Page 41 of Master's Rise

“Here, child.” She sounds hurt making my feet move faster.

I don’t see her but know she’s somewhere near the vegetables. People start moving around making finding her harder. “Move to the front. Take what you have with you, but move quickly.”

Stepping past a potato display, I see her on the floor. Fucking pussy isn’t going to make it home. She’s black but I can already see the bruise on her face. Blood is dripping from her nose and her lip is split wide open.

“Jinx, get me a medic here now.” I lift her up as gently as I can and she moans. “We’ll get you to right.” I kiss her head hoping it somehow helps.

“He was waiting outside,” Jinx tells me.

“Fucking inside now!” I growl at him. Patcher runs my way with his box of shit. “Sorry, Jinx, and thanks.”

“I saw her, Boss. You got volunteers here.” He’s a good Brother.

“Raid, find me a place for Patcher to work on her.”

I wait while he pulls a lounge chair from the front window Coke display. A woman pulls boxes from the side of her. “Here, these will help. Someone get some ice packs. Make them if you have to.” I like her take-charge attitude.

She’s ripping a box open. Snuggle? I thought that was laundry shit. Raid helps her cover the chair in blankets. “I’m a nurse if you need help,” she tells Patcher, getting a nod from him as he opens his case and starts pulling shit out.

I bend laying Ant Irma on the chair full of blankets, wincing when she holds her breath. “It’s not just her face that is hurt.” I’m not one to get nervous, but I am right now. She hasn’t said a word.

Patcher has the nurse clean the blood so he can see what’s needed while he asks Ant Irma where she has pain.

“He, he, killed Ajhil. Cort, he killed Ajhil.” She cries and I’m pissed.

“We’ll take care of it. I’m sorry, Ant Irma.”

Jinx is breathing in my ear telling me he’s pissed too.

“Raid. Find...”

“Got him. He’s breathing but we need an ambulance.”

Jinx doesn’t wait. “On its way, Raid.”

Patcher is starting an IV and tells the nurse to go with Ajhil. Once the IV is in, he looks at me. “She’s in shock.”

I nod. “Fix her.” I pat her hand and lean in so I can see her eyes. “The boy is breathing and an ambulance is on its way.”

She cries again. Kissing her head is all I can think to do.

“Then fucking shoot me!” Rex yells jogging through the doors.

I’m so fucking relieved. He kneels by Ant Irma taking her hand. I move letting him. Patcher tells him what he knows and what he doesn’t.

I pace trying to think of how to do this with little impact to the community.“Jinx, Get Banks to call me.”

“Roger.”

A little girl runs, trying to catch a beachball from the display and I remember that they’re all still here. “Stay clear of the boy and right here. Finish your shopping. Be reasonable but get everything you need then go.” That gets them moving quickly.

Banks calls in and I shut my mic and piece down. EMTs run in with a stretcher and Raid pulls them to the boy. Seeing shit happening has me relaxing. “Banks, get the wife of this asshole to sell. Her husband is missing and we are willing to buy. Today only is the offer.”

“I’ll get it done, Boss.”

I swipe him off and go to check on the boy. An EMT gives me a look as if I shot the kid.

“Ten more minutes and he wouldn’t have made it. This is Dave Martinez’ store. He’s one that was hanging yesterday. You should have left them there to rot.”