After the fight at the strip club, Tony got home and began suffering from severe headaches. During the brawl at the club, he hit his head. When the pain became unbearable, he went to the hospital. They did an MRI and wanted to keep him for observation.
He called Paige to check on her and make sure she was okay. She was home now. But now he was in the hospital, and he wanted her to bring their daughter Tonaya to see him. He hadn’t seen her in a long time, and it was beginning to wear on him. Paige agreed, and he waited patiently. Paige didn’t want to go, but Marla convinced her and even came with her. She promised to wait in the waiting room.
About an hour later, the door to his room flew open, and Tonaya came sprinting to him. “Daddy!” He got up and picked up his baby girl, kissing her forehead and spinning her around. He sat down quickly because his head was ringing.
“Did you miss Daddy?” he asked, still planting kisses.
“Yes, I missed you so much. Mommy said you ran away from us and you were being a bad daddy. Are you gonna come back?” she asked. Paige stood at the door with her hand on her hip watching them.
“So that’s what you was telling my baby? That I ran away from her? That’s foul, Paige.”
“Just enjoy your baby,” she said. Paige looked at the two of them interacting and missed her family. But she wasn’t about to forgive Tony for what he did—abandoning her and Tonaya for a known hooker and thief. When Paige finally walked into the room, Tony could still see that her face was a little swollen from being hit so hard by Bishop. It made his headache come on that much stronger. He hated the idea of someone hurting her.
“Daddy, you hurt?”
“No, I’m okay.”
“You seen the doctor yet?”
“Yup. I’ll be leaving later.” Tonaya examined her father herself, checking his legs and arms for any further damage. While she probed, Tony figured he would too. “So you all right, Paige?” he asked.
“How do I look?” she said right back, then rolling her eyes.
“Well, you look better than I do, I’m sure. And thank you for coming to my aid. You were the last person I expected to help me.”
Paige walked over to him and put Tonaya into the chair beside the bed. Tony reached up and grabbed Paige, hugging her. She hugged him back, and then put her arms down, but Tony wouldn’t let go. He was on the verge of tears. He realized how much he loved Paige, and his love seemed to have grown even deeper since the last time he touched her.
“Let go,” she whispered, not wanting Tonaya to hear, who was now playing one of the games on Paige’s phone.
“Paige, I’m not letting go. Just say the word. Just say it, baby, and it’s done. Sharise. The game. Everything. I love you. Love my family,” he said. She backed away from him and sat on the edge of the bed. He sat beside her.
“Just let us go, Tony. I thought about it, but the trust is gone. I do not trust you, and I never will.”
“A man is supposed to be allowed to correct his mistakes, right, Paige?”
“A man is also supposed to be able to accept the repercussions that comes with the life he chooses to live. You cheated on me, Tony. For no reason. I’m not enough for you, obviously.”
“That’s not true.” He stroked her hair, and Tonaya watched. She didn’t understand what they were talking about, but she could feel the love in the room. She got up and sat between them.
“It’s true.”
“I’m sorry, Paige. I’m sorry, baby.” He rubbed her lips with his finger. He used to do it all the time. Paige loved Tony. She could feel how sorry he was, and she was trying hard to be hard. She knew he was hurting; she’d never seen him so vulnerable. His eyes were glassy. She could tell he was fighting with all his strength to hold back the tears. Then she looked beside the bed on the table and saw the keys to his Range Rover and another set of keys that had a BMW logo. Her anger flared. She got up from the bed.
Just then, Sharise walked into the room, saying, “Baby, how are you feeling?” She walked over to Tony, kissing him on the mouth. Tony pushed her back slightly and looked over at Tonaya who had a disgusted yet confused look on her young face.
“Daddy, who is that?” she asked.
“I’m Sharise,” she said.
“Don’t you dare speak to my daughter.”
Sharise just smiled. She and Paige locked eyes. “Am I interrupting something here?” she asked.
“You’re not interrupting anything. We were just leaving,” Paige said. “Come on Tonaya.”
“Hold up!” Tony said in protest. “I haven’t seen Tonaya in months, and you’re ready to take her already.”
“That’s all the time you needed, obviously. Go ahead and chill with Sharise.”
“Leave my name outta your mouth, ma. You’re not in my league, boo.” Sharise said. Just then Marla walked into the room. She’d seen Sharise come in and wanted to make sure her girl was good.
“You’re right, Sharise, I’m not in your league. I’m a lady, and I don’t weigh my worth on material things.”
“Bitch, please. You’re just jealous because your baby father paid almost 50 stacks for this 650 I’ve got, and you ain’t get $650 to spend.”
“Would y’all stop the stupid shit!”
Paige was almost knocked off her feet by the power of Tony’s words.
“Stupid shit? Why don’t you just be quiet, Tony? It’s your fault that this bitch is feeling herself in the first place.”
“Who are you calling a bitch, Paige? You better check your tongue since your lips is already swollen,” Sharise smirked.
“That’s ‘cause I loved that nicca enough to go to war with him. Where the fuck was you when shit popped off? Somewhere being the bum that you are?”
“Nah, actually, I was at home waiting in the bed for him to come back so I could ride that good dick.” Tonaya covered her ears.
“That’s what sluts do.”
“Keep talking, Paige, and I’ma show you what sluts really do. I will rip your face off, bitch.”
Tonaya started crying. That’s when Marla picked her up and took her out of the room. Then she came right back in with her earrings off.
“Your threats don’t mean nothing to me. Do you know who my brothers are? Bitch, fuck you and Tony. I could make a phone call and have both y’all heads hit.” She then turned to Tony. “But you know what? I love Tony. So, Tony, go ahead and tell her that you want your family back, and then you can have me and Tonaya back just like you want.” Tony looked at Tonaya in the corner looking scared and confused, then at Paige’s beautiful face.
“I love you, Paige. And I’ll do anything to have my family back!”
“What? Oh no, your ass didn’t just cross me, Tony! You’re a bona fide sucker-ass nigga. Fuck you!”
Paige smiled and walked over to Tony. She kissed him hard on the mouth. Tony held onto her, but then Paige pushed him away.
“Fuck both y’all fleas. Y’all belong together. I just wanted to show you where you stand with him, Sharise. A filler. Just something to do. You called me bitch, but you said it wrong. I’m a bad bitch and don’t you ever forget it, boo boo.”
“Paige!” Tony said. He couldn’t believe she played him like that.
“Payback is a bitch, ain’t doe?” She walked over to Tonaya and stuck her hand out. “Come on, baby. Let’s go. Daddy is busy right now.” Tonaya sadly waved good-bye to her father. Marla joined them, and the crew of three left the hospital room.
“That was some cold shit, Paige. But I liked it,” Marla said in disbelief.
“You wanna play with fire, sometimes you get burnt!” Paige said.
“Very true.”
Paige opened the back door to Mad-Dog’s arctic-white 600 Benz and strapped Tonaya in. She felt good as a muh’fucker!