Page 208 of 4 Corinthians

"I'll go with you," Krude offered.

"I can handle it."

Krude laughed, then shook his head. "I think you thought that was an offer and not a requirement," he said. "I'm going to say it again, so you hear me correctly this time. I'm going with you."

"Krude..."

"He goes with you," I cut Bradon off before he could object. "We don't know who Robert has been working with, so it's better to be safe than sorry. Krude is known in Turner Row."

Bradon nodded, but I could tell by his facial expression he wasn't pleased. "Alright, let's go."

"Before you go, Bradon, I want you to look at something," I said before they left. He turned back to me and waited. I picked up my phone and pulled up my emails. Amethyst had emailed me the video of me as a kid. I pressed play and held it up for Bradon to see. "Who is that man?"

Bradon approached me, took my phone from my hand, and replayed the video three more times. He knew who the man was.

"I'll handle it," Bradon said, handing me the phone back. "Don’t worry about it."

"Who is he?" I asked again.

"I said I'll handle it."

"You have a hard time listening, I see," Krude said as he pushed the barrel of his gun into the side of Bradon's head. "It's a family thing, isn't it?"

"Probably," Bradon answered, unfazed by the gun to his head. "But I will advise you to not point a gun at me unless you plan to use it."

"Good thing I have every intention of using it," he replied. "Now how and when are up to you. You could answer Corinthians' question, then kill some niggas in TR and, more than likely, grab a snack on the way back, or you could not answer it. I knock the rocks loose in your ass, and when you wake up you answer her question, then we go to TR and kill folks. Option 2 does not come with snacks for you though." By chance, Bradon's stomach growled, then I heard Judge chuckle. "Looks like your stomach made its choice already. You gonna follow its lead?"

Bradon smirked, then nodded. "That's Four's grandpa," he said.

"Your father?"

"You can lower the gun now, Krude," Bradon told him.

"No, I can't lower my gun now, Bradon," Krude mocked him. "You just said that yo pappy is in on this shit too. Ain't no way this sick shit hit your entire family, and you just so happen to be the odd man out."

"I didn't say that was my father," he said, shaking his head. "I said it was Four's grandfather. That's his mama's daddy."

Four

Ilay in the bed. My eyes still wouldn't open no matter how hard I tried to force them to. I could feel Cori next to me. Her body pressed against mine. Her breathing was even, which meant she was asleep. I ached to hear her voice. Even if she fussed at me for taking that bullet. I wanted to see her eyes. Shit, feel her lips against mine—anything at this point.

My arms were strapped down to the railing, and there was a tube down my throat. I'd been intubated enough times to know that if I fought against the machine, the alarms would sound, but I didn't want to scare her.

So, I'd wait.

The door opened, and I felt the moment Cori's breathing changed. She was awake. She shifted; the pressure I once felt from her being next to me was no longer there.

"Your cousin is on her way," I heard Nine say. His steps were even; then he hesitated, and the sound of a bag being moved echoed through the room. "She said if you aren't at least chewing something by the time she gets in here that she’s going to stuff it down your throat."

"I'd like to see her try," Cori replied with a soft laugh. "I'm already on edge."

"Which is why she said you needed to eat," he replied. I heard the bag be set down, then someone moved. More than likely, Nine placed whatever he was carrying on the small rolling table. "Please eat. I don’t want to hear his mouth when he wakes up about the fact that you've lost weight from not eating."

"I'm not hungry," Cori softly replied.

I felt my eyebrows damn near touch, or at least I think they did. I couldn't open my eyes, so I doubt I had control over any of my facial expressions.

"Eat Corinthians, please," Nine requested. "Even if it's just a bite or two. I got you a burger from your favorite place."