Page 74

River Ashland

" S low down, Boozy," Chosyn advised, snatching the wine bottle. "We opened this twenty minutes ago."

I rolled my eyes and sipped what I managed to pour before she took it.

My nerves were shot, and anxiety had been dancing in my chest ever since Crown left the house last night.

I stayed in bed for most of the day, not wanting to burden anyone with my emotions.

It wasn't until Gigi and my mom forced me to help cook that I left the room.

"Gigi, do you mind if I take River outside for a minute?" Chosyn asked, already pulling me from my seat at the island.

"Go ahead, she's barely helping anyway," Gigi tossed over her shoulder.

"I shredded the cheese," I defended.

"Barely," Gigi scoffed.

"Ma, can you keep an eye on Phoenix?"

"I got her Chosyn," my mother confirmed.

Chosyn led the way into the beautiful backyard where Kyree, Kysre, and Rize sat under the gazebo smoking. I smiled, wondering if Crown and I would ever own a home this massive.

"Stop thinking about Crown. We have business to discuss," Chosyn whispered.

"Business?" I frowned. "Is something wrong at the pool hall?"

I haven't been as attentive as I should've, but I checked in with the manager weekly, and everything was running smoothly.

"The bar is fine. We need to discuss Honey," she answered.

"Here, you look like you could use this," Kyree said, passing me the blunt.

"What about Honey?"

"Honey was fucking Lynx, and since he's a snake, shouldn't we question if she's one too?"

"Y'all agree with her?" I asked the twins.

"When you take the emotions out of it..." Kysre let her voice fade and her shoulders hiked.

"I love Honey. She put me and Kysre on, but I can't turn a blind eye to the fact that this is some shady shit," Kyree said.

"Honey isn't like that," I defended.

"You said the same about Leah and look what happened there. She wanted Crown, beat your ass, lied on me, and now she's dead," Chosyn pointed out, shocking the twins.

"Who the fuck killed Leah?" Kyree asked.

"Crown." Chosyn smiled.

"Pay up!" Kyree laughed and held her hand out toward her sister.

Narrowing my gaze, I stared at the twins in disappointment. "Y'all bet on her death?"

"Yup! Kysre had her money on Chosyn."

"My girl," Chosyn smiled, locking B's with Kysre.

"Are y'all fucking serious right now? My life is literally turning to shit, and y'all two are beating on who kills Leah first, while this one is plotting on Honey like she isn't your fucking friend," I snapped.

Chosyn got the brunt of my anger because she knew no fucking bounds.

I understood why she wanted Leah gone, but Honey?

"I'm not plotting on Honey. I'm just asking the tough questions."

"Honey, isn't Leah. She would never?—"

"I'm not one to be in a woman's business, but hear me out," Rize interjected. "Honey's been fucking with Lynx 'bout as long as y'all been fucking with Wolfe and Crown. That's a long ass time to be dealing with a nigga and not know what he's into."

"Okay, but none of you knew what Lynx was up to, and he'd been around y'all for years," I countered.

"True, but it's different. Men let their guard down with women. They slip up and want to be vulnerable and shit."

"He has a point," Kysre agreed.

"I'm not saying Honey is guilty, but her rushing out on you after you told her about Rakim and Leah is suspicious," Chosyn added.

"I'll call her." Pulling my phone out, I dialed her number and put the phone on speaker.

"Is everything okay, River?" Honey asked, sounding normal.

"Uh yeah, I'm good. Why?"

"Because of everything you have going on with Crown."

"Oh yeah. I'm fine. I called to find out where you were. Gigi is having a family dinner."

"I'm out of town doing a job."

"Give me the phone," Chosyn scoffed and snatched the phone. "Honey, this is Chosyn."

"I know your voice, Chosyn." Honey laughed.

"Good. I wanna know if you knew Lynx was working with Rakim, who was trying to kill Crown?"

"Chosyn!" I scolded.

"We need to know!"

"I didn't know he wanted to kill Crown. River told me what happened, and when she mentioned Rakim, I kind of pieced it together that her Rakim was the same Rakim Lynx had been meeting with."

"And you didn't say anything?" I spat.

"No, because I planned on handling it. River, you know what I do and?—"

"Honey, don't come back," I warned.

"What?"

"You heard me," I seethed, biting back the hurt that was slowly creeping into my chest.

"River, you know?—"

Taking my phone from Chosyn, I ended the call and headed back into the house.

Everyone I gave a fuck about seemed to only care about themselves.

I didn't say a word to anybody when I walked back into the kitchen.

I just grabbed the wine bottle off the counter, poured what was left into my glass, and walked off.

