Page 97 of Alpha Bait

My heart sank. Had my mother laid waste to another Carmichael? Or worse, had she shot someone else. I didn't know what I would find when I pushed the door to the hospital room open.

I exhaled sharply as I saw Jamal lying in bed, asleep or unconscious, with thick white bandages plastered around his arms. In the other corner of the room, Rich sat on a chair, his head in his hands. When I entered the room he looked up at me and I gasped.

Overwhelmed by the information presenting itself to me, I mumbled, "I'm going to be sick..."

I rushed out of the room towards the bathroom I'd seen in the hallway on the way in and emptied my guts. I heaved over the toilet bowl and my nauseous retching gave way to full sobs.

My mother entered the bathroom and rubbed my back.

"There there, child. You don't have to be afraid."

I choked back another sob and my mother continued to rub my back as she helped me back to my feet. I wrapped her in a hug and she stroked my head.

"What happened mama?" I croaked through my sobbing.

"I shot your brother," she said matter-of-factly, "and now this feud with the Carmichaels is over. Forever. I know about you and Richard."

I pulled away from her and wiped my eyes.

"What about me and Richard?'

"Don't play dumb with me child..."

"Mama..."

"I'm not mad. You have a right to love who you love. I'm sorry we kept you away from him. I hate to think that --"

My mother choked up again.

"I hate to think that we might have lost you forever over something so petty."

"Mama... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left the way I did."

"Why did you do it?"

"Will Harkness."

"Did he--"

"No. He didn't. Jamal set me up. I feared for my life."

"Jamal... How did I make so many mistakes with him?"

"Don't beat yourself up mama."

"He won't put this fighting aside so easily," she whispered, glancing at the door to his room.

"I know."

"Then you should leave. Leave New York. We'll tell everyone there's been a mistake. I'll give you the money. You should go."

"Go where? I belong with you."

My mother smirked, "Why don't you see if young Richard has some ideas."

She chuckled and I couldn't help but do the same.

"We haven't spoken in months."