Chapter 41 Crown Gravehart
Forty-One
Crown Gravehart
Pulling up to the Gilded Leaf, I parked toward the back.
I was far enough to stay out of the way but close enough to keep an eye on anyone who came and went.
Cutting the engine, I sat there for a minute.
It was early for a cigar lounge to have traction, but this was Brooklyn, and out here sleep always felt optional.
Niggas didn't hesitate to trade rest for motion, and I didn't blame them 'cause today I was on that same type of time.
I couldn't remember the last time I closed my eyes and found anything close to peace. Since Honor's death, my thoughts have been on a constant rampage, trying to make sense out of some shit that didn’t make sense no matter how many times I ran it back.
Killian called.
He kept it brief… too fucking brief for the severity of what he had to say.
"Honor's gone. His body has already been disposed of."
"Disposed of," I scoffed, shaking my head.
Killian said that shit like he was talking about trash and not my muthafuckin' brother.
Killian better had been grateful it was impossible for me to reach through the phone 'cause I would've fucked him up just for playing on my brother's life like that.
I laughed that nigga off the phone, refusing to believe what he'd said.
Honor being dead made no sense. Before I could call Syn to find out what bullshit her brother was on, Four came stumbling into the room, saying Navy was in the hospital.
Wasn't shit funny after that. We made it to the hospital, and the moment I walked into that room, the energy felt off.
Navy was in a hospital bed, but she didn't look like herself.
The look in her eyes was distant, gone in a way that reminded me of how Four looked after her accident.
Grief sat heavy in her brown eyes, but it wasn't alone.
Guilt laced her stare, which the others ignored because of their concern.
Faint smudges of blood were on her face, but none of it was hers, and that didn't sit right with me.
That night, I didn't say much of anything. I stayed in the corner and let Chosyn, Wolfe, Four, Honey, and Gigi comfort her and try to make sense of something none of us understood.
A few days later, when the hospital cleared Navy, I made sure I was the one to pick her up. The drive was quiet, and for a minute I tried to just sit in it and give Navy space, but shit got to be too much, and I just came right out and asked.
"Did you do it?"
She broke, crying and rambling, trying to explain something that didn't even sound right coming out of her mouth.
Still, I caught enough of it to understand her why.
She asked me not to tell the others, and I agreed, not for her but because I knew it's what Honor would've wanted.
After that, I dropped her off at Gravehart Homes and haven't spoken to her since.
I went home and shut everything out, closing myself off from the world.
The only person who got anything from me was Four, and that's 'cause she was the only peace I had in the middle of the storm building inside of me.
My eyes drifted to the passenger seat, landing on the piece of paper that had me speeding out the crib and taking this drive out to Brooklyn. I grabbed it and scoffed as I unfolded the paper.
Crown,
I can only imagine the shit going through your head right now. You're probably calling me a lying ass nigga for not telling you the full truth. And for that I apologize, but I don't regret keeping you in the dark about how this shit was gon' end.
Wolfe sees me as a father figure, but you…
you've always seen me as your brother. Because of that, I knew if I told you killing Lucian would cost me my life, you would've been right next to me.
I couldn't let that happen. I already let you do too much, which made life harder for you.
I wasn't 'bout to make you decide between your beautiful family and me, not when you finally got something real.
Damn nigga, you're about to be a father to twins and a husband.
It fucks with me knowing I won't be there to see you become everything your weak ass father never could be.
That shit hurts, but I'm happy I played a small part in getting you there.
Like Wolfe, all you ever wanted forreal was love, a love that could stand the test of time.
You found that, my nigga. You and Four together were destined.
That's why I was able to do what needed to be done without worrying about you.
I knew she had you, the same way you always have her.
Nigga, I'm proud of you, forreal, and I'm honored to call you my brother 'cause you're the best one I could've asked for. I love you, Cortez.
Ight, that's enough of the sappy shit. I need you to listen to me.
Stay the fuck outta Brooklyn. I don't know how you found out about what happened to me, but I know you, and your first instinct is gonna be to go out looking for blood.
Don't! Let that shit go. I knew exactly what I was doing when I killed Lucian.
I accepted whatever came with it, so I need you to respect my decision.
If you don't, you gon' start something you and Wolfe can't finish.
The Sovereign Circle is bigger than what most people think.
It stays quiet because rules are followed, and respect is given.
The moment somebody tips that balance, that peace is gone, and what comes after won't be pretty for nobody.
So let it die with me.
Go home if you're not there. Stay home if that's where you are reading this. Be with your family. You deserve peace, and this is me giving that to you.
You're the oldest now, and that comes with weight. Look after our family. And before you start thinking you can't, know my strength runs through you. Keep your heart and your mind right, and you'll be straight. I promise you that.
And nigga, go see your couch lady. I already know how you get. You gon' hear about me and shut the fuck down. Do the opposite this time. If you need help, ask for it. Forreal.
I love you, nigga. Don't forget that.
P.S. Your moms was right about you. Your crown was never something you had to wear for people to see it. You been a king.
Shaking off the emotions the letter brought on, I reached under the passenger seat and wrapped my hand around my Glock.
