He acted as if I weren't there. He didn't look at me, talk to me, walk by me or anything. Last night we were fine, today it's as if he didn't know me. I even went to school and came back to him still ignoring me. The breakfast I made him was untouched.

I took a nap and by the time I woke up, it's time for me to get ready for work. Every time I go to work it's the same routine. Nothing. We watch Netflix movies and tv shows but that's about it. I don't mind it though, I'm getting paid $18 an hour.

After showering and putting on my scrubs then waited for Dro. If I'm late because of him then it's not my fault. In the meantime, I looked up apartments that I can rent for when my sister decides to come up here. I'd need a three bedroom apartment for cheap. How would I find one? I have no idea.

Another thirty minutes passed and Dro didn't show up, he didn't even call or text to let me know he'd be late. I called his phone and no answer. I don't think he'd like me taking his car so I called Tarzan and Reno and neither of them answer. I have no other choice but to borrow the car he let me drive, the challenger.

*

*

*

"I made sure everything was locked," I told Dr. Velez and he nodded. Something about today felt off, I can't explain the feeling but I have a feeling in my stomach.

"Today's gonna be a bad day," Dr. Velez said and I raised my eyebrows at him.

"I can feel it too," I said as we sat around.

"It's not just a feeling," He sighed then got up. "Look," He pointed to a monitor that shows the basement entrance and SUV after SUV piled in and blooded men were helped to the door.

"Put on gloves," was the last thing Dr. Velez said before men poured into the little hospital, bloody and in pain. Where's Dro?

I spent hours removing bullets and stitching men up. Velez would prescribe them pain pills and antibiotics then send them on their way. Each time we finished with one, another replaced him. Hours passed and Reno nor Dro was anywhere in sight. My feet began to hurt, I grew hungry and tired. The smell of blood became normal to me as some men bled more than others.

"Is there anyone else?" I asked the last guy that I stitched up and he shook his head.

"The boss," A thick New York accent flew from his mouth. He shook his head and headed upstairs, just like the other men. And they all refused help from the doctor and I.

"What happened to him?" I asked myself as I cleaned up. Bleached the entire place but the only thing on my mind is where the hell Dro and Reno is. Were they hurt just like those men? Do they even know about what happened?

"Just calm down," Velez assured me after we finished cleaning every inch of the room. For me the cleaning allowed me to think. Even though he's ignoring me, for some unknown reason, I'm worried. Last night we had a heart to heart and it felt so good to actually sit down and talk to someone. Since moving to selfish America, no one has done that.

A few more hours passed until the door banged open. "Oh my God," left my mouth before I could even stop it.

"He's lost a lot of blood," Velez rushed around the get whatever he needed but I immediately went over to him.

"Reno what happened?" I asked but he remained quiet. "Reno!" I yelled trying to stay calm. Dro laid on the bed with his eyes barely open and blood all over his face and body. I checked for bullet wounds but there are none. I pressed, gently, over his body to check if anything was broken or swollen.

"Ahh," He screamed out in pain after I pressed on his ribs.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I usually don't act like this in these situations but this is Alessandro, a man that I... admire.

"His lungs need to be drained, they're more than likely fractured and he's going to need blood," Velez announced and I nodded and got the things he asked for then put my gloves on.

I watched the blood drain from his lungs and can only wonder who beat him up this bad? How'd he allow someone to do this? Where was Reno? I looked over at him and he looked flushed. Nothing seemed to be wrong with him, this makes no sense at all.

Velez did an X-ray confirming the fractured right rib but we still need blood for him and I don't mind giving mine. "My blood type O-, I can give him my blood,"

"Hurry," Velez urged me. After many tests of my blood for STD's and whatnot, I found out my blood type can be given to anyone. Even if this wasn't Dro on the table, I would've given to anyone.

As the transfusion went on, I stared at Dro and could only think of who would do this. Alessandro has a lot of enemies and he knows this, he also knows it's only a matter of time before his actions catch up to him. I guess this is one of the times. Something about this whole situation is throwing me off.

"That's enough," Velez announced. I quickly put a cotton ball then a bandaid over my vein as the doctor tended to Dro.

"What happened?" I asked a lot more calmly to Reno.

"He told me not to tell you," Reno shook his head.

"Why?" I sat next to him but he remained quiet. "Were you there?" I asked.

Nothing.

"Is it someone close to him?" I made a face at him and he stood up.

"Grace, I couldn't do anything okay? Stop making me feel worse. No one can interrupt their arguing," Reno yelled then left the basement. No one can interrupt. I think I have a good idea of who did it.

*

*

After making sure Alessandro was stable, I left. I knocked on the door until it finally opened up to light brown eyes.

"Grace!" Sarah tried to hug me but I stepped back.

"What'd you do?" I asked and she made a face. She looked at the blood on my scrubs and pulled me into her apartment. "Sarah,"

"What're you talking about?" She locked the front door.

