Protector.

07.

Kentrell.

"Stop fuckin' actin' like that and let me kno' if she okay," I hollered into the phone leavin' Wynnie another voicemail. It had to be nearly my 50th one. She wasn't replyin' to my texts or nothin'.. Not even my email.

"Man Wynnie stressin' a nigga out," I announced not botherin' to pass the blunt which was between my fingers. I needed it more than anyone in the damn room at this point. Every other day people get shot out here in BR I'm jus' hurt that it happened infront of my kids, Wynter, and A'melia. Meli gon' be good I jus' know it. I jus' needed Wynter to tell me that shit tho.

"You know who did it?" Three asked while loading up his AK.

I nodded, "had to be Marlo.. Dat bitch ass nigga we fought at tha strip club." I knew all too well it was that bitch ass nigga. I know I had a lot of enemies but this weak ass shit had him written all over it. I wanted to put the barrel of this nine inbetween his eyes and blow that fuckin' face off Wynter loved so much. I could never understand why she continued to deal with that nigga, he tried a little too hard to get her and I hated that.

My phone rung on my thigh which erased my thoughts from my mind.

"Hello Wynnie, what happened? She good?" I asked rushin' her with many questions. I was jus' nervous as hell.

She sighed, "A'melia is fine.."

My heart beat suddenly stopped bein' irregular. "Good you need me to come up there?" I wondered while havin' Three eye me closely.

"No Kentrell you've done more than enough, if you wouldn't have gotten A'melia from school today she wouldn't have been in this predicament anyway!" She hollered into the phone. She was right but I wasn't going to let her ass know that. I kissed my lips before I thought about what to say, "shut the fuck up big headed bitch, as long as she good that's allat matters," I paused and looked at the gun I held tightly in my hand. "That bitch Marlo gon' pay."

"Did you hear anything I said to you the other day Kentrell?" She grew quiet for a minute. "Killing him won't solve anything.. Blood will continuously be shed and mother's will bury their children."

I shrugged my shoulders, "okay I hope he have a nice service," I hung up the phone and tossed it aside.

"Lets roll tha fuck out."

Wynter.
I stared at A'melia as she was sound asleep from the strong medication she was receiving. She had to get stitches and she cried over and over, until she fell asleep. She didn't quite understand the severity of the situation, she just understood the pain. I placed her small body onto her bed since my body was growing uncomfortable while she was laying on my chest.

I ran my fingers through her thick curls, soothing her more.

My phone rung on the small table, I saw it flashed Marlo. I bit down on my botton lip wishing he'd just give up calling me. I had no clue if he was the one behind the incident but I really didn't feel like talking to anyone.. Kentrell would kill me if I continued to conversation with Marlo anyway. But then again I'm not friends with Kentrell anymore, as of today.

The screen flashed with messages.

Marlo: call me

Marlo: I heard wht happen y'all ok?

Marlo: pls call me bck

They weren't even minutes apart, more like seconds. I grabbed the phone and unlocked it. I dialed his number but didn't push call. I just stared at the screen unsure. Please god send me a sign, I thought to myself.

The phone rung once more, Marlo.

"Hello?" I quickly answered. "Yea' I been tryna call you since I seen your post.. Baby girl okay?" He wondered caringly. I nodded while stepping into the hall and I rubbed my arm, "she's fine just in pain from being grazed by a bullet.. I'm just thankful it wasn't so severe."

"Whea' was she at?" He asked.

"Hanging with her little cousins and we were about to leave and they started shooting.." I looked around making sure no nurses were eyeing in on the conversation. "You know who did it?"

I bit my bottom lip, "no..."

"I'm coming up there.. Which hospital?"

"Baton Rouge cildren's hospital," I replied.

"Alright, did you eat today?" He asked.

I sighed, "I can't eat my stomach is in knots.. Its been in knots."

"I'll find you somethin' baby girl."

I smiled while blushing at the same time. Marlo was so caring for my well-being, that's what made him most attractive. He cared about my mental and physical state of mind. "You can try that doesn't mean I'm going to eat it."

_____

I bit into the crispy chicken sandwhich feelings the juiciness flow down my chin. "Damn girl for someone who wasn't goin' to eat you sure is doin' just' that," he teased while reaching over and wiping my chin.

"Shut up I was starving," I sipped the large Sprite.

He looked over at A'melia and shook his head, "whoever did that shit goin' to pay on my soul," he said. I noticed how his jaw was rather tense showing he was rather upset about the overall incident. "You have any clue who did it?" He asked while massaging his large hands into my bare feet.

I shook my head unsure, "I wish I did."

"I'll find out," he insisted.

I don't think him or Kentrell would ever listen to anything I say. They both had the same mindsets, stuck in the street life. "I don't think doing that will solve anything Marlo.. I'm just happy my baby girl is still here, it could've been worse but it isn't."

"True I won't do nothin' if you really don't want me too," he then leaned over and placed a kiss onto my lips causing me to smile.

"Thank you."