Bouncing my leg under the table, I sat in a fog of irritation while casual conversation floated around me.

Jokes were tossed across the table like we weren't sitting dead-center in the eye of a fucking storm.

I didn't understand how they all sat here smiling like our world wasn't falling apart, like our friends weren't turning into foes.

Truth be told, Rakim wasn't keeping me up at night. I knew that the men of the Gravehart name didn't fuck around. Rakim would be handled when the time was right. I didn't doubt that. What had my heart on edge was the absence of the man I love.

Damn, I really love Crown.

The thought crept in like an unexpected whisper, and I giggled before I could stop myself. My face burned with a blush I probably didn't deserve but refused to live without when thoughts of Crown plagued my mind. Even after he forced me to dance with death, I still loved him.

Everything I thought Sincere was, every moment I clung to, shattered the second Crown told me the truth.

That man I mourned for three fucking years.

.. wasn't even mine. He promised my forever to Emily and kept his word since they were both dead.

My lips curled into a bitter smile. A dry, humorless laugh came out louder than I intended because karma is truly a bitch.

For a split second, I forgot I wasn't alone until all eyes turned to me.

Even Phoenix turned her head to look at me.

"What?" I frowned.

"You're the one laughing," my mother said, brow raised. "Tell us what's funny?"

"I'm just thinking about how all this food is gonna be cold by the time Crown walks in here."

"I second that," Navy muttered, eyes fixed on the baked mac. "Can we just eat and say we waited?"

"Wolfe, where's your brother?" Gigi asked, setting down her glass.

Wolfe slid his phone into his pocket. "He said he's pulling up now."

Before anyone could say anything, the house alarm chimed, signaling the front had just opened. Chairs creaked slightly as everyone turned their heads toward the hallway.

I let out a childish laugh and asked, "Why are y'all acting like his royal majesty is walking in here? It's only Crown."

Rolling my eyes, I sipped from my glass. He stepped into the dining room as if he were exactly who he thought he was. His face was neutral, yet still so damn handsome. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words ran dry once I saw a woman trailing just a few steps behind him.

Poised.

Polished.

Unbothered.

The bitch wasn't one of us. That was clear.

She sauntered into the dining room as if she didn't belong but also didn't care.

She scanned the room, her gaze landing on me.

I couldn't breathe. She was beautiful. Smooth skin, straight black hair that tickled the nape of her ass, fitted black dress, and sleek heels that clicked softly, letting you know they were a part of her everyday attire.

My stomach flipped. I dropped my eyes toward the duffle bag Crown carried to keep from letting jealousy, confusion, and hurt show on my face, but even the bag felt like a threat.

"Who the fuck is this bitch?" Chosyn barked, shooting up with Phoenix in her hands.

I swallowed hard, forcing the lump in my throat down with a sip of wine I didn't even want anymore.

"Chosyn, language!" Lakelyn scolded.

"My heart, you better sit your ass down with my daughter in your hands."

"Y'all really going to get on me when he?—"

"Chosyn, it's fine," I reassured her. Her eyes cut toward me, burning with questions I refused to entertain.

"Whatever," she smacked and sat down. Wolfe leaned over, whispering something in her ear. She rolled her eyes at Wolfe, then looked toward me and winked.

"Crown, introduce us to your friend," Gigi instructed.

"Everyone, this is Syn. Syn, this is everyone," Crown rasped, refusing to look my way.

"Hey, everyone. Gigi, you have a lovely home." She smiled.

"Actually, this is my home," Navy sassed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"For good reason." Navy frowned.

Syn forced out a tight, dour laugh. "Where can I wash my hands?" she asked.

"Crown, show her," Gigi told him.

Dropping the duffle, Crown touched the small of Syn's back, guiding her out of the dining room.

"So, we're not acknowledging Crown bringing some random bitch to dinner?" Kyree asked, looking dead at me.

"Kyree, language!" my mother said, causing everyone but me to laugh.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Lakelyn, but you know I go hard for River. Wolfe might've sat Chosyn down, but I don't have a nigg- I mean man to make me shut up."

"Fav, pipe down and mind your business for me," Rize told her smoothly. Kyree cut her eyes in his direction and laughed.

"Nigga, you get one time to put me in my place and you used yours," she sassed, then glanced toward my mother. "Sorry, Ms. Lakelyn."

"River, are you okay?" Kysre softly asked.

"I'm fine." I shrugged, lying through my teeth.

Crown didn't just bring a random to dinner. He brought the same bitch he told me I had nothing to worry about. Hearing her name didn't just stop my heart. It cracked something inside me wide open.

"Are you?—"