Page 31 of Papa's Beloved

“Oh, fun. Am I invited?”

If the sound of his voice didn’t make me nauseous, the hand on the shoulder did the trick. I pull away and turn around to see Doctor Montgomery.

“Never put your hands on me again.”

He sneered at me. “What are you going to do about it, nurse?”

“Fuck around and find out, Montgomery.”

“Bitch.”

I feel a sting across my jaw. The bastard hit me. Without thinking, I kick out, catching his knee. As he falls to the ground, I strike him again, breaking his nose. He screams like a little kid in their first horror house. He scrambles to get off the floor, but I am ready for him. I kick out and catch him in the jaw, knocking him back on his ass.

By this time, several orderlies are here, standing in between us.

“You’ll never work in this city again. You stupid black bitch.”

“Oh, I think you’re the one that won’t be working in this city again,” I hear Doc say behind me.

Chapter 24

Papa

We let the scumbag stew for a few hours. The prospect hosed him down with frigid water two hours ago and threw him back in the cell, naked and shivering. Poor dumb bastard thinks he’s tough. If he had pants, he’d piss them when he sees Smoke’s dead look.

The Dawgs are a pain in the ass, but until recently they were all low-level thugs still wet behind the ears. Maybe not to the average citizen, but I’ve been to places that make the sandbox look like a play date.

Gambit stands up. “You bunch ready?”

“Hell yeah,” I say, pushing up from my chair.

My phone ringing stops me. I wave the others on and answer the call.

“Gabe.”

“Jimmy, what’s up brother?”

“I need you to find an awol relative. Our great Aunt Evie’s adopted brat. He ran away a few months ago after they had an argument. The kid slapped her and knows we’re looking for him to kick his ass. Anyway, he was spotted in your area. I’ll send you a text with his name and picture.”

“After I beat some sense into him, am I sending him home or feeding him to the gators?”

“I’d say keep your options open. If a nineteen-year-old kid can hit a seventy-four-year-old woman, who knows what he’s capable of?”

“If I think he needs to be put down, I’ll take care of it. When are you coming for a visit?”

“When are you going to do right by Nay?”

A wide smile spreads across my face. “She finally agreed to be my ol’ lady.”

“Woo, hell yeah. You better put a ring on that.”

“I will, but I have some trash to take out first. Her uncle is alive.”

“Bastard. No fucking way! How?”

“No idea, but we’re on it.”

“Maybe I’ll come down sooner. If I do, you’re putting a ring on it early, so start shopping.”

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