Chapter 17
Stone
I woke up the way I always did. Early, before the sun fully rose.
My internal clock didn’t give a fuck about weekends or barbecues or the fact that I’d been up late the night before. Five-thirty in the morning, like clockwork.
Unlike usual, I didn’t immediately get up and start my day. Instead, I stayed right where I was. Lying on my back with Indie curled up against my side, her head resting on my chest, one of her legs thrown over mine.
Her breathing was slow and steady, her body warm and soft against me.
I looked down at her, taking in the sight of her sleeping peacefully in my arms.
Her dark curly hair was spread across my chest and the pillow, wild and untamed. Her face was relaxed, lips slightly parted, long lashes resting against her cheeks. She looked beautiful. Peaceful. Mine.
I brought my hand up and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, careful not to wake her. Then I just laid there, staring at her, my mind drifting to thoughts I never thought I’d have.
I’d been coming inside her repeatedly. No condom... raw... every single time.
Indie had told me she missed doses of her birth control while she was at the crash pad. She still hadn’t been taking it since I moved her to the estate. Which meant there was a real possibility she could be pregnant.
Carrying my baby.
The thought should’ve scared the shit out of me. Should’ve made me panic.
I’d never wanted kids before. Never even thought about it. My life wasn’t built for that shit. I was a killer, a street nigga who made enemies every day. Not a fucking family man.
What the fuck would I do with a baby?
But when I thought about Indie carrying my child, something in me shifted in a way that wasn’t bad.
It was... good.
The idea of her stomach swelling with my seed, her body changing because of me, bringing a life into this world that was half her and half me. It did something to me. Made me feel possessive in a whole new way. Made me feel like I wanted it.
I thought about the way she loved and cared for Ishmael. How she’d sacrificed everything to raise him, protect him, give him a better life.
She was a natural caretaker. Strong, fierce, loving. She’d be the best mother. And if she was pregnant... if she was carrying my baby right now...
I’d make sure she had everything she needed. I’d protect her and our child with my life. I’d give them the world.
I couldn’t even believe I was thinking this way.
A few months ago, I didn’t give a fuck about nobody but myself and Kenzo. Now I was lying here thinking about babies and futures and shit I never thought mattered.
Indie had changed me. Turned me into a nigga I didn’t recognize. And the crazy part? I didn’t hate it.
I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, inhaling the scent of her hair. It smelled like coconut and vanilla from whatever products she used.
Then I just laid there, holding her, feeling more content than I’d ever felt in my life.
An hour passed like that. Me awake, her asleep. Me watching her, memorizing every detail of her face. Me thinking about what it would mean if she was pregnant and realizing I wanted it more than I should.
Finally, she started to stir.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she let out a soft sigh before her eyes slowly opened. When she saw me staring down at her, a sleepy smile crossed her face.
“You so damn creepy, Stone,” she said, her voice raspy from sleep. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I smirked, my hand moving to her waist and pulling her closer.
“You mine, Indigo,” I said, my voice low and serious. “I can look at you however and whenever I want. I don’t need a reason.”
Indie rolled her eyes, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she brought her lips to mine and kissed me soft and slow, like she had all the time in the world.
I kissed her back, my hand sliding down to grip her ass, pulling her body flush against mine.
When she finally pulled back, she was smiling.
“Good morning to you too, daddy,” she said.
I smirked. “Good morning, baby.”
We laid there for a long time, just holding each other, before I finally sat up.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s get up.”
Indie groaned but didn’t protest.
We both climbed out of bed and headed into the bathroom. We brushed our teeth side by side at the double sinks, Indie still looking half asleep while I was already fully alert.
When we finished, I turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature while Indie stripped out of her nightie. I pulled off my boxers, and we stepped into the walk-in shower together. The hot water hit my skin, and I let out a breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders start to ease.
Indie stepped under the spray with me, tilting her head back and letting the water run over her face and hair. I watched her for a moment, then reached for the body wash and poured some into my hands.
“Turn around,” I said.
She did, and I started washing her back, my hands moving over her smooth skin in slow, deliberate strokes.
Indie sighed, her body relaxing under my touch.
“That feels good,” she murmured.
I didn’t respond, just continued washing her. Her shoulders, her back, down to her ass, her thighs. When I was done, she turned around and took the body wash from me, returning the favor. Her hands moved over my chest, my abs, my arms. It wasn’t sexual. It was intimate, and comfortable.