If Honor was cool with letting niggas hand him a death sentence that was on him, but I wasn't about to let that shit slide.
I pushed the door open and stepped halfway out just as my phone started ringing.
I checked it and let out a low breath when I saw Wolfe's name before answering.
"Yeah."
"Where you at?" he immediately asked.
"Brooklyn," I flatly answered.
"Fuck you doing out there?"
"I gotta handle something."
"Handle wha—"
"Is this my brother or Four on the phone?" I cut in as irritation crept into my tone.
"Watch your mouth," Wolfe shot back with a humorless chuckle. "I called your bitch ass to make sure you were straight. I got a letter from Honor, and that shit fucked me up."
My grip tightened on the door. "You got one too?"
"Yeah… me and Chosyn." He exhaled heavily. I can't believe this nigga really hit us with some Dear John bullshit."
I shook my head, my eyes drifting toward the folded paper sitting on the passenger seat.
"What'd yours say?" I asked.
"Personal shit… but nothing about what actually happened. Did yours say anything?"
I glanced at the letter, debating for a second whether I should tell Wolfe what I knew.
"Man, this shit is—"
A car slid into the parking lot fast, pulling my attention. It parked near the back entrance before cutting off. The doors opened with Syn stepping out first and Choyce following.
"What the fuck they doing here?" I muttered under my breath.
"Who?" Wolfe quizzed.
"Nothing," I quickly replied. "Look, I gotta go. I'ma drop by you when I leave here."
"Ight. Don't be out there doing nothing crazy. I'd hate to have to come lay down some BK niggas behind my brother."
"I'm good," I said, pushing the door wider. "Trust me. Love you."
"Love you too. Be safe."
I nodded as if he could see me and ended the call. As I shifted my weight to step fully out of the car, my phone lit up once more.
It was Four. Everything in me paused.
"Wassup, Four?" I answered, already easing back into the seat.
Her breathing hit me first, sharp and uneven, like she were fighting through something.
"I… I need you," she gasped. "I'm in labor… Crown, these babies are coming."
My heart dropped.
"What? Nah… it's not time yet. You got eight weeks left."
"I know," she cried, her voice breaking as she tried to breathe through the pain. "I woke up with cramps this morning and thought it was nothing, but they kept getting worse, and now it's…" She sucked in a breath, a low cry slipping through, "It's not stopping."
My jaw clenched as I gripped the wheel, trying to keep my cool.
"And you didn't fucking say nothing?" My voice rose before I could check it. "You ain't think to tell me that, River?"
"I didn't want to stress you out," she cried. "You're already dealing with so much, and then you left without saying anything… I thought you needed space."
Her breathing stuttered again, another wave of pain hitting.
"Crown… it hurts—"
That was all it took for everything to disappear.
"I don't care about none of that," I said, my voice dropping, focused now. "You and our babies come first, always."
I turned the key, bringing the engine to life.
"Where you at?"
"I'm home," she whimpered. "I can barely move… I didn't know what to do, so I called you first."
"Ight listen to me," I said, forcing my voice to steady even though my heart was beating hard as fuck. "You got your glasses on?"
"Crown, I… I really don't think now is the time for one of your glasses rants," she cried.
"Four, listen to me. I need you to put them on. You hear me? They're your superpower."
She let out a shaky breath, and I could hear her trying to calm herself through the pain.
"I wish I could take this from you. I swear I do… but this is the one thing I can't carry or fix for you, so I need you to be strong for me. Focus on getting our babies here healthy."
"I… I have them on," she strained.
"Good," I exhaled, relief slipping into my chest a little. "Ight, now I need you to call an ambulance. Don't wait just call."
"O… okay."
"I'm on my way, but I'm in Brooklyn," I relayed, already pulling out of the parking lot. "It's gon' take me a minute to get back to you, but I'ma be there. I promise."
"Okay," she whimpered.
"I'm calling the family as soon as we hang up. If I don't make it in time, Chosyn and Wolfe will be there with you, ight? You're not doing this alone."
Her breathing hitched again. "Crown—"
"I'ma right here," I quickly assured her. "Stay with me. Keep breathing."
"I'm scared," she confessed.
"Don't be. You got this, Four. Call the ambulance and call me right back."
"I love you, Crown."
"I love you too, Four."
The line went dead, and I dropped the phone into my lap for half a second before grabbing it again.
I sent out a quick text to Wolfe, Chosyn, Lakelyn, Gigi, Navy, Honey, Rize, and the twins, letting them know what was going on.
By the time the last text went out, my foot was already pressing harder on the gas.
The car surged forward as I weaved through traffic, cutting lanes, ignoring lights, and moving through the city as if nothing mattered.
And right now, nothing else fucking did.
My grip tightened on the wheel as the city hazed past me, and horns blared somewhere behind me. Through all this shit, one thought echoed in my head.
This was Honor, keeping me from crashing out and forcing me to focus on what mattered the most.
A smirk pulled at my lips as I drove faster.
"Still looking out for a nigga," I muttered.
Even in death… this nigga made sure I remembered exactly what all of this was for.