Chapter Three
With her arms wrapped tight around Crown’s waist, Nivéa sat behind him on his bike as he cut through the city with ease.
She’d sworn she would never get back on a bike again after the chaos at the club.
She’d said that shit with her chest. But there she was, holding on to him for dear life.
Her baby girl rode safely with Kerri and Danger in Kerri’s truck, and she could’ve gone with them.
Kerri had offered, but something in her needed Crown right now.
She needed his solidness…needed to feel like she wasn’t alone or exposed anymore.
Despite the violence she had witnessed with him, Crown made her feel safe.
Since she met him, whatever worry she held loosened its grip, and she felt like she could breathe again. Like now.
They stopped at a red light, the sun beaming down on them.
“You alright, ma? That nigga touched you?” Crown asked, his voice calm but edged.
Nivéa didn’t answer. Her head was somewhere else, replaying everything she’d just escaped.
“Baby,” Crown called again.
That’s when the tears came. A little at first, then heavy, soaking her lashes, sliding down her cheeks, and dampening the inside of his helmet that he let her wear.
Crown couldn’t see them, but he felt her body trembling against his back as she hyperventilated.
He nodded and reached back to rub her thigh in slow, steady circles.
He didn’t pressure her, just gave her reassurance.
“Aight, calm down. Just keep holding me tight.”
When the light turned green, Crown pulled off smoothly, lifting two fingers in the air to signal his crew to fall back. Smoky and the others peeled off in another direction, taking a right down a backstreet.
It took Crown only twenty minutes to reach his spot, though it was an hour away.
The gates opened as he pulled in, and he just sat, giving Nivéa a minute to calm down.
About ten minutes later, Danger arrived with Kerri and Nyla fussing in the backseat.
Freshly awake and ready to eat, her cries filled the air.
“Oh my god. I am so sorry. I thought she’d stay asleep.” Nivéa said, removing Crown’s helmet and rushing off the bike, her hands shaking as she reached for Nyla.
“Hey,” Kerri said gently, climbing out the other side of the truck. “It’s okay, baby. Calm down. She’s fine. I want you to breathe.” Her voice stayed steady as she moved in front of Nivéa, cupping her face once more. “Breathe.”
“Okay…okay.” Nivéa deeply inhaled, then exhaled.
“She woke up about five minutes ago. I soothed her while Danger drove. Everything’s alright.”
Before Nivéa could fumble with the straps, Kerri smoothly unbuckled Nyla herself as if she’d done it a thousand times.
“Thank you so much for everything.” Nivéa said to her, swiping at a tear that slipped free. Her eyes drifted to Danger. “And I’m so sorry about all of this. He doesn’t need to be driving like that.”
Kerri waved it off. “No, it’s fine. Save your apology. Things happen, baby. We made it work.”
Nivéa nodded, forcing a weak smile. “Thank you, Danger. For everything.”
He nodded from the driver’s seat, not bothering to speak or turn around.
As soon as the door shut, Kerri leaned in slightly. “Don’t mind him. He’s still hurting behind Mo, you know?”
“Yes, of course.” Nivéa took Nyla into her arms, pressing a kiss on her forehead as they headed inside.
Crown followed close behind, carrying the carrier, his jaw tight, emotions coiled and dangerous beneath his calm. If anything had happened to Nivéa or that baby, he would’ve turned Satin Hills into ashes without blinking.
“Mama, I appreciate you.” He said once they stepped aside.
“You know I got you.” Kerri replied as her eyes drifted back toward the living room, where Nivéa sat on the couch nursing Nyla like the world hadn’t almost swallowed her whole. “How’d you know to go there?”
“I got a tracker on her car.”
Kerri’s brow lifted slowly. “And does she know that?”
Crown shook his head as he slipped his hands into his pockets.
“I swear you’re every bit of your gotdamn father. But thank God you are.” She paused, then nodded to herself. “I’m going to drop your brother off and tend to him. I see she had some things in the bags for the baby. But I’ll bring whatever else y’all need. Just text me a list, okay?”
“If I think of anything, I’ll let you know. But I got everything they need here.”
Kerri glanced around the massive space carefully. “The baby will need somewhere to lie—”
“Everything is upstairs. She’s got a crib set, a swing, and I just bought a bouncer, too. Bottles, pacifiers, and diapers. The whole nine.” Crown cut in.
Kerri gave him a knowing half-smile, already seeing what he hadn’t fully admitted to himself yet. But she could see it all over him…this was becoming more than lust.
