Page 71

"Tell us how you really feel, Gigi." Chosyn laughed.

"I have nothing to say. Wolfe and I have arguments, but what married couple doesn't? He's a great father, an even better husband, and he spoils me rotten.

The only person I have an issue with is Choyce.

I told her we could have a conversation, but I honestly don't have much to say.

She did what she did, and I feel how I feel.

We're not kids anymore. She doesn't need me. "

"Kids aren't the only ones who need people in their corner," Gigi started.

"Gigi is right," my mom continued. "You raised that girl. As a child, you took care of her and showered her with love. Choyce isn't only your sister. She's like your daughter."

"Let me ask you this. If Choyce were to die tomorrow, would you regret not having that talk with her?" Gigi asked.

"Of course," Chosyn answered.

"Then fix it. Y'all think because you're young that you have all the time in the world. Time waits for no one, and tomorrow isn't promised. Have the conversation because that's all it is."

"I guess," Chosyn replied as her gaze drifted toward the floor.

"Chin up, Chosyn, because if you can slice and dice people with that blade, then you can have a conversation with your sister. Navy go."

I laughed because Gigi was not playing.

"Choyce wants to fuck Honor, Honor lied to me today, and for whatever reason, I don't feel secure in my relationship," Navy rushed to say.

"Lakelyn, do you have anything to say about this one?" Gigi asked.

My mother shook her head, her eyes wide with shock, like she couldn't believe what had been said.

"This new-age drama is a bit much," she finally got out.

"It's not. These girls are just dramatic and make situations bigger than what they need to be," Gigi responded.

"So, I shouldn't feel a way about Honor lying or the fact that Choyce wants to fuck my man?" Navy smacked.

"Who are you, Navy?" Gigi asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said. The last time I checked, your name is Navy Achebe, daughter of Lucian, an Italian mob boss.

Wealth is sewn into your name and into the accounts of children you haven't even birthed yet.

You're not some gutter bitch, so why are you acting like it?

Honor has been in love with you since the beginning.

All that man sees is you. When y'all first became serious, I tried to talk Honor out of settling down so young. "

"Gigi, really?" Navy gasped with hurt dancing in her eyes.

"Honor had carried adult responsibilities long before he reached adulthood.

If he could be a man in business, the least he could do was act his age in his relationship, but what I wanted for him didn't matter.

That boy looked me dead in the eye and said, with Navy he wasn't settling.

She was everything he knew he didn't deserve. "

"He said that about me?"

"He did. This is why I don't understand why you're letting someone who doesn't matter to that man get in your head. Honor loves you. That's never been up for debate."

"I know, I just... Choyce is in his line of work, and she's so different from me. I want him out of that life, but it feels like Honor is running straight toward it."

"Well, you know what they say... comparison is the thief of joy," my mom said.

"Maybe what you're feeling has nothing to do with Choyce or even Honor.

I may not know you, but I do know what it's like to have the world at your feet and still feel inadequate and undeserving.

You and Honor have been together so long that you've lost yourself in him. "

"She's right," Gigi softly agreed. "Honor loves you. Everyone at this table knows that. The real issue is, you don't believe it because deep down, you don't think you've given him a reason to."

"Maybe," Navy murmured, eyes fixed on her glass as if the answer were hiding in there.

"Crown won't talk to me, and I don't know what to do," I chimed in, shifting the conversation from Navy to myself. Both Gigi and my mom said some heavy things that Navy couldn't ignore. She also didn't have to figure them out right now.

"Girl, we know your problem." Gigi laughed.

"So, we're on some Kevin Hart, laugh at my pain stuff?" I frowned.

"No, but you're in the wrong River," my mother informed me.

"I know, and I want to fix it. I just don't know how."

"First, fix your face, Four . You don't get to pout over this.

Crown chased you. It wasn't a light jog.

He ran after you until you finally let him in.

Now things aren't right, and what? He's supposed to come running again just so you can tell him sorry?

