“Who is this?” I pointed to the mystery boy, noticing another picture of him on the wall with a rosary hanging from the frame.
“Our brother, Luke.” Noah simply stated, not elaborating.
“I didn’t know you guys had another brother.” I glanced over at him dumbfounded.
“We don’t. Not anymore.”
“Mia!” A woman’s voice, who I assumed was their mother’s, echoed down the long narrow hallway into the living room where we stood. She immediately pulled me into a tight hug. “So nice to officially meet you, honey. I’ve heard so much about you and your family, I feel like I already know you.”
I hugged her back, pushing back the thoughts of the Jameson boy I didn’t even know existed. Making a mental note to ask Creed about it later.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, too. But please don’t believe everything you hear from Creed, he—”
“Creed?” She pulled away, cocking her head to the side. “You mean Noah?”
I shook my head. “Right.” Playing it off like I said the wrong name, trying to hide the hurt expression on my face. “I mean, don’t believe everything Noah has told you. He—”
“Hasn’t said anything but the truth. You’re perfect, Mia. Couldn’t ask for a better girl.”
I smiled again, ignoring the sentiment in his tone. Handing his momma the sonogram picture in my hand. “Congratulations, Grandma. It’s a girl!”
She beamed, staring down at the photo with the same expression my mom had when she saw it earlier that day. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears. Before I could give it too much thought, Noah tugged me into the nook of his arm, close to the side of his body. My hand subconsciously connected with his firm, muscular chest. Steadying myself.
From an outsider looking in, we probably appeared to be a couple. I nervously laughed. Silently thanking God that Creed wasn’t there to witness this particular scene playing out. He would flip his shit if he saw—
I jolted awake from the unexpected bump we hit on the road, followed by a strong hand placed on my head in a comforting gesture, pulling me away from the day that was supposed to be nothing but happiness.
“Fuck! She’s waking up! Fucking hell, just keep her quiet,” I heard a male’s voice I didn’t recognize, shouting from behind me.
We weren’t alone.
I opened my mouth to scream, but quickly shut it when I felt a needle poke my thigh, and warmth spread throughout my entire core in a matter of seconds.
“Heeellllp me,” I whispered as loud as I could to no avail.
“Shhh...” the voice of the person who was rubbing my head coaxed near my face.
I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer to care, closing on their own. My body instantly went lax as sleep took over once again.
All eyes turned to him, stepping inside the house in that Creed sort of way. Dominant and overbearing, demanding that his presence be acknowledged by all.
Especially me.
“Creed, honey, what are you doing here?” his mom greeted him with a smile.
“Since when do I need an invitation to come home? I interruptin’ somethin’, Noah?” he snapped. His eyes burned holes into his brother’s arm that was still placed around me, which only provoked Noah to hold me tighter.
I warily smiled at Creed, casually stepping away from Noah. I didn’t want to hurt Noah’s feelings. I tried to gauge Creed’s reaction as to how I should proceed. My heart was beating out of my chest so hard. I swear he could hear it.
“Of course you don’t,” their mom chimed in. “I just assumed you’d be at the club, honey, since you just got back this afternoon. Oh, you have to see this!” she yelped in excitement, rushing over to him. Things couldn’t have gotten worse than they were at that exact moment. “Mia brought this over with her. Look, honey! It’s a girl! We’re having a girl!”
He grabbed the photo out of her hand, looking down at my baby girl in his grasp. I wanted him to love her. I wanted him to love her just as much as I did without even having met her yet. The desire seeped out of my pores. He wasn’t the father, but it didn’t mean that I didn’t want him to feel protective over her like she was his own. She was still a part of him. My uncles may not be blood-related to me, but I loved them all like second fathers, and I prayed it would be the same for my baby girl and Creed, too.
There were no words to describe what I felt while the love of my life held my heart in his hands. His eyes scanned the sonogram picture, mesmerized by the tiny being, and for a moment I thought I saw everything I’d been hoping for since the second I found out I was pregnant.
It was my turn to beam.