"He's in really bad shape, Sarah," I started to tear up. "I had to give him my own blood, he was unconscious after we put him on the table. His ribs-" I sat on the chair fiddling with the ring.

"Who? Grace!" She yelled.

"Your brother, dammit!" I yelled back. Now I looked stupid with tears running down my face. For what reason? I have no idea.

"Alessandro?" She slowly asked. "You're involved with my brother?!" She walked up to me and grabbed my hand. She stared at my ring and then shook her head.

"Sarah, we can talk about that later. If you you hurt-"

"Woah! I'd never hurt Dro," She held both of my hands now. "So he's the one you're engaged to?"

"I killed Andre," I blurted out and her eyes widened. "He used to beat me, for years. I met him while I worked at the club but didn't know. One day I helped a man get a bullet out of him, turns out it was Dro's grandfather. Then he just kept popping up. Andre owed him money and he sent me to deliver the threat because I was his girlfriend but I ended up killing him and he covered it up," I quickly said but I knew Sarah heard everything.

"Do you love him?" She asked and I shook my head.

"I think I like him," I confessed. "I'm all emotional over how he is right now,"

"Is this a real engagement?" She asked and I nodded even though it's not. Who knows what she's going to tell her dad. "Well congrats,"

"Do you know who hurt Alessandro?" I ignored her congratulations.

"Sadly," She frowned. "He and my father are always at it but I think he went a little too far this time,"

"That man," I rolled my eyes and clenched my fists.

"The last time my father beat Alessandro that bad he almost killed him. We were in high school, I think 16, and they got into an argument about a job my father wanted him to do. Dro said no so my father beat him so bad he couldn't go to school for almost two months," Sarah looked in pain as she told the story. She got up and left the room but came back with her phone.

"Go back to him. I'll handle my father," She did a small smile and I nodded. I didn't want to leave him alone in the first place.

"Bye Sarah," We hugged and I left her place.

"You're being stubborn," Grace sighed as she tried to feed me. "Please open up," She begged but I ignored her. I've been ignoring her all day and the only reason why is because I'm nervous. I'm falling for her and I don't know how I should feel about it. After talking to her and her listening to me, I felt comfortable around her and the only person I'm comfortable around is my grandfather and Tarzan.

"Dro," She softly said my name. I looked at her head hanging while she fiddled with her fingers. "I was so scared," Her voice cracked and I rolled my eyes. She's knows a crying woman is my weakness.

"Why?" I croaked out, my voice sounds disgusting.

She looked at me with sad eyes. "I thought you were going to die. I didn't want you to die because I like you,"

"I wouldn't have left you," I smiled at her. Something about hearing her say that she likes me made me feel jittery inside, like I was 12 and my 6th grade crush kissed me.

"You sure don't act like it," She rolled her eyes. "Last night was so nice and peaceful but then today you just ignore me. Then you come to me almost dead," Her curls bounced around as she spoke. I wanted to gently tug on one so it could boing.

"My father-" I said but she stopped me.

"Don't talk as much," she pointed to my bandaged ribs. I sighed then pointed to the applesauce she tried to give me earlier. "You eat fast,"

"Only food. Other things, not so fast," I smirked as her eyes widened. It's kind of fun to mess with her but I'm not lying.

"Do you want to lay down? Watch tv? More food?" She asked.

"Yeah I'd like to lay down but do you mind laying with me?" I asked her.

She looked down at her blooded scrubs then laughed. "Let me clean up first," she took the empty applause and spoon then left me in the room alone. I made sure I'm in arms reach of my gun and the tv remote.

Twenty minutes later she knocks on my door with a tank top on and leggings. Now why would she tease me with those leggings? Her ass jiggled as she walked in but I was paying much more attention to her face. She has this glowing effect on her face and it looks so smooth. She's honestly a beautiful woman.

"Why do you need a gun? Your house is guarded by men and an alarm system," She stood in front of me.

"You never know," I looked her in her brown eyes and she shrugged. I patted the cold, empty space next to me and she hesitated but climbed into my bed. I haven't laid with a woman since Deena died without having sex with them and even then, no one has been in my personal bed. Deena was alive when I lived with my grandfather that's why she has that room. I bought this house afterwards.

"Why're you so far?" I teased her.

"I don't want to hurt you," She softly responded. I tugged on her arm so she could come closer and she did.

"I want to sleep, so come closer," Her head ended up on my shoulder and her breasts against my rib cage but it didn't hurt, her body heat actually made me feel better.

"Are you okay?" She asked and all I could do was nod. Taking in her beauty as she slowly fell asleep made me smile. Her long eyelashes almost laid against her cheek. Her plump lips called me to kiss them but I kept my mouth to myself, she wouldn't be able to handle. My left shoulder became a pillow to her soft curly hair and my long arms snaked around her small body to hold her.

I could feel my body shutting down but I fought it so I could continue to stare at her. Her dark skin looked like a snack against my tan skin. God really knew what he was doing when he created black women. My eyes began to flutter and soon I couldn't fight the sleep anymore.