by Deja King
“I’ve been very lenient, but I need all of you to step off to the side. The doctor is about to come out,” the nurse informed us.
“Thank you and I apologize for my outburst.”
“It’s your mother. I understand.”
A few seconds later, the doctor came out, “How’s my mother?” I asked, before he even had a chance to speak.
“We’ve stabilized her and given her some sedatives. She’ll be on a ventilator for a few days.”
“But she’ll be okay, right?”
“Your mother’s heart did stop for a period of time. She died, but thankfully we were able to bring her back.
“Praise the lord, she’s alive,” my dad said, hugging me.”
“Precious is still with us, she’s a fighter. Our girl is back,” grandfather chimed in, and we all smiled, thanking god we had been given such a special gift today.
* * *
For the last few days, I had been walking around with no sleep. Endless consumption of caffeine was the only thing keeping my eyes open. I didn’t want to leave my mother, but now that both Nico and Genesis were out the hospital and I was feeling more confident she would be okay, I came home to get some rest. I also needed to think. I had to deal with Dale and Emory and tell Nico the truth about his fiancé. I couldn’t figure out how to explain to him that Ashley was really Tori and she worked for the brothers.
By now, Nico had to be trying to get in touch with her and wondering what the hell happened. I decided to try and call Tori myself. I needed to know if she had spoken to my father at all. When I dialed her number, it was disconnected. My next call was to Dale.
“Finally, you call. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days. How’s your mother?”
“Alive, but she’s still on the ventilator.”
“I’m so sorry, Aaliyah.”
“We need to talk, but not over the phone.”
“I’m sure you don’t want to leave your family, so I can come to New York.”
‘That would be good. When can you get here?”
“Emory and I have to wrap up a couple meetings today so I can take a flight first thing tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I then called Amir.
“Hey, I was just about to call you and see how you’re doing?”
“I’m decent. How’s Genesis?”
“He’s good. I’m trying to get him to take it easy, but you know my dad.”
“Of course, he’s stubborn just like mine, but listen, I need to see you.”
“Sure, when?”
“Can you come to my place now?”
“I have to make one stop. When I’m done, I’m on the way.”
“I’ll be waiting. See you soon,” I said, before hanging up with Amir. My mind would not be at ease, until I found out if Dale was in cahoots with Emory in setting my family up. If he was, then without hesitation, he would die in the same manner as his brother.
Precious
“Where am I?” I mumbled quietly, trying to open my eyes.
“Daddy, she just squeezed my hand. I think she’s waking up!”
“Nurse, get the doctor!”
“Where am I?” I mumbled a little louder this time.
“I can’t believe it. My mom is finally waking up!”
“Aaliyah, keep your voice down, we don’t want to startle her.”
I could hear all these voices and conversation taking place, but it was a struggle to open my eyes and see their faces. I continued to fight to do so, because it was time and I was ready. I wanted my life back.
“Nico…where’s Nico,” I finally managed to say when I opened eyes.
“Mommy! I’m so happy to see you,” she leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. I stared at her and then the man standing on the other side of my bed.
“Who are you people and where is Nico?”
“Doctor, something is wrong. My mother doesn’t know who we are. What’ going on?”
“I need both of you to step out for a minute, so I can examine my patient. “
The man and woman were hesitating. I could tell they were genuinely concerned and I wondered if they were friends of Nico’s that I had never met. “What happened, am I okay?”
“You’re fine,” the doctor replied. “I need the two of you to leave, now,” he said, turning back towards the man and woman. “I’ll come out and speak with you both when I’m done.” They finally left, but it was obvious to me they would’ve preferred to stay.
“Doctor, what is going on and why am I in the hospital?” I asked lifting my body up.
“Lay back down,” he said, gently putting his hand on my shoulder, directing me to fall back. “Don’t get alarmed. I’m going to ask you a few questions and answer them to the best of your ability. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Do you remember your name?”
“Of course. Precious Cummings.”
“Do you remember what happened to you?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Do you remember where you live?”
“A brownstone in Brooklyn, but I can’t remember the address. I live there with my fiancé, Nico. Is he here?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Can you find out? If he isn’t here, he must not know I’m in the hospital. He has to be going crazy. Please, call him, so he can come get me and take me home.”
“Precious, I need you to stay in the hospital for a little longer.”
“But I’m fine and I’m ready to go home.”
“We need to run some more tests before you’re able to go home. The nurse is going to come in and get you ready.”
“Can the nurse come a little later? All of a sudden I’m feeling somewhat tired again.”
“That’s not a problem. You get some rest.”
“Will do…and doctor?”
“Yes?”
“Please, don’t let those people back in my room. I don’t want to see anybody, but Nico.”
“I understand.”