He finally peered back up at me with daunting eyes. Breaking his silence, he spewed, “Your phone broke, Pippin? Was workin’ last night when you told me you missed me. Funny how those things work, yeah?”
My hopefulness quickly faded, not expecting his response. I stepped forward, roughly taking my baby girl’s first photo out of his hands.
“Bro, don’t see the reason why she has to call ya, you ain’t the father,” Noah snidely replied, making matters worse.
“Boys...” their mom warned, looking back and forth between them. “Mia came over with some great news. You both check your testosterone at the door. You hear me? Not tonight. Dinner’s going to be a while. Behave. I’m going to call Stacey and Laura and tell them we’re having a girl.”
She gave both of them one last stern look and left, walking into the kitchen. Noah’s phone rang as soon as she left, breaking the uncomfortable silence between us all.
“Yeah,” Noah answered, walking out of the room.
As soon as he was no longer in sight, Creed grabbed my hand, taking me by surprise. He rushed me into his room, shutting the door behind him. Not wasting any time, he leaned up against it and folded his arms over his broad chest.
I sighed, taking a seat on the edge of his bed. Mentally preparing myself for his wrath that I knew was about to be unleashed. Not getting the chance I’d been waiting for to look around his room even just for a second.
“Creed...” I coaxed just above a whisper.
He put his hand up in the air, stopping me, cocking his head to the side. “You got one minute to fuckin’ explain what the fuck was that?” He sternly pointed to the door behind him. “Before I lose my shit. Don’t got any patience left for fuckin’ bullshit tonight, Pippin. Fuckin’ exhausted, been on my bike all goddamn day to come home to you. Only to find you at my Ma’s house with my brother’s arm around you like you’re his fuckin’ property. When you’re mine,” he gritted out, emphasizing the last word.
I acted fast, kicking off my wedges and sitting up on my knees in the center of his bed. Gazing adoringly up at him through my lashes, biting my bottom lip for good measure. I picked up the sides of my dress, swaying it side-to-side. Giving him that look which he was more than familiar with.
“Do you like my dress? It’s new...” I smirked, batting my lashes at him. “I bought it just for you, babe. I know how you love the color white on me.”
“Is that right?” He grinned, pushing off the door. Walking over to me, each stride more confident than the last. My heart sped up, as my breathing quickened. In a few short seconds, he would be over to me, and all would be right with my world.
All I needed was Creed.
I fervently nodded with nothing but mischief in my eyes. I wanted him to hold me, kiss me, and tell me he loved me. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, but it felt like no time had passed between us, exactly how it always did. It never mattered how much time went by until we saw each other again. Our connection was always alive and thriving, beating right in front of us.
I slowly licked my lips. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a dress that’s still small, but will fit my...” I glided my fingers along the top of my ample cleavage that was popping at the seams. I knew he loved my breasts that were bigger now from my pregnancy. “They’re huge, right?” I leaned forward, slightly pushing them together, baiting him. Luri
ng him in to love me again, and not be mad at me anymore.
He sat on the edge of the bed, immediately reaching over to bring me onto his lap, to straddle his thighs.
A much better position, I thought.
He softly, tenderly pecked my lips. Assaulting me with his peppermint and cigarette breath, making me quiver from that alone. His lips skimmed my neck then down to my breasts, which had doubled in size since he’d last seen me. I was so overly sensitive to everything, particularly his touch. He was taking his time with me, nice and slow like he knew I loved. His hands roamed while his tongue ran along the seam of my white dress, causing my head to fall back, and a soft moan to escape my lips.
“Pippin?” he said in between kissing me. “As much as I’d like to titty fuck you and come on these right now. Asked ya a question, expectin’ a fuckin’ answer.” He pulled away, lying back on his bed with his hands under his head.
Leaving me wanting more.
Wanting everything.
Him.
“Didn’t you miss me?” I pouted, swaying my hips on his hard cock, causing him to chuckle. I wasn’t about to give up without a fight. I was relentless. I was getting my way, plain and simple.
