“Explain?” they said in unison.
“Judah, go limp, baby,” Corinthians said, and instantly, Judah did what his mother said. Gentle wasn’t expecting it, and at that moment of trying not to drop him, Corinthians launched her knife, and it went into his shoulder.
“I swear I love this fucking family,” Xoey laughed and shook her head. “I feel sorry for Gentle, though, because they are going to kill him for touching Judah.”
“You know who he is?” I asked. Xoey looked at me and smirked. “Of course you do.”
Gentle set Judah on his feet, and Judah took off running to his mama and auntie while Gentle pulled the knife from his shoulder. “I see why he is in love with your crazy ass,” he said, then chuckled. “But next time, aim for the neck. You’ll do more damage.”
“I did exactly what I needed to do,” Corinthians smirked. “You won’t see tomorrow.” Gentle swayed on his feet, then grabbed the wall to steady himself. “The first mistake you made was touching him.” She pointed to Judah, who was now standing between her and Psalms. “The second was underestimating me and the third was thinking you would live to talk about it.”
“He asked us to come,” Gentle mumbled as he continued to sway. He was fighting whatever Corinthians’ blade was dipped in, but I had no doubt he was going to lose.
“Who?”
“I’m, I’m, I’m,” Gentle tried to answer, but couldn’t. “Four--”
“What about him?” Corinthians questioned. She turned around to look at Four, but he was gone, along with Hood and Galaxy. She looked around, searching for him.
Nine came out of the building, scowling, carrying his son, Deuce, and his wife, Cross, who was holding their daughter, Love. He looked at Gentle in disgust, shook his head, but didn’tstop walking. He approached Corinthians. “We need to go. Four is on his way to the hospital.”
“Who took him?” she asked as she grabbed Judah’s hand and turned to leave. Nine looked at her, shook his head, then turned back to his wife.
“Tell her,” Cross said, shaking her head.
“His brother Kenbral took him,” Nine answered as he opened the truck door for Cross, then went to the back door, opened it, and put Deuce inside. “He called me a few seconds ago. They are on the way to the hospital with Hood and Galaxy.” Cross got in the front seat with Love in her arms.
“His brother?” Corinthians questioned, and Nine nodded. “He has a brother?”
“Uncle Trey,” Judah said, nodding. All the adults stopped talking and stared at him. “Four said if anything happened, call his brother, Uncle Trey. He said that he’d help even though Nine wouldn’t like it. He said call Uncle Trey.”
“And Eight,” Deuce chimed in. “He said you would be pissed, Daddy, but that Eight and Trey could help.”
“He told you about Eight?” Nine asked Deuce, who nodded. Nine bit into his bottom lip, then slapped the top of his truck. “Fuck!”
“Wait!” Psalms said, shaking her head. “You have a brother? His name is what? And what number is he?” She looked at Nine.
“His name is Gentle, but we call him Eight.”
“And Four’s brother is who?”
“Kenbral, but we call him Trey,” Nine sighed.
“Listen, I don’t have time for the family drama right now. I need to get to the hospital. Tell me what the fuck is going on, on the way,” Corinthians said, shaking her head. She helped Judah into the truck, then turned to Psalms. “Follow us, figure out how to get in contact with Eight or Trey or whatever fucking mystery number he is, and get him here.”
“You won’t have to search far,” Nine said, closing the door once Corinthians was in the car. “That’s him over there, but I hope whatever her knife was dipped in kills his ass.”
“That’s him?” Psalms said, looking over at Eight, then back at Nine.
“My older brother,” Nine answered, then rounded the car. “But you can let that nigga die for all I care.” He opened his door, got inside, and his truck roared to life before he pulled off.
“Daddy, that’s Mr. G!” Deuce said when Nine got in the car. “My teacher, Mr. G!”
“And that, ladies and gentlemen, was the introduction to more fucking Numbers,” Xoey said, then walked away, shaking her head.
Chapter thirty-nine
Amethyst