“Thanks,” I said, closing my eyes. Within seconds, I began drifting off into a deep sleep. Images of Nico and I began flashing in my mind. The first time we met, the first time we had sex, and the first time he told me he loved me. He was my everything. We were the King and Queen of Brooklyn. I began to wonder if me being in the hospital had anything to do with some street beef. So many niggas was jealous of him and wanted what he had. I couldn’t help but think that maybe it was one of those low life mothefuckers that tried to take me out. It didn’t matter though. Nico and I had been through so much bullshit together; we would ride this out like we did everything else.
Aaliyah
“Doctor, what is going on with my mother?”
“Yeah, doctor. My wife didn’t even—I mean, my ex-wife didn’t even recognize us.”
“When Precious was shot, the impact her head took when she hit the concrete was extremely hard. Also, technically she died. Yes, it was for a short period of time, but she was dead. It’s not uncommon for some patients, when they endure those sorts of injuries, to suffer some memory loss.”
“Wait, you’re saying that my mother has lost her memory?”
“Yes, it seems that way.”
“But she asked for Nico,” my dad said.”
“That’s true. She does have some memory. How much, I’m not sure. She’s resting right now, but we’re going to run some more tests.”
“How long will this memory loss last…a few days?” I needed to know.
“It could be a few days, a few weeks, months, years, or your mother may never fully regain her memory. In these sorts of situations, there’s no telling. Like I said, we’re going to monitor her, run some more tests, but honestly, only time will tell.”
“Can we go see her?’
“Your mo
ther is resting. She also informed me that the only person she wants to see is Nico. If you know how to get in touch with Nico, I suggest you get him here as soon as possible. We don’t want to push her just yet. After we run the tests, then we can explain the memory loss to her; but you never know, seeing this Nico person might trigger her memory,” the doctor explained, before walking off.
“This can’t be happening. I get my mother back, but she doesn’t even know who I am.”
“Aaliyah, relax.”
“How can you be so calm? It’s not burning you up that’s she’s asking for Nico?”
“No. Honestly, I’m just relieved your mother is alive and awake. We can work through everything else. Remember, I’m the reason she’s in that condition. She was trying to save my life. If Precious had died, I would’ve never been able to forgive myself.”
“It’s not your fault mother got shot, but I promise you the people who are responsible will pay dearly.”
“Do you know who did this and if so, how?”
“No. I’m simply referring to that thing called karma. Everybody knows when you do wrong eventually you’ll have to answer for it.”
“That’s true, but the impression I got from your statement was that you planned on handling the situation personally. I’m trying to understand how that can be.” My father raised an eyebrow and stared at me with intensity.
“Daddy, you’re totally taking what I said out of context. I’m a bartender for goodness sake, remember.” From the cold glare Supreme was giving me, I could tell he wasn’t completely buying what I was trying to sell. Luckily, my grandfather came walking up and I welcomed the distraction.
“I got your text. Precious is awake, can I go see her?”
“She’s resting, but there’s a major problem, grandfather.”
“What is it?”
“You tell him, dad.”
“Precious, has partial memory loss.”
“What, she doesn’t recall the shooting? That’s not surprising, especially since she just woke up.”
“It’s deeper than that.”
“How deep?”
“Grandfather, she didn’t recognize me or daddy.”
“What!”
“But she did ask for Nico.”
“Nico? Why the hell would she ask for him?”
“That’s why I said partial memory loss because obviously, there are some people she’s familiar with.”
“What did the doctor say?”
“They’re going to run some tests, but basically only time will tell. He also said we should get Nico here, because seeing him might trigger her memory.”
“I already sent him a text. He said he was on the way,” I said.
“I can’t believe this shit. This family can’t seem to catch a break,” my grandfather said, shaking his head.
“Quentin, the important thing is Precious is alive. Everything else will work itself out.”
“How the hell can you be so calm about all this?”
“Grandfather, that’s the same thing I asked him. You’re taking it so well. I think it’s guilt, because mom took that bullet for him.”
“Supreme, you have nothing to feel guilty about. This war we’ve been in has been going on for over a year. First me, now your mother. Whoever’s responsible, I’ma kill them myself.”
“Not unless, I get to them first,” I muttered.
“I didn’t hear you, what did you say?”
“I just said, lets focus on mom getting better first. I’ll be right back. I have to take this phone call.”
“Okay, I’ma go find the doctor, so I can see what the hell is going on with my daughter,” I heard grandfather say, as I was walking off.
“Amir, hi. What’s the status?”
“Everything is straight. You’re in the clear to make your move now.”
“Excellent. I’m on it.”
“Cool, I got my men on alert.”
“I’ll be in touch.” As I was ending my call with Amir, I saw Nico coming through the door. “Dad, hi,” I said, giving him a hug.
“How’s your mom?”
