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Whatever else I had going on could wait. I needed to get to Tori.

Chapter Twenty-One

Khaotic

Iwas halfway to the elevator when I realized I’d left my fucking keys on my desk. I hurried back to grab them, still trying to process that my wife was in labor.

Tori wasn’t due for another four weeks, but her water had broken. I knew the boys could come early, but knowing that shit and actually getting the call were two different things.

I called Tae as I headed downstairs.

“Where you at, bruh? Tori’s water broke. Rah taking her to the hospital,” I told him in one breath.

“Aight… I’m just up the street. I’ll circle back. Wait for me…I’m riding with you,” he replied before hanging up.

I was outside when he pulled up a few minutes later. He left his truck and climbed into mine, barely getting his seat belt fastened before I backed out.

“Damn, nigga! Slow the fuck down,” he fussed, grabbing the handle above his head.

“You could’ve drove your own shit. I’m tryna get to my wife,” I snapped.

“I get it, but I’ain tryna die before my nephews get here,” he replied.

I ignored his ass and headed toward the hospital. I’d missed Leah’s birth because I hadn’t known about her, and there wasn’t shit I could do about that. But I was damn sure going to be there when my sons came into this world.

By the time we arrived, Rah had already gotten Tori admitted. I walked into her room and found a nurse adjusting the monitors around her stomach.

I went straight to her bedside and kissed her.

“How you feeling, mama?” I asked, taking her hand.

“I’m good… just having some mild contractions,” she answered. “The boys are doing fine.”

I looked toward the nurse, who confirmed both babies had strong heartbeats. The doctor would be in shortly to discuss what they planned to do since Tori’s water had broken.

“I told you she was alright,” Rah reminded me.

“And I wanted to see for myself,” I replied, pulling a chair closer to the bed.

Tae dropped into another chair, shaking his head.

“Man, this nigga damn near killed us getting here,” he complained.

I waved his ass off and turned my attention back to Tori.

The doctor came in a little later and explained that since she was around thirty-six weeks pregnant, they would monitor her closely and move toward delivery. The boys were doing well, but because they were arriving early, they might need additional observation after birth.

I asked every question I could think of, especially about their breathing and whether they’d have to spend time in the NICU. The doctor answered everything before leaving us to settle in.

“Ajoni, you’re gonna have to relax,” Tori told me once she was gone.

“I’m trying, baby. I just wanna make sure y’all straight.”

“We are,” she assured me, squeezing my hand.

I kissed her and sat beside her while we waited.

Tori’s mother and stepfather arrived a little later, followed by Ma Pat and Mesha. Gee was staying home with Leah, but she’d sent Tori’s hospital bag with Ma. AJ was there with them, and I’d already called to let him know his brothers were getting ready to make their arrival.