Chapter 23 #2
"It's not an assumption because I'm right," he affirmed.
"Words and sounds mean things. That scoff of yours was the first sign of disrespect, followed by the fuck were your parents.
That shit was a setup for disrespect to follow.
You were offended my parents blessed me with a name as powerful and certain as Righteous instead of some shit that serves as a reminder you'll always be an option. "
"I'm nobody's option," I gulped.
"To have a choice is to pick between two options. To be chosen is to be the only one worth picking." He smirked, but it wasn't friendly.
"Fuck you."
"Let me see the other option first." He dryly laughed. "Now bring your stupid ass on. We wasted enough time."
This time, I didn't need an apology. I followed Righteous through the back door, forcing my emotions to settle. We moved down a narrow hallway but never entered the lounge. He stopped in front of a plain, regular ass door with a keypad beside it.
"Mancinelli," I blurted.
"Fuck you talkin' 'bout?"
"My last name. It's Mancinelli."
"I wouldn't have guessed," he scoffed, punching in the code.
The door opened, and the only light in the room came from a low lamp in the corner and the faint glow from an old chandelier lit by candles.
I swallowed hard, feeling like I was on the edge of my own death.
I walked further inside, and bodies surrounded a long marble table.
Killian sat with both Cane Corsos flanking him, creating a distance between him and some light-skinned nigga seated beside him.
Two empty chairs sat across from them. Lucian sat at one end, and Honor sat at the other.
My eyes lingered on Honor, searching for a glimpse of remorse, but I saw nothing.
"Have a seat," Lucian instructed, gesturing toward the two empty chairs.
I went to grab my chair to pull out when Righteous grunted.
An asshole with manners, I thought as he pulled it out for me. He hovered until I sat, then pushed my chair in before he took his own seat.
"Now that everyone is here, I will make this quick. I've already informed my associates that Honor will take over every sector of my business in Gravehart Grove. The few objections I received about a negrone taking over my empire have been silenced. Honor—"
Without showing an ounce of emotion, Honor lifted a duffel bag and dumped its contents on the table. Three heads tumbled out of the bag, one stopping in front of Killian's Cane Corsos. They both growled as their lips peeled back.
"Killian," Lucian coolly stated.
"What?" Killian smirked. "They sense blood, and blood can signal a threat."
"There are no threats in this room."
"Don't be so sure. Business binds us, not loyalty."
"True," Honor dryly agreed. "You all see what happened to those who opposed me. I'd hope everyone here is smart enough not to share their outcome."
The light-skinned nigga next to Killian chuckled darkly.
"Speak," Honor encouraged.
"I ain't got shit to say other than hurry this dramatic ass shit up."
"Who are you?" I asked, gaining everyone's attention.
"Bitch, who the fuck is you?" he shot back.
From the corner of my eye, I caught both Righteous and Honor tense at the use of the word bitch. On the side, I could feel the amusement radiating off Lucian.
"Bitch?" I softly echoed, standing. I walked around the table and extended my hand. "Choyce."
He glanced at it before taking it. "Solace."
"Nice to meet you, Solace. Let me explain something."
I leaned down toward his ear.
"Call me a bitch again the blood running down your earlobe will leak from your balls next."
"Ahhh shit," he hissed.
I pulled back, flashing the blade between my teeth. I never understood why Chosyn was so adamant about keeping a blade under her tongue, or the reason Kage pushed me to do the same. Now I knew.
"Fucking bitch!" Solace grabbed me by the wrist, and within mere seconds, Honor was beside me, gun pinned to Solace's forehead.
"Let her go!" he growled.
"Fuck you and this bit—"
"Solace," Righteous rasp cut through the tension.
Solace licked his lips, letting my wrist go. I calmly returned to my seat as Honor backed away.
"If any of you missed that introduction, let me reiterate who I am." My eyes scanned the table, making sure I had everyone's attention. "My name is Choyce Mancinelli. I'm the widower of Talon Mancinelli, God rest his soul and Honor's second."
I paused to see what Lucian or Honor had to say. Neither corrected me but confirmed exactly what Emersyn told me on the phone.