“Okay, that’s good. I’m gone then. I’ll give y’all some space. If you need me, you know where I’m at.” When she moved closer to Nivéa, she said,
“Nivéa, if you or the baby needs anything, just get my son’s phone and text or call me. I’ll bring whatever whenever, okay? I want you to relax.”
Crown didn’t interrupt, even though he’d already said he had everything.
He knew how his mama was. Kerri was a nurturer.
He let her do her thing. Once she left, he crossed the room and dropped into a squat in front of Nivéa, right in her line of sight.
He needed to look at her and know that she hadn’t been harmed.
“Did he touch you?” He asked.
“He put a g…gun to my head. Put a fuckin’ gun to my head like I’m some nigga in the street, like I ain’t the mother of his kid. Then he kissed my forehead like we were together or some shit. It’s crazy. He was acting insane.” Nivéa’s voice cracked.
Crown’s eyes went dark; all he saw was red. “I’mma kill that nigga.” He said, the words leaving him before he could stop them. And he meant every single one.
Silence settled heavily between them. The only sound was Nyla nursing. Crown reached out, brushing his thumb against Nivéa’s dimple, hoping to soothe her.
“How did he get out? He made bail or somethin’?”
“How he got out is a long story, but he showed up at my place as soon as he did. I asked him to leave, but he wouldn’t.
He forced his way inside with a gun and took my phone.
I was up all night watching him, scared outta my damn mind.
Then I got a chance to press the panic button this morning, but I forgot they would call to check in first.” Her eyes filled again.
“That’s when he put the gun to my head.”
“I’m sorry, ma. I’m sorry that shit happened, but it’s gon’ be corrected. Them niggas are supposed to send the police to you no matter what.”
She looked at him, her eyes red. “How did you know I was in trouble?”
“I know the supervisor at the security company. He let me know your silent alarm went off, so I came to your crib, but your neighbor let me know you had already left with that muthafucka.”
“So what, you set yourself as my emergency contact down there or somethin’?”
“Nah, ma. It’s just a nigga that owes me a favor. I told him to let me know if anything ever went wrong. That’s it.” Crown lied.
The truth was, he’d paid the supervisor to go the extra mile. Bought his loyalty the same way he handled most blue-collar muthafuckas hired to do dirty work for him. He was certain his money had sent more of their kids to college than grants or financial aid ever had.
Nivéa nodded slowly. “Hm…well, I’m grateful.” She wasn’t mad at it.
Crown studied her face. “What you need from me?”
She managed to smile through the tears; she loved it when he asked her that. “Nothing. You've already done a lot. I can’t thank you and your family enough. Thank you so much.”
“What I tell you about thankin’ me?”
A small laugh slipped out as she wiped her nose.
“Damn, I missed hearing that. I didn’t think I’d ever hear you say that to me again. If he had gotten me out of town, it’s no telling what would’ve happened. I don’t know if I would’ve survived, Ahmad.”
“I would’ve found you. A nigga would fuck up a whole city to get to you and her, even if we ain’t together.”
Nivéa nodded, believing him. She hugged Nyla a little tighter.
The next few minutes passed in silence as Crown let her feed in peace, his eyes never leaving her.
He missed her like crazy, but he knew now wasn’t the time to unload all of that, not with her still shaking, not with her trying to tend to the baby.
So, he held it in and just stayed present.
When he finally spoke again, his voice was firm, but gentle.
“You can’t go back home or to your shop, ma. Not right now.”
“He doesn’t know about my shop.”
“I don’t trust that. I cannot let you out there alone until he’s found.”
Nivéa shook her head, disappointment flashing across her face, and he felt bad about it.
“I ain’t tryna hold you against your will, but—”
“I know,” she cut in softly.
“You ain’t gotta tell me that. I know. It’s just…fucked up. I worked so hard to build a life for us, and here he comes fucking it up. Shit is sickening. I only had my business for a month, and now this happens. I have to miss more days. Hiding. This is crazy.”
Crown stayed quiet, letting her get it out.
“I’mma take care of it. Everything gon’ go back to normal soon. Don’t worry.” He said, finally.
“Ahmad…there’s so much you don’t understand.”
“Then explain it all to me. We got time. I ain’t going nowhere. What don’t I know?”
Nivéa bit down on her bottom lip, her whole body trembling. Boe was gone, but his words still echoed in her head. What if the man he had fucked over really did come looking for her? What if she’d only escaped one nightmare just to walk into another?
Part of her wanted to tell Crown everything right then. The other part wanted to sleep on it, clear her head first. She didn’t want to get him worked up over something that was possibly a lie. She thought maybe it had all been manipulation.