"Well done. Let's chat," he said simply.
Casper turned and faced the crowd, who had gone still, all of them reading the room and trying to figure out whether The Crown was here to take something or give something.
"Y'all can relax. Turn the music back up," he called out.
The tension broke almost immediately. Laughter returned, music filled the block again, and people went back to what they were doing. Casper waved for me to walk with him. I glanced back at Juelz and Rico.
"I'll be right back."
They didn't move from where they stood.
Casper and I walked until we were well out of earshot, both of us keeping our backs to the crowd so nobody could read our faces or our lips.
"That was a close one. But this is exactly why you're in that seat. I'll only say this once. Keep your people in line, or the Thorns get cleaned out from the top down."
My jaw tightened. I had always known what came with leading this chapter. I accepted that when I took it on. But now I had someone to come home to and something real to protect. I was going to have to stay closer than I already had been.
"Understood. You won't have any more problems from this direction. They lost the privilege of having me play it easy. I got too much to lose and I don't plan on losing any of it behind people who can't appreciate what they have."
Casper stroked his chin and smirked slowly.
"That's what I like to hear. Handle it how you see fit. You don't need my permission. You know what's expected."
I heard him clearly. In his own way, he had just handed me more authority while making sure I understood what it cost. I shook my head and chuckled to myself.
I extended my hand and he dapped me up.
"We out," he said.
We walked back toward the barricade without another word between us. Casper mounted his bike and pulled away. His people followed without a sound, no fanfare, no lingering. I stood and watched until they were completely out of sight, then turned back to Juelz and Rico.
"We're straight. Let's enjoy tonight."
Juelz broke into a smile and reached out to dap me up. We turned and made our way back into the crowd.
I hadn't gotten more than a few steps in before I spotted Solana and Nessa standing face to face, voices already climbing.
I groaned under my breath and picked up my pace.
I had spoken to Vanessa one too many times about this already. Whatever was happening over there needed to stop before it became something it didn't have to be.
MOMENTS EARLIER…
The rumbleof engines caught my attention along with everyone else around us. I had never been to anything like this before, but whoever was approaching had to be someone worth bringing an entire block party to a standstill.
I looked over at Duke. He was no longer smiling. His shoulders were pulled back and he had risen from where he'd been leaning. I moved to go to him, but his eyes found mine and he raised his hand, stopping me where I stood.
No words needed. Whatever was happening had something to do with the Thorns, and he needed me to stay put.
The entire block went quiet as Duke, Juelz, and Rico walked toward the barrier. I couldn't pull my eyes away from them even if I had wanted to, and it was clear everyone around me felt the same way.
A thick tension settled over the block as a chrome bike with gold trim rolled into view. I couldn't make out the details clearly from where I was standing, but the moment the man stepped off it, the music cut out on its own. He was striking, but he didn't have anything on my man.
"Damn, see, I knew I should have gotten myself one of those," Jessa said beside me.
I looked back at her. "One of what?"
"A big dog. You see how they're out here shutting down block parties? This is the club from that night we were at The Crown!"
