Chapter 54
Ronnie's number flashed across the screen. My heart skipped and I quickly answered.
"Hello?"
All I heard was crying. Hard, panicked crying.
My chest tightened instantly. "...Ronnie?" I sat up straighter.
"Remy—" she choked out my name.
"What happened?" I demanded already standing.
"GG got shot," she sobbed
The world stopped. Literally stopped. My ears started ringing. "...What?" I whispered.
"She got shot!" Ronnie screamed breaking down harder. "That crazy bitch shot her!"
Mama stood at the expression on my face. "Remel?"
"What hospital?" I barked already grabbing my keys.
"Sunrise Trauma!" Ronnie cried. "They just took her into surgery!"
"Is she alive?" My voice cracked violently. "RONNIE IS SHE ALIVE?!"
"I-I don't know!" she sobbed.
I couldn't hear anything after that. My heart started slamming against my ribs.
Pops was already moving grabbing his keys too, while Angel started crying asking what happened. I dragged both hands over my face trying to breathe but panic was swallowing me whole.
Not again. Please not again. Not my baby.
"Remel!" Mama grabbed my arm as I rushed past her. "What's wrong?!"
I looked at her and my voice broke completely. "Gianna got shot.
Mama gasped sharply covering her mouth while Angel burst into tears instantly.
"Get my son," I managed before running out the door.
I could hear my family piling out behind me. I attempted to open my door but my hands shaking too badly.
I felt Pop's firm hand on my shoulder. "Go on the other side. I'm driving."
Nodding numbly, I rushed to the other side and got in.
Seconds later we were off. I couldn't do shit but stare out the window, body frozen in shock.
My mind was already remembering what this grief felt like.
My throat closed so tight, I could barely swallow.
The tears in my eyes blurred my vison making the whole ride a blur of shadows and colors.
When we pulled up, I was out the car before Pops could park. Rushing inside I slapped my palms on the receptionist desk. "G-Gianna Taylor," I mumbled voice heavy. "She's my girlfriend."
The woman's face softened. "Still in surgery..." she said, "but you can wait in the waiting room with her sister." She handed me a visitor sticker.
I slapped it on, stumbling to the waiting room. I saw Ronnie, arms folded around herself pacing in short line by the window.
"Ronnie?" I called out.
Her head whipped up. "Remy!" She ran over to me and collapsed into my arms. "I can't believe this is happening," she sobbed into my chest.
I held her tight as my family made their way over.
Sucking down my emotion I pulled her back holding her by her shoulders. "Tell me what happened?"
"I called her to let her know that I talked to you.
Then I heard this woman's voice…" Ronnie shook her head, staring off, voice trembling as she continued.
"The woman was yelling at GG telling her it was all her fault.
" Her eyes came back to mine. "It was Boss's wife. She killed him. Then she shot GG."
"...What?" I shook my head in disbelief.
Ronnie nodded rapidly crying harder. "His wife killed him." She wiped frantically at her tears. "GG didn't even know. She found out right before she got shot."
My brain couldn't even process the words.
Boss was dead?
None of that shit mattered though because all I could picture was Gianna bleeding out somewhere behind those hospital doors.
"She was trying to calm her down," Ronnie cried. "Even after finding out Boss was dead, she was still trying to calm that bitch down."
I physically staggered backward.
"Oh my God," Angel cried softly behind me.
I grabbed the back of one of the chairs trying to steady myself while panic ripped through me violently. Mama started crying quietly behind me while Pops walked over grabbing the back of my neck firmly.
"She's alive right now, son." His voice stayed steady. "That's what matters."
That same helplessness I felt when Kendrix died came crashing back so hard I thought I might pass out right there in the waiting room. I slid down into the chair burying my face into my hands and prayed harder than I had prayed in years.
I felt my son's little hand on my knee. Looking up and seeing his sad little face fucked me up even more.
"Is GG hurt, Daddy?" he whimpered.
I scooped him into my arms wiping my face. "She is buddy, but she's gonna be okay. She's strong."
"Okay." He sniffled burying his face into my neck. I closed my eyes and rubbed his back as silence filled the space.
