He hasn’t been at work all week. I find out when I come in for my shift. Johnny whispers to me that it’s very unlike him and asked if I knew what was going on. I lied and said I didn’t, maybe he’s listening to my words. I’m not really sure. “They asked that you go and speak to them, in the office.” My feet freeze on the spot, as I look to Johnny hoping I just imagined what he said.

“Me?” I ask him unsure if he meant me. He nods to the stairs which lead up to the offices.

My hands shake as I put my bag down and start stepping up. It’s quiet until I reach the area which is the center between all the offices. All three are sitting down with Creed’s mother which surprised me the most. As far as I was aware, she didn’t know what they did, and they all look up at the same time when I reach them.

No running now.

My hands quickly cover my belly that has slightly popped as I stand waiting for what they’re going to say.

“Why don’t you sit, El?” This comes from Echo who taps the empty seat.

“I’ll stand, thanks.”

Creed’s mother looks up at me and she offers me a small smile before Darby starts to speak. “I want you to know how much we have valued you as an employee the last few months...”

My hands start sweating and my head becomes light. Is he firing me? He can’t be, can he? I didn’t do anything wrong. A small part of me screams ‘you fucked one of the bosses,’ but I push it aside.

“And we think this will be a nice bonus for your time with us, but I’m sorry to say that we are going to have to let you go.”

Shaking my hands I try to dry them, it doesn’t help. I feel lighter, my head woozy. “You’re firing me?” I ask, shocked.

Darby nods his head as Echo looks down to the floor. Creed’s mother stares at me with a small smile, not saying a word as Falcon’s lips pull into a tight line.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I say, my hands go to touch my head and before I can say another word, their words go fuzzy. My world goes white.

“What the fuck did you do?”

Hands are touching me, feeling me over. Someone’s hand is on my forehead and someone is below me. Opening my eyes, a guy is hovering above me checking me over while everyone else stands next to him. Hands stroke my hair softly, and I instantly know who it is by the feel of his touch and his smell that’s all around me.

Pushing him off, the doctor asks me to lay back down. “You could have a concussion.”

I shake my head. I know what it was—a fainting spell. I had one in the doctor’s office when he told me I was pregnant.

“I’m fine, I feel fine.”

Creed’s mother is standing in front of me now. “Who’s going to take care of you? You can’t go home like this. What if it happens again? You can come with me.”

“Ma,” Creed warns, but she brushes him off with a wave of her hand.

“You’re coming home with me.”

I shake my head, managing to stand. Creed’s hands wrap around my belly and as he does so I feel my body lock as I look to his hands on my stomach. He doesn’t move, and when I look up his mother is watching as well—my shirt has risen up and my belly is on display.

“Are you pregnant?”

She can’t tell that from a single look. No way. Surely.

Creed’s hands don’t move from me as he grips me tightly.

“What? How could she be pregnant?”

Falcon almost laughs.

The doctor walks over and touches my belly, he looks up to me. “Are you pregnant? I need to know.”

A simple nod of my head and everyone goes silent. Hands on me don’t move, I don’t even feel him breathe.

“Holy shit,” Echo yells. “Is it Creed’s?” he asks.

Every eye in the room turns to me as I push away from Creed who can’t manage to even look at me. He stares at the floor and then his stare moves up to my belly.

“I planned to tell you, but I’ve only just found out.”

His eyes lift, and I have to take a step back when they do. They scare me.

“You should leave. Now.” These words come from Darby who steps up next to me and nods his head to Creed’s mother, who takes my hand and starts walking me out the door. She already has my bag in hand.

“He’s just shocked, is all. He’ll come around.” She doesn’t sound like she believes what she’s saying. I don’t believe her either.

“I can get myself home, thanks.”

She shakes her head. “No. That’s my grandbaby. You need someone to look after you right now. You can come to my house.”

I want to protest, to tell her no. But as her hands wrap around me, I can’t seem to form the words that are required to leave my mouth.

“How far along are you?” she asks opening the car door.

“Just over three months.”

“Oh, safe zone,” she says happily. “We must go shopping tomorrow. Have you done any yet?”

I shake my head as I lean against the car door. “He’s going to hate me,” I mumble.

