Chapter Four #2
Crown walked over and grabbed Rell by the collar, dragging him up just enough to face him. He didn’t even have to ask again; Rell broke on his own.
“My son,” he sobbed through blood.
“A few months ago, I discovered I’m sick and had to take time off for chemo. I had him running things just until treatment is over. But I discovered he’s been skimming. I’m trying to replace it, but I’m also dealing with cancer. It’s a lot. I would never steal from you, Crown.”
“Your son, huh?” Crown said, studying Rell’s head intently.
Rell grew quiet, defeated and terrified, knowing what he had just revealed. He didn’t want to give up his son to Crown, but he had other children to fight and live for. His oldest boy had always given him hell, but this time, he had gone too far.
Rell was drowning in bills from the luxury lifestyle his family had grown accustomed to, and his insurance didn’t cover most of his treatments. He was coming up short for everything because of his son’s theft. Rell didn’t know whether he was coming or going at this point…literally drowning in debt.
“And that would be Poe. Your oldest, correct?” Crown said, jogging his memory of everything he’d learned about Rell when they went into business together. He knew about the man’s kids, all his properties, down to how his wife looked, and all the vehicles they owned.
Rell bowed his head, crying harder as he clutched his leg. His son was a fuck up, but he still loved him dearly.
“Crown, I beg you for your mercy during this troubling time, my friend. A big mistake was made. And for that, I am so sorry. I will get you the money, plus interest. I swear to you.”
“Fasho,” Crown nodded, pulling a knife from his pocket and pressing it against Rell’s cheek. “You gon’ do that fasho. But that ain’t all I want.”
Rell’s body tensed as another tear slipped from his eye. He glanced at Calvin’s lifeless body and then back down to the knife held against his face, realizing just how far Crown Knight would go when crossed.
Crown leaned in closer to his ear and whispered,
“A nigga who steals from a Knight, doesn’t get to see another day.” He then slashed Rell’s cheek.
As blood flowed, Rell understood who that message was truly aimed at. The cut ached deeply, but the real hurt settled in when he thought of his son, who wouldn’t be so lucky as to just receive a permanent scar. He tried one more time.
“My boy…my boy.” He cried out in pure agony, holding his face. “He thought he was taking from me. He had no idea I was in business with you all, Crown.”
“That’s not my problem. It’s your duty to get my paper to me safely. His blood is on your hands.”
With no remorse, Crown rose and exited the office, heading down the long hallway and down the steps. When he reached the first floor, his eyes landed on the assistant manager, standing near the bar.
“Henna.” He called.
“Yes, sir?” She answered, admiring his handsome face as he passed by. Crown looked so good that even the bloody knife he held in his hand wasn’t enough to turn her off.
“As of today, you are the only manager of this muthafucka. Understood?”
“Got it. Understood.” She nodded.
With all eyes on him, Crown walked out, leaving Danger and Smoky behind to clean up the mess and restore order.
An hour later, he was back home, calmly working inside his office like nothing had happened… as if he hadn’t just put holes in niggas.
Crown gathered his field notes to draft emails, updating his clients on the progress his company was making at each site.
Once he finished, he moved on to the next thing on his task list. There was never a moment when he didn’t have something to do.
Any downtime was forced. He grabbed his iPad and Apple Pencil Pro, diving into one of Nivéa’s ideas for her new custom order.
He started slowly, getting a feel for how it should look, but it didn't take long to find his groove.
After carefully outlining, Crown began to shade, losing himself in the project for two hours until Nyla’s whimpers pulled him back to reality.
While Nivéa had learned to let him be out of respect, Nyla didn’t care.
Her cries and coos had become his alarm clock, reminding him when it was time to wrap things up.
There were no more late nights trying to catch up with office work after running around the streets all day.
Crown didn’t mind, though. Without a second thought, he set the tablet down and headed down the hall.
However, by the time he arrived, Nivéa already had Nyla attached to her chest, feeding her as they lay in bed. Crown stood in the doorway, locking eyes with her as he admired her in mother mode.
Damn. I couldn’t have picked a better woman to marry and carry my baby. He thought.
“Hey, where were you headed?” she asked with a knowing smirk.
Crown chuckled. “You already know.”
“Mmhm, she’s got you and your mama wrapped around her little finger.”
“Facts.”
“I’ve got her. You should go shower and come get in bed, big man.”
Nivéa didn’t have to tell him twice. Crown stepped out of the doorway and crossed the room into the walk-in closet.
He unclasped the Cuban chain from around his neck and placed it in one of the velvet-lined drawers, then removed the AP from his wrist and set it beside his other watches.
Grabbing a pair of boxers and shorts, he disappeared into the restroom.
