Page 223 of 4 Corinthians

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Unc asked.

"Four's mama was in love with you. Had been since she was a kid. That's why Robert went after her as he did. She wanted you. Robert couldn't handle that. Then she had a kid with your disease, and that nigga snapped. Beat her, him, and the one before him because they reminded him of you. His hatred for you was that strong."

"The doctor," I said, not caring about shit else. My mama wasn't in love with Unc. She was a victim of Robert's just like me and Trey were. "Who the fuck is the doctor?"

"A pet," Javien Sr. said. "His favorite pet."

To make sure he could move, I shot him in the knees. "Thank you," I said, then flicked the lighter and set him on fire. Javien Sr. screamed and tried to jump from the chair, but it was useless. He dropped to the ground and continued to burn. His screams echoed through the house, but I didn't care. I grabbed Buckee's head from the table. "We can go."

I picked up Missy, threw her over my shoulder, then walked out of the house. I dropped her on the ground, far enough away that the flames wouldn’t get her and hopefully someone would see her. She wasn’t my problem, but I wouldn’t be the cause of her death. If she didn’t get her shit together, then that was on her.

"I'm surprised you didn't take his head," Hood said once we were outside. I stopped then looked back at the house.

"You're right, hold this." I tossed him the bag, then walked back to the house, only stopping to grab an old rusty bat that was next to the door. I went back into the house, which was smoky, and the flames were spreading from Javien Sr. to the house. I moved quickly to find Javien Sr.'s body, then used the bat to beat his head off his neck. I grabbed a shirt from the couch, then used it to carry Sr.'s head out of the house.

"A burning fucking head?" Hood yelled and threw his empty hand in the air.

I dropped it on the ground, then picked up the water hose and turned it on. After I sprayed it down and the flames were extinguished, I walked over to Hood. "Can I have the bag?" I asked him.

"Here, nigga," he grunted, then handed me the bag.

I thanked him, went to put Javien Sr.’s head into the bag, and went and got in the car.

"I'm going to give it to Cori, anyway," I said, then leaned back into my seat.

"Only Corinthians would think that shit is romantic," Unc said as he pulled off.

My phone rang, and I pulled it from my pocket to see Nine's name.

"Hello?" I answered.

"The feed for the meeting your wife is about to attend is live," he said.

"Appreciate it," I replied, then hung up. "How long till we're back at the hospital?" I dropped my phone into my lap and leaned my head back. I was getting dizzy.

"Yeah, how long? Because I need to check this nigga out," Hood asked from the back seat.

"Twenty minutes," I heard Unc answer. "Why?"

"Make it faster." I lifted my shirt and saw blood flowing from my side.

"Damn it, what the fuck did you do, Four?" Hood yelled, then everything went black.

Corinthians

Ipushed open Uri’s room door and slowly entered. The room was dark, not pitch dark but dark enough that it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. Hood told me there was a setback while I was gone. He’d gotten up when he wasn’t supposed to, popped a few stitches, and one of the tubes in his chest moved. They had to sedate him. I hated that I was gone when it happened.

The soft, deep sound of his monitor echoed through the room, and I stopped walking. Seeing him lying in that bed, eyes closed, chest rising and falling, will never be something I’m used to. I want him out of here, home, with Judah and me. Home, holding me like he does every night. Not here, anywhere but here.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I took it out to see Wednesday’s name. Sighing, I swiped the screen, and his concerned face filled it.

“I called Psalms, but she didn’t answer,” he said, not waiting for me to greet him. His dark eyes searched for her in my background before he returned his focus to me. I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help it. His concern for my sister was cute. Psalms may have just come to the understanding that she loved him, but there has never been any doubt in my mind that Wednesday loved my sister. Had since he saw her sitting on that couch years ago. He had competition with Script, though. We all saw it coming.

“I dropped her off at home,” I whispered, being mindful of Uri sleeping. I needed him to rest. “She’s probably in her garden.”

“What did she do?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I sighed. His brow went up, and I leaned against the wall. “It was me. All of it. She was just there.”