by HJ Bellus
I nod.
“Can I let go?”
I shake my head, knowing damn well what I’d do. His cell phone begins ringing. Boss reaches for it with his free hand.
“Boss,” he answers, flipping the phone to speaker mode.
“They have him. Send your boys. You have thirty minutes to get to the loading bay off of Fifth and five minutes alone with him.” Ruddick’s voice is hushed and hurried.
“I’m letting go, but I swear to God, Jag, I’ll take you down. Keep your head on straight. Sunni is going to need you.”
I stiffen in my seat. I can’t focus on Sunni and the fact she may have permanently damaged herself. The flat emptiness from Boss’ cellphone fills the cab. Cruz picks up on the third ring. It sounds as if sleep never came for him either. It’s downright disgusting what has transpired.
“You and Trick need to head down to the loading bay on Fifth. Ruddick has a little gift for you. Shit has happened. Fill you in later, but Sunni tried to kill herself. I’m here at the hospital with Jag. We need five minutes of your and Trick’s time.”
“Done. Let me grab Riot from his apartment to stay with Layla and Bella. I don’t fucking trust Landon Chandler. I’m telling you he’s mixed up in this shit.”
“Good call. Tell Riot to stay awake and alert.”
“Got it.” Cruz hangs up the phone.
My elbows dig into the top of my thighs, and I bury my face in my hands. “What did he do to her? Her face was so swollen and cut up. I turned my back on her. I know without asking that’s what pushed her over the edge. No doubt.”
“More than likely,” Boss agrees.
“Fuck you.” I dig my fingertips into my forehead.
“You can look at it two ways, Jag. What we had to do sucked. It took a toll on all of us keeping this ruse. Shit, I can’t even tell you if it’s been twenty-four hours since it happened. Without Ruddick and his agents, you’d believe the worst of the story. We’d all be torn over the fact if Bella had been harmed and then punish ourselves for allowing a predator in her life.”
“What’s your point?” I sit up and tap my fingers on my workout pants.
“None of that happened.”
“No, she tried killing herself because I broke a promise to her. Turned my fucking back, played nice with Jaco, and pushed her into taking her own life.”
“Yeah, you did. Gonna wallow in that shit the rest of your life? I’d hope not. It looks to me like you’re getting a second chance, and I wouldn’t waste it on regrets and what should have beens.”
We fall silent. Talking in circles only gets you so damn far. Boss is right. Not if but when we come out on the other side of this, I won’t be wasting time on regrets or kicking myself in the ass. Once Sunni is in my arms, our new future begins.
An orange and neon pink glow lights up the horizon, causing me to squint and rub at my eyes. Neither of us has spoken another word.
“Know what that reminds me of?” Boss points to the rising majestic sun.
“No.”
“Remember those fights I’d have to drive eight to ten hours to? I’d load you and Layla up. Madré would pack enough food for an army. We’d drive for hours. Always started the trip at ten at night.
“You and Layla would fight for a bit before falling sound asleep. Madré would follow suit not long after. I’d be the only one watching the sunrise as I drove. Damn, it would hurt my eyes. It’s a bright like you’ve never experienced after staring into the dark for hours on end.
“It’s also my favorite part of the day. Gave me hope and courage to continue on, and with each rise of the sun, I watched you and Layla grow into strong and confident adults. It’s these few seconds every day I take to ground myself. What you’re about to face isn’t going to be easy, Jag. I’m not going to warn you away from it, either, because I know you love her. And I ain’t in no position to tell you she’s not right for you. My heart has belonged to a woman who never loved me back.”
I glance over to Boss. Over the years, the man has given me plenty of speeches. He’s never talked about his ex-wife. It’s a known secret she shredded his heart years ago. Titan’s Tribe brought her back on the scene last year. The bitch didn’t have the decency to try and make things right before she skipped town again. I guess in her way she did everything she could and was smart enough to know there’d be no forgiveness for her.
“You still love her?” I ask, staring forward at the bright sky.