" Gigi gave my arm a light smack. "Life doesn't work like that.

How that man was about you is how you need to be about him. "

"You broke his trust," my mother added gently with her hand resting over mine.

"Trust is easy to break, but ten times harder to get back.

Every word you've ever said to Crown, he questions now.

Not because he doesn't care, but because he cares so much.

I love you can't just be something you say when it's convenient.

He needs to feel it. He needs to see it in your actions and your choices.

Because, baby, loving someone is one thing, but making them feel safe in that love is where the work really starts. "

"I hope y'all heard Lakelyn," Gigi said, standing up.

"Falling in love can be as easy as locking eyes with a man whose presence steals the air from your lungs before either of you even speaks.

However, maintaining that love and ensuring your partner feels safe in it is where most couples fall short.

As women, we thrive off knowing our men would do the unthinkable to protect our peace and happiness.

And each of you has men who've done just that.

They've risked everything in the name of love, without hesitation, and I know that's part of what you love about them, but I want to leave you three with this: What are you willing to risk for them ?

How do you show your man that you love them just as deeply?

That you're willing to go above and beyond to protect them ?

Each of them has shown up as your strength.

.. and when it counts the most, I hope the three of you can do the same in return. "

Gigi paused, letting the weight of what she said sink in.

"Now, y'all don't gotta go home, but you do have to get the hell up outta here. Not Lakelyn, I need her help in picking out an outfit," she declared with a smirk.

We all laughed at Gigi, but it was needed. Chosyn shook her head as she stood.

"Only you would say something rude after giving us such great advice," she said.

"Now you know I don't let anyone stay at my house too long unless they plan to pay rent," Gigi shot back.

We said our goodbyes and gave hugs, then, like Gigi wanted, we left her and my mom alone to get ready for whatever she had planned. The evening air wrapped around us as we stepped out of the building and headed toward Navy's car.

"Wait, is that Lynx?" she asked.

Chosyn and I both turned our heads in the direction she pointed.

Parked across the street under a dim streetlight sat a car I knew too well.

My chest tightened. It was the same Nissan GT-R that had been following me around, and Lynx was in the passenger seat with the window cracked enough for us to see him.

Before Navy could call out, I grabbed her arm. "Don't," I sharply hissed. My voice was low but firm.

She frowned, confused. "But?—"

Then Rakim appeared and slid into the driver's seat. Stepping into my line of view, Chosyn said exactly what I was thinking.

"Something doesn't feel right."

"It doesn't. We gotta get my mom and Gigi out of here," I told them.

"Why?" Navy frowned.

"They're about to shoot up the block, and this building is the target," I told her.

Without another word, we turned and sprinted back into the building. Thankfully, Gigi lived on the first floor. We ran to her door, banging until she answered.

"Y'all gotta leave now!" I relayed, breathless.

Gigi didn't ask questions, and neither did my mom.

"Our cars are parked in the garage," Gigi said.

"Good."

We all moved in sync, as we rushed down the hall toward the garage.

We piled into Lakelyn's car, tires screeching as I pulled out of the garage. Gunshots echoed off the concrete behind us. Navy screamed as I hit a sharp turn.

"Shit," Chosyn muttered under her breath. "That was right behind us."

I grabbed my phone and tossed it to Chosyn.

"Call Crown."

"Yeah, Four?" he answered, sounding agitated. I bit back my annoyance because now wasn't the time for our drama.

"Four, you?—"

"Gigi's building got shot up."

"Y'all good?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"Yeah," I answered quickly. "But Lynx was with Rakim. I don't think they saw us. We left from the garage."

The way Wolfe had the building designed was so if someone wasn't paying attention, they'll miss the garage door."

"Drive to the crib where we had Thanksgiving."

"The house in Onyx Hill? I thought Honor rented?—"

"No stops, just fucking get there," his voice dropped low and submerged in anger.

"Okay."

Chosyn ended the call, and for a second, we held each other's gaze, holding a conversation only the two of us could understand.