"Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's laws wrong, it learned to walk without having feet. Funny, it seems to by keeping it's dreams; it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared." -Tupac Shakr, The Rose That Grew from Concrete.

Two Days Later...

Bricks...

"Bricks."

"Bricks!"

"I know you hear me." Zee whines. I chuckle, flipping through channels on the tv. The doctor sent Zee home the day after she went in. The test came back, and they found partial paralysis. Every now and then Zee might have a muscle spasm or pain in her back.

Even numbness. Some times her legs might give out, but they said to have her walk every now and then. No sexual activities for at least 6 weeks though because her ribs aren't healed which kind of pissed me off, but that tongue work doe. When ever I'm hungry she know the deal.

"Jefe!" She whines in frustration.

"Yo no hablo inglés¡" I chuckle.

"Stop fucking playing asshole." She mumbles.

"Now just for that I'm not coming to see what you want." I hear her smack her lips, then the hinges of the door squeak.

"Baby please. I'm sorry." She pleads. I get up from the couch, traveling to the bathroom. I witness Zee on the side of the tub with her towel wrapped around her.

"What's wrong?" I lean on the door frame.

"I need you to wrap my ribs, I can't do it I need help." She winces. I nod grabbing the ace bandage off the sink. Zee let's the towel drop her around her waist while holding her breast. I come around her back kneeling down to eye level with the bruises. I stare for a minute, locking my eyes with hers.

"You wash?" I question. She nods, pushing her curls to other side of her head.

I lean in holding her waist as she tenses from my lips touching the bruises. I view her in lust as she bites her lips, putting her hand on the nape of neck as I move to side around her back.

"Don't start come on, my back is starting to hurt." She winces into a moan.

"Kisses make it better baby." I tell her meeting my lips against hers. I pull back, wrapping the ace bandage around her ribs. When done, I change the bandage over top of her head with ointment and a new band aid.

"Thank you." She sighs.

"Mhmm, you ready to go lay back down?" She nods, wrapping the towel back around herself. I lean down, picking her up bridal style. I carefully take her through the threshold to my room, laying her down on the bed. I take some clothes out of her drawer for her change in. When I turn around I see she was laid out and sleep so I leave her be. I kiss her forehead about to walk away but she grabs my wrist pulling me down in the bed.

"Lay with me please." She mumbles. I nod, looking at the time seeing it 4 in the afternoon. I got time before the family jeweler comes over. I crawl in the bed beside her, pulling her close to me.

She lays her head in the crook of neck, snuggling up against me. I just stare at the mirror in the ceiling, playing in her hair as I thought about who did this to her. I swear I could whoop these niggas asses for this shit. It's their fault this shit happened to her.

I take her hand with the broken wrist, eyeing her cast. I then look at her, pushing her strands out her face. I look down at the crescent moon necklace I got her, smiling.

I finally got the girl of dreams man and I want her forever if she'll have me. I know no one is going to love her or over protect her like I do. I think it's time to make her mine officially. I want her to have my last name. She's my heart, my life, my everything.

°°₩°°

Later That Night...

Dimitri Banks...

Cheryl approaches my table with the kettle, pouring me another glass of coffee. I was meeting some people here. I hired some people to abduct Zee because I really need that money.

They don't know that, but once I get the money I'll be able to pay them off. I lost my job, I'm living in my car and my damn girlfriend don't want shit to do with me. So now I'm broke, alone and hungry.

My phone buzzes on the table alerting my attention and I see its the guy I hired.

Unknown: Meet me on Washington Ave.

I put money on the table, thanking Cheryl for the hospitality. She didn't have to stay open for me but once I told her I have no where to go at 11:55 she stayed open until the guys arrived.

I walk down the block hearing tires screech, seeing an SUV swerve with a police car in high pursuit. Thinking nothing of it, I continue to walk down the street and gun fire goes off. I feel bullets bullets pierce through my body, dropping to my knees as I cough up blood.

I felt my body jerk as I tried to breathe, seeing four dark figures crowd around me. I get kicked in my back, seeing four females in my face waving and laughing. My vision blurry but soon focuses on the gun pointed to my head. The sound of the hun then eco he'd through the night sky.

Zee....

I jump up, shaking my head of the dream I just had. I don't know why I would ever dream of such things. I look around the tv lit room to see Bricks isn't beside me. I sit up feeling weight on my lower back.

I look over my shoulder, seeing Bricks is laying on rear end. His head on my right cheek, his hand on my left. I chuckle shaking my head, laying my head back down as I wipe the sleep out my eyes. My pain medicine really knocks me out. That's all I do right now is sleep. I can't wait to start therapy in week.

I hear my stomach growl, frowning because I don't want to wake up Bricks because he's comfortable. But I'm hungry.

"Bricks." I call. He groans, turning over still keeping his posture. I huff, reaching behind me shaking him. He sighs sitting up as I do the same.

"What's wrong baby." He yawns rubbing his eyes.

"I'm hungry." I pout. He nods, kissing my forehead while leaving the room. I lay back down, whimpering as a sharp pain hit my back.

Damn muscle spasms are killing me already. I hear my phone go off, reaching for it seeing an unknown number text me. I smack my lips turning my phone on its face. I don't have time for mind games but Ima get to the bottom of it. I'm tired of the shit.