Becoming His

Chapter 26 - Why Are You Here?

"Girl don't talk to me like you grown. Y'all got caught up in all this mess running round here with these little boys playing house and look where she at now. Laid up in a hospital bed cause she followed yo fast ass. You probably the one got her into all this. Got some white boy pointing shit in my face like he know who I am." I pressed the gun harder against his temple desperate to get this over with. "She ain't changed her emergency contact since high school. They called, so we came."

"I don't know what type of game you're playing or what you're trying to get from her, but you need to leave. Now. Both of you."

"I ain't going nowhere. She gon need us when y'all get bored."

"Since when have you ever cared about anyone but yourself. If this is another one of your scams to guilt her into something, I will kill you myself. Chris I don't care what you do with him just don't have him in this room with her, especially not by himself."

"Dani who the fuck is this guy?"

"Devon Carter, the man I told you about. Ms Esther's dealer, the piece of shit A sold her necklace to pay."

"Hey now, that wasn't my fault. I gotta make my bread. Not like I tricked her out or nothin-"

I slipped the gun from his temple to his mouth. "Say one more fucking thing. I dare you."

A knock sounded at the door as Dominic opened it and told us a woman was trying to get by claiming she was Alesha's mom. Dani gave him a nod and before long the woman stepped into the room. Her dark unblemished skin was smooth, her eyes a shade of green lighter than my own and her frame small and frail.

"Danielle.. why am I not surprised? Seems like you're always right by her side when the bad shit is happening. Tell this white boy to step off my man."

"What do you want Esther? She isn't giving you any more money."

"I'm not here for no money, I'm here for my child. They called so I came, like any loving mother would. You always were a cold hearted little bitch, just like your mother."

"Hold up now." Grams put her purse down on the couch, stepping forward toward the other woman. "I'm gonna need for you to watch your mouth when you're talking to my kids. A big mouth won't get you far if you ain't got the hands to prove it."

Esther brought her focus back to Dani, a grimace etched on her face. "My daughter was in some mess most likely cause of knowing you. I'm here to strike some sense into her and get her right. I don't care what kinda new beginnings y'all think you had. It's over. I want you all out."

I swing my gun in her direction leaving it pointed in the middle of her head. "And who the fuck do you think you are?"

"According to the hospital and the law: her next of kin. That means what I say goes."

Before another breath was let out, the doors opened again, with hospital security barging in and ordering all non family members to leave the room.

The head of security walked over to me tentatively, explaining himself. "Mr Marino, I understand your position, but it's also hospital policy to adhere to the family's wishes." I dropped my hand, putting the gun back in my waistband and keeping my eyes locked on Esther's.

"That's fine. Alesha's family wishes for these two to be escorted from the premises and banned unless in need of medical aid."

With a nod, the security guard started steering Devon out of the room. He reached for Esther, but she pulled out ID shoving it in the guard's face. "He can't do that, I'm her mother! You can't do this!" She yelled looking to me.

"Next of kin gets to make the calls, isn't that what you said?" I questioned her with incredulous sarcasm.

"The staff here have already been informed that I'm Alesha's husband, Dani's her sister and Winnie is her grandmother. I'm sure they'll trust the word of a ward donor before they believe a couple smack-heads. You could always fight me on this, but is that the road you wanna go down? I haven't got a lot of patience these days and Grams always did say creativity influences idle hands; in my line of business that's not always a good thing."

JJ x