Page 76

Honor Gravehart

" T ime is winding down, Honor. We have to make a decision."

"You see me in this fucking hospital bed, right?" I spoke evenly, hoping she caught the hint not to piss me off.

There wasn't shit Choyce could tell me that I didn't already fucking know. Niggas were out here hunting my brother, and there wasn't shit I could do about it without making another deal with the devil.

"I didn't mean it like I'm rushing you. I'm just saying, Lucian isn't going to wait forever for an answer," Choyce muttered softly, a little too softly coming from her.

I narrowed my stare and really took the time to see her, and not the 'her' she forced people to see.

"What?" She frowned.

"Why do you care so much about dude? Do you even like him?"

"I care because dude is the father of my child.

Do I like him? Once upon a time, but like his father, he's self-serving.

Talon loved me as long as I was doing my part in keeping his secret.

He was so into his own vices that he didn't realize that no matter what I did, Lucian was going to find every man he loved and kill them.

In the end, he and I both became bitter, and when you let that feeling fester for too long, hate forms. So, no, I don't like him, but Cherish loves him, and that's enough for me.

I'll never take him away from her unnecessarily. "

"But you'll put your sister in danger for personal gain?"

Choyce's shoulders slumped, my question hitting like two slugs to the chest. "I gave birth to Cherish. It's my job to make sure she stays happy. Having her father around does that so..." Her words fell short as her shoulders hiked.

I nodded, taking her at her word because, for the first time, there didn't seem to be a hidden motive, just a mother wanting what was best for her daughter.

"So, what's the plan?"

"I'll talk to Lucian," I answered.

"And say what!"

"Don't worry about it. He propositioned me, so I'ma handle shit."

"Honor." She sighed. The crease between her brows gave her away. Choyce was worried.

"Whatever ill feelings you have toward me can't matter if we're going to pull this off. I can't afford you making mistakes."

The vengeance and smugness that usually carried her tone were gone. The malice she wore like makeup... gone. Keeping people uneasy was foreplay for Choyce. Causing havoc was her love language, but this side of her wasn't on any of that shit. Choyce stood here vulnerable and worried.

"Then don't give me a reason to fuck shit up."

"She chuckled and then dropped her head. Bringing her eyes back to mine, everything that had been gone resurfaced.

"Keep your girlfriend in line, and there won't be a reason to give."

"Wife," I corrected her.

"Wife... girlfriend... kept bitch." She tossed her shoulders up, smirking. "It's all the same to me. Keep her out of our business, Honor."

The hospital room door opened with Navy walking in before I could respond.

"What's this?"

"How are you feeling, Honor?" Monique asked as she stepped into the room.

I glanced up, dragged from my thoughts. "I'm cool," I answered, swinging my legs over the side of the bed and planting my feet on the cold floor. "Am I good to leave?"

She hesitated, pulling supplies from the rolling tray and placing them at the foot of the bed.

"You really should stay the full recommended time," she softly stated.

Her hands moved with the precision of a nurse, but her tone was personal.

"Navy's been worried sick about you. She wants you to stay, and I agree. You almost died?—"

"But I didn't," I cut in, voice firm. My jaw clenched as I looked down at my hands. "I'm still here, and that means I still have a job to do. I can't do that shit laid up in this bed day in and day out. My family needs me."

Monique nodded slowly but remained silent. She slipped on a pair of gloves, the snap of latex filling the room.

"This might hurt a little," she warned, gently peeling the tape back from the gauze.

She sprayed antiseptic across the wound. My body tensed out of habit, but I didn't feel an ounce of pain.

"I usually get a low hiss when I clean a wound," she muttered, half to herself.

"I've numbed myself to pain," I replied, eyes focused straight ahead. "What hurts most doesn't bother me."

Monique paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "Always the protector, never the protected," she mumbled, her voice low, like she didn't mean for me to hear it, but I did.

I met her gaze. "The time for me to be protected died with my father," I said, steady. "He was teaching me how to ride a bike when some muthafuckas ran up and shot him."

She gasped. "Oh God... " Her hands trembled as she kept working. "I'm so sorry, Honor."

"Don't be." I shrugged. "I haven't thought about it in years. The only reason I mentioned it now is to make a point. I've always had someone to protect. That's what keeps me going. No matter how heavy the burden, I carry it with pride."

I leaned back, exhaling through my nose.

