Delivered in Sin

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “Okay, out,” I laugh, pointing at the door. “Wait in the lobby. You bitches are takin’ me out to lunch.”

  All their mouths drop at my cuss word, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing.

  “That good heart, but Lord, that mouth,” Everleigh laughs, shaking her head.

  I stick out my tongue at them as they all leave and shut the door behind them. The tech prints out a few ultrasound pictures for us, and I wipe the gel off my stomach, sitting up.

  “We’ll see you in a few weeks. The front desk can set up your next appointment.”

  I nod as Landry grabs my hand, a simple gesture, but one I’ve gotten used to, one I’ve needed. I embrace the quiet now, the past few minutes now hitting me.

  A son. I’m really going to be a mother. I look down at the 3D pictures in my hand and trace the baby’s features, feeling a tear slip down my cheek onto the photo.

  “This baby is going to be the luckiest kid in the world with you as his mama,” Landry whispers, kissing my bare shoulder.

  I smile, cupping his cheek, and turn to kiss him.

  “And you as his daddy.”

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, Landry parks the car in front of my favorite Mexican restaurant, Eden’s big pickup parking next to us.

  The girls all hop out of the truck and wrap their arms around Landry and me.

  “So, what are we namin’ this baby boy?” Everleigh asks.

  “Relax,” I laugh, “we just found out.”

  We all wave to Francisco, the owner of No Mas!

  “It is a good day when all my girls come to see me. To what do I owe the pleasure today?” Francisco asks, kissing us all on both cheeks.

  “Lia’s poppin’ out a son in five months,” Eden spills.

  “Sí?” Francisco asks, looking over at me.

  “Yeah,” I laugh, nodding my head as Landry wraps an arm around me and kisses the side of my head.

  “Oh, celebrations!” Francisco yells. “I love babies. Come! Lunch is on the house!”

  He pulls me toward him, kissing both my cheeks, and then pulls Landry in to do the same.

  We all pile toward the back into our favorite booth, and Francisco brings enough food for an army. I don’t take a breath until about halfway through my third round of tacos and pause to see the entire table looking at me.

  “What?”

  “We weren’t gonna ask and ruin the happiness of today, but how’s Quinlin?” Eden asks.

  I swallow my food and nod.

  “She’s okay. Rocko and Zeus went over there with her today to get all her stuff from her apartment. She’s still shaken up.”

  “Well yeah, I’d be too,” Addison shivers. “Did she say why she took the guy back to her room? I didn’t know she did that yet.”

  “She said the other night was only the second time.”

  “Damn, that poor girl. She can stay with me if y’all want your privacy with the baby and all,” Everleigh offers.

  “She’s fine with me for now. We’re... figurin’ it all out.”

  Landry squeezes my thigh under the table for reassurance, and I smile at him. When he had breakfast delivered to us the other day and then lunch and dinner so we didn’t have to do much aside from binge-watch movies and discuss life, I swear I knew I was gonna marry him. He didn’t tell me to make her leave, he didn’t force his way over, he put someone else before himself, someone he barely knew but someone important to me.

  I briefly told him about her staying with me this morning and the baby on the way to the doctor. She still hasn’t decided on what she’s going to do yet, but I wanted him to know I’m not asking her to leave any time soon.

  “I have a great idea,” Eden gushes. “Let’s all go to the club tonight as patrons! Nix the wigs and masks and enjoy our own club! Celebrate this little guy.”

  “That’s actually a really great idea,” I say with a smile. “Let’s do it!”

  I feel like a new woman tonight as I get out of the limo Eden rented us, and my black over the knee boots slap against the concrete.

  Landry reaches for my hand, his tongue snaking out to lick his lips, and he takes me in from my tight long-sleeved lace dress to my curly blonde hair falling down my back.

  It’s a maternity dress, so the material is tight against my growing belly, and I embrace it. I know soon enough, this baby boy will be here, and I’ll miss this belly and the little flutters I feel to remind me of this miracle.

  “Fucking ravishing,” Landry growls in my ear.

  I kiss him quickly as the rest of the girls get out of the limo, and we stride over to Washington, the mountain man door security.