“Yeah, always will. She gave me Layla. There’s no way I could’ve fallen out of love with her. She may be evil but gifted me the world, the way I see it.”
“You’re a better man than me, Boss.” My eyelids flutter shut. Images of Sunni in one of my crude t-shirts while she dances around my kitchen fill the dark space. Her carefree laugh and endless love she gave me. My body relaxes as the warmth of the now-awake sun streams through the car window.
A loud rapping on the driver’s side window startles me awake. I leap from the reclined position, nailing my head on the roof. Ruddick steps back from the door. Sleep lines cover his face as heavy dark-lined bags rest under his eyes.
“She’s been released and is being transported to a different wing in the hospital. Jaco is in custody. Seems he suffered a severe beating and mugging right before he was picked up. Broken bones and some serious lacerations are his major injuries. He’ll be treated at the jail since Sunni is here. She’ll be in room two-twenty-five.”
Once he speaks the room number, I leap from the Escalade. A few security guards holler at me as I bolt by. I slam the up button on the elevator over and over until I spot a sign for the stairs. I take them two and three at a time. My body screams in protest from my sore muscles from the fight. It doesn’t slow me down.
I am gasping for breath by the time I’m standing outside her room. What am I going to say? This is so fucked up. I tug at the hair on top of my head, lost for words. It’s rare for me. Instead of second-guessing every thought, my will to see Sunni wins out. I push the door open and step in the still and sterile room. Sunni’s hair is matted to the side of her head. Monitors chirp and sing with each rise and fall of her chest.
My steps are tentative as I make my way to her side. She rolls her head when I near her. The side of her face resembles complete raw hamburger. It’s swollen more, and the bruising has taken on deep shades of blue and purple. I notice a few lines of stitches that weren’t there yesterday.
Her neck is bandaged. She opens her mouth, and nothing comes out. She doesn’t stop until words do.
“I’m sorry. I never harmed Bella. I love her.” She brings her hand to her throat, clutching it over thick wrap. “I never did any of it. Jaco is evil.”
“Sunni, stop.” I lean over the bed, cupping her good cheek and leaning as close to her face as I can without hurting her. “I know, baby girl, I know.”
“You do?”
“It’s a long story, but the lesson of it is don’t fuck with my girl.”
Sunni’s lips tilt up, then she grimaces. “It hurts. Everything hurts.”
“Let me talk, and you listen.” I hold her the best I can as I tell her everything, not leaving out one single detail.
“I hoped like hell when I said ‘I gotcha’ that you’d pick up on it. You were too distraught, and I was forced to keep up the act of being pissed to keep Jaco fooled. Ruddick wanted to keep it going for four more days to get more information. Boss said no, and we started the process to get you out.” I kiss every inch of her face that’s not marred with bruises and cuts. I repeat the pattern since most of her skin is covered.
“Why did you do it, baby girl?” I close my eyes, not able to look in hers when she answers me.
“He threatened to come by my cell tonight and rape me. I was at the lowest point of my life.” Her hand comes up to my cheek. Her thumb runs light circles. I keep my eyes shut. “I had lost you and was hell-bent on not letting Jaco have any more power over me. He ruined me.”
I open my eyes and kiss Sunni aga
in. My lips are going to be sore as hell, because I’m not going to be able to keep them off her. “He’s in jail. He’ll never hurt you again. Jaco will be going away for a very long time. You have a family now who loves and adores you.”
The door opens. A middle-aged man in blue scrubs walks in. His glasses are perched on the bridge of his nose, his attention sucked in by the tablet in his hands.
“Sunni.” He nods. “Doing night rounds and wanted to see how your pain level is.”
“I ache more than I hurt if that makes sense. Definitely stiff and beyond exhausted. It’s hard to keep my eyes open. They’re heavy.”
“All to be expected. How’s your neck feeling?”
“Sore,” she answers.
“I need to talk with you about your condition.” He looks directly at me, asking me silently to leave.
“He can stay,” Sunni says, grabbing my arm. “Jag is my boyfriend, and anything you have to say, you can say in front of him.”