"Disrespect shown to him is disrespect shown to me, and as you can see, I don't tolerate disrespect. Honor, please continue."
Honor's eyes caught mine, and for a second, we just stared at each other until Lucian cleared his throat.
"Those who refuse to accept me and my second into the Sovereign Circle will be treated as a threat."
"You think force is gon' get you a seat?" Righteous asked, his voice calm and free of ego.
"No," Honor answered. "Force doesn't earn respect, but it can change a muthafucka's mind. I prefer to earn y'all respect, but I'm not above force either."
Righteous nodded. "I accept."
"I accept," Killian added.
All eyes landed on Solace. He looked at Righteous, and something silent passed between them.
"On behalf of the Lavigne family, I accept," he announced, then stood from the table and left the room.
"Ghost. Grim." Killian followed as his dogs padded behind him.
Righteous left next, and Lucian nodded for me to leave the room.
"You handle yourself well, Choyce. I'm impressed," he commented as I opened the door.
"I'll walk her out," Honor offered.
I didn't bother waiting for Honor because I was pissed. No matter what I said in that room, I was pissed.
"Choyce, let me talk to you," he called after me once we made it outside."
"There's nothing you can say."
"It's not what you—"
"Respect me enough to not play in my face right now," I spat, turning to face. "Is that why you fucked me? So, you could take what I wanted without me knowing?"
"That shit was never yours," he grunted.
"I guess we'll never know." I shrugged, then felt his hand on my arm.
"Let me explain this shit."
"Explain it to Navy." I sighed, not having the strength to disrespect Navy how I wanted to. "Her disappointment is gonna hit ten times harder than mine. I'm just a choice, she's the chosen one," I mumbled, reminding myself that Righteous was right.
"Choyce—"
"Leave me the fuck alone, Honor!" I barked, and he let my hand go.
Walking to my car, I add an extra umph to my stride, making my ass bounce just a little more out of pure spite. I slid into the driver's seat and watched as he stared at my tinted car for a breath, then turned to go back inside.
"That's your nigga?"
The burly voice came out of nowhere, causing me to jump and crack my head on the roof.
"Why is your big ass in my back seat?" I spat, seeing Righteous blending in with the shadows of my car like this was a muthafuckin' Uber.
"I asked you a question, Chunky," he rasped, watching me through the rear-view mirror.
"Who the fuck is Chunky? My name is Choyce."
"Exactly. I'm choosing not to call you that shit. Now answer my question."
"No, he's not my man, and why do you care?"
"Don't worry about it. Get home safe, and next time you get in this little shit Chunky, pay the fuck attention."
"Again, my name isn't Chunky, and nigga, fuck you!"
"Again," he mocked, opening the door, "I'm choosing not to call you Choyce 'cause I don't wanna see you as one."
"Then I'm calling you Grizzly." His frown deepened, making me laugh. "Matter of fact, Teddy fits better. Righteous is too high-strung, and you might look like a big ass grizzly bear, but you're soft just like a teddy bear."
"Call me that shit again and watch what happens."
"Whatever, now get the fuck out."
Shaking his head, Righteous stepped out then knocked on my window.
"I apologize for Solace calling you out your name."
"Is that your brother or something?"
"Nah, why?"
"Your name is Righteous… his name is Solace. Sounds like y'all came from the same egg and sperm to me," I joked.
"We're not related. We only met when he started coming to the meetings as a proxy for the Lavigne family. My brother's name is Sorrow, and I gotta sister named Lovie."
"That's… you know what?" I giggled. "Y'all parents were so creative."
"That's one way to put that shit. See you at the next meeting," he said and started walking off.
Realizing what he said, I quickly rolled my window down.
"What do you mean the next meeting? I only show up if Honor can't."
"Exactly." He winked and disappeared into the shadows of the left side of the building.
I drove off with a million things I needed to talk to Emersyn about, but I texted my sister instead.
Me
I need to talk to you.
Chosyn
I'm a little busy.
Me
Chosyn, please.
Chosyn
I'ma send you an address.
Tossing my phone to the side, I pulled off, figuring I'll check my phone for the address when I'm closer to home.