This scene would've happened right before Chapter 11 of HONOR II. I took it out but I feel like it's a cute moment between brothers

Honor

“You gon’ tell me where we’re headed?”

Crossing over the Brooklyn bridge the air felt different. The city felt different in a way that made Gravehart Grove seem eons away from where we were now. I watched the skyline glow in the distance as buildings stacked like giants, their lights dancing in my rear view as I cut through lanes.

“Killian hit me about a meeting.”

I paused debating how much to tell Crown. We were still in the awkward phase of getting back right, but I took us mending shit seriously. That meant honesty even if it came with unfavorable consequences. Still, all truths weren’t meant to be spoken. Some were meant to stay under lock and key until the deed was carried out and everything made sense. This was one of those truths.

“A meeting about what?” Crown asked.

“The Sovereign Circle.”

“Nigga, the what?”

I laughed because Crown’s confusion reminded me there was a lot of shit he didn’t know about Lucian’s world.

“The Sovereign Circle is like politics for the underworld,” I explained. “It’s the part of the game most people never see. It decides who gets to eat, who gets to breathe and who gets buried.”

Crown leaned back in the passenger seat, eyes narrowing as he stared out the window like he was trying to piece this shit together.

“Like a council then?” He asked,

“Some like that,” I said gripping the wheel tighter as we passed a line of cars crawling through traffic. “It’s not a fairytale round table with old men debating right and wrong.”

“Then what is it? You keep talking in riddles shit,” he huffed.

“The Sovereign Circle is about territory, contracts, and bloodlines. Who gets to move product through what boroughs. Who gets to clean money through what banks. These niggas are fucking with long money. They can make a call and have a judge lean a certain way or have a case disappear before it hits the news.”

Crown’s jaw clenched. “Who’s in it?”

“Three families, each one a prominent figure in their borough. The Mancinelli’s handle Gravehart Grove. The Teixeira’s handle Ember Hills and the third family runs Crimson Falls but I don’t know who them niggas are.”

The car went quiet and even the city felt like it lowered its tone.

“Ight,” Crown said after a minute. “If Killian hit you about a meeting, then that means you got invited or some shit?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then the fuck we pulling up to meet with them niggas for?”

“Ight listen… ‘cause I’m only saying this shit once and I need you on point tonight.”

“Nigga, I ain’t never not been on point,” Crown scoffed.

“Then why Rize handling shit in Ember Hills?”

Crown shrugged like that meant nothing.

“I got twins on the way.”

I shook my head.

“I can admit I dropped the ball killing Lynx and not thinking twice about his replacement,” he said voice lowering. “You shouldn’t have had to step in and clean up shit that was on me. That’s my bad.”

“Appreciate that,” I nodded. “Tonight’s meeting is about respect. Killing Lucian can’t happen unless I have a conversation with these niggas first. They gotta approve the move.”

“And if they don’t?”

I shrugged. “I’ma kill that nigga anyway. The conversation is just a formality on my end.”

“Hol’ up,” Crown said brows drawing together. “Didn’t you say Lucian’s family is a part of the Sovereign Circle?”

“I did.”

“You that bold of a nigga to step in front of ‘em and tell ‘em you tryna off the man that runs their family?”

“Lucian won’t be there and neither will anyone from the Mancinelli mafia,” I answered. “It’s off the books.”

“This whole shit sound crazy,” he huffed.

“If you want out,” I said, eyes locked on the road. “Let me know now and I’ll get you an uber back to the Grove.”

Crown turned toward me. “Nigga, you calling me pussy?”

I let out a small chuckle.

“Could never be pussy if I consider you my brother,” I said. “I’m trying to be honest with you. Nothing ‘bout this shit is safe. Things can take a turn at any moment and the cost might be your life.

Crown’s face tightened but he didn’t speak.

“That’s one of the reasons I tried keeping you and Wolfe out of this shit,” I continued. “Y’all got families. Shit to look forward to that’s too pricey for this type of shit.”

“I get that,” Crown nodded. “But if that’s the price I gotta pay to be my brother’s keeper then fuck it. I got enough money put up for Four and the twins. Plus, I know Wolfe gon’ step up in my absence.”

“Nah,” I hummed, pulling over so hard the tires kissed the curb. “Nigga you gotta get out.”

“The fuck,” Crown snapped when I hopped out my truck. I rounded the front, grabbed the passenger door handle and yanked that shit open.

“Get out,” I barked.

“Who you growlin’ at nigga?” Crown barked back eyes sitting low, darkening his expression.

“I don’t got time for this shit,” I said. “I’ma get you an Uber, but you gotta go.”

“Make me,” Crown spat. “Force me out this bitch but I swear if you put your hands on me I’m rocking your shit.”

I grunted, backing away from the truck and shaking my head like this was the dumbest shit I ever had to do.

“You gotta go home to your family, bro” I told him quieter. “I don’t know how shit’s ‘bout to play out in this meeting… but I can’t have you getting caught up when you got a wife and kids on the way.”

Crown stared at me like I was the crazy one.

“Four gon’ be straight,” he said finally. “She might hate a nigga but she’s gon’ hold it down.”

“That ain’t the point. She shouldn’t fucking have to,” I snapped then exhaled hard, forcing my anger down. “I can’t have you dying behind beef that’s mine. I already lost too much time with you—”

I swallowed feeling that lump of emotions sitting heavy as fuck in my throat.

“This not about you and what you can’t have on your conscience,” he said stepping closer. “Thinking you gotta carry all this shit alone is the reason time was lost. I know what I’m getting myself into and I’m cool with it, I need you to be cool with it too ‘cause I’m not getting out this fucking car.”

“Crown,” I gritted.

He shook his head.

“I didn’t change my name to some fake shit like Gravehart just to dip out on a nigga, who risked a lot to make sure I did ight in life. I got you,” he said voice steady like the decision was final. “You’re my brother, ain’t no way I’m letting you walk into that meeting alone. I got you.”

Crown stuck his hand out and I stared at it for a second then took it in mine. We hit the GD salute something we hadn’t done in a minute.

“Ight nigga,” Crown laughed easing some of the tension. “Get back in this bitch so we both can make it home to our loved ones.”

“Ight,” I muttered circling the front of the truck before sliding back into the driver seat.

I pulled my phone out and texted Killian letting him know I was in Brooklyn. Seconds later he hit me back with an address. I plugged it into the GPS and pulled off, heading in that direction.