Page 32

CREED

I stood in the driveway, my fists clenched, my heart pounding. Her taillights were disappearing into the night, and with them, so was everything good in my life.

I had fucked up bad. But never—not even in my worst nightmares—did I imagine it would come out like this.

I had let my weakness ruin the best thing that had ever happened to me…Serenity.

I exhaled, dragging my hands down my face before finally turning back toward the house, my stomach twisting.

The second I stepped inside, I heard my son crying, loud, heartbroken wails.

I walked into the living room and found Gio curled up in Lynette’s arms, his little face red and damp with tears.

"Dada," he sniffled, reaching for me.

I took him, pressing my lips to his soft curls.

"Shh, it’s okay, lil’ man. Daddy got you."

Except it wasn’t okay. Nothing about this was okay. I turned my gaze to the kitchen, where Gianna sat at the island, holding an ice pack to her swelling eye. Tasha was beside her, looking worried.

And me? I was furious.

I handed Giovanni back to his grandmother and marched into the kitchen. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I snapped, glaring at Gianna.

She blinked, looking at me like I was crazy. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I bit out. "Why the fuck would you come into my room like that? You knew exactly what you were doing."

She feigned innocence, pressing the ice pack harder to her face. "Are you seriously mad at me? She attacked me, Creed! And you’re asking me what my problem is?"

"You set that shit up," I accused, stepping closer. "You wanted her to react, and she did. You got what you wanted and deserved."

"Oh well," she said with a nonchalant shrug. "Now it’s out in the open. Now we can stop pretending."

My blood ran hot, eyes narrowed in her direction.

"Pretending what?"

She lifted her chin. "That we’re not meant to be together."

That was the final fucking straw.

I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. "You really think Imma be with you now?"

She crossed her arms. "Where else you gonna go? Serenity ain’t coming back."

That sentence made something snap inside me. I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "I will never fuck with you again," I said, my tone deadly cold. Her eyes widened in shock. "Get the fuck outta my crib," I said, my voice sharp, unrelenting.

Gianna’s mouth fell open in shock.

"Creed," my mama interrupted, stepping in. "Calm down. This is a mess, yes, but you can’t only blame Gianna. You had a part in this too." I clenched my jaw, refusing to look at her. "It was disrespectful as hell," she continued. "Especially in a home you share with Serenity."

"You brought them here," I shot back, my voice tight.

"I didn’t tell you to fuck that girl though," my mama fired back.

Silence.

That shit shut me right up. Because she was right, this was all on me.

I swallowed my anger, my chest heavy. "Y’all need to leave."

Gianna’s head snapped up. "I’m not leaving without my son."

I exhaled sharply. "Gio’s still with me for the rest of the summer per our custody agreement. He’s staying here."

Gianna stood up, crossing her arms. "Then I’m staying too."

"You crazy as fuck if you think you are." I pulled out my phone and dialed Sheena, my assistant.

"Hey boss, what’s up?" her voice, always chipper, almost annoying in this moment.

"Book three flights back to Dallas," I ordered. "Tonight."

"Three?" Gianna’s face twisted in confusion.

"You, your mama, and mine," I said, my tone final.

She flipped out. "I’m not leaving without my son, Creed! And I damn sure don’t want Serenity around him after what she did tonight!"

I laughed bitterly. "And I don’t give a fuck what you want."

Her mouth fell open, but I was done talking. I stormed to my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

I grabbed my phone and immediately started calling Serenity.

Straight to voicemail.

I called again and again but nothing.

“Hey, you’ve reached Serenity. Leave a message.”

"Baby, please, call me back," I said into the phone, my voice thick with regret. "I know I fucked up. I know you probably hate me right now. But let me fix this. Please."

I hung up and sat on the edge of our bed, gripping my head. What the fuck have I done?

An hour passed. Then my phone rang, but it wasn’t Serenity. It was an unknown number.

I frowned and answered. "Hello?"

"Is this Creed Langston?"

"Yeah."

"You’re listed as Serenity Bradshaw’s emergency contact. She was in a car accident. She’s currently at Phoenix Memorial Hospital."

The air left my lungs. My vision blurred, my body froze. "What?" I choked out.

"She’s stable, but she was brought in unconscious. You should get here as soon as possible."

I didn’t even respond. I just ran.

The second I stormed through the hospital doors, I was already shouting.

"Where is she? Serenity Bradshaw—where is she?"

A nurse rushed over. "Sir, please calm down?—"

"Don’t tell me to calm down! Where the fuck is she?"

"She’s stable," the nurse reassured me. "She has minor injuries, but we’re keeping her overnight to monitor her."

I exhaled, some of the panic easing off me. "Can I see her?"

She nodded. "Room 204."

I took off, my heart in my throat. I walked into the room, and there she was. My girl. She was sitting up in bed, an IV in her arm, a bandage on her forehead.

She turned her head when I walked in and the look in her eyes shattered me.

"Why the fuck are you here?"

Her voice was cold, empty.

I swallowed. "I’m your emergency contact. They called me. Plus, I had to see you."

Her eyes narrowed, full of pain and fury. "Well, you’ve seen me, now you can go."

I flinched, knowing I deserved the tone she was giving me, the attitude. I could hear the pain in her voice. Then my eyes flickered down to the ultrasound photo on the table next to her bed.

My breath caught.

"Serenity…" My voice broke. "You’re pregnant?"

She didn’t answer at first. Just stared at me, her jaw clenched, her fingers gripping the sheets. "That’s why I came home early," she finally said. "I wanted to surprise you."

My God. I felt physically sick.

"Is the baby okay?"

“It’s fine, Creed… Please leave.”

“Baby, come on…”

"Don’t," she cut me off, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

"Serenity, please," I begged. "I fucked up. I know I did. But don’t do this?—"

"No," she snapped, her voice sharp, final. "You did this. You made your bed. Now you can lay in it."

She turned her head away, staring at the wall. The silent dismissal was louder than a scream.