Page 69 of I See You

But no matter how many times he swung, she was still there. Still in his fucking head.

???

Hassan stepped out of his house, freshly showered, his body still warm from the steam. Dressed in an all-black Nike tech, Jordan Concord 11s laced tight, and diamond jewelry gleaming against the afternoon sun, he moved with his usual quiet dominance. He slid into his Bentley, the leather cool beneath his fingertips as he gripped the wheel, and pulled off, the low rumble of the engine matching the storm brewing inside him.

The drive to the hospital was smooth, but his mind wasn’t. Helen was on her last round of treatment, and if this didn’t work… No. Don’t even think like that. He had done everything in his power to make sure she was in the best facility, a hospital specializing in pancreatic cancer, with top-tier doctors who owed him more favors than they could count. But even with all his resources, all his power, he couldn't control this.

When he arrived, he stepped out, his presence alone commanding attention as he walked through the doors. The staff greeted him with quiet nods, the kind that acknowledged both respect and fear. They all knew him—not just because of who he was in the city, but because he had poured money into this place the moment Helen was diagnosed. Every dime spent was to ensure she had the best care, that she was comfortable, that she had a fighting chance. He didn’t slow his stride as he made his way to her room. Knocking once, he stepped inside.

Harper was there, curled up on the couch, eyes rimmed red, her face tight with emotion. But Hassan’s gaze immediately landed on Helen. She looked… smaller. Frail. The wires attached to her seemed to weigh her down, draining what little strength she had left. His jaw clenched, though his expression remained unreadable. Seeing her like this—his grandmother—the strongest woman he had ever known, hooked up to machines, struggling just to exist, made something inside him burn.

“Wassup, Madea,” he said, his deep voice low, controlled, because that’s all he could offer.

Helen’slipscurledintoatiredsmile.“Oh,don’tyoustartthat tough guy shit with me. Bring yo’ ass here and give me a real greeting.” Hassanexhaledthroughhisnose,butthecornerofhismouth twitchedslightlyasheleaneddown,pressingakisstoherforehead.

She was still warm, still here. That was all that mattered. For now.

Harper sniffled from her spot on the couch, wiping at her eyes, but she quickly straightened when Hassan’s gaze flickered to her. She knew better than to show too much emotion around him—he wasn’t one for that soft shit.

“Shebeentalkin’aboutyouallday,”Harpersaid,tryingtocompose herself. “Asked me five times when you was coming.”

Helen weakly swatted at Harper, rolling her eyes. “And? Ain’t no shame in that. My boy don’t come see me enough.”

Hassanscoffed,pullingupthechairbesideherbed.“Madea,I was just here two days ago.”

Helen waved a dismissive hand. “And two days is too damn long. Don’t argue with me, San, I’ll still whoop yo’ ass from this bed.”

That made Harper chuckle softly, but Hassan didn’t smile. He just watched his grandmother, memorizing every little movement, every flicker of energy she still had, because deep down, he knew time was slipping away.

“Doctor say how you doin’?” he finally asked.

Helen hesitated, her eyes shifting slightly. “Same as last time, baby.”

Lie.Hassan’s jaw clenched. She was worse. He could see it. The way she breathed a little harder, the slight shake in her hands. But he didn’t push. He couldn’t. Because hearing her say she wasn’t getting better would make it too real, and Hassan wasn’t ready for that. Instead, he reached into his tech jacket, pulling out a velvet jewelry box. He set it on her lap.

“Got you somethin’.”

Helen’s brows lifted slightly as she opened it, revealing a diamond tennis bracelet glistening under the fluorescent lights.

“Oh, San…” she breathed, her voice soft, touched.

Hassan cleared his throat, leaning back in his chair. “Ain’t nothin’ crazy. Just somethin’ to match your ring.”

Helen traced her fingers over the diamonds, and for a moment, a genuine smile touched her lips. But then, her eyes lifted to him, full of something deeper, something that reached beyond the material.

"Enough of this sad shit. Hazel, baby, stop crying," Helen finally spoke, her voice softer than he was used to, but still firm. Harper quickly wiped at her damp eyes, trying to compose herself, though the sadness still lingered in her expression.

Helen’s gaze drifted between them, searching for normalcy. "How’s everything going?" she asked, her tone light despite the weight in the room.

Harper cleared her throat. "Umm... I just picked up a new client. He’s in the NFL." Her voice was subdued, but there was still a flicker of pride underneath the sadness.

"That’s great, baby." Helen smiled, and Harper returned it, even though her eyes still glistened.

Then HelenturnedtoHassan.Shedidn’tevenask—justwatched him, like she already knew the answer. Like she knew he wouldn’t say anything. And for some reason, that hit him in a way nothing else did. Hecouldignoreanyoneelse,shutthemout,brushofftheir concern. But his grandmother? The woman who had raised him, who had been the only one to ever see him? That was different.

Something about the moment—abouther—had him swallowing his pride. His mind flashed to Sevyn, the way she told him how much they worried about him, how his silence hurt them. And for once, he gave in.

"I’m opening another casino soon," he said, his voice even, controlled.

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