Priest
I never felt right in hospitals. They made me feel like death was coming, probably because every time I was in one, one of my homies had been shot or killed. But I wasn’t leaving. Solae was still folded up in the hard plastic chair beside me. Her eyes were red and raw from crying.
Now that Moses was out of surgery, family was taking turns visiting his bedside, though he wasn’t conscious. Solae hadn’t gone in yet, because she was giving his family time with him. So, I stayed by her side because that’s what she needed.
Across the room, Rah was acting out, talking loudly, and drawing attention to himself.
He was pacing, cracking jokes at the wrong time, and failing at masking the fact that my presence was eating at him.
The minute he saw me beside Solae, he started puffing his chest out and talking slick like he was that nigga.
But I knew a goofy when I saw one.
Rah wore his ego like a rented suit—loud, flashy, but cheap once you looked close enough.
I listened to him brag about the cars, connects, and cash he had.
But I could see in his eyes and hear in his tone that he didn’t have it like that.
He stunted like he did, but the truth was there.
He was all show. He was a clown trying to wear the crown of a king.
Part of me wondered what Solae ever saw in him. But I already knew the answer. Men like Rah finesse. They talk sweet, promise the world, and love bomb a woman until a woman believes she can’t do better. I couldn’t blame her for falling for it. I just knew I wasn’t cut from that cloth.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, and she leaned into me. Now that we had heard that Moses made it out of surgery, her tears had slowed. But she was still trembling, so I pressed a kiss to the side of her head. Her hand clutched mine tightly.
Rah’s eyes cut to us. They were narrowed with jealousy he couldn’t hide. He muttered something under his breath, chuckling, trying to get a rise out of me. I didn’t bite, though. He wasn’t worth it. He could play tough all he wanted, but I saw through him. I’d seen real men, and Rah wasn’t one.
Solae suddenly sat up straighter, as her eyes caught on something at the doorway.
I followed her gaze and saw Kahlani standing there, speaking in a low voice with one of the nurses.
Solae shot to her feet and walked over. The two said a few things I couldn’t hear from where I sat.
Whatever Kahlani said, it had Solae nodding fast in agreement.
A moment later, she came back to me. “I’m gonna go in with Kahlani to visit Moses. She doesn’t want to go in there by herself.”
I nodded and stood. “Then I’mma get out of here, unless you need me to stay.”
Her hand caught mine for a second before she let go. “No… I’m okay. You can go. You’ve done enough already.” Her eyes softened, and she managed a small smile. “Thank you for being here, Priest. Really.”
“It’s no problem. Call me if you need anything, no matter what time it is.”
She nodded, then stepped into me. I wrapped her in my arms, and she let out a breath against my chest before she pulled back.
“Be safe,” she whispered.
“You too.”
I watched her walk off toward Kahlani, and then the two of them headed down the hall together. Only when she was out of sight did I turn and make my way toward the exit.
I left the family waiting area, and the second I stepped into the hallway, I felt Rah’s eyes glued to me.
Him and his little crew, the same three dudes who followed him around like puppies, stared me down like they thought I was supposed to be scared of their bitch asses.
I didn’t even give them the satisfaction of a look.
Real men don’t acknowledge goofies.
As soon as I hit the quieter stretch toward the elevators, I pulled my phone out and hit Blu. He picked up on the second ring. “Yo.”
“I need you to do something for me.”
“What you need?”
“Find out who Solae’s ex really is. I got a feeling about him. He moves funny. I don’t trust his character, and if he’s tied to Solae, I need to know what’s what.”
Blu chuckled darkly. “Say less. I’ll look into it. Just send me his name and where he’s from.”
I hung up, sliding the phone back into my pocket as the elevator doors opened. I didn’t know exactly what Rah’s game was, but I knew one thing for sure: men like him always showed their hand sooner or later.