Chapter 12
J rue
“I’m ending this shit now!”
My life flashed before my eyes when my own brother pulled a gun from behind his back and aimed it at my stomach. Out of all the times for me to be unarmed. Who would have expected Jrake to go off the deep end this way?
Time moved in slow motion as Jeremiah tackled Jrake to the floor.
“Stop!” I screamed as they tussled for control of the gun. This could not be happening.
They continued to wrestle as they fought on their way to their feet. Rushing over to them, I grabbed at whoever I could, trying to separate them. “Jrake, let him go!” I demanded.
I screamed when a gunshot erupted. Jeremiah stumbled backward, holding the gun in his hand, and fired a shot at Jrake before dropping the gun.
“No!” The sound of my voice nearly shattered my own eardrums as I rushed over to Jrake. Ignoring the blood gradually saturating his shirt, he scrambled across the floor, and just when his hand landed on the gun, the door busted open.
“Put your fucking hands up!” the cops shouted as they stormed into my living room.Theyslammed both Jrake and Jeremiah to the floor. “Jrake Peterson, you’re under arrest!”
“Aye, man! I’m shot!”
“Be careful! They’re both wounded!” I rushed over, grabbing Jeremiah as the officer tried to cuff him. “This is a minor, and he lives here,” I said, trying to reason with them.
“She’s right. Let my baby brother go, man! He didn’t do shit!” Jrake roared.
To my surprise, they released Jeremiah, and I swept him into my arms. “What’s going on?” the officers demanded to know.
“I shot myself, cleaning my gun. I need to get to the hospital,” he lied, never taking his eyes off me as he spoke.
The officer turned to me. “Ma’am, is that what happened?”
“That’s what happened,” Jeremiah interjected with his lying ass.
“We got a call about a disturbance.”
“She was getting onto me about not being careful with the gun.”
“I want him out of my house!” I blurted, deciding not to lie for my brother.
“What?”
“He pulled a gun on me, and my little brother shot him in self-defense. I want him out of here.”
“She’s telling the truth. He was going to shoot her. He already shot me a few weeks ago. I thought he was going to kill us,” Jeremiah confirmed, pulling up his shirt to show the cops his gunshot wounds.
“We’re going to have to take the three of you down for questioning. For the time being, Mr. Peterson, we are going to have an officer accompany you to the emergency room where you will be detained until you are released into custody.”
I hated to have my brother arrested, but I didn’t know what else to do.
I had to stop him. Jrake had shown me how much he cared about me when he put my life in danger on more than one occasion, and now he had shot our baby brother.
What was even worse was that he had threatened the life of my unborn child.
I was nearly in flames as I thought about what had just happened in my own home. Jrake was out of his damn mind if he thought I would suffer in silence while he continued to terrorize my family, which included Ian.
A paramedic came into the living room and helped Jrake up from where he was sitting on the coffee table. He said something to Jrake as he led him out of the house. I didn’t give a damn what he said. I was just glad he got Jrake out of my house.
“Choc!” Ian bellowed as he breezed through my open front door.
“I’m right here, baby!” I gushed, rushing into his open arms.
He lifted me from the floor, and I wrapped my legs around him to make sure he didn’t put me down. I had missed him so much. The familiarity of that earthy cologne set me on fire.
“Are you OK? What happened?” he asked, holding me close and rubbing my back.
“I told him I was having your baby, and he tried to shoot me. Jeremiah had to fight him for the gun. I can’t believe him.”
“What are the cops saying, baby? What do you need from me?” he asked.
“I might be OK, but I think Jeremiah might need a lawyer.”
“Done. I’ll make sure he has the best.”
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with that boy.”
“Let me talk to the cops. Then I’m taking you and J to my house, OK?”
“They want me to come down for questioning.”
“Stand right here, Choc. I’m going to holler at them right quick, and then I’m taking y’all home.”
The finality in Ian’s voice made me nod my head.
I watched as he walked over, with Eamon on his heels, to talk to the cops.
After a brief exchange, he motioned with his head for Jeremiah to follow him as he walked over to me and took my hand.
My baby put my hand to his lips, kissing the back of it as he took us to his car.
