There was no need for her to elaborate. If Minnie could see the love I had for her daughter, I wasn’t sure how Bianca couldn’t see that shit. Minnie patted my shoulder, then went back to join her husband. Exhaling a deep breath, I forced myself to walk away.
In my apartment upstairs, I paced the floor. My emotions were all over the fucking place. Just then, my phone rang. I ignored Katrelle’s call as if she wasn’t my fiancée and as if she hadn’t experienced some trauma tonight. My concern was tied to the woman on the fourth floor.
Another hour passed before I left my apartment and found my way back to Bianca’s floor. Thankfully, Judge Bell and Minnie were leaving out of her room.
“We’re about to go upstairs and try to get some sleep,” Judge Bell stated. “You’ll let us know if anything changes?”
“Absolutely,” I assured him.
Hand in hand, they ambled off to the elevator. Inside Bianca’s room, I pulled a chair up, checked the monitor to see how her vitals were doing, then focused my attention on the way her heart beat steadily.
. Time passed as I played every single moment we’d ever been in each other’s presence. Bianca just did something to me that I knew no other woman would ever be able to do to me.
“You haven’t left out of here for the past few hours, bruh.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I mugged Adir as he entered Bianca’s room.
“You clockin’ my moves?”
“Naw…”
I turned my attention back to Bianca, who was still heavily sedated. She was breathing on her own, and her vitals looked good. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her bedside.
Adir chuckled. “You forget you got a fiancée, nigga? Katrelle ain’t goin’ for that shit. It’s a lot of shit I let slide wit’ you, but my sister ain’t on that list. Ain’t gon’ be no fuckin’ sister-wives—”
“Shut up, bruh. I’m taking a few months off to make sure Bianca gets the help she needs—”
“Again… You got a whole ass fiancée,” he reiterated. “Plus, you say that as if I ain’t gon’ take good care of my sister.”
I smoothed my hand down my beard and sighed heavily. I hadn’t shaved since yesterday morning. There was no energy inside me to scrap with Adir over his sister. However, I would if he tried to block me from doing what the fuck I wanted to do.
“You proposed to Katrelle less than six hours ago. And here you are ready to throw it all away over the woman you love. I fuck wit’ that.”
“Then move outta my way and let me take care of her.” Adir stared me down, but I wasn’t backing down. He knew that. “Like I was saying, I’ll be taking off for the next few months. I’ll still attend meetings and be here under emergent situations. Otherwise… I’ve got Bianca.”
Adir blinked at me a few times before quietly exiting Bianca’s room. Again, I found myself watching Bianca. Just yesterday, I was dead set on putting her behind me. I’d never experienced the first real kiss with her, never had the pleasure of laying her down, and never heard those three words slip from her lips.
You’re a fool.
I probably was. I wasn’t changing my mind about spinning the block, though.
CHAPTER 2
ANTONIAS
Itwaswellafterthree in the morning before I made it to my condo just a few blocks away from the office. I could’ve stayed upstairs at Dr. Bell & Associates, but I knew Katrelle would worry if I didn’t show my face.
Walking through the door, I was immediately met with a half-sleeping Katrelle. She was dressed in nothing but a robe, and her hair was piled on top of her head. She opened her arms for me, and sadly, I avoided them and simply kissed her on the cheek.
“I’m about to shower,” I stated.
“You don’t want to talk?” she questioned.
“Not right now,” I replied and continued toward my bedroom. She was right behind me.
“You’ve always been a great communicator, baby. You’ve ignored every single one of my calls and messages. Let’s not allow this situation to get in between us.”
I whirled around on Katrelle and partially glared at her. “Thesituationhappens to be someone I’m really close to. My fuckin’ family!”
