Chapter 72

JAX

As I drove down the winding road, my thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation I’d had with Isabella before we left. She’d been packing her things, her movements slower than usual, and I could see the worry etched into her features. I hated seeing her like that—so full of fear, so unsure of herself.

I wanted to find the right words, something that would reassure her that with us, she was safe. Nothing could hurt her, not while we were here. And even if something happened with the baby—Godess forbid—she needed to know that none of us would blame her. We’d be right there, helping her through it. But saying that out loud felt so… inadequate. How do you promise someone the world when the universe itself is so unpredictable?

I glanced at Asher, sitting in the passenger seat, staring out at the passing scenery with that intense look he always got when he was thinking too hard. He knew Isa was struggling too. We all did. Knox was in the backseat with her, his hand resting on her knee, offering comfort in that quiet, steady way of his.

Suddenly, a familiar tune began to play on the radio, and the soft, soulful voice of Mariah Carey filled the car. Isa perked up, a small smile spreading across her lips as the first notes of "Fantasy" came through the speakers.

“Turn it up, Jax,” she said, her voice brightening with the music.

I did as she asked, turning up the volume, and before I knew it, she was singing along, her voice effortlessly catching every note, every run, as if the song had been written just for her. Her voice was rich, soulful, and completely unexpected.

Asher turned in his seat, his eyebrows raised in surprise, and Knox stared at her, his eyes wide with admiration. I caught their reactions from the corner of my eye and couldn’t help but grin.

We’d always known Isa was special, but hearing her sing like that… it was like discovering a whole new side of her. The way she lost herself in the music, her worries seeming to melt away with each word she sang—it was mesmerizing. I had no idea she could sing like this, and judging by the looks on my brothers’ faces, neither did they.

When the song ended, Isa let out a small laugh, clearly a little embarrassed by the attention.

“Why didn’t you tell us you could sing like that?” Knox asked, still wide-eyed.

She shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. “You never asked.”

We all chuckled at that, the tension from earlier easing a bit. For a moment, it was just the four of us, the music, and the open road ahead.

But in the back of my mind, the concern for Isa lingered. I’d find a way to let her know that no matter what happened, we’d be there for her. I had to. She was our everything.

ISABELLA

As soon as we stepped into Maggie's house, her eyes were on me, studying me with that sharp, motherly intuition. It was as if she could sense the change in the air, the secret I’d been holding onto. I felt my heart skip a beat, and before I could overthink it, I walked straight to her and wrapped my arms around her.

"Zaza," She whispered in my ear, "I need some girl time with you."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes twinkling with curiosity and warmth. The boys, of course, had heard every word. They exchanged quick glances, and I could see them silently agreeing on what to do next. Asher, always the leader, was the first to step forward.

“Mum, why don’t you join us in the living room? There’s something we need to tell you,” he said, his voice steady but filled with excitement.

Maggie looked from him to Jax and Knox, and then back to me. The corners of her mouth lifted in a knowing smile, and she nodded, leading the way to the cozy living room that had always felt like a safe haven.

We all gathered around, and before the boys could say anything, I took a deep breath, feeling their support surrounding me. “Maggie… I’m pregnant.”

The room seemed to light up with her joy. Maggie let out a delighted gasp, her hands flying to her mouth as she looked between her sons and me, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, my dear!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight embrace. “This is the best news I’ve heard in so long!”

She didn’t waste a second, moving to the bookshelf and pulling out a stack of old photo albums. “You have to see these,” she said, her voice filled with nostalgia. She opened one of the albums to a page where a baby Asher was grinning up at the camera, covered in cake frosting. “This was his first birthday,” she said, her eyes sparkling as she showed me the picture. “And here’s Jax and Knox, always causing mischief together.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the boys as children, their personalities already so clear even then. As Maggie flipped through the pages, she began talking about how we could set up outdoor play equipment in the backyard and decorate a nursery so that she could take care of the baby from time to time.

“We’ll get the best of everything,” she said, her enthusiasm infectious. “I want to make sure my grandchild has all the love and care in the world, just like I gave to these three.”

I glanced at my mates, and they were watching Maggie with soft smiles, clearly enjoying her excitement. It felt surreal, seeing this new chapter of our lives beginning to take shape right before my eyes. There was so much love in this room, so much warmth and joy, and I knew that our child would be surrounded by a family that would move heaven and earth to protect and cherish them.

And in that moment, any lingering fears I had seemed to fade, replaced by the overwhelming certainty that everything was going to be okay. Our family was growing, and with it, so was our happiness.