Young-Minded Hustler (19 page)
Read Young-Minded Hustler Online
Authors: Tysha
“Hey, baby girl, you all right?” Brianna asked.
“Yeah, I'm fine, Bri,” Princess answered slowly. Her attention remained on the television show.
“Okay, I'm downstairs if you need me.” Brianna laughed.
Shy was finally dressed and ready for her date. The doorbell chimed as she descended the stairs. “I'll get it, Bri.” Shy opened the door and was surprised by a bouquet of white lilies. She was impressed. Karl had just proven himself to be a gentleman. “Come on in,” Shy said, welcoming him with a smile. She smelled his Unforgiveable cologne by Sean John when he passed by her. He looked sexy in his crisp white Sean John T-shirt and blue jeans. Shy admired how groomed and put together Karl was.
“These are for you, Miss Lady. What a coincidence, they match that dress you're wearing so well,” Karl flirted.
“Thank you, Mr. Sexy Chocolate,” Shy flirted back with a wink of the eye and a sweet smile. “Karl, go in and make yourself comfortable while I put these in water. Jayden's girlfriend Brianna is in there already,” Shy yelled over her shoulder as she went in search of a vase.
Karl watched Shy walk away and enjoyed the site. The way she swayed her hips turned him on. He found Brianna in the family room reading a book.
“Hi, I'm Karl and you must be Brianna.” Karl extended his hand as he walked toward Brianna.
“Yes, nice meeting you, Mr. Karl. Have a seat,” Brianna offered with a smile.
“Thank you. What are you reading?” Karl made small talk.
Before Brianna could answer the question, her cell phone rang. The caller ID read: My Heart.
“Excuse me, please, I have to answer this.”
Karl focused his attention on the television while Brianna took her call. It quickly became obvious that the caller was delivering some bad news. Tears exploded from Brianna's eyes and her breath became short.
“Oh my God no,” Brianna cried. “I can't tell her that.”
Karl hoped Brianna would be okay. Whatever it was appeared to be devastating. He called out for Shy. She would know how to help the young woman.
Shy walked into the room full of energy and anticipation. She was amped about spending the afternoon with Karl. Her upbeat demeanor immediately disappeared when she saw the look on Brianna's face.
“What happened?” Shy asked, concerned. Brianna's failure to answer gave Shy a bad feeling. “Is it the twins?” Shy held her breath and waited for Brianna to confirm the fear that took over her heart.
Brianna shook her head and continued to cry. Shy quickly grew impatient.
“What is it, Brianna?” Shy demanded.
“Miss Shy that was Prince. They're at St. Elizabeth's emergency room,” Brianna cried. She took in a deep breath before continuing. “Both Jayden and Quincy were shot. You have to get to the hospital. Jayden's being rushed into emergency surgery. Quincy wasn't hurt as bad.”
Shy couldn't believe her ears. Brianna had to be joking. Why would anyone play such a horrible game with her? Her body wouldn't follow her commands to move. Shy didn't know what to do.
Karl saw Shy was in shock. He didn't want to startle her and moved slowly toward her. With caution, Karl wrapped his arm around Shy's waist and guided her to the couch. He sat between Shy and Brianna, holding both their hands for support.
“Shy, Shy, can you hear me?” Karl spoke just above a whisper. “Is your daughter in the house?” The mention of Princess jarred Shy out of her daze.
“Princess is upstairs. I don't want her at the hospital worried about her brother and cousin. I'm sure Brianna wants to come with us to see about Jayden. Oh, my baby needs me.” Shy sobbed.
“Is there anybody I can call to come pick her up or to sit with her?” Karl suggested.
“Yeah, call Bossy from my phone. Tell her what's happened and ask her to come get Princess for me. She'll come right over.” The reality of the situation quickly set in on Shy. She went from shock to borderline panic mode in under a second. Shy jumped to her feet. There was no doubt Bossy would come right over but Shy couldn't wait. She had to get to her son.
