Page 16 of Save Room for Us

“My brother, mainly Leeci, told me you was having trouble finding a job, which is wild because I’m looking for someone with enough medical knowledge to help me and my people,” he explained.

Analicia was gonna get a punch to the throat for all her fucking meddling.

“I am having some difficulty, yes, but what do you need with a person in the medical field?”

“In my line of work, people often get shot, injured and shit, and it’s not preferable for us to go to the hospital for treatment. But a lot of these fucking wounds need professional care. You get what I’m saying?” He stared me deeply in the eyes, and I could tell that whatever he did, he was in charge. He gave off head of the food chain vibes.

“I do.”

“So we need someone in-house that’s gon’ be ready to handle that around the clock.”

“Does your line of work happen to be within the streets?”

He chuckled again, and every time, I found something else about it that I liked. This time in particular, his pretty eyes sparkled, and I noticed a slight dimple in his face. It wasn’t as prevalent because of his facial hair, but I could see it.

“I’m gon’ keep shit real with you since I’m asking for ya help. So yes.” He gave one stiff nod.

“Oh, okay.” I ran my hands up and down my thighs. “I really appreciate you offering this to me, but honestly, I wouldn’t feel comfortable working with those types of people. Not that anything is wrong with you or them; it’s just being surrounded by a bunch of ruthless men doesn’t sound all that appealing to me in particular.” I cleared my throat. “Also, I’m only a nurse, not a doctor.”

“I know you not a doctor, but ya sister told me you were about to become a DNP, whatever the fuck that is. She made it clear you was damn near a doctor and if not, good enough.”

“Analicia knows a lot, huh?”

We chuckled in unison before he asked, “Can you treat bullet and stab wounds? Provide sutures? IVs, shit like that?”

“Well, yeah but?—”

“Then we good. That’s all I need.”

“Okay, but even if I said yes, I cannot provide that type of care in a warehouse or a home. I would need a facility or at least an area with all the necessary tools.”

“If I had a space like that set up for you, you’d do it?” He eyed me for a moment, then continued. “The pay would be double or triple whatever the fuck you was making.”

“You don’t know what I made.”

“I don’t care what you made. Tell me what it was, and I will triple the shit.” He shrugged as if it were nothing.

Damn, this was tempting. Making triple what I was paid at the hospital would be crazy.

“Sounds good.” I looked down into my lap briefly, then back at him. “Will I have security? If patients can get crazy, I know them niggas you’re working with can.”

He tittered a lowly, and it made me smile.

Licking his lips, he replied, “Niggas ain’t crazy enough to bother you.”

“Right, because I shot my ex.”

“Nah, ’cause them muthafuckas ain’t trying to answer to me.”

His face was as serious as his tone, and I believed him.

“Is it okay if I think about it?”

“Go ’head, and don’t worry about losing the position to somebody else. This offer is for you only.” He stood up.

I got caught up in staring at him, so I stood too. “Alright. Well, I will be in touch, Asif.”

“Let’s exchange numbers.” He handed his iPhone off to me with a new contact sheet up.

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