Page 6 of Wolf

“Bingo. Girl, what am I going to do all day locked away with that man?”

“Fuck him. Girl, what else? Now is your chance to live out your fantasies.”

I scrunched up my nose at her. “What fantasies? Wolf is easy on the eyes but he’s Abel’s best friend.”

“Alexis, cut the shit. The two of you have had this thing. If you don’t believe me, you will see when you’re alone with him. Your brother being his best friend will not be able to stop the inevitable.”

Joy had the situation confused. I never thought of Wolf like that. Well correction, I haven’t thought of Wolf that way since I was in college. There was that one drunken night where I embarrassed myself and told Wolf I always thought he was so fine. The thought of that night still haunted me whenever I saw him. Wolf was cool about it when I sobered up. He told me all was forgotten. It was easy for him to forget. He wasn’t the one that embarrassed himself.

The Safe House

Alexis and Joy walked back into my hospital room. Abel, Will, and I were in the midst of a discussion about the driver that was scheduled to transport me.

“We already paid your driver a visit. He knows what time it is when he gets here,” Will said.

“Cool. We would hate for this to be his last trip,” I expressed. I noticed the look of confusion between Joy and Alexis but didn’t acknowledge it. There were still things she didn’t need to know. Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket.

“Wolf, our ride is here,” Alexis said.

I nodded in agreement and watched as Abel made his way over to his sister. He pulled Alexis in for a hug then whispered something in her ear. After a short exchange, he kissed her cheek. I noticed a tear fall down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. My eyes never left her as Abel made his way over to me.

“I don’t have to tell you this, but take care of my sister. She will be a little sad, but I’m sure you will find a way to keep her mind off all of this,” Abel explained.

“Bro, I got Alexis, don’t worry. Let’s focus on handling these First Street fools so we can all get back to normal,” I affirmed.

“You’re right. Do whatever she says to get your arm back up. I know how you get when you don’t get to ink anyone. Love you, bro,” Abel said.

“Love you too.” We dapped each other up and hugged, then Abel left the room.

Alexis looked like she was about to cry.

“No tears, Lexxy, he will be fine,” I assured her.

Alexis didn’t say a word as she brought the wheelchair close to the bed. I was fine to walk, but the pain medication made me a little woozy. Once I was in the wheelchair, we were good to go. Will and Joy followed us as Alexis led the way to a door that was labeled employees only. There was too much uncertainty surrounding the shooting for us to go out the main entrance. Since it was dark, I didn’t get a good look at who shot me. Alexis made sure Abel went out this way when he left as well. He knew his way around the hospital from visiting her here.

As we approached the ambulette driver, he appeared to be nervous. Will approached him first. “Hey, Mack, remember what we talked about. This is precious cargo you’re carrying. Be sure to treat them as such, or you’ll be seeing me.”

Mack nodded his head in agreement then seemed to find his voice. “Yes, sir, just like we discussed. Get them to the house and make sure no one is following us. I remember everything we discussed. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

Will looked at him sternly then moved aside as Mack opened the back doors of the ambulette. I didn’t say a word as my uncle already handled the homie. When Alexis left the room with Joy, Uncle Will was sure to place a gun in my duffel bag. Most men didn’t take threats on their life too lightly. Mack could have nodded in agreement all day but one could never be too sure. I was caught slipping once, and it would never happen again.

Alexis pushed me toward the back of the ambulance then helped me stand up. I walked onto the ambulance and took the first seat that was behind the driver’s seat. My movements were slower than I would have liked, but I couldn’t focus on that. I had never been shot before, so this was a new experience for me. A painful one that I never wished to experience again that was for sure. Once I was comfortably in my seat, Alexis took the seat behind me. Will and Joy placed Alexis’s bags on the last seat in the row. Will placed my duffel under my seat.

Joy looked hesitant to leave Alexis now that she knew what was going on.

“You be sure to check in and let me know you’re good, cousin,” Joy said to Alexis.

“Of course. Who else am I going to talk to? No one else knows where I’m going,” Alexis said jokingly.

“Lexxy, take care of this knuckle head. I know he’s hardheaded, but we need that arm healed,” Will said.

“Y’all know I’m sitting right here, right?” I checked. They all looked at me then went back to their conversation as if I wasn’t there at all.

“Don’t worry, he will be fine. I’m going to keep a close eye on him. Promise me you will help Abel with this mess he has gotten himself into,” Alexis expressed.

“You know we look out for family. Abel will be back before you know it,” Will assured her.

“Alright, y’all. We got phones. We have to get out of here. Yo, homie, close this joint up,” I said to the driver.

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