"I learned the meaning of my name way before I was ready. Since then, I've been moving through life making sure the people I love never have to carry burdens of their own. I'm my family's first line of defense, always."

Monique studied me for a beat, then nodded. "I get it. I'll have your discharge papers drawn up."

"Appreciate it," I quietly replied.

She finished bandaging me up with a gentle touch, then stood to leave. Her hand hovered near the doorknob when I spoke again.

"Monique."

She turned. "Yes?"

"I got a visitor coming soon. Make sure security takes his weapons."

Her eyes widened, mouth parting slightly, but she didn't push.

"Okay." Then she slipped out and closed the door behind her.

I picked up my phone, and the screen lit up. I had dozens of missed calls and texts from Navy and Wolfe. I called Navy first.

"Honor, I'm on my way to you right now," she answered, voice full of panic.

"Navy," I said calmly, rubbing my hand over my face, "I need you to stay at the crib. Monique's getting my discharge papers. I'll see you soon."

"You're not supposed to be leaving yet," she snapped. "You shouldn't be leaving the hospital at all in your condition."

"But I am," I firmly responded. "Now, you gonna tell me what all these missed calls are about or not?"

There was a pause. Long enough to tell me I'd fucked up.

"Navy." I sighed, already regretting my tone.

"Your brother brought River's ex to dinner," she flatly disclosed.

My brow furrowed. "Huh? Ain't that nigga dead?"

"Yup."

I blinked, then laughed. "He fuckin' didn't." The shit was wild. Sick, even, but still funny.

"It's not funny, Honor. How would you feel if I dug up one of your exes?"

"I wouldn't give a fuck 'cause I don't have exes," I replied, grinning. Navy has been my one since the beginning. That girl was made for me... better yet, made from me.

"Good answer," she murmured, her voice dropping a few octaves. "Just know I'm not above showing my ass like Crown."

"I'll never give you a reason to," I replied without hesitation. "I love you and only you. My brain doesn't even register other hoes. They're all black figments in my head."

She was quiet for a moment.

"Are we gonna be okay?" she asked, almost too soft to hear.

"Wassup with you, Navy? Since when you started questioning us?"

"Nothing. Forget I asked. I'm fine." Her voice turned brisk, as if she were flipping a switch. "Who's picking you up if you want me to stay here?"

"Crown."

"Oh. That's probably for the best. He needs a good talking to."

"Yeah," I agreed. I wasn't too thrown off by Crown's actions because when that nigga loved, he loved hard.

The door creaked open, causing me to look that way. Lucian stepped into the room like he owned it, wearing a smirk that didn't touch his eyes.

"Navy, let me call you back. The doctor just walked in."

"Put it on speaker so I can hear what he says," she instructed, missing the change in my energy.

"I'll have Monique call to fill you in. I love you."

"Fine. Love you too," she said, ending the call.

Lucian moved closer, hands clasped in front of him like we were old friends.

"Lying is the trait of a man who has no Honor," he smoothly asserted. "Lying to my daughter in front of me? That's a bold move, Honor ."

"The concerned father act is a good look, but we both know your kids have never been anything more than an afterthought."

"That's not true. You may not be of my blood, but you are my son. I raised you, taught you my ideologies, and allowed them to mold you into the man you are today."

"I'm not your son. I'm your project. A picchiatore for the son that is your blood, whom you also want dead."

"Ah, yes, Talon." He chuckled eerily. "I presume he's the reason I'm here."

"I'll kill him, but I need something from you."

"Of course. Anything." He grinned.

"I need to know who robbed Crown's spot in Ember Hills, who shot at us at the dock, and who fucked with River's car."

"Honor," Lucian began, his voice steady, almost clinical, "I know you like to believe I locked you in that room to break you, and you're right. I did."

He took a slow step forward.

"A man who clings to his will, to his pride, will always remain closed off to the true wonders of the world. Power will slip through his fingers without him realizing it because he already believes he has it."

Lucian's eyes glinted, sharp like a scalpel.

"You came to me at thirteen. That strong will of yours was already tearing your life apart.

You stood up for your mother without fully understanding who you were sacrificing yourself for.

All your adolescent mind could process was that you were protecting your mother.

What you did was brave, but when you look back on that moment. .. what did it actually get you?"

His voice dropped, low and cruel.

"Your mother still died, didn't she? And not just died, she suffered. Her skin peeled from her body, inch by inch. And you, her son, had to watch."