58. Corinthians #3
"I can't lose him," I told her, shaking my head. The thought of Uri not in my life sickened me. He was my peace, joy, and happiness; losing him again would break me. "I-I-I-I can't lose him."
“I know, baby,” Psalms said, nodding. “And they are trying to make sure you won’t, but you have to move the knife from Gift’s neck. He isn’t the problem right now; he didn’t do anything.”
“I can’t lose him, Psalms,” I cried, shaking my head. “He saved me. He protected me.”
“I know, baby.” She stopped walking and extended her hand. “And I swear to you that you won’t, but you have to give me the knife.” She motioned for the knife and smiled. “Give me the knife, Corinthians, and let Gift go.”
“I got a pulse!” Galaxy yelled. I don't know when she started helping Hood, but I was glad she had.
“You heard Galaxy, right?” Psalms said. “They have a pulse; he isn’t dead. Now give me the knife and let Gift go.”
“Mommy?” Judah called out from the steps, and I turned to see him looking around.
His eyes ballooned when he saw Hood and Galaxy working on Uri. "Four!" Judah's voice wavered, and his bottom lip trembled. I knew Judah saw Uri as unbreakable, so seeing him on the ground filled him with fear.
“Ex! Get him!” Psalms said without taking her eyes off me.
She was slowly slipping. Her control was strained, and I hated putting her in this position.
I was the big sister; I was supposed to be strong, but it felt like I never was.
Psalms was saving me again. “Krude! I don’t care who does it, but somebody get him. ”
I heard groaning and turned my attention back to Uri. I couldn't see what Galaxy or Hood were doing, but I could see Uri's foot move.
“Oh shit,” I heard Xoey say from somewhere around me. “Why did he do that?”
“Mommy!” Judah yelled, and this time the panic in his voice made me turn from Uri to see Gentle lift him from the ground. "Mommy!”
“Get your hands off my son!” I yelled and pushed away from Gift. “Have you lost your fucking mind?” Gentle was never to touch my child. Ever.
Psalms turned to see Judah being brought down the stairs, and her anger matched mine. Unlike Uri and me, her connection with Gentle was never more than friendship, and that was a title I used loosely.
She reached under her dress, pulled out a knife, and twirled it between her fingers with a smile that I knew all too well.
“Oh hell, the Ghetto Power Rangers are about to show out,” Krude said from out of nowhere. “Somebody find Ex! I can’t handle both their asses at the same time!” He looked around and threw his hands into the air. “Exodus!”
“My man is over there bleeding out, and you decided this would be the perfect time to touch my son?” I asked Gentle.
Gone was the anger and uneasiness I'd felt earlier.
Now I was calm. Two of the most important people in the world lives were being affected.
Uri was bleeding out, and Judah was being held by a man just as damaged as I was.
My only saving grace was that my sister was next to me. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
Gentle opened his mouth to say something just as another car pulled up. Kenbral got out of the car with a mug on his face.
"Gentle, what the fuck happened? Kenbral asked.
“I don’t know,” Gentle answered, still watching us. He knew just like we did that if he gave us the opportunity, we would kill him.
“Corinthians, Psalms, let me explain.”
“Explain?” we said in unison. Wasn't shit to explain. “Judah, go limp, baby,” I said, and instantly, Judah's body went limp. In that moment, I flung my knife at Gentle's shoulder. I knew the poison that my knife was laced with wouldn't kill him but would put him on his ass for a while.
“I see why he is in love with your crazy ass,” he said, then chuckled. “But next time, aim for the neck. You’ll do more damage.”
“I did exactly what I needed to do,” I smirked. “You won’t see tomorrow,” I lied, and Gentle swayed on his feet, then grabbed the wall to steady himself.
“The first mistake you made was touching him.” I pointed to Judah, who was now standing between Psalms and me. “The second was underestimating me, and the third was thinking you would live to talk about it.”
“He asked us to come,” Gentle mumbled as he continued to sway. He was being dramatic.
“Who?”
“I’m, I’m, I’m,” Gentle tried to answer, but couldn’t. “Four--”
“What about him?” I questioned. I turned around to look at Uri, but he was gone, along with Hood and Galaxy. Nine came out the building, scowling, and carrying Deuce. Cross followed behind him, carrying their daughter, Love.
“We need to go. Four is on his way to the hospital.” Nine said.
“Who took him?” I asked as I grabbed Judah’s hand and turned to leave. Nine looked at me, shook his head, then turned back to his wife.
“Tell her,” Cross said, shaking her head.
“His brother Kenbral took him,” Nine answered as he opened the truck door for Cross, then went to the back door, opened it, and put Deuce inside. “He called me a few seconds ago. They are on the way to the hospital with Hood and Galaxy.” Cross got in the front seat with Love in her arms.
“His brother?” I questioned, and Nine nodded.