He showered quickly, washing away his sins, and by the time he returned, Nyla had been fed and was back in the nursery.
Nivéa was waiting for him with questions.
“So, why did you have to leave? What happened?” She asked softly.
“The less you know, the better.” Crown answered, tossing his clothes in the hamper.
“Says who? I’d rather not run our shit like that. I’d like to know. Maybe I can help.”
“Nah, you can’t help with this. Trust me.”
“I may not be able to get in the field with you, but I can ease your mind in other ways. I can be a listening ear while you talk it out.”
Crown paused, chuckling. “I don’t need to talk it out, baby. Decisions have already been made, so…”
“Those decisions stick with you, though. I can see the tension every time you try to hide it. My mama always told me and Reesh that built-up emotions ain’t good for nobody. The older I get, the more I understand what she meant. Everyone needs someone to talk to, even the big bad wolf.”
They both fell quiet, staring at each other. Crown could see the genuine curiosity in her eyes; she was finally accepting his lifestyle for what it was. He felt the least he could do was keep it real with her…well, at least to an extent.
“A nigga owes the Knights money. That’s all.”
“Hm…and you intend to collect.”
“Fuckin’ right.” He answered, though part of him hated the consequences he had to dish out.
Crown had done the math on his way home.
Rell’s son had just turned twenty. He was young, but Crown had learned long ago you couldn’t be noble running a club.
No matter how your reputation preceded you, there would always be someone trying to test you.
And at every opportunity, he made sure to remind niggas why the Knights were feared in the first place.
“That wasn’t a question.” Nivéa’s voice mimicked his from the day they met in her shop. “I wasn’t asking. I was saying.”
Smirking at her wit, Crown slid into bed under the covers. He went to position her head on his chest, but Nivéa climbed on top of him instead, staring in his eyes.
“Yo’ lil ass think you know me so well.” Crown said, massaging her hips.
“And do.”
“Yeah? What you know after only a few months of being with a nigga?”
“I know you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You keep everything bottled inside and use work as a scapegoat. I also know you’re over that shit…
over this chapter in your life. You love the Knights, but you feel your time has expired.
You’ve outgrown the chaos it brings. You’d much rather live in peace and be boring right along with my boring ass.
Quiet as kept, I know that’s why you like me so much, nigga. ”
Crown chuckled against her lips, laughter bubbling up from deep inside him.
This was the most emotion he’d ever shown in his life.
Every word she said rang true. He yearned for a normal life, and besides her beauty, he’d damn sure chosen her for that very reason.
Nivéa’s quiet aura brought him a feeling he was still trying to articulate.
What might have been boring to others felt like comfort to him.
They shared a smile as his hands moved down to her ass, massaging both cheeks.
The harder he squeezed, the more aroused they both became.
She was dripping against his hardness. But neither acted on it right away.
Instead, Crown took her lips into his mouth, kissing her slowly.
He kissed her like he would never see her again… like the world was ending.
“You okay?” Nivéa said, pulling back and tracing his bottom lip with the tip of her nail.
“Yeah, I’m straight. It’s just sometimes the game forces you to do shit that fucks with your conscience. Shit that haunts you.”
“I get it. Just be careful out there, okay?” Nivéa’s brows knit together as she poked out her bottom lip, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
“See. That’s why I shouldn’t tell you shit, baby.”
She burst out laughing. “You think I’m weak.”
“Hell nah. You strong as hell. You just emotional as fuck.”
“Not you thinking you know me.”
“I don’t think. I know, I know you.”
“Hm, what you know?”
“I know you was tired. Tired of being strong, tired of struggling, and tired of love leaving you bleeding. I know you miss your mama, and being with me brings you a happiness you haven’t felt since she was here…
the kind of joy that not even your bond with Reesh can bring.
Our connection is on a whole other level, ma.
I know because you bring me the same joy.
I don’t give a fuck about shit when I’m with you.
There ain’t a soul I can kick it with that makes me feel what you make me feel. ”
A tear slipped from Nivéa’s eye before she could catch it. She loved the way he articulated his thoughts, and she especially admired his wisdom. In her eyes, Crown was the blueprint for so many things. He would take her far in life, and she was willing to bet everything she owned on that.
“Here you go crying and shit.” Crown teased but still reached up to wipe her tear away.
“Hush, it’s all your fault.” She gently smacked his chest, pressing her forehead against his. “You make me happy and emotional. Your entire existence calms my nervous system.”
“You calm mine too, baby.”
Crown kissed the side of her neck, cheek, and lips before flipping her onto her back. He planted a trail of kisses from her chest down to her stomach. He couldn’t get enough of doing that. He was ecstatic about becoming a father and about the life they were building together.