II. Industry

Chapter 24: Testimony

Rashad.

I stood by the hospital bed and held onto her hand as tears spilled out of my eyes. I couldn't believe this is where we end up. I knew I shoulda made her stay home and none of this would be happening. She wouldn't be laying here and I wouldn't have never kissed Tinashe.

"Tamara, baby, can you hear me? If so, move your fingers," I looked down at her hands and I saw no movement. I sighed.

"Well, I want you to know that I love you and Ion know what'd I do if I lost another person close to me. You're my everything, I may have done some ruthless things in the past, but I've learned from them and if you just pull through, I promise that you'll have nothing to worry about. I'll do anything for you to be with me right now. You gotta fight for the kids as well. They need a mother in their life and you more than anyone knows what it's like to grow up without one. I heard you hit your head pretty bad. I told you it was big as hell," I laughed lightly as a tear fell onto her palm. "I love you so much. Just please, please, pull through," I pleaded.

"Hall. Now," BJ said sternly while peeping his head through the crack.

"Can it wait? I'm tryna be by my wife's side since she's sick," I said with annoyance.

"No. It can't. Visiting hours are almost over,"

"This is my wife. They said I can stay all night,"

"Why do you keep putting emphasis on the word 'wife'? We all know you're staying, just step out for a sec,"

I sighed then raised her hand toward my lips before pressing them against it.

"I love you," I muttered before brushing my lips against it then placing her hand back down gently.

I stepped outside then closed the door behind me quietly.

"What the fuck do you want that it couldn't wait," I growled.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Somebody wanna talk to your crazy ass,"

"Ion wanna talk to nobody right nah. All I wanna do is talk to Tamara until she wakes up," I explained to him.

"Just holla at 'em right quick," He sighed.

I rolled my eyes then shrugged. "Where they at?" I asked.

He pointed toward a light skin male with big tattoos on his arms. He turned toward us and I growled. Zoey. I coulda sworn I murked that nigga.

"Oh hell nah. Ian talkin to him. He tryna get revenge and Ian for that,"

"Isn't he your brother?" BJ asked while pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"Yeah and I don't care. We weren't raised together and our 'mom' didn't raise me either," I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth repeatedly.

"I feel you. Go check on you-,"

"You better than us now?" Zoey's smart ass snarled at me.

"Don't fuck with me bruh. You ain't nun of my fam and Ion want you to be. Just carry on your lil' life like you been doin with out me," I snapped.

He chuckled harshly. "Nah. You killed my moma and since you don't have one, you better watch them pretty little babies," He smirked.

Without thinking, my fist connected with his mouth and BJ snatched me up and carried me back into Tamara's room.