Sitting in the hospital beside Josiah's bed, he was asleep with cloth dressings wrapped all around his chest area. He'd been shot four times but none of them fatal, Thank God.

"Montana, I'm so glad you're here." His mom spoke to me as I smiled small, looking at him while I held onto his hand.

"How long has he been asleep?" I asked. He'd been sleep since I got here about an hour ago and I just wanted him to wake up so he could know that I was here. He needed to know that I was by his side.

"He went into surgery around 1 in the morning, by 2 he was up and talking to everybody..."

"..complaining about you not being here and wondering where you were." She smiled.

"Then when everybody left he ended up going to sleep."

"Can you tell me again what happened exactly?" I asked, needing more information.

"Josiah hasn't said much. All I know is he got into it with someone and they shot at him while him and Kace were sitting in the car."

Shaking my head, I looked down at him. I wasn't mad at him, I wasn't upset and I was over the disagreements. None of that mattered anymore, I was just happy that he was okay.

I could've lost him.

Breaking me away from my thoughts, Messiah walked into the room. My heart dropped as his eyes fell upon me.

"What's up, mama?" He spoke, giving her a hug, his eyes still on me.

"Hey, baby." She smiled small.

"How is he?" He asked, finally taking his eyes off of me.

"He's doing fine. Doctor's said he'll be alright."

"Cool."

"..and don't even worry about it, who ever did this shit is dead."

"Messiah." She spoke in a warning tone.

"Real shit." He spoke, ignoring what she would say next.

"Montana, come here." He nodded his head toward the door, leaving out of the room.

Staying silent as Ms. Carol looked at me, I kissed the back of Josiah's hand before leaving out of the room.

As I walked out, Messiah stood there looking at me in disgust while I closed the door.

"What are you doing that shit for?"

"Huh?" I said since I had nothing else to say, just trying to stall time to get my words together.

"Why are you stripping, Monty?"

Sighing, I decided that I wasn't going to lie like I'd originally planned to do after listening to Chocolate's stupid advice.

"Money." I spoke simply and he scoffed as I looked down.

"Why not just ask Josiah for money instead doing hoe shit?"

"First of all, It's not doing hoe shit. I don't have sex with anyone. I just dance. And I don't want to ask him for any money. It's not his job to take care of me."

"So stripping..." He trailed off with a laugh.

"..stripping was the last resort? Instead of putting your pride aside?"

Saying nothing, I just looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Please don't tell him, Messiah." I could already tell by the look on his face that he was going to tell him.

"I ain't gon' tell him.."

Thank God. I thought.

"..you are."

"What?!" I shrieked.

"No. I'm not."

"You are." He spoke in a demanding tone.

"Please. You know how he is." I expressed

"And you know how he is too but you made that bed."

"Messiah, he's going to kill me." I begged.

"I know." He shook his head, walking away from me.

"Better figure it out. You got until the end of the day to tell him or I will." He mumbled before walking back into the room.

*

Josiah was awake as I walked back into the room. A smile spread across my face though he hadn't looked up at me yet.

"Look who's here.." His mom smiled and he finally looked and lit up once he did.

Walking over to his bedside, I sat down but he instantly pulled me into the bed with him.

"Josiah." I chuckled as he hugged me tightly.

"Best friends my ass." I heard Messiah mumble, making Ms. Carol laugh.

"Shut up." We spoke in unison.

She couldn't help but to smile as I now sat by his bed side. Though we were probably making things obvious, I couldn't help it. He was up and he was okay. This could've ended so much differently and I was just extremely grateful.

"Glad you good nigga." Messiah expressed.

"Yeah. They caught a real nigga slipping. It's cool though." Josiah smirked, before looking at me.

"Definitely gon' have to handle that." Messiah spoke up again and Joey simply nodded his head.

Ms. Carol shook her head with nothing to say but I knew she was against it and so was I. There was no telling them anything though. Messiah was just as crazy as Josiah and together they were both the devil.

Time went on and I watched as Josiah interacted with his brother and mom while I sat on the sideline, embracing his presence and silently thanking God.

I could've lost him. Was all I kept thinking.

I really could've lost him.

*

Looking at the time, I noticed it was . Doctors and nurses came and went throughout the day, telling Josiah he'd be here for the next couple of days. Of course he wasn't happy about that but he really didn't have a choice.

Everybody was gone now and it was only Josiah and I left in the room. He was sleep again though so I was up alone and somehow managed to get in the bed beside him like he'd been begging me to.

"Josiah." I called out, grabbing his hand.

"What's up?" He spoke clearly, opening his eyes and closing them again.

"I thought you were sleeping." I furrowed my eyebrows. This entire time I'd thought he was asleep.

"Open your eyes and talk to me."

Finally opening his eyes, he sat up a bit and made himself comfortable.

"What took you so long to get here?"

"I was at work." I told him, running a hand down his face and he scoffed.

"I would've been here sooner but I didn't have my phone on me, Joey." I explained before he could catch an attitude.

"Yeah.." He trailed off, slightly turning away from me.

"So dramatic." I shook my head with a smile. He just wanted me to baby him. Nothing new.

"Don't be mad at me." I fed into his act.

