“No, I’m not hurt. I was just going around the corner to get the car…I should’ve been there for him the way he’s always been there for me.”
“The timing was just off, Ray. That’s all.”
“No, he’s never been late for me. I just…seeing him down like that…feeling his blood on my hands…I…this shit is ridiculous. Then the cops are asking me questions instead of me being in the room with him…”
He let out a breath then slid to the floor and put his head between his legs.
I got down on the floor with him and held him while he cried.
“Ray!” Savannah, his wife, said when she entered the waiting room.
“Are you hurt? What’s going on?”
I stood to give her the space she needed to console her husband.
Roc burst into the waiting room, looking around anxiously until he found us in the corner. Coco and two unfamiliar guys followed behind them.
“Momma V!” Roc rushed over to Vivian, “What happened?”
He pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her, “Have the doctors said anything?”
“No, they haven’t,” Vivian cried.
“I’m going to go and find out what the fu…heck is taking so long,” Roc moved away from Vivian headed out of the room.
“No, Roc,” Countee stepped in front of him placing his hand on Roc’s shoulder.
Roc slapped Countee’s hand off of him. Countee took in a deep breath and stepped back.
“Let them do their work. They will come and find us,” Countee finished.
“Who the fuck did this shit to my brother?” Roc looked at Countee waiting for him to answer.
“I have my best guys on it. We’re looking…”
“Naw, fuck that!” Roc yelled. He turned to speak to the guys that came into the room with him. “I want the street gutters running with blood until you find who shot my brother. If you ask somebody and they don’t give you enough information, take em out. If you ask somebody and they know the nigga but can’t tell you where he is, take ‘em out. If you can’t find this nigga find his momma, daddy, grandma, kids…if they share the same bloodline, kill all of ‘em.”
The guys nodded their understanding.
“No! Roc!” Vivian yelled, “This is not what Samuel would want.”
“Somebody that shot my blood is walking around right now in my city, and they think they are safe? No, Momma V. This nigga and everybody that knew what he planned on doing is dying tonight!”
“Roc, please! Coco, please tell him this is not right!” Vivian cried.
“Roc, come on baby. This is not the time to make decisions like this. Didn’t you tell me not to make rash decisions when I’m hurting or upset?” Coco said.
“Now is not the time for lectures,” Roc fumed, “I don’t want to hear that shit. If it was one of your sisters, you would blow a neighborhood up over them.”
“That’s true, and I will do it for El too but, I’m asking you for right now, please don’t send them out there blind,” Coco pleaded.
“What the fuck is y’all still standing here for?” Roc looked at the two men.
They turned to leave.
“No!” Coco yelled.
The men stopped then looked at Roc then Coco.