  “Well, I’ll be,” he drawls, tipping down his Stetson at us. “Every man’s wet dream. I don’t think you ladies can look less than breathtakin’ in any damn thing you put on.’

  “Oh, Washington, how I’ve missed that mouth and what it’s capable of,” Eden drawls, walking to him and running her fingers down his beard. “What you got goin’ on later?”

  “Maybe a little Madam Roxie’s room of pain if I’m lucky,” he rasps, shamelessly looking down the front of her dress.

  “Ah, you know I like a fighter, big guy. Find me later.”

  “Room of pain?” Landry whispers in my ear.

  “Don’t ask,” I laugh, as Washington moves the red rope for us to enter, and walking in here without my mask in place, without my contacts and wig, feels so different.

  I watch as a few of the girls hang from the aerial ropes, the cages up along the second floor, and a few on the poles along the four main stages.

  “You okay?” I ask, turning to Quinlin to my left. She looks pale, but her grip on my hand is loose.

  “I’m okay.”

  We move to the back VIP area, and I order a pitcher of Ginger Ale for Quinlin and me, dodging looks from the girls. It’s not my news to tell, and she’s still not sure she’s even keeping it, so I’ve kept my mouth shut, aside from Landry.

  “Mount Washington is right. You look like sex on heels tonight, baby.”

  I smirk, running my hand up his thigh as I watch his throat bob with the drink of his amber liquid.

  “I think I owe you a dance, no?”

  I stand, straddling Landry’s lap as I slowly sink down against him and his eyes widen as he sits up straighter.

  “Here we go! Get it, Mama!” Everleigh yells, throwing singles at us.

  I roll my eyes, bracing my hands above Landry’s shoulders as I grind slowly against him to the rhythm of the music. It picks up, and so do I as I lean forward and kiss the side of his neck.

  He puts his hands on my hips, and I grip them above his head, shaking mine at him.

  “No touchin’, sir. You know the rules.”

  In seconds, he stands as I wrap my legs around him, and he dips me back as I laugh. He devours my neck, kissing and tickling me as I cling to his neck.

  “Stop, stop,” I laugh.

  He obliges, putting me down to my feet as he starts to shake his hips left and right, and my eyes sparkle with desire.

  “Mr. Laurent, I had no idea you could move like that,” I drawl.

  He smiles, the squinty, melt my panties in a puddle smile, and I finger his collar, pulling him closer to me. Our foreheads press together as we sway to the music and his hands roam up and down my sides, finally resting on my lower back.

  The heat between us is electric as I move my hands down the back of his head, and his hands trail lower, cupping my butt.

  I chance a look over my shoulder and see the girls all busy with guys of their own, but Quinlin nowhere to be found.

  “Wait, where’s…?” My words are cut off when I see her smiling on the other side of the booth, talking to Kieran, Everleigh’s older brother, who seems to be a regular now. “Crap.” I pull on Landry’s hand, down the back hallways to our rooms, and motion for Manuelo to open my door. “Thank you, Manny.”

  “Always, boss.”

  “Hey, asshole! I don�
�t think so!” Before I can register the voice or what’s about to happen, a fist is colliding with Landry’s face as he stumbles back into the wall.

  I yell, seeing Manny pull the man from jumping on top of Landry, and Landry gets to his feet, about to get a shot in when he stops, confused. “L-Luca?”

  “You dick! Fucking around on my sister? Spreading your seed all over the fucking place?”

  “Luca! It’s me!” I snap, pushing against his chest as I motion for Manny to let him go.

  “You sure, boss?”

  I nod as Manny lets him loose and leaves us in the hallway. Luca’s eyebrows furrow as he starts to calm down, realizing his mistake.

  “Shit, I’m sorry. I just saw you going into the owner’s room. Wait, why...why are you going in there? That guy called you boss…”

  I sigh, running my hand down my face. I guess I would have to tell him eventually; I just didn’t think it would be this soon or like this.

  “Luca, I…”

  “You work here,” he whispers. “Just like that old club, you...you work here, Nolie?”

  “This is nothin’ like The Devil’s Playground, Luca,” I say with determination.

