Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Phoenix, sorry about your show tonight. I didn’t—”
“Oh man, fuck them. They weren’t hardly payin’ shit no way.” He smirked, then polished off his drink. Kage knew he was downplaying it to make him feel better. They exchanged keys. “I’m gonna head on out now. Poet, I enjoyed our conversation, ’nd gettin’ to know you. You be good now.”
“Same. Uh, Phoenix, before you go, thank you so much for bein’ here, and keeping me calm.” Poet released Kage, wrapped her arms around Phoenix, then kissed his cheek. “With my aunt asleep, the last thing I wanted to do was accidentally wake her up with my cryin’, or angry outbursts.”
“Well, ma’am, there was no other way for me to be.” He shrugged. “Known Kage my whole life. When he says he’s gonna do somethin’, he does it, and he promised he’d be over here, so I believed him. Regardless, he wanted to make sure you got back home in one piece, and I wasn’t ’bout to let him down.” He kissed her cheek, looked at Kage as he opened the door to leave, and added, “That’s a mighty fine woman you got there, Kage. Take care of her. I’ll see y’all later.” And off he went.
Kage wrapped his arms around her, kissed her lips, then trudged to the couch and sat down. He sighed, his muscles and brain tired. Outside, Phoenix got into his truck and headed off.
“Kage, I—”
“Baby, not to cut you off, but when you get a moment, can I get some whiskey, peroxide, a couple clean towels, some hot water—boiled would be best—antibacterial soap, tweezers and a knife, some needle and thread, ice, a lil’ gauze, and somethin’ to bite down on so I don’t pass out as I tend to myself, please?”
Poet’s eyes seemed to triple in size. “Oh my God! You son of a bitch! You’ve been shot?!”
“Mmm hmmm… looks that way. I’m thirsty, too. A glass of water would be nice.”
“JESUS!” The woman was downright gob-smacked. “WHY IN THE HELL DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHIN’ SOON AS YOU GOT HERE?!” She raced out of the living room.
“I didn’t feel it at first. Was pretty much oblivious ’til I got ready to leave the house and drive this way yonder. It must’ve been the adrenaline and all.” He shrugged. “When I was cleanin’ up at the house ’fore I come this way, I saw some blood, then reality set in. All I had time to do was place a bandage over it, ’fore I come here.”
“You should have gone straight to the ER, Kage. This don’t make no damn sense! We’ve got to call you an ambulance, or I can take you myself!”
“NO! NO… Can’t do that, baby.” He vehemently shook his head. “Once the law gets involved, they’ll find out about how I defended myself ’nd whatnot. The little details that could get me in a world of trouble. It had to be this way though, and I’m sure Phoenix already explained the particulars.”
“He told me some of what was happening, not all.” She returned with a glass of water for him to drink, and a bowl of ice. “Again. Why in the hell did you just stand there and not tell us you’d been shot?” She looked more worried than angry now. Her complexion had deepened, and a grim sorrow rested in her eyes.
“Because I didn’t want Phoenix to know,” he winced as he slid off his pants, inching them down past his knees, then jerked his underwear half off his ass and beyond, revealing the entry point of the bullet that hit his lower thigh. It was red and angry. Pulsing and painful.
“…Kage… Precious Lord!” She pressed her palms together in front of her face, as if praying. “God help us…” Her voice trembled as she studied the wound, then her eyes watered before turning and walking away.
“It’s okay, honey. It ain’t my first time bein’ shot at.” He laughed. “But it’s the first time I got more than a graze. Was a lot of them motherfuckers there tonight. All them folks for lil’ ol’ me. The odds were against me. They gave me a weeks’ worth of home repairs; I tell you that! My house looks a fuckin’ mess. Whew!” He peered down and swallowed a wave of discomfort as he assessed the damages. “I had some work on my hands with those boys. I got ’em, though.” He grinned proudly. “I showed them linguini’s in pasta sauce, how us biscuits, grits, and gravy get down,” he joked in a faux Italian accent.
“Ain’t shit funny about this, Kage!” she yelled from a distance away. “I’m goin’ upstairs to get the rest of the things you need for this makeshift surgery you insist on having.”
He heard her racing up the steps. As he sat there evaluating the injury, he heard a door in the house slowly creak open. He grabbed his gun as his eyes strained in the dimly lit house, searching around. Then, soft, uneven footsteps drew closer and closer. He sighed with relief before he saw her. He’d know that gait from anywhere. Aunt Huni. She appeared in the living room doorway with her pink housecoat on, matching satin slippers, and an oversized floral bonnet on her head. Wisps of pearl white and black hair peeked from beneath it.