Chapter 27 #2
"I knew then I couldn't tell him about the baby.
I'd already heard the heartbeat, and I couldn't get rid of it.
" Her voice stayed steady, but it hurt me to listen.
"I struggled with what to do, and then the decision was made for me.
I went into labor a few weeks later. Honor was out of town when it happened. "
She swallowed and turned back toward the window.
"We had a son. He stayed in the NICU for six months. It was the hardest secret I ever had to keep. And when it was time for him to come home, I paid one of the older nurses to keep him so no one would ever find out."
"Oh, Navy," I cooed, my chest tightening with an overwhelming number of emotions.
"No, it's okay," she softly voiced. "It was hard to navigate at first. Nurse Maye and I figured it out.
I watched my son from afar, never overstepping until Maye passed away from a sudden heart attack.
Honor was in so deep with Lucian that I was terrified of what he might do if he found out about our child.
So, I brought him to Gravehart Homes and let him grow up here. "
"I- I don't even know what to say," Honey stammered.
I felt the same way. Navy kept dropping bombs without giving us time to recover.
"There's nothing to say," Navy replied. "What's done is done. My son will probably never know I'm his mother unless someone gets bold enough to kill my father."
"So why not let Honor do it?" River asked.
"Because nothing like that happens without permission from the leaders of the other two boroughs," Navy explained.
"Killian's family basically founded Ember Hills.
I don't know who runs Crimson Falls, but I've heard enough over the years to know nothing good comes out of that place.
If Honor kills my father without approval, they'll kill him, and I can't have that.
So, I sacrifice the better parts of myself to protect the man I love.
" Navy sighed as someone knocked on her office door.
We all turned, and in walked my husband.
"Damn, why y'all look so fucking gloomy?" Wolfe asked, strolling over to me.
"Girl talk. What are you doing here?" I asked, kissing him.
"I came to talk to Navy, but that can wait." His eyes traveled to Navy. "Where's Mekhi?"
"In the music room. If you're taking him out, have him back by curfew," she replied.
"Ight." He nodded.
"And don't wait up for me tonight. We're going out for some much-needed vibes," I told Wolfe.
"Text me when you get there and when you leave," he said.
"We're going to The Vault, just so you know."
"Cool. If y'all need rooms 'cause y'all don't wanna drive home, let me know," he relayed to the rest of the girls. "You bring your ass home."
Kissing me once more, Wolfe walked over to Navy and pulled her into a hug. I didn't know if he could sense her sadness, but he squeezed her tight, then kissed her forehead.
"You good?" he asked.
"Mhm-hmm," she hummed.
He gave her one last look, then went to hug Honey, followed by River, before leaving the office.
"Whew. This day has been a lot. I'm all for going out tonight if you're serious," Honey said.
"I'm down too, pregnant and all." River giggled.
"Navy?" I asked.
"Why the hell not?" She laughed, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"We might as well go shopping, too. I already know that if I go home, Crown isn't letting me out of the house without asking where I'm going. And y'all know my man. He's not letting me into a club pregnant without him."
"Since when can a man let you do anything?" Honey teased River.
"Since that man put a ring on my finger, twins in my womb, and gave me the kind of reassurance I don't wanna live without," River listed with a proud smile.
"I know women love to say a man can't tell them anything, but Crown can tell me the world is on fire, and without seeing a single flame, I'ma believe him. "
"Aww," Navy gushed, moving from the bay window.
"Y'all make me believe in love forreal," Honey cooed.
"Love exists. You just have to find a man who's worth healing the wound that loving him will cause," Navy commented, settling on the corner of her desk.
"Not all love hurts," I spoke up.
Navy nodded. "True but take the three of us as examples. We've each gone through something that caused us immense pain. We could've walked away, but we stayed because our men were worth it."
Her eyes flicked to me. "Wolfe was worth you wanting to set a bitch on fire."
I shrugged, poking out my lips in agreement.
Navy turned to River and continued.
"Crown was worth you crying in the middle of the street begging him to forgive you.
And Honor is worth me aborting our children.
We all do outlandish things for the men we love because they are deserving of women who'll fight for them just like we deserve men willing to scorch the earth for our happiness. "
"Amen!" we all cheered.
"I'm happy we're all back together. I miss you, hoes," Honey admitted.
"Same!" River agreed.
"Okay, enough of the mushiness." I laughed. "Navy, you're good to leave early?"
"Yup." She nodded.
"Pack your stuff and let's go shopping. I'ma text Wolfe and tell him to have the penthouse ready. We can get dressed at the hotel and then go down to The Vault."
"Bet!" River smiled.
"Not us about to fuck the club up!" Honey cheered. "River, invite the twins."
"Already done." River grinned, flashing us her phone.
I shook my head and pulled out my phone to text Wolfe about the penthouse.
He replied that it was already handled, so I slid my phone onto Navy's desk and watched her laugh with the girls.
Navy carried so much that I wondered how she hadn't broken until now.
From the moment she met Honor, every secret she kept and every choice she'd made was to protect him.
Then she did the one thing I could never do: give up her son.
All the emotions that came with that sat heavily on her shoulders and were invisible to the rest of us, and invisible to Honor.
I felt for Navy because she truly didn't have anyone to confide in until she met us, but that was how life worked.
We were handed the toughest battles and expected to carry the weight alone until we found our tribe.
The people who'd lessen the load without us having to ask.
We were that for Navy. Even if the other girls didn't realize it, I did.
"You okay, Chosyn?" Navy whispered loud enough for only me to hear.
"Yeah, just thinking." I smiled.
Her gaze lingered for a moment before going back to the others, leaving me to wonder.
How many pieces of her were still hidden behind her nurturing and selfless demeanor?
Then I thought about Choyce. I wondered what parts of her she's hiding behind that bitch persona.
I grabbed my phone off the desk, unblocked Choyce, and sent her a text.
Me
I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I want to fix that. Let me know when you're free. Maybe we can do brunch.