by Blue Saffire
“Relax, Baby,” I soothe. “It is a little over a two-hour flight. We’ll make it. Little Lilla will wait for her auntie to get there. I’m sure of it.”
Sephora wraps her arms around my waist and holds me tight. “Promise,” Sephora says softly.
“Yes, I have a feeling she is going to hold out for you,” I promise.
~ B~
Sephora
I promised Kimmie I would be there for her, and I’m not. This is eating me up inside. I wish I could make this car move faster. That plane ride was agony. No one is answering their phones, and I am sure it is because they are all in the hospital meeting my new little niece.
I can’t help but hold my hands over Nick’s as he rests his large hands over my baby bump. Someone could have warned me that having twins was going to blow me up like crazy. However, these little ones are my anchor right now. Their big cousin is making her debut, and I want to be there so bad.
I am going to be so mad if I miss this. I have talked to Kimmie constantly. We just spoke this morning, and she didn’t tell me that she was feeling any different or going into labor. Ugh, I could choke her right now.
“We’re almost there. This is her first baby, Sephora she could be in labor for hours. We’ll make it,” Nick tries to reassure me.
I turn my head to look at my husband like he is a stranger. “How do you know that,” I ask and lift a brow at him.
Nick’s cheeks actually turn pink, and he gives me that little smile I rarely get to see. The adorable one that I imagine our little one giving me when they want something. “I read it,” he says with a shrug.
I start to laugh at him. I know he has been so excited about the babies, but I had no idea he started to go as far as reading baby books. He is going to make an awesome dad. He is already an amazing husband.
Before I can tease him, the car pulls to a stop. I feel the air swoosh from my lips in relief to finally be here. I take the chance to get one good rib in before Winston get to my door to open it for me.
I open my mouth, but the look on Nick’s face stills me. His eyes are hard, and he is looking at something behind me. I turn to see what has gotten his attention, and I find five of the Black brothers standing on the curb to the hospital. I furrow my brows in confusion.
Yeah, I now know that Luke and Wyatt are friends, but I did not expect to see him and his brothers here. From the looks on their faces, I know this is not a friendly visit. I look at Nick and for the millionth time, I wonder if I should just blurt out what I know.
I know Nick is intentionally not asking me what I found out. I want to respect that he doesn’t want my help on this. Honestly, it is the death threat and my little babies in my belly that have kept me silent this long.
“Winston will walk you inside. I will be there shortly,” Nick says and pecks my lips.
I nod because the tone in his voice is so final. I know there is no point arguing. I get out of the car as Winston holds his hand out for me. When I get out of the car all of the guys’ eyes drop to my belly, and their faces soften.
Instinctively, I place my hand on my bump. Ry moves forward and wraps me in a hug. He pulls away, placing his hand over mine and looks behind me.
“How are my two step children doing,” he teases, obviously trying to lighten the mood for me.
Nick grunts from behind me. I stifle a giggle. Ryan knows just how to push Nick’s buttons. Noah reaches to slap Ryan in the back of the head, and Wyatt glares at his little brother the same way Nick is.
I can’t help the giggle that bubbles up as Ryan rubs the back of his head still smirking. Felix looks like he wants to laugh with me. Braxton just shakes his head before he starts texting on his phone.
“One of these days you are going to learn when I am not in the mood for your shit,” Nick grumbles.
“And one of these days you are going to learn that I just don’t give a damn, Lincoln,” Ryan croons and lets out a deep laugh. “Learn to share, Nick. Just think, Sephora could be my wife on the weekends. I promise to treat the kiddies just like they’re my own.”
“We don’t have time for this shit,” Noah interjects shaking his head. “Get Sephora inside to Luke, before Kimmie loses her shit again.”
“Fine,” Ryan grumbles and hooks his arm around my shoulders. “We’ll talk about this later, Lincoln.” Ryan tosses over his shoulder.
“Keep trying me, kid,” Nick growls.
