Page 8 of Dr. Bell

Her body… I swallowed hard because a nigga was that thirsty. Like a sculptor, I followed the lines of her slender, yet shapely dark brown figure, committing each dip, rise, and fall to memory. I checked her fingers for any sign that a nigga had her. Seeing that it was indeed bare, I was sure my favor had just entered my medical office.

Favor of the Lord… That was surely what I’d consider Pretty, and I didn’t know her. It concerned me that in all my years, I’d never understood what real instant attraction felt like. Neither had I ever dissected the scriptures like I was just now. It wasn’t even a stretch to consider that laying eyes on Pretty, was akin to love at first sight.

Rolling my neck to relieve the pressure in it, I had to abort Pretty from my thoughts. My life was unconventional and that was putting it mildly. Occasionally, I liked to paint the streets red. Especially in times when I felt idle. Twiddling my thumbsfor too long usually resulted in me lurking the streets for somebody to pay for whatever sins I felt they committed.

I went through twelve years of medical school and clinical rotations just to end up in business for myself. It wasn’t that I didn’t like hospitals, but I made more money out here than I could’ve ever made walking through a hospital’s hallways. Plus, the streets needed me. They trusted me. I kept niggas out of the line of law enforcement, which was a big deal out here.

Seeing as how these young dudes were at war with each other, a man like me was revered out here. There weren’t too many people willing to deal with the shit that came with the streets. On the other hand, I was born into this shit. My family built the code out here. So, not only was I revered, but I was also feared. Being the head of my family afforded me power in many places. It afforded me power that occasionally was a curse.

My phone vibrated, bringing my attention to the message I received.

Mama:The boys are done with their homework and about to eat dinner.

Me:I appreciate you.

Mama didn’t respond. She hated me thanking her for taking care of my sons while I was at work. She had her own household to tend to, but she made sure mine was in order, too. Since I didn’t have a woman at home, having her made being at the clinic much easier.

The thought of Pretty surfaced yet again.Fuck…Her scent had yet to vacate my person. It clung to me like it was trying to keep the memory of her at the forefront of my mind, as if I could forget her. Staring into her eyes had rendered me speechless and motionless. I had literally stopped and stared at her ass.

My office door cracked open. Humble, my oldest son, poked his head inside the door.

“Ready, Pops?”

Absently, I nodded. Without another word, he closed the door back. Standing, I grabbed my cell phone and keys, then went to do one last round before joining Humble and security at the back entrance where my Ghost was parked right outside the locked double doors. Just as I neared the exit, the intercom crackled with an incoming alert.

Shots fired at the corner of Spring and Dogwood. Injuries reported. All staff on standby.

I glanced at the two security guards manning the back door. Dogwood was just a few blocks up the street. That area of downtown was dominated by a crew led by a nigga named Hakeem. I wondered who the fuck set that nigga off.

“Sliding off just in time,” Stacy, one of the security guards, said as he dapped me.

Outside, the air was nice for summer and smelled heavily of the different foods being prepared by the restaurants nearby. Screeching tires alerted us all to a white Honda flying up Spring Street. After blowing through a red light, it whizzed right by us. A black sedan hot on its trail crashed into the back of the Honda, sending it spiraling out of control and smashing into the streetlight pole just steps from me. Immediately, the damaged Honda started smoking.

Foregoing my Ghost, I clutched my Glock in my hand and preceded Stacy and Zel, who went to investigate. Security, along with Antonias, ran from the front of the clinic to see what the fuck was going on, too. Two of Hakeem’s crew members that I recognized hopped out of the black sedan with their weapons drawn on the Honda.

“Aye!” I barked, gaining their attention. “Ain’t none of that over this way!”

Security knew how to move. They kept their guns trained on Hakeem’s niggas while I moved toward the Honda. Antonias was right next to me. Whoever was inside hadn’t moved, whichmeant they likely had injuries. I wasn’t sure what the hell had gone down. However, knowing Hakeem’s crew, shit wasn’t going to end well. The passenger door of the Honda opened. Out stepped a young nigga, who had his gun trained on Hakeem’s crew.

“The fuck you niggas wanna do?” he blasted.

Hakeem’s crew didn’t take too kindly to disrespect. However, with my security aiming at them, neither of those niggas were about to pop shit.

“Aye, Jit,” I called, moving closer to him. He never took his eyes off of Hakeem’s crew although I approached him. Honestly, I was impressed. Even though he had the build of a grown ass man, he was a kid. Still, he looked like he wasn’t about to back down.

The driver’s side door opened, prompting Antonias to aim his gun that way.

“Don’t shoot me.”

That voice. It trembled, but my brain knew it like it had heard it for millions of years. My body followed right behind my brain. A chill ran through me, causing the hairs along my body to stand at attention.

Pretty emerged from the car, her heavenly curls framing her tear-stained, fear-filled face. For the first time ever in my life, my heart violently stuttered in my chest. The palpitation was so strong, it knocked the wind out of me. Quickly recovering, I summoned Humble. He was right there with security, his watchful eye waiting for my word.

“Bring the car,” I told him.

“Give us that lil’ nigga, and we’ll be out ya way.” Marco was Hakeem’s brother and second-in-command.

“Fuck you, nigga!”

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