Page 36 of Dr. Bell

“One thing you’re gon’ learn about a Bell is thatweareloyal. You bear that last name now. Either you down to be a part of us, or you’re destined to be against us. Which is it gon’ be?”

He sat quietly for a minute and just let his eyes roam around my office. While he did that, I reviewed a patient’s chart and let him have the time he needed to get his thoughts together.

On a regular day, I saw at least twenty patients. While Bell & Associates offered emergency services, we were also a full-fledged urgent care and internal medicine office. Oftentimes, it was hectic around here. However, I loved it.

The chart I was in now belonged to a local senator. His diabetic labs were worse than the last time we spoke about his health three months ago. Tomorrow, he had an appointment to discuss his results, and as always, I was already prepared to hear him tell me how he was too young to have all these health problems. Really, he wasn’t disciplined enough to take better care of himself. Honestly, I was tired of trying to get him to do right by himself. As I typed notes into his chart, I shook my head, wishing this man would understand how bad off he was.

“You gotta give me yo’ word.”

My fingers stilled over the keyboard. Briefly, I studied Quilo. Standing, I moved from around my desk.

“Stand up,” I told him. He stood and immediately screwed his face up. I stuck my hand out, which he looked at as if it was a gun pointing at him. “I give you my word that Coco is eternally safe with me.”

His eyes met mine as he reluctantly shook my hand.

“I need something from you, though,” I said while tightening my grip. “I need ya word that everything you left in Orlando, stays there. As of today, ya life here is all you know. Humble, Peace, Bragg, and Kalm…those are ya brothers. This family is ya family. ‘Round here you follow my lead. Understood?”

He gulped, then nodded. “Aight.”

I slid my hands into the pockets of my scrub pants and sighed.

“So… Is this family like the mafia or some shit?” he queried hesitantly.

Chuckling, I answered his question with a shrug of my shoulders. “What gives you that impression?”

He pointed to my desk. “That gun is big as hell, Doc. Then, there’s securityeverywherewe go, chauffeurs, the way y’all move…”

We both chuckled then.

He sobered, then added, “Plus… You said ya’self you can make a body disappear.”

I tilted my head and sobered as well. “While we’re on the subject, no more bodies, Quilo.”

Defiance returned in his demeanor. “I do what I gotta do—”

“Which is call me…” I emphasized. As he shook his head in disagreement, I said, “This is not up for debate. The smell of blood can be addictive if you let it. Don’t let getting one body under ya belt make you think this life is a fuckin’ cake walk.”

As if what I said registered, his eyes quickly rounded before he glanced away.

“Aight,” he finally replied.

“A few more things. Next week, Pretty is signing you up for school. You’ll be going to Niceville Shores Preparatory High.”

“A prep school?” His face contorted. “Wit’ uniforms and sh—” He cut his words short before he cussed.

“Humble and Peace graduated from there. I think it’ll be a good fit for you.”

“I’on know about that,” he countered.

“I know about it. Do you play basketball? Football?”

“Neither.”

“Football it is.”

“What?”

“You need to keep ya’self busy.”

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