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“You haven’t cared about us in years, why the fuck would you care right now?

Huh? Because the headlines have your name in them, and you want to do some damage control.

Where the fuck have you been when we actually fuckin’ needed you?

Huh? Nowhere to be fuckin’ found. I don’t want you,” Eden’s words faltered due to her hyperventilating. “I don’t.”

Staysha rushed to her side, making her sit down. “Eden, look at me.”

“Please. Just. Leave. Me,” Eden spoke, gasping for air.

Keon was on Staysha’s heels. He moved Anzel out of the way. “This ain’t the time.”

Staysha squatted down in front of her sister and held her face in her hands. “Look at me, Eden.”

Eden, with tears in her eyes, looked at Staysha while gripping her shirt. “I can’t bre-”

“You can. Deep breaths,” Staysha coached her the way Poppi used to. “Keon, play Miles.”

Keon quickly pulled out his phone and found the artist and hit a playlist to play.

“Eden, you can hear me,” Staysha spoke softly. “You’re safe. I’m right here.”

“What’s happening?” Anzel questioned, looking over her shoulder for a nurse.

“The fact that you need to ask is telling,” Keon said. “Your daughter is having a panic attack that you brought on.”

“Like you always do,” Staysha muttered over her shoulder before turning back to Eden. “Do you hear me, Eden?”

Eden nodded.

“Do you feel me?”

“Y-yes,” Eden whimpered.

“Okay, just breathe. Just look at me.”

“You need to go,” Keon directed.

“That’s my dau-”

Keon squared his shoulders, blocking Anzel’s view. “I said you need to leave. Now.”

Anzel glared at him.

Keon did a double knock against the wall and leaned in to whisper.

“Bodies are going to start dropping. I’d hate to see yours drop before the feds drag you off to prison.” He pulled back. “Leave.”

Anzel swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped away, leaving her girls like she’d done every other time.

“Are y’all here for Maximus Burton?” a nurse asked, appearing in the hall once Anzel scurried off.

Eden moved Staysha’s hands and jolted to her feet. She was still in a state of shock, but she needed to know about his well-being. “Y-yeah. Yeah. He’s good?”

“He got here just in the nick of time. He lost a lot of blood. The bullet hit an artery in his shoulder. Are any of you AB positive?”

“I’m O positive,” Eden stated.

“I am, too,” Staysha spoke up.

The nurse waved them both down the hall, handing them over to another nurse who started the process. Testing each sister for the necessary things before sending the bags of blood back. They collected at least three bags from Staysha after stopping Eden altogether.

“W-what’s wrong with my blood?” Eden quizzed.

The nurses shared a look.

“When was your last checkup?” one nurse asked.

“I can’t take any more bad news, just talk!” Eden snapped.

Staysha reached over and grabbed Eden’s hand. “Eden...”

The other nurse stepped in, assessing Eden’s emotional state.

“We run a rapid panel in these situations to make sure we aren’t administering blood with STDs, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell, or anything else.

We also screen for pregnancy. Your rapid panel showed high levels of HCG.

You’re pregnant, so we can’t take any more blood from you. ”

Eden didn’t respond. She just sat there.

“Oh my God,” Staysha softly gasped. Their current situation didn’t call for a squeal or clap of excitement. “Well, now we know why you’re on one.”

That brought Eden back. She removed her hand from Staysha’s and sat quietly while the nurses bandaged her back up.

“Eden,” Staysha called.

Eden shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

Staysha could feel the weight and chose to let it go. Back in the waiting room, Eden stood in the window, her arms wrapped around herself. She watched the sun move from its position in the sky for what seemed like mere seconds as her mind ran.

“Is there an Eden?” the doctor asked, finally coming out.

Eden turned around. “Yeah. He’s okay?”

“He’s asking for you.”

Eden followed the doctor to the room they’d moved Maximus into. IV drip, heart monitor, and a bandaged shoulder. She wanted to run to him and fall on his chest, but she remained cautious and schooled herself and her emotions.

“How are you feeling?”

Maximus took in her bewildered state. “How you feeling?”

Eden shrugged, keeping her distance. “Not good.”

“Me neither. E-”

“I don’t want to, Max. Not right now. I can wait. I should’ve just waited.”

“Don’t do that,” he softly warned. “Don’t hold that. That ain’t on you.”

“Well, you’re shot so. It’s on me.”

Maximus washed his hand down his face. “Can you stop that and get over here and hug me or something? Or are you that mad?”

“I’m that mad, but unfortunately, it doesn’t stop me from loving you or caring,” she huffed.

“You’ve been crying.”

“Panic attack,” she admitted. “Still reeling actually.”

Maximus swung his legs over the bed and stood.

“You’re supposed to be resting,” Eden fussed, moving over to him. “All these wires and-”

He pulled her into him and kissed the top of her head. “Eden, I need you to listen to me.”

“Max, I-”

“Listen to me. Please. I need you to go home to the apartment. Mama knows where I lay my head. Gus knows where I lay my head. Your building is secure, and Brody will be with you.”

“Max.”

“Listen,” he gritted. “I need to handle this. Everything else, we will handle when I come get you. Until then, be cool. Stay grounded. You can turn up on me when I come back.”

“You’re going to come back, right?” she looked up at him, tears pricking her eyes. “You’re not going to keep me waiting and never come back.”

“I am. I promise you, I'm coming back to you. The minute I walk in, cuss me out. Until then, hold your head and do not leave that apartment.” He swiped a tear from her cheek. “I love you. Regardless of what I did or didn’t do. Know that.”

“I-”

“My momma is one thing. But you. He almost took you from me. Ain’t nobody getting away with that. Nobody. Blood, gang, nobody.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her. “Go home. Brody is downstairs waiting for you.”