He nods and powers up the iPad in his hands. “Anytime with a suicide attempt, there’s mental evaluations and counseling involved. I’ve been brought up to speed on your background. Counseling will be beneficial in your overall wellness.”
Sunni nods.
“Once you’re cleared with a psych evaluation, you’ll be ready to go home. The hospital will provide you with care once you’re home in the form of support groups.”
“I’ll make sure she gets all of it and more. Thank you, doctor.” I stand from the bed and hold out my hand for him to shake. “She’ll be taken good care of.”
“There’s more news. Are you sure it’s okay he’s in here?” The doctor pulls down his glasses, staring over the rims.
His question sets me off. Fucking prick. Who does he think he is?
“It’s more personal. That’s the only reason I’m asking,” he adds.
“He stays,” Sunni croaks out.
“Can she have water?” I ask.
“I’ll have the nurse bring in some ice chips.” The doctor sits in a chair, leaning forward on his elbows. “You’re pregnant.”
Chapter 27
Sunni
“You’re pregnant.” Those two words still seem unreal. I thought it was a nasty joke after the experience I went through. I still remember the moment the doctor changed my life forever. We never received a clear answer if the birth control implant had expired or failed. None if it really mattered, and to be honest, neither Jag nor myself thought twice about it. Being pregnant is a shock, but a very welcome one. I rub my protruding belly, smiling to myself remembering Jag falling off the bed.
I laugh about it now, but my face and neck were so sore, battered, and bruised I couldn’t at the time. Jag’s head bounced off the tile, and a goose egg immediately formed after he passed out. We were quite the lookers with his healing face from the fight and a goose egg.
It took me a good two months struggling through what happened and processing it all. Jaco’s story hit national news. His cold, demonic face was plastered in online articles and major newspapers. His deep dark secrets were exposed to the world, and his name was connected to over a dozen murders. After seeing the faces of the young women, I finally felt blessed. I escaped him.
Not only did I get away from his wrath but landed in the arms of the man God put on Earth for me. We are living the fairytale I never thought I’d star in. It’s not perfect by any means. Counseling took its toll on us. Jag and I both go to individual sessions, and once a week we go as a couple.
Jaco not only brought himself down but Landon Chandler and Abraham. They had devised a sick and twisted plan. I was the perfect pawn for them to get to Jag. Abraham violated his parole and found himself right back in home sweet home—the state penitentiary. The community had enough of the Chandlers and ran each one of them out. Word on the street is Landon is opening a gym in California. We know we haven’t seen the last of him.
I rub my belly and finish writing the last line in my journal. Jag bought me a self-help/healing book called My Once Upon a Time Me by Navy York. She has several titles out, and I’ve devoured all of them. Her spirit journals are my favorites. I’ve found I’m not tearing out pages and burning bad memories as often. Instead, I’m focusing on the good and the future.
Daddy Monster Cock: What’s my name?
Me: Jag.
Daddy Monster Cock: Ask me what my name is.
Me: *eye roll emoji* What’s your name? *eye roll emoji*
Daddy Monster Cock: Daisy.
I shake my head. Jag has been on a daddy kick. He’s been making everyone call him big daddy. He’d better win this title fight here in Las Vegas, because I have a feeling we will have to invest thousands in counseling for our poor babies.
Daddy Monster Cock: Dey see me rolling
The door to our suite flies open before I have the chance to respond to the corny joke. Bella’s perched on Jag’s shoulders. He ducks as he enters the room. The rest of the crew follows behind him. Bella is wearing Jag’s aviators and bopping her head while he sings the next lines of a popular rap song.
Jag drops his duffle bag while singing at the top of his lungs. When he doesn’t know any more words, he begins beatboxing.
“I need a stiff drink,” Boss growls.
I laugh so hard I nearly piss myself. This whole pregnancy thing shakes a girl’s body up for sure. I pat his knee as he plops down on the couch next to me.
“I’ll fix you one, Boss. You deserve one after putting up with him all day.” I wink at him.
