“We got on shoes.”
My questions and little tasks keep her preoccupied and help calm me too as I make it to Adora’s house. I practically jump out before I’ve shifted into park and run to the front door. It’s open and Romi and Averi are sitting on the frame. Adora is laid out in front of them struggling, trying to move. She’s conscious but obviously hurt. There’s a small pool of blood to the right of her, thankfully away from the girls.
“Fuck!” I exclaim as I kneel next to her. “Love, what hurts?”
“My head and foot. I can’t move my foot,” Adora mumbles.
“Okay. I got you. I’m going to take you to the hospital. Don’t move.” I step over to Averi and Romi. Both of their eyes are filled with tears. “Sit right here. I’m going to take your momma to my truck then come get you,” I say and they nod. I step over them, rush into the house, and grab a towel from the guest bathroom, then return to Adora and carefully scoop her up, bridal style. I carry her to my truck and position the towel behind her head.
“The girls,” she cries.
“I’m going to get them right now. Just try not to move.”
When I’m back at the door, Romi reaches for me and I grab her. She latches her arms around my neck, buries her head in my chest, and sobs. Reassuringly, I caress her back as I grab Averi’s hand to help her stand. She grabs her mom’s purse and closes the door. “Can you get her keys and lock the door?” I ask. She nods slowly before getting the keys from the purse. She locks the door then reaches for my other hand. Together, we walk back to my truck. I place both of them in the backseat, get in, then back out.
My chest constricts and my mind is going as fast as my truck for the entire ride.What the fuck happened and who did this shit?
The girls are already shaken and crying and Adora is in pain so I hold my questions and just concentrate on getting to Mount Sinai. Fifteen minutes later, I’m pulling into the valet lane and getting out. Before the attendant can make it to my door, I’ve already grabbed a wheelchair from the entrance and am back at my truck. I hand him my keys and he gives me a parking slip.
I get Adora into the chair and we head into the emergency room. The ER is a little packed but Adora’s head injury gets her to the back kind of quick. Ten minutes after signing in, they wheel her back for testing.
We aren’t allowed back until she’s in a room, so the three of us sit anxiously in the waiting room. Averi is in the chair to the right of me and Romi’s to my left. Both of them hug my sides. Their tears have subsided but worry is still on their faces. I’m worried too and itching to know who the fuck did this. My gut is telling me it’s one of her ex’s family members, and if it’s that nigga from outside of Redmond’s, I’ll kill him myself.
I need answers.
Romi has fallen asleep but Averi is still awake. She’s holding her mom’s purse tight to her chest and staring at the muted television on the wall.
“Lil mama,” I say softly, getting her attention. “Do you know who did this to her?” I ask and she nods. “Who was it?”
“Kita and I don’t know the other lady’s name but they’re my cousins.”
“Your cousins?” I confirm and she nods.My gut was right. It was that nigga’s family.“What’s your last name? Is it Mitchell like your mom?”
“No. It’s Roberts,” she says, then looks up at me. “Is she going to be okay?”
“Yeah. You did good by calling me. We got her here and these doctors and nurses are going to take care of her.”
“Okay,” she mumbles before resting her head on my arm.
Now that I know who’s to blame, I don’t waste time. I start making moves by hitting Terrance’s cell.
Me: Do you remember someone named Rush from back in the day? He went to Manor Crossing around the time you did?
T: Jack boy, Rushmore Roberts?
Me: Yeah. That’s him. He’s in DFC doing a bid and I need to reach him
T: To talk?
Me: No. Touch.
T: Bet. Let me see who we know inside. I’ll hit you.
Me: Thanks. Make it a priority.
When I was in the street and running my blocks, I took care of my people. If one of my lil runners needed extra to cover his mom’s light bill, I gave it. I was eating, so everyone under me was full too. One thing I’ve learned in business, legal or otherwise, is if you don’t feed your employees, they’ll turn on you and try to eat you. The same goes for anyone in my circle. So if I have an ask, there’s not too many who’ll tell me no. Getting to Rush isn’t going to be a problem.
“Family of Adora Mitchell,” a male nurse calls out from the double doors to the back.
