Chapter 57
I felt like I was pushing through heavy fog.
Everything felt heavy. Even opening my eyes felt weighed. But I did…slowly, bright sunlight greeting me and making me squint.
"You're awake! Remy's she's awake!" Ronnie's face popped right over mine, her hair spilling in my face. "Bitch! Thank you, diversity Jesus's," she gasped.
I wanted to laugh because only she would say some shit like that. But all I could muster was a twitch of my lips.
Then I heard his soft, warm, soothing voice. The voice that seeped into my subconscious and poured into my ears. "Good morning, beautiful." His face appeared smiling. Handsome as always.
My fingers twitched. I wanted to reach out to him so bad. He pressed his lips to my forehead and my eyes fluttered closed briefly at the touch.
"I'ma go get her nurse and parents, Ronnie."
"Okay," Ronnie said.
My eyes followed him until he disappeared out the door.
"GG…sis. You almost gave me a heart attack," she sighed in relief, slow tears trekking down her cheeks.
My beautiful best friend.
I moved my eyes from hers down to her hand. I wanted to hold her hand. She followed my gaze where my fingers were twitching. As soon as she placed hers in mine, I squeezed her fingers weakly. She burst into tears one hand covering her face.
Tears leaked from my eyes, but all I could do was watch her and cry silently. Once I was better. I would wrap my arms around her so tight. I knew she had to have been terrified for me. Always so tough but a marshmallow deep inside.
I blinked slowly at her, my throat aching horribly. Everything hurt. It felt like I had been split open and stitched back together.
Ronnie noticed at once. "You in pain?" she asked softly.
I blinked once.
"Okay. The doctor better hurry up then," she said in concern.
The door opened again and my eyes instantly found Remy first. Always him. My eyes moved behind him finding my parents rushing in.
"Oh, my baby." My mama instantly came to my side gripping my face carefully between her hands. Tears flooded her eyes. "Thank God."
My dad stood beside her rubbing his hand over his beard repeatedly trying to keep himself together. I hated seeing him emotional. He leaned down and kissed my cheek warmly. "Welcome back, babygirl," he said voice thick with emotion.
My hand lifted weakly toward the tube. I wanted it out.
Ronnie grabbed my hand gently. "Don't touch it, boo."
The door opened again and this time it was the doctor with two nurses following behind him. "Good morning, Ms. Taylor," he greeted warmly stepping toward the bed. "I hear you've officially decided to join us." The doctor pulled out a small flashlight. "I'm going to check a few things first, okay?"
I blinked slowly.
He checked my pupils carefully before glancing toward the monitors.
"Can you squeeze my hand for me?"
I did weakly.
"Good." He smiled slightly. "Wiggle your toes?"
I shifted them beneath the blanket.
"Perfect."
Relief visibly crossed my parents faces.
The doctor pulled the rolling stool closer before speaking again. "Ms. Taylor, you sustained a gunshot wound to your lower abdomen. The bullet caused significant internal bleeding and damage to part of your small intestine."
My stomach knotted.
"But," he continued calmly, "you were very lucky. The bullet missed your spine, kidneys, and major arteries. Trauma surgery was able to repair the intestinal damage and stop the bleeding."
I looked toward Remy. His jaw tightened but when he saw me looking at him, he gave me a soft, warm, comforting smile.
"You lost a substantial amount of blood," the doctor continued. "You required transfusions and we've kept you sedated the last two days to allow your body time to stabilize."
Damn. Two days.
"She's gonna fully recover?" my dad asked quietly.
"We expect a full recovery." The doctor nodded reassuringly. "She'll have pain for a while and recovery won't be fun, but she's young, healthy and progressing very well."
Relief swept through the room instantly. I closed my eyes briefly. I was alive that was all that mattered.
The doctor looked back toward me. "Your breathing has improved significantly and you're awake following commands now." He smiled gently. "I think we're ready to remove the breathing tube if you're comfortable trying."
Immediate anxiety rushed through me.
Remy noticed. He took my hand "Look at me, baby."
My eyes instantly moved to his.
His thumb stroked slowly across my knuckles. "I'm right here."
I nodded faintly.
The nurse adjusted my bed upward slightly while the doctor put on gloves. "Alright, Gianna, when I tell you, I want you to cough for me okay?"
Panic fluttered in my chest again, but I nodded once more.
"Ready?" he asked.
No. Absolutely not. But I blinked anyway. The nurse steadied my shoulders gently.
"Okay. One…two…three."
The tube slid out and I gagged instantly coughing hard as tears sprang to my eyes.
Remy rubbed my back carefully while I continued coughing weakly trying to catch my breath. "There you go," he soothed softly. "Good job, beautiful."
My throat burned horribly. The nurse handed him a cup with one of those little sponge swabs attached and he helped wet my lips carefully. The small bit of moisture felt heavenly.
"Better?" he asked quietly.
I nodded weakly.
The doctor checked my monitors one last time before smiling. "Your numbers look good. You're doing very well considering everything your body's been through. We'll check back on you shortly." The doctor and nurses left.
I swallowed carefully. Still exhausted, my head dropped back down on the pillow. I closed my eyes, images of that night floating in my head. The sound of the gun going off. The searing heat slamming into my gut. When I opened them again, I saw them speaking in hushed tones. My brows furrowed.
Ronnie looked over at me. "I think we should tell her now. She deserves to know."
Without waiting for permission, she picked up the remote laying on the table next to me and turned the channel. My heart raced when Boss's face appeared on the screen. Ronnie turned the volume up so I could hear…
“...Geneva Avery remains in police custody this afternoon after authorities say she confessed to the fatal assault of her husband, Bishop Avery, and the shooting of local woman Gianna Taylor during a confrontation outside a restaurant earlier this week.”
Images flashed across the screen.
Boss's picture.
Police tape.
The apartment complex.
Eva being escorted in handcuffs shielding her face from cameras.
My stomach twisted.
“Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an emotionally volatile domestic situation involving an alleged affair between Avery and Taylor. Sources close to the investigation say Avery remained inside the apartment for nearly two days before his body was discovered.”
I stared silently at the screen.
Dead.
Boss was really dead.
I didn’t feel any relief or satisfaction. Just sadness at the whole situation. I watched Eva's face as they replayed footage of her being led through the precinct. She looked hollow. Destroyed by what she had done. And her poor kids…to lose both of their parents like that.
Tears burned behind my eyes.
"Oh, GG…" Ronnie sighed softly noticing my face. "Don't cry over this shit. This is all her fault."
But I couldn't help it. Because despite everything…I knew she loved him. And we all got swallowed whole by that love fueled by betrayal.
My mama moved closer brushing tears from my cheeks gently. "None of this was your fault, baby."
I wanted to believe that. I really wanted to.
Remy quietly took the remote lowering the volume before turning the television off completely.
Silence filled the room afterward. My eyes slowly lifted toward him and softened. Unlike all the chaos and destruction surrounding us…he was still here for me. Still loving me and looking at me like I was worth all the trouble
Remy leaned down pressing a soft kiss against my forehead. "It's over now," he whispered. "And I'm not ever going to let anything happen to you again."
All I could do was nod weakly.