“Bet.”
Nivéa kissed Nyla’s head as she rubbed and patted her back. “Girlll, you’re going back to school soon. I’m going to miss your little greedy butt. But I’m happy to get out and get a break.” She laughed before getting serious. “So, this means I’ll be safe to go home, too?”
The smirk on Crown’s face slowly faded. He didn’t like the idea of them leaving at all, but he knew the time had come. He couldn’t make her stay without a valid reason.
“Yeah, once I get your whip. But I love y’all here. You in a rush to leave me?” He half-joked.
“Definitely not. I love being here with you, too. I’m not even sure I’ll feel safe there now.”
“You can always stay. Move in with me.”
They stared at each other for a while as Nivéa tried to gauge if he was serious. And he was.
“I hear you, handsome. Let me think about that, too.” She replied.
Nivéa had fallen hard for Crown and wanted to be with him all the time. But she also understood that this was fresh, fun, and exhilarating, making everything feel perfect, even if it wasn’t. She didn’t want to rush into living with him and later regret it. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t shack up with another man until he put a ring on her finger.
Crown had gone above and beyond for her and Nyla, and she loved him for that. But that didn’t excuse the stability she required. She could overlook the dangers that came with him at that point, but she wouldn’t overlook her requirements. He had promised to marry her, and she wanted him to stand by that before they made any permanent decisions. She wouldn’t bug or remind him about it either. She wanted to see if he would be a man of his word and just do it.
Crown nodded as his eyes dropped to Nyla, who finally let out a burp.
“Give her here. You eat.” He said, noticing she hadn’t had a chance to finish her plate.
With Nyla cradled in one arm, Crown ate with his free hand like it was nothing, second nature to him. It was Nivéa’s turn to watch and admire him. They enjoyed their meal together as a family until both plates were cleared.
Around two o’clock, Crown was out of bed and moving. He and Nivéa held gazes as he dressed comfortably in front of her. She watched as he slipped on his jeans and vest before tucking his guns into his waistband. When he finished, he gripped her throat gently, forcing her onto the tips of her toes so their faces were close, and he passionately kissed her before hittin’ the streets.
The roar of his Harley echoed through the early afternoon as he navigated the familiar backroads. He made it to thewarehouse in no time. As he approached, he could already see the cluster of motorcycles parked haphazardly in the lot.
Danger emerged from the building, meeting him out front with his hands held high. “Nigga, why you ain’t tell me we were having company?” He smirked.
Crown reached out and patted his shoulder like their father used to do to him.
“Come watch and learn some shit, bro.”
Chapter Fifteen
Two niggas down, one more to go, Crown thought as he smoked a blunt, watching Preach and his men roll through the warehouse gates. Niggas weren’t seeing him, and he put that on everything. He stayed ahead of the game.
Trucks pulled in slowly, headlights cutting across the concrete before their engines shut off one by one. Preach stepped out first, calm as ever, with his henchmen falling in around him. Crown waited until they entered before dropping his blunt, stomping it out, and moving. By the time he reached the first floor, he could already see Preach’s eyes scanning the room.
“Ah, Crown. I was looking for you.” He said sarcastically.
Crown gave a short nod, acknowledging his presence at the very least.
The cocky smirk on Preach’s face then dropped. “Alright, let’s get this shit over with. I want my money and Boe. Speaking of Boe, where the fuck is he?”
Crown didn’t respond. Instead, he nodded to Smoky, who carried the duffel bags over and set them on the table between them.
Preach nodded to Benjamin. “Check it,” he instructed, still scanning the room for signs of Boe.
Benjamin walked over and did as he was told. But when the zipper opened, he froze. His expression shifted. He stepped back slowly, eyes locked on the bag like he had seen a ghost, then back at Crown.
Preach frowned as he gazed over at him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Boss, you need to take a look at this.” Benjamin replied, knowing Preach had specifically requested the man lying inside to be delivered alive.
Without another word, Preach walked over and carefully looked inside. “What the fu—”
