Page 11 of Cannon
We stood there, locked in silence, my hand still trembling from the contact. He looked at me like I was a stranger. Maybe I was.
“I’m taking her to a hospital,” I said, backing up.
“No, you’re not. She needs to learn what consequences look like.”
“She needs help.”
“And maybe if you weren’t so busy running your little strip club empire, she would’ve had it.”
Before I could lunge at him again, a female officer nearby stepped in.
“You can see her,” she said gently. “Just for a moment. This way.”
I rolled my eyes and stepped away. Javi was a detective in this city, but he didn’t have a lick of compassion. Cops like him scared me. They didn’t know how to, nor care to handle people with mental illness.
The hallway felt longer than it should’ve. Like time was stretching itself thin just to fuck with me. My heels echoed with every step. The scent of old coffee, sweat, and cheap sanitizer clung to the air like guilt. The officer opened a door and gestured inside.
ZaZa was sitting on a bench inside a small cell, wearing gray prison sweats and mismatched socks. Her hair was wild, her eyes wilder. The second she saw me, she shot up like she’d been hit with a live wire.
“Mommy!” she cried, racing to the bars, hands reaching through like a little girl asking to be picked up. “Please let me work for you! I can dance! I can really dance! I wanna be on stage like the other girls. Take me to Sylk Road, please! I can be just like Jupiter!”
My stomach twisted. I staggered back a step, mouth dry, throat closing.
She was glowing. Not with joy, but with mania. Her pupils were blown wide. Her voice was too high. Her movements too sharp, like she was trapped in some euphoric, invisible rave.
I turned to the officer, fury replacing my fear.
“If she’s not in a hospital within the hour, I will have every news camera in New York in your face. I will sue this city, this precinct, this department, and every damn cop in it. This is a sick girl. Not a criminal.”
The woman hesitated. “She was arrested for public intoxication.”
“And I’m telling you, unless you want the biggest lawsuit on your hands, get her to a hospital now!”
She then nodded. “We’ll start the transfer paperwork. She’ll be taken to the hospital for evaluation, but will remain under arrest.”
I exhaled so hard my knees buckled. I didn’t say thank you. I just stared at ZaZa, who was still smiling like she’d won something.
And all I could think was: God, is this my fault?
I passed these genes on to her. I should’ve taken heed when I learned that bipolar disorder could be genetic. This mental disease ruined my entire childhood, since my mother was plagued with it. My mother has bipolar and so much more.
Like my mother, ZaZa refuses to take her meds. But when she does, she’s leveled. My babygirl is enrolled at the New School for dance. She’s nineteen and one of the most talented dancers I’ve ever seen. I don’t even know why in her mania she would want to strip. There’s no way in hell I would allow her to do it.
While they worked on the transfer, I stepped back into the lobby. Javi had already left. He was no help at all. He’s been pretty hands off with our daughter since she turned eighteen. She’s been arrested two times before and he’s used his connections to get her out. But this time he didn’t.
I was left alone to deal with ZaZa’s ups and downs. But I was determined to get my daughter the help she deserved.
Once she was transferred, I went to the hospital to make sure she was situated. But since it was after visiting hours, I wasn’tallowed to stay. Restless, I headed to a bar that wasn’t too far from The Sylk Road. My mind and heart were heavy. Something had to shift soon or I was gonna lose it.
Chapter 5
Cannon
As soon as I left Reese’s spot, I took my ass to Walmart. I needed a few things so that I could jumpstart my plan. I had a few loose ends to tie up and the first thing I needed was a little cash to hold me over until I could get access to my real money.
Going to the store was a quick trip. Reese had given me $500 when I got out of prison for spending money. I was merely disgusted by it because I was used to being the one giving her money. But after tonight, I would be able to pay her back, with interest. I could never be one of those bum niggas that let a woman take care of me.
I tossed the bag of supplies in the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel, the crunch of gravel under the tires the only sound in the quiet parking lot. Midnight had swallowed the city whole, but I stayed wired, eyes sharp, adrenaline simmering under my skin like I was back on the yard.