“She woke up, so that’s a good thing, but she doesn’t remember who we are, but she does remember you.”
“She doesn’t remember anybody, but me?”
“So far, that seems to be the case. We’re hoping that once she does see you, that maybe it will help the rest of her memory come back.”
“Can I go see her?”
“The doctor said she fell back to sleep, but hopefully she’ll wake back up soon. While we’re waiting, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Let’s go sit down.” In my head, I had already decided what I would tell Nico about Tori. Everything would be the truth, except I planned on leaving out the fact I was a partner in the brother’s drug operation. Since Amir promised not to divulge that information, I felt confident I could keep my secret.
“You sound serious. Is there something else about your mother you need to tell me?”
“This isn’t about mother.”
“Is it you? Are you okay?”
“It’s not about me, either. It’s about Ashley. Have you spoken to her?”
“What made you ask about her?”
“We were supposed to meet for dinner so you could introduce me to her, but then the shooting happened.”
“That’s right. With all this chaos, I forgot about that,” Nico said, putting his head down.
“So, have you spoken to her?”
“No, I haven’t. I tried calling her after I got out the hospital and her phone was disconnected. I went to her apartment and there’s no trace of her. I’m not sure, but I’m worried that she might’ve become a victim in this drug war we got going on. I hate thinking the worst, but you’re old enough now, Aaliyah, to know how this game can go. There’s always danger in every corner.”
“You’re right.”
“Well, I’m hoping I’m wrong about Ashley. After your mother, I finally found love again for the first time and to think she could be taken away from me. That would be a hard pill to swallow.”
“There’s no easy way to tell you this, so I’m just gonna say it.”
“Say what?”
“Ashley isn’t who you think she is. Her name is really Tori.”
“I’m not following you.”
“She lied to you, daddy.”
“Lied?”
“Yes, she was hired to infiltrate your organization.”
“Aaliyah, what the hell are you talkin’ about?” Nico stood up and paced the floor for a second.
“This story is so bizarre and complicated, but you have to hear it. So, I’ma give you the short version.”
“Fuck that! I want the entire version and how did you find out? You don’t even know her.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I know her very well, but I know her as Tori, not Ashley. I was lied to just like you, daddy.”
“This makes no sense,” he said, sitting back down next to me.
“I’ve been dating this guy named Dale. I never told you about him because I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
“Why wouldn’t I approve?”
“Because he’s in the same business you’re in.” Nico nodded his head. I could tell by his unruffled face expression he wasn’t shocked by my admission.
“I see. So, what does he have to do with Ashley, or Tori? Whatever the fuck her name is.”
“She was working for them. They needed her to infiltrate a competing drug operation. I was told it was for a Dominican family. When I met Tori, she was very rough around the edges. Dale asked me to clean her up. Turn her into a lady and make her appealing to a drug kingpin, so I did. Never did I suspect that drug kingpin was you.”
“So, your boyfriend had you groom the woman that eventually snaked her way into my life.”
“Yes,” I said, swallowing hard. “The day I got to New York, Tori called me and was adamant that I met with her. That’s when she told me the truth about who she was. She also told me that Emory, Dale’s brother, was the one that hired her for the job. She wasn’t sure if Dale was in on it, too, but I plan on finding out.”
“You stay away from Dale. I’ll handle him and his brother. Where is she?”
“She wanted me to give you this,” I said, reaching in my purse and taking out the diamond engagement ring. “Daddy, she said she truly fell in love with you and I believe her,” I continued, before handing him the ring.
“Fuck her lies,” he yelled.
“Tori’s the one who warned me about the shooting at the warehouse. She did love you, daddy. She was trying to protect you.”
“She knew about that?”
“She didn’t know any of the details. Once Emory realized she was falling in love with you, he stopped giving her information. She eavesdropped on one of his conversations and she felt he was up to no good, and passed the info on to me.”
“So, your boyfriend and his brother are responsible for that hit at the warehouse?”
“Emory is, but like I said, I don’t know if Dale had any involvement.”
“Aaliyah, he’s the enemy. Delete him out your head the same way I’m deleting Ashley.”
“Daddy, let me find out the truth first. If Dale is involved, I know that he has to go and I want him to go.”
“Fine, do what you have to do, but I need to find Ashley. Nobody crosses me and gets away with it,” Nico said, before tossing the diamond ring in the nearest trashcan. I was tempted to dump that wastebasket over and retrieve the ring. I knew with the size and clarity of the diamond my father had to have spent a pretty penny but at this point it represented bad luck, so I let it be. Plus, I had much bigger issues to tend to.
I had to find out the truth about what role Dale played in the hit against my family. One thing Nico was right about, at the moment he appeared to be the enemy. If that turned out to be true, my dad wouldn’t have to worry about taking Dale out, because I planned on doing it myself.