I elbow Ry and pick up the pace to make it to Kimmie and my new little niece. I am so excited that I just barely manage to push the scene I am leaving behind to the back of my mind.
~ B~
Nick
“What,” I say to Wyatt knowing whatever he is about to tell me is going to piss me off.
I should be inside awaiting my niece’s arrival with my wife, but I know for the brothers to be here this is something serious. For the last month and a half finding this threat has been one of their priorities. I know they are working hard, and nonstop so I should be relieved that they are finally here with some type of news. I am just so tired of this situation interrupting my life.
“We have a private conference room waiting in the hospital,” Wyatt offers and nods his head in the direction of the hospital for me to follow.
Wyatt, Noah, Braxton, and Felix all lead the way into the hospital. We take the elevator upstairs and step into a conference room. We are greeted in the conference room by Joe Black and Johnathan. It looks like the whole gang is here except for Toby.
I am on edge so I don’t take a seat as the rest of the brothers do. Joe slides a folder across the table. His face is stern, and the rest of the guys look just as pissed as they did when we pulled up.
“There is a reason we haven’t been able to track this son of a bitch,” Braxton starts.
I lift a brow and open the file. “And what might that be,” I ask absently as I look at the documents in the folder.
I furrow my brows because I have never in my life seen the documents before me, not ever. However, every single last one has my name on them. The signature looks identical to mine as well. I am confused as to what I am looking at. It is only as I look very closely that I can tell the difference from my own signatures.
“What the hell am I looking at,” I look up at Joe and then Wyatt.
It is Felix that responds. “Brax didn’t notice it at first. We were coming up with dead ends, but something odd jumped out at him. There was a signature on some paperwork in Seattle around the time Brax and Ry went to pick up Sephora,” he starts.
“I remembered the dates. Ryan stuck me with the bill for the hotel that night. I knew you weren’t in Seattle back then, you were already back in Cali looking for Sephora when you reached out to us for help. I got to thinking and did a little more digging,” Brax adds.
“When he brought it to my attention, I started to think. What if we're looking for this phantom in all the wrong places. Looking for an identity, that doesn’t exist? What if we already have clues looking us in the face,” Felix says.
“Felix and I started to comb through everything we had on you. Then we started looking through all public records on you and digging for things that are not so public,” Braxton proceeds.
“That’s when that came to me,” Wyatt points to the folder. “I know you better than anyone. Well, me and the guys do. Shit wasn’t adding up. There are corporations, real estate, and investments all in your name, and we all know you don’t own any of them. Craig has been your forensic accountant for years now. He didn’t recognize any of it,” Wyatt chimes in.
He looks me in the eyes as he continues. “We can’t find the motherfucker because he is you. Every move you make he makes an identical one. I don’t know how the fuck he is doing it, but he is living your life right alongside you. He has become you and for some reason, no one has bothered to question this shit in the least.”
“What,” I ask stunned. “How the fuck is this possible?”
“Oh, my boy, that is not the best part,” J
oe says as he folds his hands over his chest. “You have a little criminal investigation going on at the moment, Nick. The feds are watching you.”
“What,” I gasp out. I may know and deal with a few people that have businesses that aren’t entirely on the up and up, but I have never done anything illegal in my business dealings or in my life.
“I reached out to some of my connections, and you are being watched closely,” Joe sighs heavily. “You are being looked at for your family’s murders and embezzlement charges.”
“What the fuck,” I roar.
“Somehow this asshole is making it look like you are responsible for a whole lot of shit. What worries me is that a lot of the shit looks legit,” Joe says with concern written all over his face. “I know it’s not. I never doubted you for a minute, but if I didn’t know you the way I do, I would be helping them take you down. It’s that bad, Nick.”
I stumble to the chair closest to me and take a seat. This shit is not happening. I have just gone from seeing myself as untouchable to feeling like I need to make a run for it. My whole life flashes before me. I just knew it was too fucking quiet.
