Page 32 of Papa's Beloved

“Why don’t you get your ass here and we’ll shop together?”

“Fine. We can freak out the new kids who don’t know you have a twin. Better looking, but still.”

“We’re identical twins, dipstick.”

“So you say. See you on the flip,” Jimmy says and ends the call.

My parents named us Gabriel James and James Gabriel. Lucky me, I was born two minutes early. I grew up Gabe until my military days. The men started calling me Papa in reference to Papa Legba because of my spiritual preference.

Also, because I’ve dressed as him occasionally to increase the intimidation factor. Wait until Linden gets a look at twins. Two signs of death. Death to the uneducated. Most don’t understand Legba’s true purpose and, frankly, it’s not my job to educate them.

I’m nearly to the door of the anteroom when my phone rings again. I look at my phone. It's Doc.

“You need to get here now. Nay needs you.”

I disconnect the call and run through the anteroom. They already have the guy strung up. Gambit turns to look at me, the smile frozen on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Doc called, it’s Nay.”

“Let’s roll brother. Smoke, you got this?”

“You know it.”

Gambit follows me out to the sleds. We’re on our bikes and headed toward the gate at top speed. Someone must have alerted the prospect on duty. The gate opens and we sail through, hitting the open road and shifting gears.

We may have run a few red lights, but we made the twenty-five minute drive in twelve minutes. I barely have the kickstand down before I take the keys, dismount and run inside.

I fly through the halls until I get to Nay’s section. I see Doc, two cops I don’t know, and hospital security. I don’t see Nay anywhere.

“Where is she?”

Chapter 25

Nay

Igot fired. Can you fucking believe that? The dick hits me first and I get fired. I’m so mad I can’t think of anything but putting my fist in Lord Fuckyou’s face or maybe kicking him in his tiny, non-existent nut sack.

I left without grabbing my purse, phone, or anything else.

I speed walk to the park. Taking deep breaths and trying to expel my anger as I walk. I’ve barely burned through my anger when I hear a raised voice.

I hurry toward the sound. When I round the corner there on a bench, I see an older woman cowering as an older teenage boy towers over her, yelling.

“I already told you to hand it over, you stupid old bitch.”

When he draws back to hit her, I don’t think. I sprint the distance and launch myself at the kid. We tumble to the ground. He pushes me off and tries to slam my head into the ground. I twist his legs up in mine and take him back to the ground.

As soon as he hits the ground, I’m up. I grab his head and smash it into the ground twice before he’s up and coming at me. He lands a blow before I get out of range. I had Johns that hit harder so he didn’t ring my bell.

I lose track of the older lady. I hope to hell she’s making her way to safety.

“I’ll kill you, bitch.”

Papa

“SHE’S NOT HERE, MAN. She took off after she got fired,” Doc says.

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