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Chosyn's talking was cut off by Crown and his bitch coming back into the dining room.

He pulled out a chair that sat next to Navy for Syn, then rounded the table and pulled out the chair next to me. My body stiffened as he set the duffle on it, then took a seat across from me, but next to Syn. Everyone glanced at me, then at the duffle, but didn't say a word.

"Okay, now that we're all here. Who wants to say grace so we can eat this food that Lakelyn, Navy, and I spent all day cooking?" Gigi asked.

"I—"

"No, Navy, let me." I smiled.

"Okay, River, go ahead," Gigi encouraged.

"Can everyone bow their heads and hold hands? I guess I'll grab the strap of the duffle since it has a place at the dinner table," I joked as I waited for everyone to do what I asked.

"Lord, thank you for this food, for the hands that prepared it, and for giving me the strength to sit at this table with grace when everything in me wants to flip it.

Thank you for love... the kind that doesn't run when it gets hard, the kind you fight for, the kind that'll have you on your knees one day praying.

.. and the next, ready to bury a bitch if necessary.

So, bless this meal, Lord. And bless everyone at this table.

.. even the ones who think their seat came without consequence. Amen."

"River Ashland, I raised you better than this," my mother chastised.

"River Gravehart," Crown's husky voice cut through the room, and I smirked, owning every bit of the name.

Syn lifted her head slowly, placing her napkin in her lap with a tight smile that played on her lips, but not in her eyes.

"Do you have something you want to say, or do you just hide behind Jesus?"

I raised my brow, unbothered. "If the shoe fits, I suggest you choke on it before addressing me."

"But I am addressing you. It must get under your skin to know Crown has chosen peace over your bullshit." She smirked.

"When it comes to that man right there..." I pointed across the table at Crown. " He doesn't know peace without me."

"You sure about that?" She laughed as if she knew something I didn't.

Without thinking, I lunged across the table, grabbing Syn by the front of her dress. I yanked her forward, knocking dishes and food off the table. Snatching the knife from the pan of turkey wings, I pressed it against Syn's throat.

Gasps and murmurs echoed around the room. Even Phoenix let out a wail that should've stopped me, but I wasn't thinking clearly. How could I, when even with a knife to her throat, Syn still looked at me like I was beneath her?

"If you haven't noticed by now, I'm very sure of where I stand with Crown, but if you wanna test it, I can slit your throat, tell him to let you bleed out, then have him bury your body."

"And you think he'll do it?" She had the nerve to ask.

I chuckled because Syn wasn't like most women. She didn't run away from danger. She thrived in it.

"I'd bet my life he would."

Her eyes didn't waver, and neither did mine.

"Four."

I didn't notice him move, but suddenly, Crown was in my space, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me away from the table. Syn stumbled back, then started toward me as Crown bent my wrist, forcing me to drop the knife.

"Please don't," Kysre spoke clearly, stopping Syn mid-stride with her gun.

"Listen to my sister because we don't miss," Kyree taunted, cocking her pistol.

Syn smirked, chest rising and falling fast. She stared the twins down, then turned to Crown. They locked eyes for just a second before Syn stormed out.

"Gigi and Lakelyn take Phoenix and give us the room," Wolfe instructed.

I could feel my mother's eyes on me, but I refused to look in her direction.

She wouldn't understand that Crown was baiting me.

He wanted me to show my ass because to him, that was how love was shown.

He did some of the most outlandish shit in the name of love and wanted me to do the same. Tonight, I gave in.

"What the fuck was that, Four?" Crown barked, shoving me back.

I laughed, then let my teeth sink into my bottom lip. Stepping back into his space, I puffed my chest out and mirrored the glower on his face.

"You're what's wrong with me. The fact that I love you is what's wrong with me.

Do you think I wanted to do that?" I questioned, pointing toward the knife.

"You really brought the bitch you told me I had nothing to worry about to dinner with our family because the people in this room don't just belong to you, Crown.

My mother was here, you know, the woman who let you sleep on her couch just so you could be around me.

You showed her just how little you think of me.

Then you let her talk crazy to me like she means more to you than I do.

Is that it? I fucked up, and I don't mean anything to you anymore?

