Chapter One #2
“Nah, I’m good.”
Danger straightened as best as he could, glancing down at her with an intensity that made her blush, even though she tried not to. When he didn’t look away, she popped her gum and asked,
“Dang, what you looking at?”
“You. This a nigga’s first time really seeing you.” He didn’t hesitate to say.
“Yeah, that’s crazy. How have we been in the same places but never really noticed one another?”
Danger shook his head, wondering the same shit.
They’d both been at the clubhouse for the back-to-school drive, and he had spotted her coming out of Nivéa’s shop when they picked up their shirts.
But both times he had been occupied. At Nivéa’s shop, he was on the phone while sitting in Crown’s truck as she exited.
And by the time her and Nivéa made it to the clubhouse the next day, he was drunk, and as high as a kite.
From a distance, he couldn’t see what she truly looked like.
He knew now, though. And he was feeling what he saw.
“Shit happens, but I see you now. Fasho.”
Crown smirked inwardly at his brother. The look on Danger’s face said everything. He caught on quickly, nodding toward the stairs and gesturing for Nivéa to follow him.
On the upper level, Crown sat at the edge of the bed, talking softly to Nyla while Nivéa slipped out of her clothes and changed into something more comfortable. Her feet were killing her after a long day of searching for a dress.
“What you think they down there talking about? Seems like D is feeling my girl.” She asked, being nosy.
Crown shrugged, his eyes never leaving Nyla. “Ain’t none of our business. We got our own shit to worry about.”
Nivéa paused, glancing at him. “Like what? Who’s worried? I’m not. Life is good to me now.”
“Good. That’s how I like you to feel. Stress-free.” He nodded slightly. “Let me correct myself. We got something important to discuss.”
“Okay… what we need to talk about?”
“When y’all moving in? Can’t have my wife living apart from me.”
It had been a week and a few days since they returned from Vegas as husband and wife. Nivéa and Nyla had been staying with him since, but Crown was ready to make it official, no in-between.
Nivéa grinned as she slipped into one of his oversized t-shirts and a pair of leggings. “You ready to make it real, huh, baby?” she teased.
“Hell yeah. A nigga ain’t drop three-hunnin’ bands for nothing. I want you home with me.” His gaze dropped to her ring. “Every fuckin’ night.”
“I’m here. I wasn’t going nowhere. And you’ve got everything we need, so I don’t even have to bring much.” Nivéa replied as he turned his attention back to Nyla, who was spitting up on his shoulder.
That was her cue.
Nivéa took a moment to grab what she needed from her cardigan pocket, then walked over to him.
“But to answer your question, let’s get the reception out the way first. Then the following weekend, we can handle the move.
I’m thinking of putting in a good word for Reesh with my landlord to take over for me.
I’m sure she would love a house. I’d just have to help her pay for it; there’s a big price difference from her apartment rent. ”
She eased into his lap. Crown shifted Nyla gently with one arm while wrapping the other around her.
“Aight, baby. Do that. I’ll pay it. It’s whatever makes you happy.” He kissed her dimple, knowing he was wrapped around her finger.
“I got something for you.” She told him.
“Yeah? What you got for me?” His eyes lowered, curiously.
Nivéa slowly opened her hand, revealing a matte black leather ring box. She flipped the lid open, exposing a platinum diamond wedding band nestled inside cream suede.
“Damn…” Crown said, caught off guard.
Nivéa’s expression shifted slightly. “What? You don’t like it?”
“I love it. But why you spend your bread? I already got one so you wouldn’t have to do that.”
Nivéa shook her head. “Absolutely not. You can’t keep wearing a ring you bought for yourself.
I understand why you did it, but I want you wearing something I chose for you.
And if you don’t like it, I can pick something else.
I know it’s not as expensive as the one your jeweler made, but I did take the time to find a good jeweler and try to match your style. ”
“I love it. I wouldn’t give a fuck if it cost you a hundred dollars. I’d rock it the same just ‘cause it came from you.”
“You lying. Nigga, your shit-talking ass ain’t wearing no $100 ring.” She twisted her lips.
“Definitely not before.” Crown chuckled, eyeing the sleek logo engraved on the box. He recognized it; she didn’t drop no chump change. “But anything from you hits different. That’s real. I’d rock it just ‘cause you copped it. I promise you that.”
Nivéa’s heart fluttered as she watched him slide off the ring he’d bought for himself, replacing it with the one she gave him. Proudly.
“Read the engraving,” she told him, and Crown began to study it.
2025 Changed Everything · C + N · Knight Forever
“I fucks wit’ it. You did good, ma. Real good. Plus, you got good taste. I appreciate you.”
“Always.” Nivéa rested her head against his shoulder, feeling fulfilled…as if her life was finally settling into something right.
The engraving felt deeply personal, marking the turning point in their lives. It referenced the year they met, the year they confessed their love, their marriage, and now this pregnancy.
When they came home from their trip, Nivéa had researched and settled on one of the most respected jewelers. Walking through those heavy glass doors felt intimidating at the time, but that feeling vanished the moment she explained who she was shopping for.
