9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Kasha

sometime later…

I heard voices around me, but they sounded muffled. Everything sounded as if it was buzzing. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt like they were glued shut. I tried concentrating on the voices to recognize where I was and still nothing.

“Jackson, you need to eat something, son. I’ll stay here with Kasha while you do.” I finally heard my mama’s voice, and she was talking to Jackson.

Was he here? Did they find me?

“I’m straight. I’ll get something later.” I heard Jackson’s voice, and I felt my cheeks get wet. I tried opening my eyes again and still nothing.

“Come on, Kasha. Open your damn eyes.” I coached myself.

I gave it another try and finally my eyes popped open, but I snapped them back shut because it was too bright. To get their attention, I let a groan escape my lips.

“Mmmm.”

“Oh, my God! Kasha, baby! You’re up!” I heard my mama cry. “She’s up, Jackson. Go get a doctor.” I heard shuffling and the door opening and closing. Moments later, I heard the door again and heard a woman’s voice.

“Close the curtains and dim the light,” she instructed.

When I heard the curtains close, I peeled my eyes open.

I focused my eyes and let them scan the room until they landed on Jackson.

He stood off to the side with his hands in the pockets of his sweats and an unreadable expression on his face.

Our eyes locked, and I saw the pain and anger that housed his. He hated me.

“Kasha, I’m going to have the nurse to take the tube out of your throat, okay.” I listened to the doctor and the nurse while she gave the instructions. Seconds later, it felt like I was coughing up my lungs.

“Here, drink this,” my mama offered. While she helped me drink the water, my eyes never left Jackson. He still hadn’t moved or said anything to me.

“How are you feeling?” the doctor asked.

“I-I’m okay. Tired, but I’m okay.”

She nodded.

“That’s to be expected. Your blood sugar levels dropped, which resulted in you passing out. Your son said his dad brought you all here. Is that true?” she asked.

I cut my eyes at Jackson before answering. “I guess. I don’t remember fainting.” She nodded.

“I’m going to have my nurse draw some blood to make sure that your levels are back to normal.

I want to keep you a few more days just for observation.

In the meantime, I want you to rest while you’re here.

” I nodded while my mama thanked her. When she left, my mama got right into her line of questioning.

“What happened Kasha? You had us worried sick.” I still hadn’t taken my eyes off of Jackson.

“Where’s Jace? Is he here?”

“Your father took him to get something to eat. They should be back shortly,” she informed. “Now, tell us what happened before he gets back.”

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and told my mama and Stacks what happened the day I left.

I let them know how Lance asked to see Jace before he left and how he and his brother, Maurice, forced me and Jace into another vehicle.

I let them know he was planning on extorting money from the DeLuca’s in exchange for my return.

I told them that was the last thing I remembered.

When I finished, Jackson scoffed and mumbled something before he left the room.

I couldn’t stop the tears if I wanted to.

“He hates me,” I cried.

“He doesn’t hate you, Kasha, but he is hurt.

In his eyes, you made it seem like he couldn’t protect you and Jace.

Knowing that he was already in deep with those boys, you chose to go and see him without letting him know.

To men like that, that displays disloyalty.

He feels as if he can’t trust you, and I can’t say I blame him.

” My head snapped in my mother’s direction because I couldn’t believe she was blaming me.

“So, you’re blaming me?”

“No, I’m not blaming you, but you should’ve known better.

Knowing you, you used Jackson’s age to determine that you would take matters into your own hands because you didn’t want him to go up against Lance, especially after getting shot.

I told you if you weren’t going to take him seriously, then you should’ve continued to ignore his advances.

You chose to let that man in and he let you into his heart and you fumbled it.

” I listened to my mama, and she was right.

I didn’t tell Jackson because I didn’t want him to get hurt again.

He’d already gotten shot by Lance. I didn’t want anything else to happen to him.

“Ma, what am I supposed to do now?”

“Let him have his moment and sort out his feelings.”

“But he hates me,” I cried.

“He doesn’t hate you. That man has been here since I called him. He left briefly to go home and get clothes, and I assume to get his businesses in order, but he’s been here. He’s been staying here at night so we can go rest. That’s not the actions of someone who hates you.”

I closed my eyes and took in everything my mama said, and it was overwhelming. I didn’t want to hurt Jackson, but I didn’t want him to get hurt, either.

“Ma!” I heard Jace’s voice, and my eyes popped open.

“Hey, baby. Are you okay?” I examined him the best way that I could.

“I’m fine. You scared me, Ma.” he cried.

“I know, baby, and I’m sorry.” I hugged my son and thanked God that he was okay.

“It’s not your fault, Ma. That nigga did that because he’s a punk.

It’s okay though because I know Stacks and Uncle Buck gone make him pay for messing with us.

” I declined to respond because I didn’t want to disappoint my son again by letting him know Jackson left and probably wouldn’t be back.

I just enjoyed the moments with my family before I got tired and needed a nap.

I didn’t know if Jackson was coming back or not, but I couldn’t be mad if he didn’t.

I knew he needed some time. I just hoped that he gave me a chance to explain before shutting me completely out.

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