“Bri, baby, listen to me.” Shy kneeled in front of Brianna and wiped her tears away. “I know you love my son and that you're scared. Please, try to calm down. Jayden needs us both to be strong right now.”
Brianna fought to stop her tears from falling. Her heart felt like it was in her stomach. She loved Jayden with all of her heart and didn't think she could go on without him in her life. Jayden was her anchor. There was nothing she wouldn't do for him. Brianna knew Shy was right; she had to be strong. She said a quick prayer and tried to slow her breathing. Her attention was now focused on Shy.
“I'm going to leave for the hospital. You wait here for Bossy. When she gets here, have her drop you off at the hospital. I don't want you driving like this. So you understand me?”
“Yes, ma'am, I do.” Brianna sniffed. “What about you? You can't drive, Miss Shy.”
“Don't worry, I'm not going to leave her alone. I'll stay at the hospital with her. Everything will be okay,” Karl promised without reservation.
“Okay, I'm going to run up and kiss Baby Girl before I leave. Whatever you do, Brianna, do not tell her about what happened. I'll do that myself after I know exactly what's going on.”
Shy found Princess asleep. She gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek before going back downstairs.
“Karl, I'm ready to go. Take me to my baby.”
Chapter 28
Do unto Others Before They Do It to You
The shot to Quincy's arm wasn't as bad as initially thought. The bullet missed hitting any bone and was expected to heal quickly. Quincy was already in the recovery room and would be released into his parents care that night. He'd been stitched up, given antibiotics, and prescribed pain medication to take home. Prince wasn't physically hurt but emotionally, he was shaken. He sat in the family waiting room, feeling anxious and afraid for Jayden and Quincy. All he knew was that Jayden required an operation that would take hours.
Shy and Karl arrived at the hospital to find Jayden had already been taken to surgery. A small amount of relief washed over Shy when she saw Prince and found out Quincy was going to be fine. That good news was hampered by Jayden's absence, only confirming Shy's fear of how bad the situation really was.
“Prince,” Shy called out.
Like a small child being picked up from daycare, Prince rushed into his mother's arms. Prince couldn't shake the vision of his brother being shot and lying in a puddle of his own blood. Having to relive that horrible scene from seven years earlier was overwhelming. Being in that same place twice in a seventeen-year lifetime was too heavy of a burden to bear. Prince was on an emotional rollercoaster ride headed for a tragic collision.
“Why again? Why is this happening again, Mommy?” Prince cried in his mother's arms.
Shy's heart broke into a million little pieces. She could not help but to cry. Life had been unfair to Prince. His entire world seemed imbalanced. There was far too much pain and not enough happiness surrounding Prince.
“I don't know, baby, but we'll get through this, you hear me? We'll get through this together,” Shy promised with love.
Shy felt helpless. Seeing the familiar pain in Prince was tearing her soul apart. Mothers are supposed to protect their children. Standing there in a hospital waiting room, Shy was powerless to protect or help her boys. There was no worse feeling in the world for a mother.
Quincy sat on the couch, stiff as a board after receiving his aftercare instructions and release papers. Tara had yet to arrive at the hospital. Given the situation, Quincy received permission from the doctor to sit with his family while he waited for his parents. He was as relieved as Prince to see his aunt. Just having her near him gave him a sense of security. Shy looked at Quincy and didn't know what to say. He looked so fragile sitting in the corner of the room like a lost puppy. For as much time as Quincy spent with the twin, most would assume his street savvy was as honed as Jayden's or came natural the way it did for Prince but they'd be wrong. Quincy was built different. He may have spent most of his time in the hood but Quincy was a child of the suburbs. Drugs, guns, and violence weren't part of the world in which he lived.
“Come here.” Shy invited her nephew into her open arms. Quincy melted when Shy wrapped her protective arms around him. It was at that moment Quincy knew he was safe. He knew his aunt would shield him and his cousins from any further harm. “Everything's going to be okay. We're going to band together and help Jayden heal. He's going to be fine.” Shy tried to comfort Quincy and convince herself that she would not have to bury a son. “Are you all right?” A nurse interrupted them before Quincy could answer.
