Crew
In hindsight the red flags were there but I chose not to see because of the love I had for Sabrina. Looking back now it was clear that she had been pulling away before she died. All the late nights and early morning she worked unnoticed. She always had a believable excuse.
“I’m working on something big for the partners at the firm, baby. As soon as I make partner I’ll be home more,” she said.
We were both working to secure our futures so I disregarded her long absences.
The private phone calls she used to take in another room, saying it was about a case she was working on or her father.
What fucks me up the most is how she moving.
If she was innocent, wouldn’t she type reaching out, warn me, hell explain where she been.
But she ain’t gave me nothing but silence.
That says everything. I’m not some broken-hearted little boy waitin’ for closure.
I’m a man with blood on his hands and people to protect.
She knew that, so if she’s back and tied to Valdez or Kyle or even breathin’ on the same side as them.
She’s my enemy, period. And she will be dealt with as such.
Nova was still sleepin’, her body curved around me.
Preparing herself in case I fold. In case I go chasin’ ghosts and forget what I got in front of me.
Yeah, my heart twisted when I saw that photo.
I ain’t gonna front like it didn’t. We had history, deep shit, and we made plans.
I almost built my whole empire with her at my side.
But that was then. Still all of it makes me wonder if Nova would have ever found me if Sabrina stayed or would I still be sleeping next to a stranger I once loved like a fool.
Sabrina was my past whether she’s alive or dead.
Now she’s back like nothing changed. The only thing was that everything changed.
I’m not the same man no more. And if she thought she could walk in and manipulate the situation and pull strings from the shadows while Nova's carryin’ my child and sleepin’ in the home we were building together. She done lost her fuckin’ mind.
I hate that my wife is bracing for the possibility that I might get pulled back into the version of me she never got to meet—the one who didn’t give a fuck about nothin’ but vengeance and control.
But here’s the thing. My loyalty ain’t split.
I got real love in my heart for Nova, that ride-or-die, would-kill-for-her type of love.
And that means if anyone, Sabrina included, becomes a threat to her or our children. I’ll set this city on fire.
My past don’t own me. My guilt don’t control me.
But betrayal, that’s a different monster.
And if Sabrina really chose that side, then she better hope Valdez can protect her, cause I’ma bring Armageddon behind mine.
She had better pray to whatever God that had time for her because I wasn’t the same man she left behind.
I stared at the sonogram photo Nova had tucked inside my planner earlier this week. Just something small. A surprise from the doctor August sent to check on her. I smiled at her handwriting on the back.
“Our little light.”
My throat tightened as I thought about where I was in my life.
Nova was everything Sabrina never was. She was loyal, honest, brave, and fiercer than she gave herself credit for.
She had stood in front of monsters, defied death, and still fought to make a life out of wreckage.
So why couldn’t I stop this pull in my fuckin chest?
I didn’t want Sabrina back, not like before.
But I wanted to understand. I needed to know why and the deeper I went, the more I felt Nova slipping away.
Nova had been watching me for days now. Not in the paranoid way, no this was worse. It was the quiet kind of watch. The kind that said.
“You’re here, but you ain’t really with me.”
I sat up in bed for a while longer before I finally left Nova in bed and made my way downstairs.
The house was quiet, just the low hum of security feeds and the weight of silence pressing on my shoulders.
I slid into my office and closed the door.
The screens flickered on. One of them showed a satellite image Blue pulled off a private drone last night.
A meeting with four people, one short frame in a gray hoodie, face obscured.
But the posture and movements told me that it was her.
The other three were confirmed Valdez soldiers.
Maybe she had reasons. Maybe she got in too deep.
Maybe she was trapped. But I don’t give a fuck.
My loyalty ain’t ever been in question. Not when it came to Nova.
Not when it came to Timberly. Not even when I’m drowning in old memories and scars that never quite healed right.
I love Nova in a way I didn’t even know I could.
She not just my peace, she’s my anchor. The reason I ain’t turned the whole fuckin’ city into ash yet.
But that don’t mean I go soft. It means I’m calculating, and the second Sabrina shows her face I’m gonna handle it.
When I finally came down to the kitchen Nova was moving through quietly like she was trying not to rattle the air. She was barefoot, silk robe barely tied, lips pressed tight like she was holding back too many words
“Morning, Princess.” I said.
Her eyes flicked to mine. “You been up all night again ain’t you?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You find anything?”
I didn’t answer right away. She leaned on the counter; arms folded across her soft belly.
“That’s a yes.”
I sighed and pulled out the tablet and showed her the image.
Nova stared at the screen, jaw tight.
“That her?”
“Yeah, that’s Sabrina.”
“She’s with them? Kyle, I mean.”
“Looks like it.”
Her eyes didn’t leave the screen. “You still want to save her?” She asked.
