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, coming 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—”