The silence of the last two weeks is suddenly now deafening. I try to process this. I am being framed for the murders of my mother, father, and my daughter. Is that what I am hearing? What in the entire fuck is going on here?
“Nick, someone is pushing this. I tried to get my connections to look further into it, but they’re being blocked at every turn as well,” Joe says breaking through my thoughts. “I don’t know who has it out for you, Kid, but we need to stop underestimating him.”
“Fuck,” I bellow. This I didn’t see coming at all.
chapter Fifteen
Familiar Strangers
Sephora
I walk into the room to find Kimmie yelling at Lucian as tears stream down her face. I almost laugh at the stricken look on Luke’s face as Kimmie goes in. I mean she is really letting him have it.
“I don’t care Luke. I don’t want to do this. I’m tired of being afraid. I’m tired of being unsure. I’m scared, and I just want my best friend, but she’s not here. I’m stuck with you, and I don’t want you here right now,” Kimmie ends her rant with.
I didn’t catch enough of the beginning to understand the last part, but I can see the hurt in Luke’s eyes as Kimmie’s words hit him. His fists are clenched at his sides, and I can see him trying to rein in his own temper.
“You’re my wife!” Luke growls when he loses his battle. “You are giving birth to our daughter. You are not the only one scared right now, Kimmie. I wish like fuck my sister was here for you, but she’s not. But I sure as shit am, and I am not going anywhere.
“I’m tired too. I’m tired of pretending we are not married. I’m tired of you pushing me away. I’m tired of holding back when all I want is to wrap you in my arms and make love to you. I’m so fucking tired,” Luke continues his rant until he hears me suck in a breath.
I am stunned. I knew these two were keeping a secret, but I had no clue it was a secret this big. My best friend married my brother? When, where, how? Oh my, God, they have been lying to me and living under my damn roof while doing it. I am suddenly so hurt by two of the most important people in my life.
“Oh my God,” I gasp. I don’t give into the tears like I normally would, even against my hormones insistence. I am too pissed off at these two. “Are you kidding me?”
“Sophi,” Kimmie beams in relief and sings my name. Her smile falls when she realizes what I just walked in on. “Oh God, Soph. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to talk to you, but…” Kimmie’s words cut off as she grabs the rail of the bed and groans.
Fresh tears stream down her face, and she looks up at me pleadingly. I am still pissed, but I rush to her side. I push her damp braids from her face. She has looked so cute with her box braids in the last months of her pregnancy.
“She is not supposed to be here this soon. I’m not ready. I had more things to do, I need more time,” Kimmie whines.
“It looks like she is on her way to me. She is not worried about your stuff to do. She is already just like her dad,” I toss the jab at my brother, and he gives me a weak smile.
“We didn’t keep it from you to hurt you,” Luke says as he locks eyes with me.
“But you both kept it from me,” I reply and look away. “Congratulations. I wish you both the best and true happiness.”
“Don’t be like that, Lilla du,” Luke sighs.
“He married me for Lilla,” Kimmie whimpers sadly. “It’s not a big deal.”
“What the fuck,” Lucian mutters. “Is that what you think? Is that why you made me keep this a secret? Kimberly? You can’t be fucking serious. You know what, I’ll go. I need some air.”
Luke turns and storms towards the door. I start to panic and turn to follow him. Kimmie clutches my hand to keep me at her side.
“Luke wait! The baby is on its way,” I call after him.
“I won’t go far. I wouldn’t want to miss the only reason I am in this marriage,” Luke scoffs and slams the door behind him.
Kimmie bursts into sobs and I reach to wrap my arms around her as much as our bellies will allow. I am so big for four months. Christ, this has to be abnormal. Oh God, these babies are going to be giants like their dad. I rein in my thoughts as my friend tenses in my arms and groans.
“She’s coming, he is going to miss our daughter’s birth. I didn’t mean to piss him off. I'm just so scared. We’re married, and we don’t have a place to live. We can’t live with you and Nick forever. My baby doesn’t even have a nursery.