My gaze snapped to hers. “No. But I will end her if I have to.”
Her mouth parted like she wasn’t expecting that answer. Good, I wanted to let her know I’m not conflicted about the endgame.
“I don’t trust her,” Nova whispered. “And I know that puts me in the selfish wife category or whatever…”
“Stop,” I growled. “Don’t do that. You ain’t selfish. You got every fuckin’ right to protect what’s yours. And this right here?” I tapped the space between us. “Is ours. Ain’t nobody gon’ threaten that. Not even Sabrina.”
Nova stared at me for a long second, then nodded slowly.
“I believe you,” she said.
“But?”
“But… I still see the way you flinch when her name comes up. The way your eyes go dark when you think I’m not looking.”
I didn’t respond.
She pushed off the counter and came close, resting her palm on my chest.
“I need you present, Crew. Not just in body. Not just when it’s time to fuck or fight. I need you here with me, because I’m scared.” Her voice cracked. “I ain’t scared of Sabrina. I’m scared of losing you to her memory.”
I cupped her jaw, leaning close.
“You won’t,” I said, voice low and rough. “She ain’t my heart you are.”
“You sure?”
I didn’t blink. “I’m fuckin’ positive.”
It was the kind of night we were fighting to protect.
Nova sat on the big sectional, one hand absently resting on her belly.
While I sat beside her, my arm draped over the back of the couch, and the other held her hip as I pretended to watch the movie she picked.
Timberly was sprawled across Nova’s lap, chattering away as she showed her mom the picture she had been drawing.
“This is the baby,” Timberly explained solemnly, pointing at the lumpy figure on her paper. Nova chuckled.
“That's beautiful baby,” she murmured, brushing Timberly’s hair back.
I grunted, but my mouth twitched at the picture. “Needs more muscles,” I said.
Nova laughed, smacking my shoulder. “It’s a baby, not a mini you.”
I shot her a look. “It’s our baby. It’s gonna be tough.”
Black snorted from his corner, where he was reading one of the books Nova had gotten from Cree, Anesia’s best friend.
“Hope it don’t have your attitude.” He huffed.
Nova gave him the finger without missing a beat. Blue sat at the kitchen table, cleaning a rifle in absolute silence, but he gave a single nod of agreement that made everyone laugh. Nova melted into the couch, getting comfortable. This was the part I was fighting for.
A few hours later we got Timberly settled in her room, she snuggled under her blanket as Nova kissed her on her forehead as she tucked her in. This was the first time she was comfortable sleeping by herself since Nova returned.
“Good night, mommy. Goodnight, daddy,” she said, in a sleepy voice.
“Good night, baby girl.” I said from the door.
“Good night, Timber.” Nova said.
Walking up behind Nova I wrapped my arm around her waist and guided her out of the room before cracking it.
We side stepped her guard, giving him a nob before heading to our room.
After such a good day I needed to have my wife laid up under me for the rest of the night.
And maybe I could get some sleep for the first time in a long time.
“You want me to carry you,” I asked against her neck.
“I’m fine,” she lied.
I just laughed and picked her up anyway, carrying her to our bed. She huffed but didn’t fight.
“You’re overprotective.”
“Damn right,” I said, laying her down gently.
I dropped beside her, big arm curling around her middle, hand splayed over her belly, trying to imagine how she would look in the coming week.
“Ain’t nobody touching you or them.”
Nova went quiet.
“I know,” she whispered.
I kissed her temple.
“Say it.”
She smiled tiredly. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I said, kissing her cheek.
It was 3?a.m. when the first crack of glass breaking cut the silence. Black’s voice was a low boom from the hall that something was wrong.
“Move, we got incoming.” He said.
Fuck. It was smart of Kyle to show up after everyone had been sent home to rest. It proved that he had been watching us closely. It didn’t matter. I was already up and moving, grabbing his pistol from the nightstand, and waking Nova.
“Get up Nova. I need you to get on the floor and stay down. Don’t fucking move less I tell you too.” I said startling her from her light sleep.
Nova was on her side, pushing herself up, and sliding off the bed behind me in a matter of seconds, like she had been waiting for this moment.
“Crew, I’m not…” She started to argue.
“You’re pregnant. You’re not in this.”
“I am in this. Timberly’s in the next room.”
I glared at her, but I didn’t have time to argue. Gunfire split the night as Blue’s voice crackled on the noise.
“South wall breach.” Black’s reply was cold. “Two down.”
I roared to the door, turning back once.
“Stay behind me, get to Timberly and stay there.” I said before checking to make sure it was clear.
Nova ignored me as she scrambled to her dresser, pulling a smaller pistol from the drawer.
“Not fucking likely,” she muttered.
I shook my head and pulled her behind me into the dark hallway.