“Excuse me, ma'am,” said the nurse as she stepped into the room. “Are you Mrs. McGee?” the brown-eyed, attractive nurse said in a soft voice.
“Yes, I am. What's going on with my son?” Shy asked in agony.
“He's in surgery right now. Jayden was hit twice in the lower back. One bullet pierced his kidney, the other hit the spleen. Our best doctors are in with him now. The head surgeon, Dr. Fitzgerald, will be out to give you an update as soon as possible but it may be a couple of hours before that happens,” Nurse Gordon explained slowly and clearly. “In the meantime, there are some forms we need you to fill out and sign. If you would come with me, please.” Her compassion came through with every patient and their families. She was a recent graduate of Kent State University and had returned home to be near family and give back to her community. That level of commitment made LaTonya Gordon great at her job. Her heart especially went out to victims of crime. When she was a child, her father lost his life when an assailant decided another man's life was his to take. She was dedicated to helping other victims of crime work through their pain and anger.
Prince's nerves were wrecked. He grabbed Shy's hand and held on to his mother for dear life. Prince didn't want to let his mother out of his sight. She tried to follow LaTonya out of the waiting room but Prince held her back.
“It's okay, baby. Mommy has to go take care of this so the doctors can do everything possible to save your brother. I'll be right back,” Shy attempted to assure Prince. He maintained his grip on her hand. Shy noticed Prince was physically shaking. She decided to take another approach.
“Karl, will you sit here with Quincy while I take care of this paperwork?”
“Of course, anything you need,” Karl replied.
“Come with me, Prince.” Shy and Prince walked hand in hand behind LaTonya.
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As hour after hour passed without word from the operating room, Shy was sick to her stomach waiting to hear if her son would live or die. She refused to break down in front of Prince and Quincy. They had been through enough. Shy would not force them to be her rock. She was determined to be theirs. Karl remained with Shy and her family for hours, only leaving her side to get food for everyone. He'd been where they were before and understood how they felt. Karl prayed for a different outcome from the one he experienced.
The waiting room was quiet. Brianna and Monica had arrived along with Quincy's girlfriend Caron. Aisha stayed back at the house with Princess. C-Lok and Bossy were in the hallway keeping tabs on their troops. While everyone else focused on Jayden, they were coordinating the hunt for the shooter. The city was in for an escalating rise in its murder rate. They wanted to know who was behind the attack before the clock stroked midnight.
Shy heard a female voice in the hallway talking loud and stupid. “I wonder what that's about,” she said aloud. It quickly became evident who was behind the ruckus. Shy stood up and firmly planted her feet shoulder-width apart. It was time to rumble.
“Where's my son? No, no, C-Lok, I'm not trying to hear all of that. Where is my son?” Tara yelled and pushed past her brother. Nyla walked in right behind her best friend.
“This is all your fault! I knew something like this was going to happen,” Tara screamed at Shy.
“I know you're upset but you need to calm down,” Shy responded to her sister's rant.
“I don't need to do shit. I should have kept my son away from you like I started to. If you'd have done what you should've back then, we wouldn't be standing here now,” Tara growled at Shy.
“Calm down, Tara. My son is back there fighting for his life. I'm not in the mood for one of your bourgeois temper tantrums right now. This ain't the time,” Shy warned. She stood with her hands on her hips, ready to pounce. She understood her sister being upset about Quincy getting shot but that didn't give her a right to come at Shy the way she was. Shy knew this was about more than Tara being upset about Quincy since she hadn't acknowledged his presence in the room. Tara was so focused on fighting with her sister that she hadn't hugged Quincy or asked him if he was okay.
“You think everybody's supposed to be scared of you but I ain't,” Tara lied. “Quincy got shot, Jayden's in surgery, and the reason behind it all got away without a scratch.”
