Page 203 of 4 Corinthians

"I’m looking for Uri Strong," I said, approaching the receptionist's desk in the ER. The entire car ride over, my mind raced with questions. While everyone questioned who was dumb enough to shoot at us, I worried about Uri. I didn’t care who was dumb enough. All I was worried about was Uri. I tapped the window. "Excuse me. I’m looking for Uri Strong!"

"Give me a minute," she sighed as she walked over to the desk. She had no sense of urgency, and while I understood that my emergency wasn’t hers and she didn’t have to rush, she needed to. She worked in an emergency department. Finally, she sat down and started typing. "The name again."

"Uri Strong. U-R-I Strong," I replied. "He should've been brought in by now."

"We ain't got nobody by that name," she said, shaking her head. Her attention was still on the computer in front of her. "You sure he came here and not Mass?" She turned and looked at me.

"He was brought here," I told her. "I know he was brought here. Check again!"

She reared back as if my demand were a request. "Ma'am, your attitude...."

"My attitude is the only thing saving your fucking life right now!" I slammed my bloody hand on the glass and left it there. "Now look in that fucking computer again and find my got damn man's information before I make everybody in this got damn hospital disappear, and bitch don't think for one second that I think I'm a magician!"

The room stilled at my threat, but I didn't give a fuck. She was playing with the wrong one at the wrong time. All I needed was answers, and if she couldn't give them to me, then she needed to find someone who could.

"Corinthians."

I turned around to see Kenbral standing near the entrance. He was covered in blood, his eyes low and filled with sadness.

"No," I said, stepping away from the desk. Galaxy and Hood came into the room. Both covered in blood just like Kenbral. "Do not tell me he died. Don’t you fuckin say that Uri Strong died. Not after all the shit we've been through. Not when we are finally fuckin’ happy. You do not get to say he's dead."

"He's in surgery," Hood said, stepping around Kenbral. "He ain't dead. Just in surgery." I nodded. Not trusting my voice. I glared at Kenbral. "Come on. I can take y'all to the private waiting room."

We walked to the elevators. I never let go of Judah's hand. I could feel him shaking. I needed to calm down so my baby would have some assurance that everything was going to be okay. The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside. Kenbral tried, but I stared at him.

"He's my brother," he said as if I gave a damn. The doors started to close, but he stopped them with his hand. "Corinthians, I'm not perfect, but he's my baby brother."

"You may be his brother, but you never loved him," I replied. The elevator doors closed as what I said settled into his mind.

We rode in silence until we reached the seventh floor. Galaxy used her credentials to get us back to the private waiting room.

"As soon as I know something, I will be back to tell you," Galaxy said, and I nodded. "Your family already knows where you are. They should be on the way. Kenbral has the floor locked down, but they'll be allowed up."

"Okay."

"Do you need something? Want to go to the bathroom to get the blood off your hands?"

I looked down at my hands and chuckled. "No," I answered. "If Uri doesn't make it, this will be the least of my worries."

"Corinthians..." she said my name, then stopped. "I can't tell you how to feel, but just know whatever I can do, I will."

I nodded. Not caring what she was talking about, I liked and even respected Galaxy, but right now I didn't care what she was saying.

I settled into the corner. My back against the large window that overlooked the city, with Judah next to me, his headphones on as he played his game. I needed him to check out; his attention was on anything but what was going on, but every once in a while I would feel his eyes on me.

"Mama?" He took his headphones off his ears and looked up at me.

"Yes?"

"Is Four going to die?" His eyes filled with tears.

I cupped his face, then kissed his forehead. "I dont know, baby boy," I told him. I couldn't lie to him, no matter how much I wanted to. "I pray to God that he doesn't."

"Me too," he said as tears started to fall.

***

My family and friends came and went. Uri wasn't the only one shot, nor was he the most critical. He was just the only one I could focus on.