Gangsta Divas by De'nesha Diamond Read Free Book Online Page B

off.
    â€œUh-huh. There’s something else, too,” he adds.
    I eyeball him. “Good news or bad?”
    â€œBad. We found Cousin Skeet’s grandson, Christopher.”
    â€œGoddamn, y’all really were busy last night.”
    Charlie bobs his head. “Problem is we found him alive, but he took a bullet during a battle. I think he’s going to be all right.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNigga Python showed up and the kid got caught up in the middle.”
    â€œFuuuuuuck. You know Skeet is gonna go on a warpath over that shit.”
    â€œLong as it’s directed at those GD roaches, I don’t give a shit.”
    Charlie walks back over to the baby. “Hey, lil man. What are you fussin’ about, huh?” He grins and then tweaks the baby’s nose.
    To my shock and surprise, the volume of the baby’s cries dials down.
    â€œI gotta tell you,” Charlie whispers. “If I had my sister for a babysitter, I’d be hollering, too.” He glances around. “Where are the diapers?”
    Hell, if he wants to change him, I ain’t gonna stop him. “By the closet,” I tell him, nodding toward the grocery store bags I picked up coming home last night.
    Charlie snatches up the bags and then spots the pile of bloody clothes I took off last night. “What the fuck?”
    I rush over to kick them out of the way, but it’s too late.
    He picks up my blood-soaked shirt and then stabs me with a hard look. “What the fuck were you doing last night?” His gaze slices back over to the drawer. “And whose baby is that?”

8
    Lucifer
    D rugs are a wonderful thing.
    Back at my crib, I don’t know what the fuck Dr. Cleveland gave me, but it has my ass high as hell. The best part is that I don’t feel a thing. Not a damn thing. Frankly, that’s exactly how I like it. Now if he just had something in his magic bag that would help me forget. It feels like I’ve been propped up in the bed forever, the memory of that car accident playing over and over in my head.
    â€œHow she doin’, doc?” Bishop’s gravelly voice floats above me.
    â€œRemarkably well.”The doc sighs. “She’s a lucky girl.”
    â€œHumph. Better hope that she doesn’t hear you calling her that.”
    â€œLucky?”
    â€œNo—a girl.”
    I attempt to push up a smile at my brother’s bad joke, but can’t. I doubt if I’ll ever be able to smile again.
    â€œA broken leg, a broken arm, and a couple of cracked ribs . . .” The doctor sighs. “. . . but she’ll live.” He snaps his bag closed.
    â€œGood deal.” Relief floods Bishop’s voice.
    â€œAs for you,” the doctor adds. “You look like hell. When was the last time you slept?”
    â€œSleep is not an option right now.”
    â€œI can give you a sleeping aid if you’re having trouble.”
    â€œNah. That legal shit is worse than what we sling on the streets. I’m a’ight.”
    â€œYou may be right about that.” Cleveland chuckles. “But uh—”
    â€œYeah. Yeah. My man Tyrese got that brick for you in the other room,” Bishop tells him. “You know we’re always gonna hook you up.”
    The doctor laughs as he drifts toward the door. “It’s good doin’ business with you.”
    â€œSame here.” Bishop follows, slapping a hand across Cleveland’s back for a job well done. “I’ll be in touch.” He ushers him out and then shuts the door.
    â€œAll right. You can stop pretending that you’re asleep,” he tells me, reaching inside his jacket and removing a pre-rolled blunt and lighting up.
    â€œHow did you know?” I ask, opening my eyes.
    â€œâ€™Cuz nobody knows you better than I do.” He draws in a deep drag and then holds the shit in his lungs.
    With Mason gone, he’s right. I drop my gaze.
    Bishop releases his toke