Page 103 of Intercept My Heart

“It’s Tootie. She’s in the hospital. The hospital has been trying to get in touch with you.” My stomach twisted, but I tried to put on a front as if the news didn’t bother me.

“Okay, what are you calling me for?”

“Tootie, Rhyann, and two of her friends were in a really bad car accident. One of the other young girls died on the scene, and everyone else is in critical condition. The doctors are saying there is a possibility—” He stopped speaking, which caused me to pull my phone back to make sure I hadn’t lost connection.

“Hello?” I could hear faint movement in the background, so I knew he was still there.

“Fuck!” Uncle Ro roared before I heard some things crash in his background. I pulled into the restaurant to get the boys their food, but my appetite disappeared. I had a feeling my night wasn’t going to go the way I planned.

“Y’all head inside and place your orders. We’re gonna get them to go.” I spoke to them. Cash had a worried expression on his face, and when I looked back, his brother wore a matching look. “Go ahead.” I handed them a hundred-dollar bill to cover the cost of their food.

“Do you want me to order for you?” Cash inquired.

“I’m not hungry. I’ll wait for y’all you out here.” I needed to keep it together while they were in my presence, so I forced a smile to reassure them. They both glanced at each other before finally getting out of the car. After they were a distance away, I focused my attention back on the call. Uncle Ro was still tearing something up in the background, and I became worried.

“Unc! Are you good?”

“I fucked up. I thought I had more time, but now my time might be up.” His voice cracked, sending me into a panic. In all the years I’d been on this earth, I’d only witnessed Uncle Ro cry one time, and that was when they poured dirt over my father’s grave. Even then, the tears only lasted for a short while.

“Where are you right now?”

“I’m on my way to my jet now. I should be there in a couple of hours. Look, I understand you’re still mad, and I’ll take that. However, I think you need to make your way up there. If Tootie doesn’t—” His words were cut off, and it sounded like he was crying.

“I need you to get there as soon as you can. I sent you the address. I’ll be in the air, so my service may not be the best, but I asked the doctor not to make any decisions until we’re both there.” I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. I had the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I prayed that I was wrong. Yes, I was upset about them keeping secrets from me, but I never even considered one of them leaving me before I got the chance to forgive them.

“I’ll be there.” I disconnected the call, resting my head against the steering wheel. Whenever I thought things were finally starting to work out, another curveball hit me. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go, and I found myself replaying our last moments in my head. Tootie had always been in my corner. When my parents died, she would sit up with me until I fell asleep. She would listen to my stories about them and tell me how proud they were of me.

She had her flaws, but nobody else in this world could replace her. I still had so many questions I needed answered, so I prayed the Lord would spare her life. I needed her, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t afraid to admit it.

“We got you some mild wings just in case you get hungry later,” Cash voiced as they got back into the car.

“Thank you.”

“Are you good?” Moolah inquired with his eyebrow raised. I never got around to telling them about my family, and I wasn’t sure how to explain things to them now. However, they were going to find out, so I guess I really had no choice.

“We have to head to my hometown.”

“Why does it sound like this isn’t a good trip?” Cash inquired.

“It isn’t. I’ll explain everything to you once we get there.”

“Okay, cool.”

Neither of them asked any questions after that, which I appreciated. They trusted me enough to know I wasn’t taking them anywhere unsafe. The two of them ate and talked among themselves for the rest of the ride while the music played in the background. I appreciated their company because it gave me somewhat of a distraction. Although I wasn’t ready to face whatever awaited me, knowing they were with me made it a little easier. If nothing else, they would be able to meet the woman who gave me life, even if it was for the last time.

“Are you okay?”

I smirked, as this was Moolah’s fourth time asking in the last hour. We were in the waiting room waiting for an update on Tootie and Ryann. I hadn’t been in this hospital since my parents were shot. The memories weren’t as clear, but I would never forget. One minute, we were leaving the movies, laughing and planning the rest of the night. The next thing I knew, there were bullets flying everywhere.

I still remembered the sounds my mother made as the bullets entered her body. She called out to me and told me to get on the ground. My father beat her to it as he pushed me behind a truck in the parking lot. He demanded I stay down while I watched him retrieve two guns. The smell of gunpowder and blood permeated the air.

“I love you, Son. Don’t you ever fucking forget that! You hear me?” My body was underneath the truck with my hands over my ears because the sound of the guns was too loud.

“Yes, sir. I-I love you too. Is Mommy okay?” Silence. The sound of tires screeching scared me, but my father always told me that we Sutton men had to be strong no matter what was going on.

“Dad?”

Bow. Bow. Bow.

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