When we were both clean, we rinsed off and stepped out of the shower.
I grabbed two towels from the heated rack and handed one to Indie, then dried myself off.
We got dressed in casual fits. I pulled on a white tee, dark jeans, and my McQueens. Indie threw on a tank top and a pair of shorts, staying barefoot.
Even like that, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I grabbed her hand and led her out of the bedroom.
Downstairs, Ishmael, Aurora, and Kenzo were already seated at the dining table.
Brady had prepared a full breakfast spread of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee.
The smell hit me as soon as we walked into the dining room, and my stomach growled.
“Good morning,” Indie said, smiling at everyone as we took our seats.
“Morning,” Aurora said, grinning. “Y’all finally decided to join us, huh?”
Kenzo smirked but didn’t say shit.
Ish just nodded at me, then went back to piling food onto his plate.
I sat down at the head of the table, Indie to my right, and started fixing my own plate.
The conversation was lively with Aurora cracking jokes, Indie laughing, Ish chiming in every now and then, Kenzo being his usual laid-back self.
I looked around the table, taking it all in. This was the most life that had ever been lived inside my estate. Usually, it was just me here by myself, other than Brady and Ava. It was normally quiet, empty, and cold inside these walls.
But now?
Now there was laughter. Conversation. Energy. Indie brought the place alive. Made it feel like a home instead of just a house. In that moment, I realized I didn’t want it any other way.
“So what y’all got planned for today?” Kenzo asked, looking at Indie and Aurora.
“We’re going swimming,” Aurora said. “Right, Indie?”
Indie nodded. “Yeah. It’s too nice outside not to.”
“I’m down,” Ish said.
“Y’all have fun,” I said. “Me and Zo got business to handle back in the city.”
Indie looked at me, her expression shifting slightly.
“You leaving?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “But I’ll be back later.”
She nodded, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes. I reached over and squeezed her thigh under the table, a silent reassurance. She gave me a small smile.
After breakfast, everyone started getting ready to go their separate ways. Aurora and Indie went upstairs to change into their swimsuits. Ish headed to his room to grab his trunks.
Kenzo and I stood in the foyer, waiting. When everyone came back down, I walked over to Ish and dapped him up.
“Be good,” I said.
“I will,” he said.
I nodded at Aurora. “Have fun.”
“Thanks for letting me stay,” she said, smiling.
Then I turned to Indie. She was standing there in a white cover-up, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, looking fine as hell.
I walked over to her and pulled her into me, my hand going to the back of her neck.
I kissed her deep and slow, not giving a fuck that everyone was watching. When I pulled back, her eyes were half-lidded, her lips swollen.
“I’ll be back later, baby,” I said.
“Okay,” she whispered.
I kissed her one more time, then let her go.
Kenzo was saying his goodbyes to Aurora, pulling her into a hug that lasted a little too long, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle.
I smirked. Nigga was already booed up and had the nerve to talk about me.
Finally, Kenzo and I headed out to the driveway where our cars were parked.
“I’ll see you at the warehouse,” I said.
“Bet,” Kenzo said, climbing into his Audi.
I got into my Mercedes, started the engine, and pulled out of the driveway.
***
The drive back to LA was long, but I didn’t mind. I had Mozzy bumping through the speakers, his voice filling the car as I navigated the freeway.
My mind drifted to the traitor situation.
We’d set the bait for Wes weeks ago, but nothing had come of it. No proof. No confirmation. Just a gut feeling that I had. I would’ve been killed this nigga if it wasn’t for Zo.
The longer this shit dragged on, the more impatient I got. I didn’t like loose ends. Didn’t like not knowing who the fuck was trying to play me.
Somebody in my organization was running their mouth, leaking information. When I found out who it was, they were dead.
Simple as that.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my jaw clenching. I needed to find this nigga soon, before some real shit popped off.
When I pulled up to the warehouse, Kenzo was already there, leaning against his car. I parked next to him and got out.
“Let’s get this shit over with,” I said.
Kenzo nodded, and we walked inside together.
The warehouse was packed.
Julio, Terrell, Wes, Antoine, Deacon, and a handful of other soldiers were all standing around, waiting. When they saw me, they straightened up.