“Watch it, Tara. That's your last warning. If you were so worried about your son, why'd it take you three hours to get here? What was more important than you coming to see about him?” Shy demanded. She was steadily losing control of her temper. Tara was taking things to a dangerous level. Shy had an immeasurable amount of pain and aggression stored up inside of her and Tara could get it if she wanted.
Monica sat holding Prince's hand. She knew how his aunt liked to put him down but placing blame on him for what happened was so unfair. Her mother standing behind Tara only angered Monica more. Monica thought her mother was just as ignorant and selfish as Tara. Nyla hadn't consoled Brianna or even looked in their direction. Brianna was still in a daze. She didn't care about anything but Jayden. Monica simultaneously wrapped her right arm around her sister and rubbed Prince's knee with her left hand. That was all she could do to let them both know that she had their backs.
Quincy felt so embarrassed and ashamed. He could never figure out what was behind all the animosity between his mother and aunt but he hated it. She liked to put on airs and turn her nose up at people. Everything with his mother was about money and status. If it had a big name attached to it, Tara wanted one for herself. She had spent nearly his entire college fund on unnecessary status symbols for herself. Tara had name-brand clothes, cars, purses, and furniture, but her son had no way to pay for college. Quincy was able to attend college because of his Uncle C-Lok. His mother had lost all of his respect the day he overheard her disrespecting Shy. If he had his choice, Quincy would have moved in with Shy years ago.
“C, come get your sister,” Shy called out to their brother.
“Jayden does not deserve to be suffering and fighting for life. Whoever did this was probably aiming for Prince. That's who should be on the operating table.” Tara spit out her vile words.
“Ma! That's enough. You need to leave. What's wrong with you?” Quincy cried out as he jumped up from his seat. He was fuming.
Shy's next move was slow and deliberate. She paused and said to her nephew, “Quincy, baby, please forgive me for what I'm about to do.” Like a mother lion protecting her cubs, Shy faced her prey and went on the attack. She punched Tara square in the face so hard it sent her falling backward into the wall. Her head made a hole in the drywall. Tara landed on her behind in an upright position. Shy stood over her sister, throwing haymakers faster than Laila Ali. “Bitch! I will fucking kill ya ignorant ass.” Shy beat on Tara like she'd stolen her man. Nyla tried to grab Shy from behind. Bossy pulled Nyla back just as Shy turned around and knocked Nyla to the floor. Shy tried to stomp Nyla out but C-Lok pulled her off the helpless woman.
Enough was enough. Shy had no time to think before she pounced on Tara and Nyla. Tara had been trying to provoke Shy into mutual combat for years. Shy tried to steady her breathing as nurses, security, and other hospital personnel rushed the family waiting room.
“Somebody grabs a gurney,” someone yelled.
“Better make it two,” another instructed.
“What happened here?”
Shy went back to where she was sitting before Tara singlehandedly broke hell loose. If Tara and Nyla needed medical attention, they'd brought it on themselves. Shy had no time for regrets. Besides the condition of her child, Shy had no interest in anything going on around the room. Stoic was the only word to describe her demeanor. Shy's heart went out to Quincy, Brianna, and Monica. They had to bear witness to their mommas getting their asses whipped, but those apologies had to wait. Jayden was her immediate focus.
Karl was left in the dark. He had no idea what had just happened. Shy had spoken of her brother but never mentioned she had a sister. Karl assumed Quincy was her brother's child. Nothing he could think of to say seemed appropriate so Karl decided it was best for him to remain silent. When the time was right, he knew Shy would open up to him about the obvious feud with her sister. Until then, Karl would stay by Shy's side for as long as she needed.
When police detectives walked in, Shy didn't move or blink an eye. They would have to arrest her later. If they insisted on going against her wishes, Shy had no problem giving it to them too because she was not leaving without a fight. The police were not above getting the same beat down Tara and Nyla had just received.
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