Page 2 of DeLucas After Dark

Pushing up from the bed I cursed myself for leaving. The disappointment on her face almost broke me, until I remembered what happened the last time, I didn’t tie up loose ends. My wife and I almost died at the hands of a maniac. That would not happen this time.

“Nicolo, don’t you walk out this room without talking to me. Stop walking, turn the fuck around and talk to me. What is wrong?”

“I need to keep you and the baby safe, Simone. That is more important than anything, right now.”

“Keep us safe from who?”

“Fucking Johnny Lip! That’s who.”

“Shh! Don’t wake the baby.”

SIMONE

Too late. When Nicolo screamed the man’s name who we needed protection from, I froze. Just like I thought, my husband’s namesake started screaming from the nursery. He was awake and hungry. I jumped up from the bed, threw on my robe and headed to my child to see if he was alright.

Now, I had heard the name Johnny Lip before, but was never given any details. All I knew was Nicolo wanted him gone, as in his name being stricken from the book of life. He wanted the man erased from reality, as if he never existed. I didn’t know what this Johnny Lip dude did, but it had to be bad if he was now posing a threat to our family.

One thing for sure, he would be a fool to come after my child. I may be new to this parent thing but trust me, my Mama Bear instincts kicked in as soon as I heard him cry in the delivery room. Hell, I almost told Nicolo to off the doctor for slapping Jr’s butt.

“It’s okay, little one. Mommy’s here. Are you hungry?”

I sat in the custom rocking chair that Nicolo had made specifically for his son. I held Jr close, as he latched onto my breast. He immediately calmed down and began squeezing his little hands together as he ate. I rubbed his curls as I rocked him back and forth. My son loved it when I sang to him, so I began singing one of his favorites.

He had very specific tastes in music. When he was feeding, he liked Anita Baker. When he was tired and cranky, only Michael Jackson would do. Janet Jackson was his go-to when he was in a playful mood. Nicolo blamed it on me, saying I had the same listening tastes when I was pregnant. He was right, I did play all those artists for Jr when he was still baking.

However, Nicolo forgets he was the one who played Lil Kim, Meg the Stallion, some Biggie, and Tupac too. Jr only liked to listen to those when his father was around. I think he felt the switch in energy when Nico was in the room. It didn’t matter to me, as long as my child was happy.

As I sat there nursing my three-month-old, his father appeared in the doorway. Nicolo loved to watch me feed his son. He was a great father, pitching in to change diapers and play with his child. The one thing he hated was feeding Jr. When I asked why, he gave the best answer ever.

“Babe, I have no problem getting up and taking care of my son. However, it brings me so much pleasure to watch you feed him. I don’t know what it is about you nursing him that warms my heart, but it does. I could watch you with him for hours.”

After that, I never asked him to feed the baby again. But you can bet, every time I had to get up at an ungodly hour to nurse the baby, Nicolo was there lurching in the doorway. Sometimes he would come and sit at my feet and lay his head on my lap. I had to admit I loved it when he did that. It made me feel cherished.

By the time I got to the chorus of Sweet Love, Jr’s favorite Anita Baker song, my baby had sucked down his fill and was whining to be burped. Once he burped and his diaper was changed, I placed him back in his crib for another nap. He was a good baby. He only fussed when he was hungry or needed changing. Otherwise, he was cooing and laughing.

“You’re so good with him, Simone. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother for my son.”

Nicolo walked over and kissed me on the forehead before heading down the hall to his office. I began to get a little worried about him. Nicolo wasn’t the most talkative man, but he usually spent more time with me after the baby was down. This Johnny Lip thing had him distracted.

“Hey, baby, is there anything I can do to help with this thing you’re dealing with?”

“No, Simone. I just need to think for a minute. I’ll let you know if I need you.”

He called to me over his shoulder but kept walking away from me. I knew he needed to take care of the situation himself, but it drove me bonkers not to be able to help. Knowing how to pick my battles, I would let it go for now. However, if I noticed him getting consumed with this mess, I would step in and insist he allow me to assist. I didn’t need my man all stressed out.

“By the way, Sheree is coming by in a little while. She wants to see the baby. I’m going to make lunch. Will you eat with us? There’s something we want to discuss with you.”

“Can I let you know? I need to work on this thing, Simone.”

“Babe, you have to eat.”

“Fine, but you know how Sheree can get. I don’t have all day for her twenty-one questions.”

“I will keep her under control. I promise.”

As if she heard me calling her name, I heard the doorbell ring. I knew it couldn’t be anyone other than Sheree. I could hear her mouth before I saw her. The housekeeper had let her in, and she was making her way to my room.

“Moni, where are you? I know you’re not still in bed!”

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