Chapter Four
Crown pulled up in front of the lounge, killing the throttle. Behind him, Danger and Smoky rolled in, parking their bikes.
For a moment, Crown just sat there, helmet still on, dark eyes scanning the entrance.
The neon sign flickered against the night, painting colorful light across the pavement and the crowd gathered outside.
As usual, it was busy. People lined up as music spilled through the doors, which made it hard to believe anything Rell had been saying lately about business slowing down.
Crown hopped off his bike, pulling his helmet off slowly while still watching.
This spot was a goldmine. Rell had come up with something different, not just your average strip club but an upscale gentleman’s lounge.
A place where money flowed in more ways than one.
Sections were filled with patrons enjoying drinks, dancers captivating their audience, and if you knew how to move, other business got handled, too.
The idea was solid. The problem was Rell lacked the power to hold it down.
When he first opened, it didn’t take long for pressure to come.
Niggas tried to tax him just for existing in certain territory.
Big-time dope dealers and gang members came through, getting out of line with the girls.
Random muthafuckas thought they could do whatever they wanted because they didn’t respect who was behind the place.
Even the police had started circling, looking for a reason to shut him down.
Rell had hired security, but that wasn’t enough.
His security were bitches. They checked IDs and broke up fights, but they couldn’t control everyone rowdy in the room, and they damn sure didn’t control the streets.
But Crown did… the Knights did.
Crown remembered the first night he came through with Danger, Smoky, and Lil Mo.
One walk-through was all it took. He peeped every little thing: the money, the traffic, and the lack of control.
A nigga like him stayed watching, always thinking of new ways to bring in more money.
So, he sat down with Rell and made his move.
The Knights brought structure, presence, and protection.
Not just from people, but from problems before they even started.
Because he had Pete on payroll, Crown even had the cops looking the other way when they sensed more than legal activity was happening inside the establishment.
Rell kept the doors open and business flowing.
In return, he paid his fee to the Knights and moved product quietly through the spot for them.
Niggas loved to get high and fuck. It had been running smoothly ever since their sit-down.
Until now. Until Rell claimed there was an issue with business flow.
Like Lock, Crown wasn’t buying his bullshit. He started toward the entrance, with Danger and Smoky falling in behind him. Something was off with this nigga Rell, and he was determined to find out what.
As soon as they stepped inside, heads turned. Men nodded in respect. Women paused mid-motion, some already making their way over. Crown lifted his hand slightly, the diamonds on his wrist glistening as they caught the light.
“Not tonight.” He told them, and they backed off just as fast.
“C…Crown. My man. How are you?” The manager stuttered, his voice tight as he approached.
Calvin had seen Crown Knight plenty of times over the years, but that didn’t make it easier. Crown had that look about him…quiet, heavy. The kind that made grown men terrified without him having to say a word.
Crown cut his eyes at him and just stared, thinking he was full of shit, too. He wanted to cut that smirk right off his fucking face.
“Can I get you anyth—”
“Rell. That’s who you can get.” Crown interrupted.
“Um, I…I’m sorry. He’s not here. Y—you just missed him.”
Crown’s eyes narrowed slightly. “When niggas start stuttering, that usually means they’re lying about something. And I don’t like liars. You feel me, Calvin?”
Calvin swallowed hard as he watched Crown pull his gun from his waistline, clearly not giving a fuck about the customers inside.
“Yes, sir. I understand.” He quickly pulled himself together, hoping to regain some semblance of normalcy.
“Where the fuck is Rell?”
“I’m not exactly sure. He only said he had to make a run and would be back. I can let him know that you stopped by once he arrives.”
“Nah, call that nigga right now.” Crown made clear.
“Alright. Let me go grab my phone from the back, and I’ll call him for you.”
Calvin stepped away nervously, and as he did, Crown nodded for Danger and Smoky to break apart and check the area further.
They moved quickly, sweeping both the inside and outside, their pace far quicker than Calvin’s.
When he returned, Danger leaned in and whispered something in Crown’s ear that sent him spiraling further.
His trigger finger twitched as Calvin approached, ready to spin another web of lies.