Besides, he couldn’t stay mad at me. He never could.
“Creed? Mia?” Noah’s voice resonated through the door. “What the fuck are you doin’?” He loudly knocked.
“Fuck off! We’re busy!” Creed roared, never taking his eyes off me.
I shook my head, leaning forward to kiss him, but he stopped me, putting his index finger to my lips. “Not gonna ask you again, Mia.”
I sighed. I couldn’t explain my relationship with Noah as much as I couldn’t explain my relationship with him.
It was all so complicated.
So I simply stated, “Noah was just excited about finding out we’re having a girl. He got carried away. It doesn’t matter. Don’t you trust me?”
In one swift movement, he was on top of me, closing me in with his strong muscular arms. “How often does that little shit get carried away? I saw him eyein’ your tits. He get carried away with them, too? Don’t fuckin’ like it.”
“It’s not like that. I love you.”
“You love me so fuckin’ much, I’m the last to find out you’re havin’ a baby girl?”
“That’s not fair. My appointment was this afternoon. I knew you were riding home. Not like you could have come... Besides, you wouldn’t have heard my call anyway.”
He arched an eyebrow, calling my bluff. “Phone’s always on vibrate. Try again.”
I didn’t hesitate, blurting out, “I don’t know how all this works, Creed,” I honestly spoke for the first time, needing him to hear me and understand. “It’s new territory for me, too. I want my baby to have a father, and Noah has been there for all my appointments, he knows everything that’s going on. He seems invested in being a part of helping me raise her. We’re just getting to know each other so we can be the best parents to our baby. That’s all.”
“I respect the hell out of both of ya for that. But I’m gonna be just as much, if not more, a part of this baby girl’s life as he is. Ya feel me?”
I nodded, hearing him say that gave me the courage to ask what I needed to know the most. “I know you said you’re claiming me, but I don’t entirely understand what that means. Are you my boyfriend? Are we together?”
He kissed my lips, murmuring, “Not fuckin’ anyone else, Pippin. Haven’t in a while. Who’s my girl?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. He was always so crass and vulgar, but those were some of the things I loved the most about him. He spoke his mind, no matter what.
“I want to hear you say it. Not going to ask you again, Creed,” I mocked. Making him smile while he ran his nose from my chin to my collarbone, kissing all over my tender breasts.
“How you smell so fuckin’ good all the time? You’re my girl,” he reassured me, pulling down the front of my dress. “I lov—”
“Oh my God, babe! She just kicked,” I shouted, cutting him off. “Give me your hand. You need to feel this.” I grabbed ahold of his hand, placing it on my belly. “Say something, I think she likes your voice.”
My baby girl already loved him as much as I did.
He instantly looked up, glaring at something out in front of him, not paying me any mind. “Fuck!” he seethed, his demeanor quickly changing into the man who hid behind his cut.
I opened my mouth to say something but sounds of rapid-fire echoed all around the room, rendering me speechless. The glass windows shattered as each bullet ricocheted off the walls, landing on the ground below us. Within seconds, Creed sprang into action, rolling us off his bed while tucking my head against his chest. Trying to break our fall as he threw me onto the wood floor. Immediately shielding my body with his.
Shots continued to fill the air throughout their house, bullet casings falling all around us. I was terrified, I had never been so scared, but not for my life.
For my baby’s.
I gasped, finding it hard to breathe. How long was I out for this time? I was no longer in a moving vehicle, but in sturdy arms that were now carrying me to the unknown.
“No!” I yelled, trying to fight, but it came out more like a soft murmur.
“I’m not going to tell you again. Shut the bitch up!”
“Shhh...” the man carrying me repeated in the same tone as before. Calm and collected.
“Please, please let me go. I promise, I promise I won’t—” They were laying me down on what felt like a mattress and I instinctively, exhaustingly fought to get free. Kicking my legs, flailing my arms, clawing to escape from the men who were probably preparing to rape me.
Or worse, kill me.