  “The hell it’s not! Why the hell are you doin’ this, Nolie? You’re a damn nurse! The women that run this probably make a pretty penny off you and—”

  “Luca, you have no idea what you’re talkin’ about,” I snap, shaking my head.

  “No? How the hell do you know?”

  “Because I own it!”

  Luca opens his mouth to speak, then closes it, looking between Landry and me, and I let out the breath I’ve been holding.

  “Say something,” I whisper.

  “I...why, Nolie? Why own a place like this?”

  “Because of that,” I say, lifting my hand at his reaction. “Because when people think of a place like this, it’s dirty, and it shouldn’t be. This place gives me life. When I’m up on that stage, I feel a power I was never given my whole life, Luca. This is freein’ and empowerin’, and we do great things for these women. Don’t turn your nose up at this and if you’re gonna give me a lecture, then leave. We built this from the ground up; we made the damn Forbes’s ‘Thirty Under Thirty’ list, Luca.”

  “We? Your other owners? Who are they? Do the girls know you own this?”

  And that’s where the truth ends, especially because of Everleigh. That’s not my story to tell.

  “They know, and they support me. Now, let’s get back. I saw Kieran here; he makes this a regular thing, huh?”

  “He’s in love with Asrai. Comes all the time and drags me along with him.”

  I notice Quinlin by herself now, sitting in the booth next to Everleigh as they talk, Kieran nowhere in sight. “He’s hooked up with her?” I ask curiously.

  “That girl? Nah,” Luca says, shaking his head at Quinlin. “That Asrai chick, yeah. At least a few times. Why?”

  They’re the same person, idiot.

  “No reason,” I mutter, locking eyes with Quinlin now.

  Crap. What have you gotten yourself into, girl?

  15

  Magnolia

  “Are you sure you don’t wanna leave with us?” I ask Quinlin, who’s hugging a passed out Addison.

  “I’m okay, really. Zeus said he’ll bring me back to your place after closing. I’m having a good time.”

  She smiles, and I can see the hint of sadness, but she does look happy, so I leave it.

  “Ay, get your butt up. Take care of my girl,” I demand, slapping Addison’s leg.

  “What? What? I’m up, I’m up,” she stutters, wiping her mouth.

  “Where’s the rest of them?” I ask.

  “Fuck if I know. Your brother and Ev were about to anger bang against the bathroom door, and I think Eden took Washington back to whip his ass,” Addison laughs.

  “They were not,” I gasp. “Tell me they weren’t, Addy! He’s engaged! Everleigh will hate herself tomorrow!”

  “Hey, aside from you, I think she’s got the best moral compass out of all us. She’ll hold her own. Your brother was looking pretty tasty tonight, though, so who can blame a girl?”

  I groan, grabbing Landry’s hand as we walk toward the back entrance. “Forget it. I’m off babysittin’ duty tonight. Let’s get some ice on your eye, again.”

  “I think I hold the world record for black eyes,” Landry laughs.

  “I’m sorry. He’s overdoin’ it now. He really is trying to make up for lost time.”

  “I’ll live. If I saw Ellie’s baby daddy making out with another woman, I’d have done the same.”

  I cup his cheek, running my finger along his bruised eye, and he winces.

  “Come on.”

  I call for an Uber, keeping the limo out front for everyone else, and when we get into my apartment, I change quickly and grab an ice pack, motioning for Landry to sit on the couch. He lays me down, squeezing himself in between my legs as he softly presses his cheek to my belly, laying down himself.

  I smile, watching as he maneuvers the ice pack on his eye and then runs circles along my belly, kissing it every few seconds before he rests his palm against it.

  “I’ve never felt more at home than I do right now,” he admits softly.

  “Me either.”

  My stomach does a flip, and Landry sits up, looking at me in shock. “Was that a kick?”

  “You felt it? I wasn’t sure if anyone could feel it from the outside yet.”

  “Hell yes, I felt it. Oh, this little guy is gonna be a soccer player, huh?”