“Okay, I got him on the phone. Turns out, I misunderstood him. He actually won’t be here anytime soon due to a family emergency. How about—”
The sudden gunshot not only cut Calvin off but also scared customers, halting all conversation and movement. But Crown didn’t give a fuck. Muthafuckas knew from history not to utter a word about what they had seen. Snitchin’ on a Knight was a death sentence.
Swallowing hard, Calvin lifted his shaking hands in surrender as Crown’s gun shifted from the air, now aimed directly at the center of his forehead.
“That’s funny, ‘cause my bro tells me his wife’s whip is parked out back, and I know she ain’t present, which means two things. He’s here and hiding, and you covering for him. Take me to him or I’ma send the next bullet straight through yo’ muthafuckin’ head.”
Calvin didn’t argue. He couldn’t. “Th-this way,” he stammered, already turning.
Crown followed closely, his gun still drawn. Danger and Smoky were right behind him. They moved upstairs, navigating a narrow hallway and passing a couple of closed doors until Calvin stopped at the last one.
“This is his office.” He said as he opened the door. However, to his surprise, Rell was not where he had been just minutes ago. The room was empty.
Crown's eyes swept across it quickly. A desk, a couple of chairs, and a safe sat in the corner, but no Rell. Frustration tightened Crown’s jaw as he pressed the gun deeper into the back of Calvin's head.
“He was just in here, I pro—” a car engine roaring to life outside cut Calvin off.
Danger snapped his head toward the window, peeking through the blinds. “Back lot.” He said.
Smoky didn’t hesitate; he turned on his boots and headed out fast.
Crown walked over to the window, pulling the blinds just enough to look through.
He saw headlights and movement. Just as Rell was pulling out of the driveway, a single shot rang out, hitting one of his back tires.
The sound was quickly followed by the sharp screech of rubber as he lost control of the car.
Impatiently, Crown watched as the pearl white Benz crashed into a fence, and Smoky rushed to it, dragging Rell out.
Soon after, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, and Smoky burst in, breathing steadily. He gripped the back of Rell’s shirt and shoved him forward.
“Running?” Crown asked, disappointment etched across his face.
Rell wiped the sweat from his forehead, shaking his head. “No, Crown. I was just—”
“Smoky, go make sure everything's still running smoothly downstairs.” Crown ordered, cutting the lie off.
“Bet,” Smoky replied before turning to leave.
Calvin, still shaken, moved as if he would follow Smoky, but he didn’t get far. Crown’s gun went up and then fired, catching him in the back of the head and dropping him. His body hit the floor hard, blood splattering across the room and onto Rell.
“Lyin’ muthafucka,” Crown mumbled, shifting his attention back to a frantic Rell. “We been doing good business for five years, nigga. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Rell's chest rose and fell rapidly as he scrambled for words to save his life. “Crown, my friend… please.”
“I asked you a question.”
Rell swallowed hard, licking his lips. “I’m gonna get you the money. I promise you.”
Danger shook his head, knowing his brother like the back of his hand. He could see where this was headed. And just like he knew he would, Crown lowered the gun and fired, the bullet hitting Rell in the right kneecap, dropping him completely to the floor as he screamed out in pain.
“Crown, please!” He cried out, clutching at his leg.
“Shut yo’ pussy ass up. You pretend business is slow and keep my muthafuckin’ money. Then you lie about your whereabouts when I come looking for answers, and your response is you gonna get it? You must’ve fallen and bumped that lopsided ass head of yours, bitch.”
It took everything in Danger not to chuckle because he knew if he did, Crown might fuck around and shoot him too. And he was right.
Crown was so enraged by the disrespect that he flipped over Rell’s entire desk with one hand, sending it crashing into the wall.
There was an eerie silence that followed as tears streamed down Rell’s pale face.
Terrified was an understatement. There was no word that could describe the kind of fear he felt in that moment.
Fuck the blood loss from the gunshot wound; his heart raced so fast he swore he was about to pass out from an irregular heartbeat alone.
Crown gave a slight nod toward Danger, who, without hesitation, laid hands and feet on Rell for a while, ignoring the pain in his own leg.
And it wasn’t until Crown noticed Rell slipping into unconsciousness that he lifted his hand slightly, signaling for his brother to stop.
He noticed something else as well. The snug cap that was around Rell’s head had fallen off, revealing patches of missing hair.