Page 54 of Crown: Phase 4

Claus nodded from the other side of the screen. “Great. Do you all need anything else from my wife or me?”

“No. We’re good. My project manager was already out there earlier this week. Everything the crew needs will be on-site before they arrive. I’ll keep you updated if anything changes.”

Claus began to ask another question when Crown’s office door suddenly opened, stealing his attention. Kerri walked in, looking worried, with Shanise following closely behind her, an apologetic expression on her face. It was clear she had tried to explain to Kerri that Crown was in an important meeting, but his mama hadn’t been willing to wait. Crown gave Shanise a small nod, signaling that it was fine. She quietly exited, leaving them alone.

The look on his mama’s face made Crown’s heart race. He immediately sensed something was wrong, especially since he’d told her to stay in the house. He knew Kerri wouldn’t go against him unless she felt the absolute need to. She looked shaken, almost scared, and that alone was enough to bring the conversation on his laptop to an end.

“Alright, gentlemen. I have an emergency that just popped up I need to tend to. I’ll reconnect with you all at a later date. Claus, if you have any further questions for me specifically, you can reach me by email.”

“Will do. I hope everything is okay, Mr. Knight.”

“Appreciate you. I’ll be in touch.”

After saying his goodbyes, Crown shut the laptop. “What’s wrong, mama?” He asked, bracing himself for impact.

“Me and your brother tried calling you, son. You didn’t ans—” Kerri stopped, her eyes filling with tears as she struggled to get the words out.

“Is it Nivéa? Ny?”

Kerri’s hesitation confirmed his worst fear, he thought. Without another word, Crown shot up from his chair, grabbing his phone with one hand while his other hand slipped beneath the desk, returning with the gun he kept hidden there. He tucked it into the back of his waistband beside the other one. If something had happened to his family, he was ready to do damage, even if it meant ending up in prison. It didn’t make sense. He’d told Nivéa to stay put too, but he was already bracing himself for the worst in case she didn’t listen to him.

Kerri quickly shook her head, wiping away her tears. “No. They’re fine. It’s Caresha. She was driving Danger’s Hellcat this morning, and it got shot up.”

“What?” Crown’s jaw tightened as his heart nearly stopped. He knew what his wife’s best friend meant to her, and anything that affected Nivéa pained him.

“Why the fuck would D let her drive his car while we're at war? I told him to park that muthafucka.” Crown lost his cool, cursing in front of his mama…something he never did.

“I don’t know the whole story, baby. Something about them getting into it, and she took his car to go home. Your brother is losing it, so he’s not properly explaining everything. I don’t know all the details. We have to get back to Niv and then go to the hospital. I didn’t have the heart to tell her yet. I just left and came straight here.”

“Is Caresha alright, though? I did make him get the car armored when he first got it.” Crown went straight to Plan B. He always had a Plan B if these niggas didn’t listen to him.

Kerri took a deep breath and shrugged. “I’m not sure. The damage made her lose control and flip.”

“Ah, fuck.” Crown gripped his head, cursing himself for putting his phone aside for an hour to focus on this meeting.

He snatched up his coat and was slipping it on when gunfire suddenly erupted outside. The first shots shattered the windows of his office, sending glass flying across the room as bullets tore through the walls.

“Fuck! Mama, get down.” Crown barked, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her behind the desk.

Another burst of bullets rattled the building, causing Kerri to scream louder.

“Mama, look at me. I need you to calm down.” Crown cupped her face until she quieted down and seemed focused. “I want you to stay right there. Do not move. You got your gun on you?”

Kerri swallowed hard, her heart racing as she nodded and pulled her pink 9mm from her Hermès bag.

“Do not move.” Crown reiterated, pointing at her. “But use it if you have to.”

She nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. It meant that if something happened to him and his security, she would need to protect herself. Ahmad Sr. hadn’t put her in the gun range for nothing. He wanted her to be capable of defending herself if push came to shove.

Confident she’d be fine, Crown pulled the guns from his waistband and moved toward the doorway, ducking as another round came through the hall window. He looked back at Kerri, ensuring she was still down before closing the door.

By the time Crown reached the first floor, his armed security was already handling shit. The new team he’d hired after relocating his firm consisted of retired military personnel, so he was confident that anyone outside wouldn’t make it inside. Some guards were firing through the shattered windows, while another moved his assistant out of the line of fire.

“Aight, bitch.” Crown nodded, stepping out of the elevator, dressed like he’d just posed for the cover of GQ Magazine.

Livid, he was about to tear some shit up. No matter how rich he was, you couldn’t take the hood out of him. He aimed and busted back through the broken glass. His bullets ripped through the side windows of the two SUVs, chewing into the frames. Beside him, his guards poured more rounds into them as well.

“I don’t give a fuck who's passing by. Don’t fuckin’ let up!” He told them.