  Landry smiles, lifting my shirt as he presses his lips to my skin and starts to whisper to my belly. My heart flutters, and as a nurse, I know that probably isn’t a good thing, but the romantic side of me knows it’s because I...I love him. God, I love him. How did that happen? I’ve never felt this feeling before—this feeling of not ever wanting to be apart from him. The feeling of sadness, thinking he can be ripped away from me at any point, and I don’t know how I’d survive because half of my heart would go with him.

  I knew it existed; it had to for so many people to talk about it, write about it, and seek it out. But I never thought I’d find it or rather that it would find me.

  I trail my fingers down his back, feeling him shiver as he continues to talk to my belly and smooth his fingers up and down my skin.

  I have to tell him. I can’t be afraid like I was telling him about the baby, I have to tell him.

  “Landry, I—”

  The front door opening interrupts my confession, and I look behind us, seeing Zeus wave as Quinlin walks into my apartment.

  “Night, Zeus! Thank you!”

  “No worries, boss. Have a good night. Later, Q.”

  “You okay?” I ask Quinlin as she walks toward the opposite couch and sits down.

  “I’m fine, I’m good.”

  “You want something to eat?” Landry asks her, getting to a sitting position.

  “No, that’s okay, I’m fine.”

  I eye Quinlin, seeing her playing with the strings of her skirt, and pinch Landry’s chin.

  “I’d die for one of your tomato and grilled cheeses, sailor boy,” I wink.

  “Comin’ right up. Quinlin, I don’t wanna brag, but…”

  She looks up, giving Landry a small smile, and nods. “Sure.”

  Landry gives me a quick kiss then walks toward the kitchen as I pull my shirt down and stand. “Want some tea?”

  Following me to the island, Quinlin nods, and Landry motions for me to sit as he starts up the tea for us.

  “So any idea what you’re gonna do yet?” I ask.

  “I um...I think I’m gonna keep it.”

  “Okay. I can set you up with an appointment with my doctor. I can go with you if you want?”

  “Thanks, Magnolia.”

  Landry passes two mugs toward us, and I grab one, blowing on the top before taking a sip.

  “I think I want to join the police academy,” Quinlin says softly.

&
nbsp; “Really?” I ask.

  She nods. “I always wanted to go into criminal justice, and I think I...I think I’m gonna take the test.”

  “Good for you,” I say with a smile, squeezing her forearm. “You should talk to Everleigh’s brother, Kieran. He’s a cop; maybe he can help you.”

  I gauge her reaction at the mention of Kieran, and she tries to mask her ears perking up, but I can tell. Hmm.

  “Y-yeah, I...she told me.”

  “Best grilled cheese in all of Atlanta at your service,” Landry interrupts, pushing two plates toward us.

  We eat in silence, and I wonder when she’s going to tell me about her and Kieran if she ever will. Maybe it’s not his. It has to be.

  “Thanks, Landry. I’m gonna head to bed. Thanks for bringing me out tonight, Magnolia. I had a good time. And I...I would like it if you came with me to my appointment if you can?”

  “Of course, Quin. Sleep well.”

  I wrap her in a hug and instantly feel her body relax. She’s coming around.

  She disappears down the hall, and I look over to Landry with a smirk.

  “You know, you whispering to my belly, making me and Quin food and tea...damn, Daddy. You’ve never looked hotter than you do right now,” I purr, leaning back against the island, crossing my legs as I take him in from his bare feet, his too-tight gray sweats and tight t-shirt, disheveled hair, and sitable face.

  Yep. Pregnancy has definitely turned me into a sex fiend.

  He smiles, sauntering over to me as he braces his hands against the island and smashes his lips against mine. I whimper, fisting his t-shirt.

  “We have to be quiet,” I pant. Landry nods, attacking my neck, and a soft moan slips past my lips. “Landry,” I whine. “Q-quiet. We have t-to be quiet.”

  A phone buzzes from the island, and Landry glances at it, pulling it to me and swiping the screen.

  Quinlin: Putting my headphones in and passing out. You know pregnancy sleep is practically a coma. Don’t worry about me.

  I laugh, covering my face with embarrassment, and turn the screen to Landry.

  “Don’t gotta tell me twice. Let’s go, woman.”

  That three-word phrase tingles at the back of my throat, but when Landry lifts me in his arms and digs his fingers into the meat of my butt, they escape me.