

"I..." My words choked off as Crown's hand left my chin and firmly grasped my throat.

"Do you give a fuck if I killed your ex, Mrs. Gravehart? I don't need a monologue as an answer. Shake your head and let your husband know how you're feeling."

Melting in his grasp, under his murderous stare, I swallowed hard, then shook my head no .

Crown bowed his head, pressing his lips against mine, and I became undone.

I gripped the front of his hoodie, bringing his body to mine.

The kiss deepened not because Crown wanted it to but because I left him no fucking choice.

Anything I might've said to Crown to fix our situation didn't matter.

He didn't deserve words... my man deserved action, and I prayed what I said in this kiss showed Crown just how much Sincere didn't matter to me because I'm in love with him.

"Ight, y'all done." I heard Wolfe chuckle. I giggled, breaking the kiss.

Crown pecked my lips, then aimed his gun at Rakim, but he kept his eyes on me.

"Four, what I'd tell this nigga about the next time he said some shit to my wife?"

"To make sure what he says is worth dying over," I happily answered.

"I never understood why muthafuckas like you think guns went extinct after you got yours," Rakim sneered.

"I never thought they went extinct. I just figured you're too pussy to pull yours since you prefer the taste of metal over the feel."

"Don't worry, I'll find out what you like soon," Rakim said with a mirthless chuckle.

A chorus of mechanical clicks followed as five men stepped into view with their guns aimed at Crown, Wolfe, and me.

"This was a setup," I spat, eyes locked on Rakim.

"Yup," Leah sassed now that she and Rakim had the upper hand. "I hope one of these niggas?—"

My fist cracked against her jaw, shutting her stupid ass up. I swung again, dropping her like dead weight. Rakim's gaze flickered from Leah to me, then he stepped forward.

"Nigga, think twice before touching mine," Crown warned, moving between us. "I don't care how many niggas you got with you. I'll kill you and gladly eat whatever bullets these muthafuckas send my way."

My stomach fucking dropped.

"Crown!" I choked out. "Let's just go."

"Listen to your girl, Crown ." Rakim snickered.

Crown stepped forward until the barrel of his gun rested beneath Rakim's chin. The five men closed in, but Rakim raised a hand, stopping them.

"This is the second time I've seen your gun without you pulling the trigger," he said calmly.

"That's twice too many from where I stand," Crown gritted as his finger flexed on the trigger.

"Wolfe, stop him!" I shouted.

"Not here, Crown. It's too many of 'em," Wolfe warned.

Crown licked his lips, nodded, and slipped his hand into mine, pulling me with him toward the truck. We barely made it a few steps before he half-turned and let off three shots, each one finding Leah.

"Leeaahh!" I screamed, frozen in shock.

"Twice too many," Crown muttered with a cold chuckle. "Scrape your bitch off the pavement, pussy nigga."

With the confidence of a man who feared nothing and no one, Crown turned his back on Rakim and his crew. Still gripping my hand, he led me toward the truck. Behind us, Wolfe moved in silence, eyes locked on Rakim's people.

We climbed in, Wolfe up front, me sliding into the back, and Crown driving.

As Crown reversed out of the lot, Rakim just stood there, that smug-ass grin plastered on his face like he knew something we didn't. Maybe he did.

He wanted Crown dead for killing Sincere.

He had him and Wolfe outnumbered but did nothing other than tell his men to stand down. Maybe he wasn't the one in charge.

"Crown, I think?—"

Swallowing hard, I let my sentence hang short. Crown, glaring at me through the rearview mirror, wouldn't let me finish. His steely gaze was a warning.

Don't say shit .

So, I didn't.