After she slides in, her hand touches my leg.

“And I’ve lost my only income. No one’s going to hire a pregnant woman.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

What am I going to do?

“I’m sure your job is fine.”

I almost laugh at her. “They just fired me.”

“Then you fainted. You have grounds to sue. Let’s keep it at that.”

I almost laugh at her words as she pulls up to her house. “I have a room set up, you can stay here. I would love the company.”

I shake my head. “Thank you, but I’ve been doing it by myself for this long. It hasn’t killed me yet.”

Walking into her house Creed is a reminder everywhere, even his smell lingers here.

“This is it. I’m going to make you some tea. It will help you sleep, okay?” She brushes my hair from my face and I wonder if I can keep her.

My cell starts ringing but I ignore it. I lie down on the bed, and in seconds I’m asleep before she comes back.

“She’ll want to go home. I’m taking her home.” The door to the room where I’m sleeping opens and Echo stands there. He looks to the floor then to me, walking in and picking up my bag. Creed’s mother is close behind him. “I’m your ride, buttercup. Ready?”

I nod getting up. “Thank you so much.”

Creed’s mom hugs me again, and this time I don’t hold on longer than necessary.

Today is a new day.

“Can I call you? I would love to go shopping.”

“I would like that, seeing as I have nothing yet.”

Echo carries my bag to his car, and as we get in, he doesn’t speak, not until we’ve driven off down the street. “You have your job if you want it.”

I smile, thinking of Creed’s mother. “I’m going to need it, but I don’t want to cause any hassle or friction,” I say honestly.

“Creed would never have agreed to have you fired. We thought it was best to do it without him knowing, so when he came back he would be clear-headed. Seems he decided to give us all a black eye for thinking so.” Echo takes off his sunglasses showing me his black eye.

“I never meant for this to happen, you know.”

“We know, and we’ll help best we can. Hell girl, you got our next generation of Crimson Elite in that belly. We have to protect you.”

“Does Creed feel the same way?” I ask, cringing at the idea. The way he looked last night still haunts me.

“He’ll come around, it’s just going to take longer with him. He doesn’t do feelings well, and well, a baby is all feelings.” He laughs. Pulling up to the front of my apartment a man is there with a truck and he’s knocking on my door. Getting out, I walk straight up to him.

“You’re Miss Beckham?” he asks, and I nod my head. “This delivery was marked as urgent. Can you let me in?” He nods to the door and when I pull it open he whistles to the truck. The doors are opened and another man I didn’t see starts carrying baby things inside. Baby things I didn’t order.

“Who paid for this?”

He shrugs his shoulders having no idea.

“You can ring this number, but it was marked as a gift, miss.”

Echo walks into my apartment and looks down at the bassinet, new crib and baby bath then whistles. “This is exciting, what are we going to name him?”

“Him?” I ask.

“Yeah, has to be a boy.”

“And what if it’s a girl.”

He shrugs. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

“Do you know who paid for this?”

“The club,” he answers straight away. Like it was obvious.

“The club?”

He nods. “Yeah. Falcon did it last night after he was knocked out. You know—”

He uses air quotes with his fingers, “to show support.” He laughs. “Or as I like to say, so he doesn’t get another black eye.”

“It’s too much.”

“Buttercup, this place is too less.” He looks around scrunching up his nose. I roll my eyes at his assessment of my place. I love it, but yes, he’s right, it isn’t enough, but it’s all I’ve got. So I’ll make do.

“Echo.” He stops scrutinizing my apartment and looks up to me. “I have a scan in a week. Can you let him know?”

He nods before he reaches into his pocket, pulling out some bills and handing them to me. I don’t take it.

“I don’t want your money.”

“Take it.”

I shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest. “Thank you for the lift, but obviously I have some things to do,” I say gesturing to the gifts that have arrived.

“You know, you don’t have to do it alone.”

“I’m not alone.” My hand touches my belly, and a sense of warmth spreads through me. Maybe this won’t be so bad, I have love to give and a lot of it too. Who better to give it to than someone who will love me unconditionally and not see my flaws.

Yeah, maybe it won’t be so bad after all.