It worked out perfectly because the company offered in-house financing. She happily gave a chunk of her savings and signed the paperwork without hesitation. Crown had already done so much for her; the least she could do was buy her husband’s ring.
“How was your day?” She asked, shifting the moment.
“Straight. I walked two of the sites where construction has begun. Other than that, I chilled at the office. I know your day was long, but how you feeling?”
“Tired.” Nivéa yawned, rubbing her growling stomach. She was starving and slightly queasy.
“Damn, and hungry, huh?”
She laughed, realizing he had heard her stomach.
“And is. I’ma need two plates of those leftovers.”
Crown shook his head as he glanced at Nyla, who had just begun to stuff her tiny fist into her mouth, indicating she was hungry too.
“I see where she gets that greedy shit from.”
“Hush and give me my baby.” Nivéa tried to take Nyla from his arms, laughing.
But Crown moved her from her grip. “Our baby,” he corrected, kissing her lips. “Go get her a bottle. I’ma feed her.”
Smiling, Nivéa wondered how she got so lucky as she stared at him. She didn’t object. Instead, she stood and headed downstairs into the kitchen.
In the living room, she noticed Danger and Caresha talking quietly on the sectional.
She strained to hear what they were discussing, but they kept their voices low while the TV played in the background.
Excited and nosy, she paced the floor even after warming the bottle, trying to catch snippets of their conversation.
That’s until Crown walked into the kitchen with a fussy Nyla.
“Aye, hurry yo’ nosey ass up. She’s screaming while you in here eavesdropping and shit.”
“Shh,” Nivéa burst out laughing and hurried across the kitchen, following him.
∞∞∞
“So, what you do for a living, Miss Reesh?” Danger asked, trying to keep the conversation going. From the moment she walked through the door, he was on her bad.
Caresha pulled her eyes from the television, taking him in.
His long locs hung loosely around his face.
They were overdue for a retwist, but the recent taper around his temples and the sharp line-up along his hairline kept him looking good.
It gave a rugged look that fitted him perfectly, in her opinion.
His beard was trimmed just right, accentuating his dark lips.
Looking at him almost made her want to lean over and kiss his chocolate ass.
If Caresha was being honest, he was the only reason she had decided to stick around. Otherwise, she would’ve kissed her best friend and godchild goodbye and been gone a long time ago. But one look at him and those small tattoos on his face, and she was parked.
“I’ma stripper.” She conjured up the most serious expression she could manage.
“Word?” Danger’s brows knitted together as he studied her face again, then his gaze drifted over her body. “I ain’t never seen you before.”
Caresha couldn’t keep a straight face; laughter bubbled up inside her. “That’s real sad.”
“What you mean?”
“You spend all your time at the strip clubs to the point you know the dancers by heart?”
“I ain’t say all that, but I’ve been to every one of ‘em a couple of times. I would’ve remembered you.” His eyes roamed every inch of her, not disrespectfully but with a clear appreciation that gave her butterflies.
“Mm-hmm. I’m just messin’ with you. I work at a call center.”
“You enjoy it?”
Caresha laughed again, trying to gauge if he was serious. “Is that a serious question?”
“Hell yeah. I’m trying to get to know you. You playing games and shit.”
“Hell no, I don’t enjoy it. But it’s what pays the bills, so it is what it is.”
“I feel that.” Danger nodded, tugging at his chin hair.
“I do hair when I have the time.”
“Oh yeah? Is that your true passion?”
She shook her head. “No, not really. I never thought to take it seriously. It always came to me as a side hustle. I guess ‘cause I only do natural hairstyles, so finding my audience would take time. Most women in the Hills want bust-downs.”
“Understood.”
Danger eyes drifted toward the television, but the mention of natural hairstyles stuck with him.
He wondered if she did locs. He was real particular about his hair, but depression had hit him hard.
The only reason he finally got a taper and line-up was because his mama had gotten tired of looking at him and preached his ass into cleaning himself up.
“What you do besides stare and ride bikes?”
“I handle business.”
“What kind of business?”
“Terrorize,” he answered with a glint of mischief in his hooded gaze.
Caresha wasn’t surprised by his words. She had heard the whispers about the Knights around the Hills long before she and Nivéa had ever laid eyes on them. Still, she kept the conversation going.
“Mm. One of them, huh?”
“Nah, it’s only one of me, ma.”
Silence settled between them, but it wasn’t awkward. It was an assessment. She observed him closely while he studied her in return. The attraction was electrifying.
“You beautiful.” Danger broke the silence, boldly running a hand over her soft baby hair. To him, they looked good with her braids.
“Thank you.”
“You gon’ let me get your number?”
“For what, so you can terrorize me too?” Caresha asked, talking shit to hide how flustered she felt from his touch.
“Yes ma’am.” Danger didn’t miss a beat, licking his lips as he looked her up and down. Her flawless dark skin was driving him crazy.
Caresha’s head jerked in surprise at his blunt admission. She hadn’t expected such honesty. It turned her on even more than the golds in his mouth…more than his touch to her face.
“But I promise in a good way.” Danger quickly added.
Then she smiled. Needless to say, by the end of her visit, Caresha found herself coming off that number.