" Biting my bottom lip, I shook my head. Crown was really taking me there.

"You know what..." exhaling deeply, I raised my hands in surrender. "I'm not doing this with you."

"What are you not doing, Four?" he asked, a dark smirk slowly curled at the corners of his mouth.

"This! Us! You! I'm not doing it anymore. I'd rather be?—"

"Rather what?" Crown sneered, stepping closer and bumping me with his chest.

"Aye, chill," Wolfe interjected, grabbing Crown by the shoulder. Crown jerked his shoulder, knocking Wolfe's hand off.

"I'm good. Four and I are just having a disagreement."

"This isn't a disagreement. This is me putting an end to this stupid-ass game you're playing."

"How could you let me go so easily, but hold on to a nigga whose address is a fucking cemetery?"

"This isn't about Sincere. Our problems have nothing to do with him?"

"We didn't have problems until that nigga, Four!" he barked.

"I tried to tell you. The night you told me about Emily, I wanted to do the same, but Wolfe showed up, and you said?—"

"Fuck what I said! Before that night, you told me you loved me. You told me you wanted us because I made you feel safe. Remember that?"

"Of course, I do, and I meant every word."

"Nah, you didn't."

"How can you say that after I just held a knife to your bitch's throat for you... for us?"

"Do you remember what you said to me on that rooftop? I tossed your shit, and you screamed you hated me, Four. Not once since this bullshit started have I told you some shit like that. I make it clear that I'm pissed, but that you're still mine."

"That was my emotions talking. I didn't?—"

"Must be nice to have that excuse in the tuck. It was my emotions talking ," he mocked.

"Okay, I said it. Now what? How long are you going to be mad about a man who is dead? You sound more obsessed with him than I ever was."

The room went still. Crown tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with something I couldn't place, but it sent a chill down my spine. Without speaking, he grabbed the duffle bag, unzipped it, and tossed it at my feet.

Bones.

My stomach churned at the smell — damp earth, rot, and something sour beneath it all. Inside, bones were thrown together in a careless heap, some still clumped with dirt and clinging bits of decayed flesh. A cracked skull sat near the top, one empty eye socket staring back at me.

"Why do you look sick, Four? I thought you'd be happy to see this nigga."

"Crown, who the fuck is that?" Chosyn asked, leaning over Wolfe's shoulder to get a better look inside the duffle.

"The muthafucka Four played with my heart for?" he gritted.

"This is some sick shit," Kyree mumbled.

"Wh-why... wha-what," I stammered, tears spilling before I could blink them away.

"Look at you, crying 'cause I brought bones to dinner, when this nigga died digging another bitch out raw. He doesn't deserve your fucking tears! Dead or fucking alive, Four. Fuck you don't get 'bout that shit?" Crown barked, his voice shaking with havoc.

I flinched and took a step back, needing space. Crown felt the opposite. He grabbed me by the wrist, pulling me into him.

"After all this, you're still gon' stand in my face and cry 'bout this nigga," he spoke through clenched teeth, letting his exhales breeze across my lips.

"Crown, please stop!" I sobbed. "I'm not crying for him, but this whole situation is a lot. You dug him up! How am I supposed to react to that?"

"Unbothered, Four. Seeing this nigga's skeleton isn't supposed to faze you. We can go dig up Emily right now. I don't give a fuck about that bitch or any other bitch who isn't you. No hoe on this planet can have me disrespect you by crying for her."

"Crown, I love you."

"You don't, but it's cool."

"It's not, and yes, I?—"

"Four, stop." He sighed, feeding me his frustrations. "I fought tooth and nail to feed your soul. That shit was looking malnourished when I met you. Meanwhile, you were letting a dead nigga drain your heart."

He kicked the duffle bag full of Sincere's remains

"I guess now you don't gotta look far for the nigga you love."

Crown didn't say another word. He didn't have to. He gave me one last look and then turned, walking out of the dining room with Wolfe following him. I stared as the silence pressed in on me.

"River," Kysre whispered.

The girls moved closer, but I pushed them back.

"Give me space," I muttered, voice breaking. "Crown and I... we're over."