“I was going to move back to the apartment, but Luke rented it out a few months ago. He sold his fucking place. God, I totally get what you used to gripe about. He is a freaking control freak. He went to my father, and they total ambushed me with a private wedding.
“I wanted a big wedding with all the bells and whistles like you and Ettie, but he ripped that right from me. For Lilla, he said. So she wouldn’t enter this world without her father being married to her mother. I call bullshit. I’m so fucking confused.
“Luke does this shit to me. I look at him, and I lose my mind. Now I’m having a baby, and my husband can’t stand to be in the room with me. Right now I am so pissed at him I would love to take a bullwhip to his ass,” she snorts and sobs as she groans in pain.
“Kimmie, I’m going to need you to pull it together. I don’t want my niece coming into this world thinking her mommy and daddy are nuts,” I pause and think about that one. “Well,” I draw out. “It may be true, but she doesn’t have to learn that today.”
“Screw you, Sephora,” Kimmie hisses and gives me the stink eye. “Those two in your belly are just as shit out of luck as my little girl. You suck. I’ve been holding out for you to get here, and this is what I deserve?”
I laugh but feel bad as soon as Kimmie’s wide-eyed pout turns into a grimace. “I think I better get your doctor and Luke,” I rush. “I think Lilla has had enough of waiting.”
“Shit, shit, shit,” Kimmie whimpers. “I should be glad my husband doesn’t want to have sex with me. I don’t ever want to do this again.”
I turn to Kimmie halfway to the door. “Kimmie, I’m pretty sure my brother just told you that he wants you. I’m going to do for you what you did for me when I had my head up my own ass. I am going to tell it to you straight. Luke has his issues, and he can be a pain in the butt, but my brother loves you.
“Not because you are having Lilla, not because he feels obligated. Lucian may be scared to death that he is going to hurt you, but he loves you nonetheless.
“I think you both are letting your fears get in the way. But you don’t have time for that anymore. Lilla needs you both. So you are going to suck it up and push my niece out and her father, your husband, is going to stand right beside you while you do it. It’s time we grow up, Kimmie. This is real life, and we can’t keep ducking from it. You let that sink in before you do something you regret,” I hand
her back her words from a few months back.
Kimmie looks at me through watery eyes and nods. “And you tell your husband the truth about what you know,” Kimmie says softly. There is no bite in her words, just true concern.
“Yeah, I know,” I sigh. “I know.”
I turn and head out of Kimmie’s hospital room in search of Luke and her doctor. When I walk out, I nearly run into someone. Strong hands grab my arms and steady me.
I look up, and the man before me looks so familiar. I look into his blue-green eyes, but they look wrong to the memory scratching at the surface. His hair is golden brown, but it somehow looks wrong as well. I frown and scrunch my nose up as I try to pull the memory to the forefront and place his face.
There is something else familiar about him as well. Something that nudges my brain, but won’t get it started. I tilt my head and look at him more deeply. As I do, he releases my arms and takes a step back. He looks away, and I narrow my gaze at his profile.
Now I am confused, it is like two puzzle pieces are trying to fit themselves together. I lift a finger to point at him. “Do I know you? I know you from somewhere don’t I,” I think out loud.
“Sephora,” I hear Nick’s voice boom.
I turn to see him moving towards me with a scowl on his face. I turn back to the familiar man, but he is gone before I can question him further. I look around for him, but he is not in sight.
“Who was that,” Nick asks as he gets to my side.
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know,” I reply still sorting through my memory.
“Why are you out here,” Nick interrupts.
“Kimmie needs her doctor, and I was looking for Luke as well,” I reply absently.
“Go back inside with Kimmie. I will get the doctor and Luke,” Nick says ushering me back into the room.
I look up at Nick, and his profile is facing me as he looks off after the man. I furrow my brows as my brain fizzes out. I never did get any sleep.
chapter Sixteen
Pissed Mama