“Enough,” a stern tone demanded, holding back my hands and pinning me to the bed. Slits of light shined through the blindfold that was still securely placed around my eyes.
“Please don’t hurt me. I’m pregna—” the familiar pain of a needle poking my thigh rendered me speechless. Tears ran down my heated cheeks as darkness took a hold of me all over again.
I clutched onto my stomach, screaming and crying out in agony. Convulsing in his arms. Something was wrong. The pain was blinding. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t see, all I could do was feel the excruciating stabs all over my abdomen. Crippling me in ways I never thought possible.
Creed pulled out his gun, sat up and returned fire.
“Ahhh!” I cried out, rolling over into a fetal position, my arms tightly wrapped around my baby.
Chaos erupted all around me, yet all I could comprehend and wrap my mind around was my baby was in danger.
I was there but I wasn’t.
It felt as though hours had gone by. The pain was getting more and more unbearable. Every last part of my body hurt, suffocating me and making it hard to breathe. I choked on my words, overcome by fear of what was happening.
Was I losing my baby?
“Fuck! Baby, you okay?” I heard Creed yell out from above me. Pure panic laced in his tone.
“Creed, I can’t... she’s... it hurts...” I whimpered, barely speaking through the pain.
His bedroom door was suddenly kicked open, slamming against the adjacent wall. It vibrated deep within my core. For a split second, I thought this was how my life was going to end. The baby and I were going to die right here on the floor with Creed's arms wrapped around us. I couldn’t help but think about all the times he told me to stay away from him.
That he was no good for me.
I breathed out a sigh of relief when I heard Noah’s voice fill the small room, “Boys are coming! Ma’s in the steel pantry, she’s safe! Give her to me, Creed! I’ll take her to the basement!”
“The fuck you will! Cover me!” Creed picked me up off the floor, cradling me in his arms. I cringed from the sudden movement, on the verge of passing out. The pain was too excruciating to bear. Mentally begging him to stop. Pleading with him to leave me there.
I closed my eyes, c
oming in and out of consciousness until Creed gently laid me down onto a hard, cold surface. I slowly opened my eyes, seeing boxes all around me with a single name written on them all. Luke. A damp, stale smell assaulted my senses, causing a sudden wave of bile to rise in my throat.
“I’ll be right back. Do not move!” Creed demanded in a harsh stern tone.
“Creed... please...” I bellowed, shaking so damn hard. “Don’t leave me... please... please, I need you!”
I caught the panicked expression on his face. It was the first time I had ever seen worry radiate off his eyes and sear into my skin. He wasn’t even trying to hide it from me.
“Mia, you need to stay here. Protect our little girl, alright,” Noah chimed in, making me look over at him. It was only then I realized he was there too.
“Promise, baby. Be right back.” Creed kissed my forehead. Letting his lips linger there for a minute before releasing me. He stood up, taking his warmth with him.
The sound of bullets decorating their house echoed in the distance. They stood there, listening intently to all the rounds going off. One right after the other sounded with no pause in between.
“Stay with Mia—”
“Fuck you!” Noah interrupted. “You’re not goin’ up there alone. We can take them all out. The boys are on their way. Won’t be long.”
“Noah—”
“Wasting fuckin’ time! Let’s go!”
Creed took one last look at me before returning to the violence that had always been his life. I understood it now more than ever. Everything he warned me about, all those times he pushed me away, his words repeating themselves over and over in my mind like a broken record.
I watched them leave with hooded eyes as they ascended back up the stairs, locking me in.
Where was I?
My grip tightened on my stomach, trying to steady the stabbing pain coursing throughout my entire abdomen. The pressure intensified with each second that passed, lying curled up on the concrete floor. Not only was my baby girl’s future hanging on the line, her daddy’s was too. Along with the man I couldn’t live without. All I could hear above were sounds of rapid gunfire, bodies hitting the floor with a thud, bullet casings littering the ground, and loud voices echoed in the air vents above, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. My heart beat uncontrollably in my ears. Pounding against my chest, taking over every last inch of my body.