Mike got quiet at first. “You sure you don’t want me to wait for you?”
“I can’t leave here.”
“I know, but that’s your grandma.”
“And Navy just came out of surgery missing a leg. I’m not walking out on her.” I glanced toward the door, expecting Lulu back at any moment. “Take somebody with you. Don’t let BJ hear that shit over the phone, and don’t let her be by herself after you tell her.”
“I got it.”
“Call me when you get there. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“I will. Oh, and one more thing.”
“What?” I asked.
“That nigga Rome got picked up too during a traffic stop. Word spreading around about what he did to Navy, that’s fucked up.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Don’t forget to call me.”
The call ended and I stood near the window with the phone still in my hand, staring down at the parking lot several floors below. Marv was dead, Navy was lying in a hospital bed because of him and Rome. Rome was in police custody and BJ lost a grandson.
One night had taken a hammer to every life connected to us. I wiped my face again and returned to the chair beside Navy. “I tried to save that nigga,” I said quietly. “I really did.”
Her fingers moved beneath mine. At first, I thought I imagined it. Then they shifted again. I leaned forward. “Navy?”
Her eyelids fluttered but didn’t open. Her mouth moved slightly, and a faint sound came from her throat. I stood up so fast the chair rolled backward. “Navy, open your eyes.”
Her brows tightened and the heart monitor began beating faster, with the steady rhythm changing as she fought through the medication. I reached for the call button but stopped when her eyes slowly opened. They were unfocused at first then she stared toward the ceiling, blinking against the light before her gaze moved across the room until it found me.
“Lev?” The word barely carried.
“I’m here.”
Her eyes drifted closed again before reopening as confusion moved across her face as she tried to look around without lifting her head. “What happened?”
I moved closer and took her hand. “You’re in the hospital.”
Her fingers tightened weakly around mine. “I know that.” Even sedated, she still had enough of herself left to sound irritated.
I shook my head feeling sorry for her. “Just relax.”
Her eyes stayed on me as pieces of memory began returning one by one. I saw it happening in her face before she spoke. “Marv came in my house. He was high.” Her breathing changed. “He hit me.”
“I know, Navy.”
“I ran outside and…” Her voice broke and her eyes widened. “Rome.” The monitor sped up again. “He tried to kill me.”
I leaned closer. “He can’t get to you; the police got him.”
“He hit me with the car.” She tried to move beneath the blankets as pain showed on her face immediately.
“Don’t move,” I said, pressing the call button. “You just had surgery.”
Her eyes filled with panic. “Why can’t I feel my legs?” she slurred groggily.
The question hit exactly where I knew it would. I looked toward the door, hoping Lulu would walk through it or at leasta doctor, damn, anybody who knew how to tell her without making the truth sound like it was nothing.
Navy watched my face. “Lev.”
