Let Them In (Book 3.0) -INTERSEX

Chapter 35

Hope

Grayson's cries subside, and my own tears follow suit. I've been sitting on the floor with Imani for ten minutes. The longer she remains unconscious, the more difficult it becomes for me to breathe.

Having diabetes is like a life living on eggshells. Imani never ceases to amaze me with her strength, always wearing a smile regardless of the severity of her condition.

Thankfully, she is still breathing and has a pulse, though she hasn't woken up yet. I can't bring myself to take her to her mother before she wakes up. I need her to regain consciousness. The thought of losing her causes my chest to tighten, and I struggle to hold back tears.

As my mother hangs up the phone with my father, she announces, "Ray is almost here with another truck. I have somewhere special to bring this jackass."

"Liv, get this dumbass's other side." Papa Alex says as they both hoist George's battered body and carry him out the door.

"Hope, take Imani to the car with Gray and Teagan," Mom says as she walks out the door. I shake my head, and she stops in her tracks, looking at me.

"The shot will work. She will wake up, baby, but you need to bring her to Iris, get her real food, and rest."

Her optimism is what I need to hear, even if she can't be sure the shot will work. I lift Imani and walk with Teagan and Grayson back to the car.

Iris and Faith are waiting outside the van with arms crossed, eager for news. We approach them, and Faith's face instantly lights up as she rushes to her son as quickly as her body allows.

"George cut his arm," Teagan informs her, showing the wound. "He's going to be okay, though." My sister showers Grays with kisses and holds him tightly.

Iris turns to me, concern etched on her face as I carry her six-year-old daughter out of the building.

"Hope, what the hell happened? What's wrong? Is she just asleep?" She hurries over and tries to take Imani from my arms, but I hold her tighter, walking past Iris to the back seat. I lay her down, gently checking her pulse and breathing once more.

"Hope!" my girlfriend yells, panic rising in her voice.

Without thinking, I pull her into my embrace and start crying again. She holds me tightly, looking back at her daughter without leaving my arms. "She's fine, Iris. She got too low. But I gave her a shot. She will be fine." I sigh deeply as her nails dig deeper into my back.

"Baby, she's had lows before. You know what to do. Why are you crying?"

"Because she's my daughter, and I can't imagine losing her," I whisper. "My heart hurt worse than telling you I loved you for the first time."

She starts laughing, and we hear movement behind us. "Mama?" Mani says, slowly waking up.

Iris rushes to her side. "I'm here, baby." She tries to pick her daughter up, but Imani groans and shakes her head.

Instead, she reaches out for me, crying Mama again. I waste no time in picking her up and holding her against my chest again. This is the first time she has called me that. I can tell Iris is shocked, but I'm not. Imani is my daughter. No matter how much I disliked kids before her, I have grown to love the gremlin with everything in me.

"Mama, that man was an ass," she says, laying her head back down on my shoulder. We all burst into laughter.

"I know, baby girl. He won't be bothering you guys anymore," I reply, kissing her forehead.

"Good because his breath smelled like botty hol..."

"Okay, that's enough, little girl. What do you want to eat?" her mother interjects, cutting her off.