Page 67 of The Stepbrother 2: Noah

“This is just an assumption, but I think you need reassurance from Creed that she loves you as much as you love her, and that despite how your relationship began, she’s with you, not because you...” she paused, clearing her throat, “kidnapped her and made her marry you under duress.” She murmured.

Noah cut his eyes toward me but kept his head forward, and I realized that wasexactlywhat he needed. I thought we’d moved past what happened nearly seven months ago, but if he needed to hear it again, I’d say it. Taking his chin in my hand, I gently turned his face so our eyes met. “I hope you know you couldn’t keep me here if I didn’t want to be. I could have walked away at any time, yet I chose to stay. I choose you. I choose us.” Ms. Avery watched us, a silent observer, as I continued. “I never planned to tell you this story, but when I was about ten, Maine told me I had to start telling people you were my brother. I looked her right in the eye and said, ‘No, I can’t marry my brother. I’ve been in love with you since before I even understood what it—”

The sound of Noah’s father yelling, “I’ll kill both of you!” cut me off. Both Noah's and my eyes went wide.Whywas he at our house? Where were his parents?

“Is everything alright?” Ms. Avery asked.

“Stay here,” Noah ordered.

“I’m coming with you.” I pushed myself up from the sofa. There was no way I was staying.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Avery, we’ll reschedule. “I said before closing the laptop. I did not need her hearing anything she’d have to report to the police.

My belly slowed me down, but I made it downstairs in time to see Wolfgang’s mother sitting down with her hand over her heart, sweating and red-faced. Shock was written all over Wolfgang’s face. My eyes drifted to the large Black man standing just outside the front door.

“What is going on?” Noah yelled over the commotion.

Daddy Wolf nodded towards the man for him to speak.

The man started talking, his voice deep and cathartic . “I’m Lyfe, the private investigator hired by Mr. Engel. After weeks of investigating, I found out that Mr. Engel’s parents were planning on harming Creed. They attempted to hire a hitman—which sounds easy on TV, but it’s not so simple in real life. When that didn’t work, they started researching poisons and drugs that could make her death look natural. They thought that if Creed were gone, their grandson would inherit her fortune and the record label.”

Wow.My brain couldn’t process it. They were actually planning to kill me? And all while Noah was plotting to leave them penniless. So much deception.

Lyfe paused for a second before continuing. “They have nothing left. The IRS seized—” Before he could finish, four men dressed in black tactical gear rushed into the house, pushing past him with semi-automatic weapons. “ATF!” they shouted, their bulletproof vests bearing the agency’s initials. “Everybody on the floor!”

I froze on the stairwell, my hands trembling as I threw them up in surrender. My heart pounded like a jackhammer.Everyone else remained standing. I assumed they were here for Wolfgang’s parents, but when one of the agents said, “Noah Washington, we have a warrant for your arrest on gun trafficking charges,” my heart sank.

The investigator tried to intervene. “There’s no need to point guns at a pregnant woman and her family,” he said, trying to get the agents to stand down. But his words fell on deaf ears as the situation continued to escalate.

“With or without a warrant, I’m not going anywhere with you. Call my fucking lawyer. He cleared this days ago,” Noah declared. “You have no right to come in here like this. I know you don’t have a warrant for this residence.”

The lead agent stepped forward, narrowing his eyes and tightening his grip on his weapon. “Wehavea warrant, Mr. Washington,” he retorted coldly. “You’re coming with us, one way or another.”

As I watched the standoff, a sudden pain shot through my belly. I cried out, and a warm rush of fluid soaked the stairs beneath me. Noah turned, panic in his eyes.

“Creed, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice trembling.

Before I could answer, another wave of pain hit, stronger than the last. I doubled over, gasping for breath as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. “Noah,” I managed to choke out, “I think... I think the baby’s coming.” I wasn’t surprised. I was three weeks from my scheduled delivery.

Noah moved to scoop me into his arms, but before he could, the lead agent tackled him, forcing him to the ground. “You’re under arrest. Resist, and you’ll only make it worse for yourself.”

Noah resisted, slamming his head back into the agent’s face. But before he could break free, more agents swarmed him, their guns trained on him as they forcibly restrained him.

My heart raced as I watched helplessly, the world spinning around me. “You’re all going to pay for this!” Noah shouted as they held him down.

Lyfe was the first to reach me, his strong arms scooping me up off the steps as agents shoved Wolfgang back from Noah. Over his shoulder, I could see Wolfgang struggling against a wall of agents, his face twisted as he reached toward his son.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Lyfe whispered against my hair, his voice soothing. Soon as I was outside, EMTs came and got me. They quickly began strapping me in and hooking me up to monitors.

As I was loaded into the ambulance, I saw Noah being shoved into a police cruiser. The look in his eyes scared me. I called his name, and he looked up, our eyes locking. “I love you,” I mouthed, forcing a small smile. His eyes softened.

The ambulance doors slammed shut, and we pulled away. One of the EMTs asked how I was feeling and began checking my vitals. I felt a wave of helplessness, knowing Noah was being taken in the opposite direction. As another contraction hit, I closed my eyes and whispered a silent prayer for strength. Somehow, we’d get through this nightmare.

I woke up groggy in the hospital room, the smell of antiseptic in the air. Machines beeped around me, and as the events of the day flooded back, I tried to fight the drowsiness that was pulling me under. I placed a hand on my belly and felt my baby kick. A faint smile crossed my lips.

Just then, I heard my momma’s raised voice outside the room. Relief washed over me. No matter what issues we had, I knewScarlett would fight the devil himself to make sure me and Valentina were safe.

Creed-

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