Boss takes the journal from my lap and finds a blank page. His strong hand begins scrawling a note. It’s his thing. Nobody else writes in it beside me and him. Never had a father figure growing up. Shuffling between foster homes never allowed me to form that kind of relationship. Boss has stepped up to the plate for me.
“Here.” Layla holds out her hand. “You may be almost five months pregnant, but you look like nine.”
“Bitch,” I whisper-yell. I plant my hands on my hips. “I was asked three times today if I was having triplets at the spa.”
“’Atta girl.” Jag sets Bella down and grabs me by the hips, pulling me to him. Our chests no longer collide. It’s the baby bump and abs nowadays. “Did you tell them it’s because of the size of my co…”
I slap my hand over his mouth. Jag is Jag. He changes for no one, not even little ears. Yep, that counseling bill is going to be hefty.
“No, I told them I’m carrying twin boys, and their father is a royal jackass.” I push off his chest and pour Boss a stiff one.
You’d never know Jag is about to fight in the biggest match of his life by the way he acts. Hell, you’d think the man was at Disneyland.
“Madré.” Bella bounces to her mom in her hot pink swimsuit. She and Layla spent most of the day at the pool. The heat wasn’t my thing. The couch is where I was while Jag trained today after yet another intense weigh-in.
I hand Boss his vodka with a splash of Sprite in it and relax next to him. Bella is waving a thick straw that’s taller than her in Layla’s face, rattling off in Spanish. From the look on Layla’s face, she’s about to junk punch Jag.
“Are you kidding me?” Cruz growls, grabbing the monster straw filled with colored sugar out of Bella’s hands.
“It was that or hitting the hookers on the corner. I promised my niece some unky time.” Jag shrugs and tugs me up from the couch. He plops down in my spot then pulls me in his lap.
“Paybacks. I swear, Jag, you’re going to regret this, and I’m apologizing in advance now, Sunni, but he has it coming.”
“Chill out, papa bear. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Duh.”
Bella mimics Jag’s “duh,” drawing it out.
I smile. The banter is too much. I have no doubt Layla and Cruz will spoil the shit out of our boys, and so will every other Diablo family member. Trick and Riot are pushing hard to name the boys after them. Not going to happen, but I indulge their request with a smile and a shrug.
“Come h
ere, sweet butt.” Jag reaches over and yanks the straw from Cruz’s grip and bites into the end, tearing off the seal. His brow is crunched up in concentration as he instructs Bella not to get her spit at the end of it.
“Open up.” Jag tilts the straw up, pouring straight sugar in her mouth.
Once the sugar fires up Bella’s energy level, she takes off running around the suite, showing us her gymnastic moves mixed in with karate kicks. Layla snatches the straw of sugar, bends the end, and begins whipping Jag with it. I scoot to Boss. I’m certain this is where all our bonding comes from. It’s typically us two sitting on the sidelines watching the chaos.
Jag leaps off the couch and puts Layla in a headlock. He drags her around a bit before folding her up in a pretzel on the floor. Layla’s hand swats at his back between her bouts of giggles. Somehow Layla manages to get out of the hold. Pretty sure it was Bella’s distraction.
Jag sits up and in one swift move pulls down Layla’s shorts. Her bare ass is right in Boss’ and my face. A freshly inked tattoo of Cruz’s signature is front and center on one ass cheek.
“Madré!” Bella points at the black ink.
“Are you kidding me?” Boss leaps to his feet.
“I’m going to kill you,” Cruz mutters.
He doesn’t get much else out as Boss puts him in a chokehold. Bella dances around squealing and cheering her dad and grandpa on.
“You are awful!” I slap Jag’s heaving chest when he sits next to me.
He cradles my body to his, running his hand underneath my shirt. His fingers dance and glide over my skin.
“She got it after her pool time with Bella. That’s when I took her on a shopping spree. Knew Boss would lose his shit.” Jag’s smile is contagious. He’s damn proud of himself. His lips run up and down the length of my neck. His tongue darts out, making lazy patterns.
“Stop.” I grab his cheek, keeping his face in the crook of my neck. “You know that drives me wild.”