Jeremiah got in the front seat with Eamon, and I joined Ian in the back seat.
He kept his hold on my hand as we pulled away from the house.
“Don’t worry yourself, baby. My lawyer is going to make sure y’all are good.”
“Come here,” I said, reaching for Jeremiah’s hand. He moved closer and let me hold his hand like he did when he was a kid. “Thank you for taking care of me today. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know I didn’t. I did what I had to do.”
“Thank you for taking care of my lady, my man.”
“She was my sister first. Don’t forget that.”
“Excuse me. I didn’t mean no harm. I see that you don’t play about your sister,” Ian stated.
“Too soon,” I said, shaking my head.
“Nah, you’re right.” Ian agreed.
“But I don’t,” Jeremiah added.
We all laughed, but part of me was relieved that Jrake was going to be out of our lives. I hated the way things went down, but I didn’t regret making the decision to protect my family and my peace.
“So, you’re having my baby?” Ian asked, squeezing my hand as he waited for my answer.
“Yes,” I answered quietly, dropping my eyes as I waited for his response. This wasn’t the way he was supposed to find out. Ian and I hadn’t talked about kids. There was too much going on for us to worry about something like that, but then all of a sudden, it was right in my face.
“Don’t look so somber. I’m excited. I can’t wait to take a shot at this. You hear that shit, Bro? You’re about to be an uncle.”
Ian’s excitement seemed to be contagious because I found myself grinning as I stared out the window at the passing scenery.
This was really happening. I was about to be a mother.
I still couldn’t believe it, and I had heard the baby’s heartbeat a week ago at my appointment.
I was creating my own family now. Life would never be the same.
I looked over at Ian, knowing that, more than anything, I wanted him to be part of my forever story. I wanted to build this new family with him. I couldn’t believe what I was about to say.
“I love you,” Ian spat, taking the words right out of my mouth. “I know it’s only been a few months, Choc, but I love you. I didn’t know what I was gon’ do when I thought I lost you.”
“I love you too, Ian,” I vowed, blinking back the tears stinging my eyes.
“Move in with me.”
“OK.” I quickly agreed, throwing caution to the wind.
“Really? No argument or nothing?”
“You love me, Ian. You love my brother, and you’ve been here for us. Plus, you know how we coming if you play with me,” I joked.
“Too soon,” Jeremiah said from the front seat.
Months later . . .
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, my Ian!” I sang.
“Choc, I can’t believe you making me cry,” Ian said, blinking rapidly to rid his eyes of the water pooling at the rims.
“How do you feel about birthdays now?” I asked, looking up from my handsome son’s face to his father’s.
“He’s perfect, baby. Thank you for making this the best birthday I’ll ever have.”
“Thank you for everything you do for me, baby.”
“I’m not done taking care of you, Choc,” Ian vowed, dropping down to one knee right next to my hospital bed.
“Baby!” I squealed, covering my mouth with one hand.
“Jrucilla Peterson, not only have you made me the happiest man in the world, but you made me a father and healed a deep childhood scar all in one day. You gave me a son on my birthday. Even before I knew you would do that, I knew I wanted to wake up to you for the rest of my life. Marry me, Jrue.”
“Are you asking me or are you telling me?”
“I’m telling you. I know that if I ask your hardheaded ass, you might say let me think about it.”
“Well at least you know me.” I smiled.
“What’s the answer, lady?”
I smirked, considering teasing him, but the way his brows hiked made me change my mind. I was too worn out from delivering Supreme Ian McNabb Jr. at two o’clock in the morning to tussle right now.
A few months ago, Jrake pled guilty to possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon.
Neither Jeremiah nor I wanted to press further charges.
I just wanted to move on with my life. I didn’t see myself speaking to my brother any time soon, and that hurt.
Life had to go on, though. Like I said, I was building my own family.
“Yes, I’ll marry you, Ian. I would be honored to be your wife.”
After slipping the ring onto my finger, Ian crashed his lips into mine.
“I promise, I got you forever, Jrue.”
“I’m holding you to that, Supreme. Forever.”
With Ian and my son in the same room, and Jeremiah somewhere in the hospital raiding a vending machine, I had never felt so complete. Now I knew what it felt like to live happily ever after.