Time passed…slowly.
My eyes stayed locked on those double doors waiting for them to open and for somebody to come out and tell us something. Anything.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, they opened and an older Black doctor strolled out. "Family of Gianna Taylor?" he looked around.
We all jumped up, Ronnie rushing forward first. "Is she okay? Please tell me she's okay?" she pleaded wringing her hands.
The doctor's expression softened. "Miss Taylor made it through surgery."
The breath left my body so hard my knees buckled.
"Thank God," Ronnie said covering her mouth.
I closed my eyes briefly lowering my head as emotion flooded through me.
Alive.
My baby was alive.
"She lost a significant amount of blood," the doctor continued carefully. "The bullet entered the lower abdomen and caused internal bleeding. We were able to stop it and repair the damage."
My chest tightened. "When can we see her?" I asked.
"She's still unconscious right now." He looked between all of us. "The next twenty-four hours are very important, but as of now…she's stable."
Stable. I clung to that word like a lifeline.
"Can she hear us?" Ronnie asked tearfully.
"Possibly." The doctor nodded slightly. "Sometimes patients can still process familiar voices even while sedated."
Melo lifted his head from my shoulder. "Is GG okay?" he asked softly.
The doctor's face softened completely at the sight of him. "Your GG is very strong, little man."
Melo nodded.
I swallowed hard trying to get myself together enough to ask the question clawing at my chest. "Can I please see her?"
The doctor studied my face for a second before nodding slowly. "One person for a few minutes."
Ronnie turned to me. "You can go first, Remy," she offered softly.
"You sure?" I asked.
She touched my arm. "Yeah."
"Thank you." I set Melo down. "Daddy will be right back, buddy."
"Okay." Reaching in his pocket he fished out something. "Can you give her this?" He opened his fist, and resting inside was his favorite rainbow marble. "It will make her feel better."
"I will, son." Kissing the top of his head, I took the marble before turning toward the hallway feeling like my legs barely worked. The nurse led me down the corridor quietly before finally stopping outside a room.
Then she opened the door.
And the second I saw Gianna lying there— pale, still, and covered in wires and monitors, my heart shattered all over again. I wiped the tears from my eyes and approached slowly taking her in. She looked so small and fragile.
Brushing hair off her forehead, I pressed a lingering kiss to it. Her skin was still warm and soft. I could still smell the scent of her perfume on her skin. The fruity smell of the shampoo in her hair.
"I'm so sorry I wasn’t there for you, baby," I mumbled against her skin.
"I should've never let you go. I should've held on to you tighter.
I knew you were scared and I let you leave me anyway.
" Tears slid from my eyes landing on her forehead.
I wiped them away gently. "I swear to God, when you come out this, Gianna, I'm never letting you go.
You're gonna have to fight me to keep me away from you.
" My voice cracked completely at the end.
I carefully took her hand into mine, blinking down at all the tape and IV lines attached to her skin.
That shit hurt. Seeing somebody so full of life laying there unmoving.
I brought her hand to my lips pressing a kiss against her knuckles before opening my palm placing Melo's marble in the center.
"He wanted you to have this." Gently, I tucked the marble beside her hand on the blanket.
The room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the machines keeping rhythm beside her bed. I hated those fucking machines already.
"You scared the shit outta me, beautiful," I whispered. My thumb stroked slowly across the back of her hand while I stared at her face trying to memorize every detail all over again.
The little beauty mark near her mouth.
Her lashes resting against her cheeks.
The softness of her lips.
Fuck…I loved this woman.
"So listen to me carefully." I leaned closer lowering my voice. "You're not allowed to leave me again, aight?" My throat tightened. "I can't survive losing you. I just can't. You're everything to me, you hear me? I need you. Melo needs you. Ronnie needs you. Stay with us, baby. Please."
Emotion clogged my chest. I had to pause and breathe through it. Outside the room I could see shadows moving through the small glass window.
My family.
Waiting.
Praying.
Loving her already like she belonged to us.
And she did.
She belonged with us.
With me.
I pressed one more kiss against her forehead lingering there before whispering softly against her skin. "I love you, Gianna Taylor."