Page 116 of Seduction

“You mean… you’re… we’re…?”

I nod. “I’m pregnant.”

Jon sweeps me off my feet, spinning me around in the tiny room. Giggling, I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Fuck, Ellen. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was waiting for the right time.” He sets me on my feet, threading his hands through my hair. “Are you happy?”

“You can’t tell? Oh, beautiful.” He presses his face into my neck. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Jon.”

***

Gage called ahead and had the boys start prepping for a party. We haven’t had much cause to celebrate lately, and this will be good for everyone. Raven’s birthday passed by again with everyone drowned in sorrow, so Gage ended up flying in her family and her friends Toni and Chrissy. We’ve been brainstorming to come up with something special for Christmas, but we’re still stumped.

Mikey hops off Chopper’s lap, running to Jon the moment we walk into the clubhouse.

“Daddy!”

He stopped being “Ice-tie” the same day we told him that he and I were moving in to Jon’s house. We still talk to him about Eddie, but he loves Jon, and he’s happy. That’s all I need.

“Hey, little man,” Jon greets him, swinging him up into his arms.

“Grandpa says he’s making burgers!”

“That’s awesome,” I say, brushing his hair out of his face. “Daddy and I have some news we want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Well… remember that baby brother you wanted?”

His eyes go wide, dropping to my stomach. “There’s a baby in your tummy?”

“Yup.”

“Yay! I’m gonna be a big brother!”

He shouts so loud, everyone in the room turns to look in our direction. Embarrassed, I press my face into Jon’s back.

“Yeah, you heard right. We got a bun in the oven,” Jon says, laughing.

The room erupts with cheers and applause. Gage approaches, handing Jon a beer, while Raven passes me a bottle of water. We move to the front of the room, all eyes centered on us. Gage raises his beer to make a toast.

“I know it’s been a little depressing around here, but today we have reasons to celebrate.” He turns to us. “My sister and VP are expecting a little one.” More applause and whistles. “And we found out my baby doll is having twins.”

“Holy shit!” Venom shouts. “Y’all some fertile mother—” He catches himself. “—people.”

“Yeah, well… life is short.” Gage faces Allah’s DJ equipment, now encased in glass boxes. No one’s touched it since his funeral. Even then it was Raven, the only person he ever allowed to go near it. After the service, we came back here and she played Charlie Puth’s “See You Again” on repeat while she, Toni, and Chrissy huddled together in the corner and cried. Toni and Allah weren’t really together, but I know she had love for him, so she was devastated. That DJ booth will always be his area. A picture of him hangs on the wall behind the equipment. He’s in his element, playing the music he loved so much. Now he’ll be there always, just like he should be.

“So,” Gage continues, “we’re going to live it to the fullest.” He pours some of his beer on the floor, then raises it in the direction of the DJ booth. “In memory of our brother, Graham ‘Allah’ McKnight. Rest in peace, bro. You’re truly riding free now. See you on the other side.”

“Hear, hear!” the men shout in unison, dispersing when their president turns to talk to his wife.

Jon tugs me away from the crowd, handing Mikey off to Aunt Nita. We pass Venom off to himself, a silly grin plastered on his face.

“What are you grinning at?” Jon asks.