“Are there any more questions for me?”
“Will he have any long-term effects from this?” Max’s mom questioned. The doctor rubbed his hand across his head.
“We are unable to predict the future, but I can tell you that gunshot wounds in children, especially when they are this young, do have lasting effects. He may experience pain for years to come, have surgery related complications, and struggle with his mental health. I would recommend looking into counseling, but make no mistake: Your son is lucky to be alive. Many children don’t survive incidents of this nature. Please take this as a lesson on gun safety. The nurse will let you know when you can see him. I have to get back to making my rounds.” He turned and walked away, leaving them standing there. This time, Dru wrapped his arms around Marli. The saddened look on her face showed she needed a hug.
“We’ll get him any care that he needs, aight?” He whispered in her ear. Dru knew money wasn’t the magic cure for situations like this, but he also knew without it, things could be a whole lot worse.
“Aye, you just gon’ hug up with this nigga while yo’ son fighting for his life? That’s some real ho shit,” Max’s voice sounded from behind them. Irritation immediately seeped into his skin. This nigga! Dru didn’t do beef, but he didn’t fuck with Max. They used to have a good business relationship. He was a dope producer. They’d come into the music industry together, and for a minute, every Eight24 artist had a beat produced by Maximums. That was until Dru realized he was a pussy. Once Max found out that Marli had been fucking them both, the dramatics started. Nigga started sneak dissing on social media and being flakey on studio sessions. Dru didn’t play those petty ass games. He was a street nigga before he was a businessman. He’d killed men for less. So, ceasing business with Max was a no brainer. He guessed Max didn’t like the lost income, because, suddenly, Dru was public enemy number one. Dru gave no fucks though. He let his silly ass beef by himself. Like even now, he was more concerned by Dru’s presence in Marli’s life than he was about his own son.
“Max, are you serious right now?” Marli let go of Dru, briskly stomping over to Max.
“As a fucking heart attack! Yo’ ho ass halfway across the country riding dick, and our son in the damn hospital. Then you got the damn nerves to bring this trick ass nigga up here. You foul as fuck!” Max moved into Marli’s face, waving his hands. His tone was already a violation in Dru’s eyes, but waving his bitch ass hands in Marli’s face was an infraction. Dru wouldn’t be able to take too much more of his ass. Turning his head, he eyed his brother.
“He ain’t worth it,” Blue mouthed in his direction, and Dru took a deep breath. This was about Tres and comforting Marli.
“You’re the reason our baby is even in here!” she shouted. “What you do, huh! Leave your gun laying out and our sons unattended while you go fuck some stank ass ho!”
“Man, you don’t know shit. I told they lil asses not to touch it!” Max’s face was now two inches away from Marli’s. This nigga was a sad excuse for a father. People always talked about how mothers should let their kids go with the father regardless, but this was the prime example of why it wasn’t always the best choice. Sometimes, just being in your kid’s life wasn’t enough. Dru approached them slowly. He wasn’t the type of nigga to let a man argue with a woman. He didn’t care that they were in a hospital. He would lay Max’s ass out about his, and as of seven hours ago, Marli, Deuce, and Tres were his.
“Nigga, what you walking up for?” Max glanced over Marli’s shoulder at Dru.
“Excuse me, Miss, you all can go back now. It’s quite a few of you, so we’ll allow three at a ti—” The nurse couldn’t finish her statement before Marli, Dru, Max, and Ms. Woodard were all charging in her direction.
“The fuck this nigga going?” Max scuffed. Dru ignored him as he continued walking. As far as Dru was concerned, Max’s ass could wait. Any nigga that was careless enough to leave a loaded gun laying around his kids didn’t deserve to ever be around them again.
“Aye, if you let this nigga go back there… I swear to God!” Max shouted as he grabbed Marli by the arm. Without saying a word, Dru got a good hold of Max’s collar, bringing him into his chest.
“You swear to God what?” Dru chastised him as Blue walked up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Not here, not now, bro.” Blue attempted to calm him. Glancing around, Dru noticed the scenery around him. Tears were falling from Marli’s eyes as she looked on in shock. Everyone was staring at him. Max’s mom was screaming for security. He didn’t give a fuck now. Max was out of fucking pocket. Tightening his grip, he pulled Max closer to him. Leaning down, he spoke into his ear.
“Let’s get some shit clear, bitch ass nigga. Seven hours ago, I promised that beautiful thick ass woman over there, she was mine. That includes her boys. If you ever put yo’ muthafucking hands on her again or fail to protect Deuce and Tres, I will forget that I’m retired from this street shit and blow yo’ fucking brains out.” He shoved Max to the ground.
“Y’all married?” Max blurted. He pushed up from the floor, attempting to charge at Marli like the bitch he was.
“No!” His mom called out, jumping in front of him. Dru lunged at him. He was going to beat this nigga within an inch of life for not adhering to his words. Before Dru could reach him, Blue had pulled him back.
“Not here, bruh! Chill!” Blue shouted at him, finally making him realize the severity of his actions. It had been a long time since he’d behaved like this. Dru didn’t lose his cool. He had too much to lose, but for Marli and the boys, he would lose it ten times over.
“I’m going to have to ask you all to leave. We can’t allow rowdy visitors in the ICU.” Another nurse walked over to them.
“No, please, they’ll leave.” Marli pleaded with the woman. Her words hit Dru in his core. Slowly, he approached her. She couldn’t be talking about him.
“I ain’t going no damn where; that’s my mutha fucking son,” Max boasted, hitting his fist against his chest.
“Shit, me neither.” Dru stared into Marli’s eyes.
“Simp ass nigga!”
“Aye, Max, fuck you!” Dru barked.
“Bit—”
“Just go, please, just go!” Marli interrupted. Her mouth was saying one thing, but her eyes were saying another.
“Marli, I’m—”
“Dru, just go. He has a right to be here. I… just want to see my son.” She sobbed. Dru’s heart broke as he stared at her. Flashbacks of the night that broke his heart four years ago in the same hospital played in his head. Maybe he was naïve to think Marli was mature enough for a real relationship.
“You sure about that decision?” He glared at her. Marli didn’t say anything; she just nodded her head in defeat as tears stained her cheeks. Dru nodded his head. He felt like a fool. He was ready to go to war behind this girl, and this was how she played in his face.
“Bet.” He walked toward the elevator. Pulling out his phone, he texted his driver to pull around, not saying anything further. If she didn’t want him there, he would leave. He didn’t have time to play games with her ass. Say what you wanted about Janel, but she was always consistent; she knew what she wanted. As he stepped onto the elevator, Blue joined him. They rode in silence down to the hospital lobby. When they reached the exit, Blue grabbed his arm. He was the only nigga that could get away with some shit like that.
“She don’t really want you to leave. Give her a minute, bruh. This was a lot in a short time,” he pleaded.
“Man, fuck her!” he blurted, pulling away from his brother and heading to the car that had just pulled around.
“You don’t mean that!” Blue shouted at him, bringing his steps to a halt. He didn’t mean it, but he couldn’t stop the love he had for her in his heart. Turning around, he looked at his brother.
“Make sure her and the kids are good. Send me the bill for any and everything they need or want.”
Blue nodded his head before walking back into the hospital. Dru climbed inside the back of the black SUV. He’d be lying if he said his feelings weren’t hurt. He loved Marli, but maybe it was too late for them to be more than they had already been.
“Where to, boss?” the driver asked, looking at him through the rear-view mirror.
“Janel’s house,” Dru replied, pulling out his phone to text her he was on his way.
Eleven
