Page 231 of The Ninth

I hopped up, catching Cassie before she fell off my lap. Instead of dragging her along with me, I just held her body up under my arm like a fucking pocketbook. I followed quickly behind my mama, holding my breath until I got to my brother’s room. Once we got to the doorway, I paused briefly.

The smell of ammonia burned my nose. All I could picture was Tevin laying on that tray. Even though they saying Man-Man was up and active, my mind was tricking me to think the worst. Cassie’s hand slid across my chest. I looked down into her eyes as my chest fell up and down.

“I love you, boah.”

“C’mon, baby. I’m with you.”

I walked into the room with Cassie clinging onto my side. My mama held Piper as they both silently cried in the corner. Micah and K2 stood off to the side, giving the two of them all the space they needed. As Cassie and I stood at the foot of the bed, she wrapped her arms around my waist with a warm smile on her face.

“How could you scare me like that...” Devyn whispered, hiccupping from the tears. “Four times, Duke? The breath left my body when I heard.”

“Four. Twelve. A hunnid. I’d do it all over again for you. I’m sorry for scaring you, my Devyn. I hope I’m never in that position again. But I would be at any moment’s notice, because I just love you so much. You’ll always have me rooting for you, protecting you, defending you. You’re worth so much.”

“Not your life!”

“Even my life.”

“I don’t know what to say...I was so scared for you...”

“I’m still here. Just tell me you love me.”

“Of course I love you. With every bone in my body.”

“I love you more.”

Cassie looked up at me, nudging me forward, “Go ahead.”

Devyn gave her last kisses to Man-Man before standing, walking away. Cassandra took her into her arms as I stepped around them, walking up on my brotha’s side. He looked up at me, smiling and shaking his head. I couldn’t even return the gestures.

“You was crying like a BITCH!” he managed to get out.

I cracked the fuck up laughing, “Aye, gang! You literally laid in that fucking backseat saying you could see the light, bitch. What the fuck was I supposed to think?”

“He cried in the waiting room, too!” Micah added in.

Cassie laughed as me and Man-Man looked back at him. Neither of us fucking asked! Of course, Piper immediately jumped to his defense, saying we should’ve left him in the country with her. I looked back down at my brotha.

“That shit was crazy, folks.”

I scoffed, “Who the fuck you telling? It’s all over, though. Streets cleaned up just like we said they would be. We just need to get you home.”

“Although they put me under...I still had a strong sense of awareness. I knew I had to fight to keep my promise to you. We lost a brother and I’ma do anything I can to stay here with you, Kenzo. A piece of us died when Tevin left. Never again.”

“Ever. It’s us, gang. Even in the afterlife.”

“On granny.”

I smacked hands with my brotha before hugging him tightly. Devyn giggled as he looked up at Cassandra and rolled his eyes. She jerked her head back, so I knew she was about to say some fly shit.

“You acting funny when we all know yo whole ass out under that blanket, big funky hoe!”

K2 cracked up laughing, walking to his son the same time my mother did. They both asked him a million questions about how he felt while adjusting his pillow, the bed, and his blankets. Micah gave Devyn a hug as she spoke to Piper. My beautiful wife stood in the same spot, watching me instead of the sweet scene in front of us.

She made her way to me, standing on her tippy toes to kiss my lips. Whenever she kissed me, I felt special. Like a nigga hit the jackpot. She looked at me and smiled softly,

“We’re going to be okay. Together and okay. It’s only the beginning for us.”

“I promised you my life, Crybaby.”