Page 48 of A Kingpin’s Weakness

Seth

“What about Sir or Sarge?” I asked, tossing out names like we didn’t have a clock ticking down to the gender reveal.

Stormi didn’t even look up from the mirror. “What about Serenity?”

I scoffed. “That’s a girl name.”

“And?” she said, finally turning to face me with one brow raised. “Seth, you don’t know if it’s a girl or boy. We should be coming up with both.”

“Nah, it’s a boy. I can feel it. I already see him running around the house, tearing shit up with S3.”

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Saint or Shiloh,” I added, staying on the boy train.

“Sage or Skylar.”

Stormi was determined to make me consider a daughter. She said she wanted a mini her. Her exact words were ‘with all my attitude and all your facial expressions.’ I wasn’t ready for that level of chaos under one roof, but if anyone was worth raising it with, it was her.

I narrowed my eyes. “Let me find out you talked Ari into telling you the gender behind my back.”

Stormi walked back into the room, makeup flawless, hair in waves that fell down her back like silk. She was glowing and didn’t even realize it.

“She ain’t tell me nothing,” she said, smoothing her dress down. “But you know I could’ve got it out of her if I wanted.”

“Facts,” I muttered, watching her like she was the only thing in the room worth seeing.

Today was the gender reveal. The day we’d finally find out what Stormi and I were bringing into this world.

Ari had gone all out throwing the party for us, and I hadn’t pushed her once about the gender.

I wanted to be surprised, really surprised.

Stormi deserved that moment. We deserved that moment.

I walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist as she looked at us in the mirror.

She leaned into me, her hand resting over mine.

“You nervous?” I asked.

She nodded slowly. “I didn’t think I would be, but yeah, a little. Everything’s feeling real now.”

“It’s been real, Stormi,” I said, kissing the side of her neck. “Since the moment I found out.”

“Even if it’s a girl?” she teased.

I smiled. “Even if it’s a girl. Even if she got your fire and my attitude. I’ll take all of it.”

“You better. Because if it’s a girl, she’s gonna have you wrapped around her finger.”

“Already do,” I said, pulling her closer. “Just like her mama.”

“Do you see the belly?” I said with a grin, crouching in front of Stormi and lifting her dress just a little to get another look.

She rolled her eyes, but she was glowing. “You’ve seen it all morning.”

“I know, but damn. I can’t wait till you waddling around here, feet swollen, face fat, belly big.”

“Sir, what?” She stared at me like I was crazy.

I was. Crazy about her.

Stormi was five months now, and her bump was loud and proud.

It felt like it grew overnight. Just a couple weeks ago, I was squinting, asking if that was the baby or just breakfast. Now I couldn’t keep my damn hands off her stomach.

I rubbed it every chance I got, waiting on that first little kick like it was a million-dollar lottery ticket.

“He hiding from Daddy,” I muttered, placing both hands on the curve of her stomach and leaning in close. “Hey, baby, we about to find out what you are, you know that?”

I kissed her belly, and she ran her fingers through my waves.

“You’re so cute,” she said, pinching my cheeks, grinning at me like I was the one carrying the baby.

“Nah, you’re the cute one. Glowing and shit. I’m just the background dancer.”

“You act like you ain’t the one that got me here.”

“Proudly,” I said, standing back up and wrapping my arms around her waist. “And I plan on getting you there again, and again. Just not till you finish cookin’ this one.”

She laughed and leaned into my chest, and I swear nothing in the world felt better than her being right there. Carrying my child. Loving me without always saying it but showing me every day.

“Ready to find out if it’s Saint or Serenity?” She asked.

“Will Noah’s homeboy be there? Dre?” I asked, not even bothering to hide the way his name irritated my throat.

Stormi looked up from the mirror, where she was touching up her lip gloss. “I don’t know, why?”

“Something off about him. I don’t know what it is yet, but my gut ain’t sitting right.”

She paused, brows raised, before going back to glossing her lips. “Well, him and Noah been staying outta trouble, so that’s all I care about.”

“They stayin’ out of trouble or trouble just ain’t caught up to ‘em yet?”

She turned to face me, arms crossed, that same Stormi attitude I loved and hated at the same time showing up in her stance. “You know something I don’t?”

“Nah,” I said, jaw clenching slightly. “Just tryna get a read on him. Something about how he move, how he look at people.”

Her brow furrowed. “People?”

“You,” I said bluntly. “I caught him lookin’ at you more than once. Too long. Like he forgot I was standing right there.”

