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"Everyone tied to Rakim's team is already being handled, but these two?

I saved for us. I thought after Crown sent Lynx's head to Mary, Rakim would've disappeared, but pussy?

Pussy's a nigga's greatest downfall. Honey had one of her girls on him.

She convinced him to stay put at his mom's.

He was three inches in the pussy when I had him snatched, and now, we're here. "

Honor looked at Rakim, then, with one quick twist of the crank beside the rail, the chain holding Rakim gave out.

The sound of metal grinding against metal shrieked through the room like a scream.

The vat hissed violently as Rakim's body dropped into the bubbling liquid.

Heat and the stench of burning flesh rolled through the air.

I turned away as chunks of skin floated to the top.

My eyes landed on his mother. Strangled screams pushed from behind her gag.

Her whole body shook, her eyes wide and wild with horror.

I turned away from her, too. I couldn't stomach the look on her face.

"Honor, enough!" I shouted.

He didn't flinch. Just wiped his gloved hands on a stained rag and turned the crank again. The chain groaned as it pulled Rakim back up. The hook rose from the vat, and with it came what was left of him. Bones. Just fucking bones. My stomach twisted. Rakim wasn't just dead. He was erased.

"You ready?" Honor asked, voice too calm.

"For what?" I tried to keep my voice steady, but anxiety scratched its way up my throat.

"To kill her." He nodded toward Rakim's mother. Who, somehow, was still conscious.

"If we're going to work together, I need to know I can trust you. If you want to save your husband, then kill her."

Everything inside me stilled. I'd been the 'cause of death before, but never the hand that delivered it. Never the one who pulled the trigger. Never the one who sliced flesh.

"Are you hesitating?" Honor asked, tilting his head.

"She's not a threat."

"She birthed the muthafuckin' threat, Choyce," he growled. "That's reason enough."

Then he turned to Kage. "Get out."

"Yeah, okay," Kage responded with an eerie laugh.

"She'll be fine," Honor insisted, eyes locked on me. "Won't you, Choyce?"

I nodded, even though everything in me screamed no.

"Kage," I gently stated. "I'm good."

He looked at me, jaw locked tight, eyes stormy, but he left. "You better know what the fuck you're doing," he muttered as the door shut behind him.

Honor stepped closer. "What was that shit you told me outside Lucian's crib?

" he asked but not really asking. "You said I had everybody fooled.

That I loved this shit the same way you do.

That was bullshit on your end. You love the power.

The control, but you don't love what it takes to get it and keep it.

This right here is what it takes. Kage won't always be there to do your killing for you. "

He guided me to a steel table lined with weapons. Knives. Blades. Guns.

"Pick one," he murmured.

I swallowed and reached for a small black revolver.

"Smaller than what I usually see you carry," he whispered, stepping from behind me.

Rakim's mother sobbed, but all I heard was Honor's voice in my ear.

"Breathe, Choyce. Feel the weight. This is power. This is control. This is everything you want, wrapped in a fucking bow. Pulling your gun is cute, but that's not enough. Real power... has to be taken with your own hands."

"I've killed..." I started.

"That's a lie you tell yourself or a truth you believe," he cut in. "Either way, you've never killed like this. And once you do, you'll never be anyone's pawn again."

I stepped forward, looking her in the eye. I couldn't tell if she was afraid or if she pitied me. It didn't matter. I inhaled and squeezed. As I exhaled, the shot rang out, and she stilled.

Honor smiled, "Now we're partners. I'll be in touch so we can talk about how we're gonna kill Lucian. You can leave."

I walked out in a haze. My body moved, but my mind was stuck somewhere between what I just did and who I used to be.

"You did it?" Kage asked, waiting by the truck, arms folded and face tight.

I nodded. He stared at me for a long time before shaking his head.

"This is what I meant when I said you weren't all the way gone."

I frowned. "What?"

"You've been through a lot of shit. You talk a lot of shit and throw threats around like you're the grim reaper, knowing I won't hesitate to carry them out. Chosyn used to fix your problems. Then I stepped in and made sure you never had to get your hands dirty."

Kage stepped closer, staring down at me as if he didn't recognize me anymore.

"What you let that nigga talk you into tonight is gonna change you forever. It'll rob you of what was left of the girl Chosyn raised."

I looked away. "Can we go?"

Kage opened the door for me. I climbed in, silent. He followed, and we pulled off as the first drops of rain started to fall. Even though I knew Kage was right, the worst part was that a piece of me didn't even care.