Page 149 of Vega

A few people gasped with relief.

Lux’s knees bent, and Saint grabbed his arm before he could drop.

“But he’s still in critical condition,” the surgeon continued. “He lost a significant amount of blood before he arrived. We repaired damage to a major blood vessel in his leg, controlled bleeding in his abdomen, and stabilized injuries to his pelvis and hip. He required multiple transfusions.”

Lowe’s father held his mother closer, asking, “But he’s alive?”

“Yes, he’s alive. But the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours are going to be critical. His blood pressure has been difficult to support. His body has been through severe trauma. There is also concern about nerve damage in his leg. If he survives this, he may need several more surgeries and a long rehabilitation process.”

His mother covered her mouth.

Lowe’s father’s eyes reddened. “Are you saying my son might not make it?”

The surgeon paused, and that pause told us everything before he could. “I’m saying we’re doing everything we can. But yes, you need to prepare yourselves for that possibility.”

Lux made a sound behind me that didn’t sound human. Wise grabbed him before he could fall forward. Prodigy turned and pressed both hands to the back of his head, his face twisted with pain. Vega didn’t move at all. He stood beside me, staring at the surgeon with no tears and no words.

I reached for his hand, and his fingers closed around mine so hard it hurt, but I didn’t pull away. Despite the discomfort, I needed him to have something to hold, and I needed the same.

VEGARRO “VEGA” MORETTI

My stomach felt like it was folding in on itself. The surgeon had just basically said there wasn’t much hope. Though he’d said Lowe was still fighting, it didn’t sound like a fight he expected Lowe to win. Every word he spoke felt like a blade sliding under my ribs, twisting slowly.

I couldn’t even look at Lowe’s mother. I felt like less of a man, less of a leader. This had been my call. And now Lowe was fighting for his life because I didn’t listen when Icon told me to move different. I should’ve protected my people better.

“We’ll monitor him closely over the next few hours. If his condition stabilizes, we’ll allow immediate family to see him first. After that, we’ll let you know when others can come in,” the surgeon told us.

Nobody said anything, so he gave us a tight nod, then turned and walked out, just as Rain rushed in. She came through the doors with her purse slipping down her arm, hair a little wild, tears already in her eyes before she made it all the way inside.

“Prodigy,” she said, heading straight for him. “I came as soon as I heard.”

Prodigy stopped pacing and opened his arms. Rain walked into them, holding him for a few seconds.

“Bishop and Milan are on their way,” she said against him.

“Appreciate you,” Prodigy told her.

Dominic Cross had stepped in behind her. Me and my crew knew of him. Dominic was a criminal defense attorney. He wasn’t street, but he stayed close enough to street niggas to make you question what side he was really on. He had shady and violent clients, and the kind of name that came up whenever somebody with money needed a case to bend in their favor. Rain had most likely met him through Bishop. Dominic’s character had always made me wonder why Bishop was cool with him. Bishop had good judgment most of the time, but Dominic came off slimy to me. He was too smooth, polished, and comfortable around men he claimed he only knew because of court cases.

And he had the reputation of being a whore. His name stayed attached to somebody’s assistant, client, wife, or girlfriend.

Dominic stepped closer to Rain and touched her elbow. “I’m going to head out now that I know you made it in safely.”

Rain turned to him, confused. “You’re leaving?”

He glanced around the room. Wise, Prodigy, Lux, Saint, Reek, Big A, Icon, and Legend were all watching him. None of us spoke, smiled, or made him think he was welcome.

“This is family business. I don’t want to intrude,” Dominic told her.

But I knew that wasn’t why he was leaving. He was leaving because he knew too many men in that room knew he wasn’t shit.

Rain conceded with a weak smile. “Okay. Thank you for bringing me.”

“Of course.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Call me later.”

Dominic dipped, and as the door closed behind him, Rain turned back to us, her eyes drifting from face to face. “Why is everybody being weird?”

Prodigy rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Rain, that nigga moves funny.”