"I'm sorry, okay? I should've been here for you because I know you would've been here for me." I apologized, rubbing my hand along his neck.

"I ain't tryna hear that shit, Mon-"

Placing my lips onto his, he shut his mouth right away and kissed me back.

"Shut up. You know if I could've been here quicker, I would have." I expressed against his lips.

Not allowing him to respond, I roughly pressed my lips against his. He then pulled me on top of him, looking up at me.

"Stop, Joey. We can't."

"There you go telling me to stop again.."

"You always want to do it at the worst times." I complained, looking down at him.

"Stop bitching. You the one started the shit." He told me, moving his hospital gown out of the way.

"Joey." I spoke in a warning voice.

"Ain't nobody gon' know, ma. Come on." He urged, trying to get my pants off.

"Yes they will. You know I can't be quiet for shit."

"That sounds like a personal problem." He spoke smartly as I shook my head, letting him take my pants off but only slightly.

When he got them down far enough, I sat up, getting onto my feet as he held onto his Piece for me to sit down on.

"Hurry up." He rushed me.

"I don't want to hurt you." I rolled my eyes, sitting down slowly.

I hissed softly as I sat down onto his thick, long member, laying my head into the crook of his neck.

"Mm." I moaned out as we both began to fuck each other at a fast pace.

We both breathed in and out heavily with the sound of our skin slapping filling the room. I tried to keep quiet but he was making it harder and harder for me.

"Joey." I moaned louder than expected.

"Shut up, Montana." He urged but not letting up as I pushed my head more into his neck to muffle the sound of my moans.

"Mmm." I moaned out, not able to help it anymore as he went harder, digging into me.

"I'm about to make you bite the pillow, ma." He warned and I immediately shut my mouth, muffling my moans the best I could.

"Shit." He pulled out unexpectedly, biting his lip as he released all over the hospital gown.

"Josiah." I complained, shaking my head as I watched him do it so carelessly.

"Shut up." He pulled me back onto him and pushed himself into me.

"Fuck."

*

Josiah was still in the hospital, on heavy pain killers now and he didn't want me to leave but I needed to go home. I needed to change out of these clothes plus shower from the fiasco we'd had last night.

"How is he?" Teesh asked as we sat in my room, talking.

"He's fine. He's on pain killers now so he's going to be annoying for the next couple of hours." I spoke as we both laughed.

"Wait. How does that mix with his IED medicine?" She asked and I shrugged.

"I really don't even know. That's part of the reason why I left, not gon' lie."

Josiah has IED which is impulse-control disorder. Sort of like an anger problem. He'd have random acts of hostility and rage most days, that's why I tried to stand clear of making him upset. He took medicine for it though so he was okay for the most part.

"I can't believe he got shot, Monty." She spoke as our laughter died down.

"I know. Makes me not even want to leave his side now." I expressed, making her look up at me.

"Same with Kace."

"It really could've been him. He was there too, arguing with those guys right along with Josiah."

"Did he tell you who it was?"

"He said it was some guys Messiah got beef with from a few blocks over."

"Hmph." I rolled my eyes.

Of course.

"I told Kace I don't want him hanging on that block no more."

"Same. I'm going to talk to Joey when I go back to the hospital tonight. If he's over there he needs to be in the house, not hanging on the corner with Messiah and his dumb crew."

"Hm." She looked at me with her eyebrows raised.

"What? That's my best friend, he's like my brother and I don't want him to get hurt again." I explained to her, trying to make it sound as platonic as possible.

"Whatever you say, Monty."

"Shut up." I laughed, walking away.

*

"How you feeling, brother?"

"Nigga, I feel good as hell now that they got me on these drugs." I smirked, making him laugh at me.

"I can't lie, it's some good shit plus I mixed it with the AD's.." I said, referring to my anti-depressants.

"Crazy as hell. Shit do sound lit though." He shook his head at me.

We sat in silence for a while before he spoke again.

"Who did this shit?" He spoke seriously, looking up at me.

"One of them hoe ass niggas from 11th that y'all be beefing with." I explained, referring to the gang of niggas that lived three blocks over. I'd gotten into it with one of them and this happened. It would've never happened had I stay strapped like I always do but of course, I listened to Montana's scary ass and took my heat out of the car.

"Don't worry about it. He's dead, brother."

"It's only right." I shrugged as my phone buzzed on the table.

"Pass me that."

Leaning over he grabbed my phone, looking at the contact.

"Who is it?" I asked as he handed it over to me.

"It's Montana."

Grabbing it, I looked down at the message she'd sent me and I sent her a quick text back.

🖤

I'llbe back later. I love you.

Aight. I love you too.

Sitting my phone down, my mind drifted off. I knew she was in her feelings about this shit because she never told me she loved me this much. Once in a while, yeah but never like this. But don't get me wrong I loved the affection, I just didn't want her overthinking shit.

"Y'all talk last night?" My brother spoke up, breaking me away from my thoughts.

"Yeah, she stayed with me.." I shrugged.

"Did she tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"She didn't tell you." He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Of course she didn't tell you." He went on.

"I guess I'll tell you while you on the drugs then."

"Tell me what, nigga?"

"Montana's a stripper."

*