Page 108 of Crossing Lines

Thinking of Kross makes my heart skip. “Me too. Thank you, Chavonne.”

“Mmhm.” She returns my design pad. “Good job.”

Fury bubbles in my body as I leave the office. I can’t believe Iree did that to me. And for what? Because I’m with Kross, and she isn’t?

Jealousy sure can turn people ruthless.

FORTY-FOUR

I’ve been sitting at Mama’s bedside for over an hour, waiting for her to wake up. It isn’t the first time I’ve raced to the hospital to see her wounded from an attack in the streets. But it hurts all the same.

“Hey, bro,” Cairo says quietly, entering the room in his blue scrubs. “I had to handle schedules. So I couldn’t come down sooner. What did the nurse say?”

I drag my palm over my face and slump back in the chair. “Aside from her swollen jaw and eye, the x-ray showed she has a fractured rib and bruised abdomen as if someone punched her there repeatedly.”

“Damn,” he exhales and squeezes my shoulder.

“Shanae says they’ll see how clear she is once she wakes up. They gave her the IV for dehydration.”

“Shanae’s a good nurse. Nosy, though.”

I snort. “She was grinning when I mentioned we’re friends. She feeling you?”

“Mmhm. Anyway, how you doing, man?”

I sigh. “At a loss. I’ve tried so hard over the years.”

He gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, man.”

“Mmm…” Mama moans in pain, her eyes fluttering until she opens them and looks at me. The swollen left eye is barely a squint. “Son…”

I touch her hand. “I’m here, Mama. How do you feel?”

“I’m fine,” she rasps.

“Let me get Shanae,” Cairo offers, leaving us alone.

Mama takes a deep and painful breath. “It’s good to see you, son. I’ve missed you.”

“Who beat you up?” I ask seriously. “Give me the name and description.”

She turns her head on the pillow. “Don’t fuss about it. I don’t want you going to jail. Ohh…” She touches her bruised jaw. “Some fucker robbed my stash. It’s stupid.”

I click my tongue, push from the chair, and walk to the window. “Mama, can’t you turn your life around now? I’ve been begging you for years. Can you please do it now? Between the drugs and crooks, you’re going to end up killed.”

“You know it’s hard.” She sniffles. “I’m a lost cause, son. You should give up on me.”

I peel around and look at her hard. “I probably should. Yet here I am, still hoping like an idiot.”

She ducks her eyes in shame. “I need to get out of here. I don’t have money to pay hospital bills.”

“Don’t worry about it. I got it.”

She frowns. “Kross…”

“Hi, Ms. Krueger,” Shanae politely greets as she enters with Cairo behind her. “Glad to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been through worse,” Mama grates. “When can I leave?”

---