She rolled her eyes and walked over to me. “Seth, you think everybody be looking at me.”

“They do.”

I didn’t care how secure I was, how long we been together, when a man look at what’s mine like he trying to figure out how to touch it, my whole chest catch fire.

She smiled at me and held up her hand, flashing that ring like a warning sign. “I’m off the market.”

“Yeah, and I’m the damn market owner,” I muttered as she stepped close and kissed me.

Her lips were soft, slow. Like she already knew that even when I was mad, I’d never stop loving her.

But that didn’t stop my mind from running.

I had enemies I knew and enemies I didn’t.

Dre was starting to feel like the second kind.

And I’d be damned if anything or anyone threatened what I had with Stormi.

We pulled up to the venue and the second Stormi stepped out the truck, it was like everything slowed down.

That dress hugged her body like it was custom made by God himself.

Her glow was unmatched. She had skin like honey, and her eyes danced with joy.

She looked so damn good, it made my chest tight.

She smiled at something on her phone, and I knew right then, I’d give her the world just to keep that smile.

The venue was packed, Safari theme on full blast. Little jungle animals everywhere, balloon arches the color of sand and sky, centerpieces with giraffe print. I wasn’t mad at Ari. She went off with this one. We barely made it five steps before King and Rico came up.

“Congratulations, my boy!” King said, dapping me up with that big ass grin on his face.

“Damn,” Rome added as he pulled me in. “Let me borrow one of them sperm cells. You breathing on women and getting ‘em pregnant.”

We all laughed, the energy thick and familiar. It felt like home, and that meant a lot coming from where I came from.

I scanned the space. Ari did not miss one name on the invite list. I already knew Rich had helped her. The guest list had his dramatic touch written all over it.

Stormi was beaming, greeting folks like it was her wedding reception. Her idea, not mine. I thought showing up was enough of a thank you. Hell, they were getting free food, champagne, and little safari gift bags with customized gifts inside. That’s more thanks than I’d ever got at an event.

But Stormi, she wanted people to feel loved. Cared for. Seen. That’s how I knew she’d be the kind of mother who never missed a school play or forgot to kiss a scraped knee.

“Look at my handsome son-in-law.”

I turned and smiled.

“Jo . ” I pulled her into a hug.

She looked good. Real good. Clear-eyed. Healthier. Stronger. Like she was trying.

“You sticking to your program?” I asked.

“I am.” She looked over at Stormi and nodded. “Thank you for talking to them. They been letting me out for the important stuff.”

“It means a lot to her.”

She nodded again, slower this time. “I have to fix what I’ve broken.”

“You’re not doing it alone.” I touched her shoulder. “We gonna do that together.”

She gave me that soft smile only a mother could give. “I know you’ll be good to her.”

I leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Always.”

I linked her arm in mine, and we walked over to Stormi.

“Damn, she was comin’ back to you, bro.” Iva joked.

“He can’t stay away,” Dee added, both of them laughing.

“She doesn’t have another choice,” I said, grinning as I wrapped my arms around Stormi and kissed her lips. I rested my hands on her belly. “Me and this little one got her on lock.”

Stormi blushed, but I saw that smile sneak back in again. Mission complete.

“Congratulations, big bra.” Ivan walked up, cool as ever, holding out a hand.

“Appreciate you, bro.”

He looked between us and smirked. “Beautiful couple. Got me thinking… might be time I settle down too.”

Iva turned to him like he just announced he was running for president. “Boy, what?”

Ivan chuckled. “I ain’t tryna be like E, Alden, and Balbir forever.”

The whole crew of siblings was deep. I liked that about them. It reminded me how powerful sibling bonds could be. King and Dee Their bond was real. E, Alden, Ivan, Iva, and Balbir… their bond was unmatched. I wanted that for S3 him and his sibling, locked in like that. A lifetime kind of loyalty.

I looked over at Stormi again, her hand resting on her belly, smiling at a gift someone had just given her. My chest warmed.

We built this A real family, and I wasn’t letting nothing not people, not history, not even myself get in the way of that.

“Okay, everybody it’s time to find out the gender!”

Ari’s voice rang through the mic, and the whole room buzzed with excitement.

“Can we have the parents to the front?”

I reached for Stormi’s hand and kissed her knuckles before leading her to the stage.

She looked up at me with that mix of nerves and joy that made my chest tight.

Her bump was poppin’, and her glow was unreal my baby was carrying life, and I still woke up every day wondering how I got lucky enough to call her mine.