My Cousin's Ex

Chapter 22

Jace's POV
"Daddy's so sorry."

"Shhh. Don't do that. I'm sure the baby isn't mad at you. I'm not mad at you. Don't even start to think that I am. Rest your voice."

She kissed the top of my head.

"There's an FBI agent that has to talk to you."

"F-FBI? T-that's how bad this is?"

"Yes honey. Lay back down."

I didn't want to let go of her.

"Hey I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

I laid back down. Evelyne kissed my cheek. She started rubbing my cheek after that. I yawned.

"Damn. You've been getting better at calming me down."

"Shh. Sleep."

I listened to her and shut my eyes. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Evelyne sleeping on a couch.

Fuck!

My body hurts.

I wanna be closer to her.

I went to stand up but, my body didn't want to work. I went to open my mouth but, nothing came out. I just stared at Evelyne. My nurse Nadia walked in.

"How are you feeling? I heard you were talking yesterday."

"N-not g-good."

"Ah! You must've pushed yourself too much."

I nodded. I looked at my hands.

There's so much dirt and blood underneath my nails.

Damn.

Those are bad bruises.

I heard someone clear their throat. I looked up. I saw a man in a suit.

He must be from the FBI.

"I'm Miles Abrams. I'm with the FBI. Are you able to talk now?"

"I-I can try."

I had to go through everything.

"That's worse than what I went through Jace.."

My eyes widened. I gulped.

And now my throat is burning.

I was in the hospital for about 5 weeks. The week after I got home I went into my bathroom. I just stared at myself in the mirror.

I look horrible.

I used my right index finger and traced my scars.

Damn.

My shoulder looks like absolute shit.

"Dommy? Are you okay?"

I looked behind me. I saw my sister.

"No. I'm not. Someone hurt me. I'm not sure I like how I look right now."

She started hugging my legs.

"That's okay. I still love you."

That sentence caused me to fall to my knees. I started hugging Kalila.

"You have no idea how much that means to me."

"You're still my big brother no matter what!"

I started crying.

"I love you Kally."

I stood up then picked her up.

"Where's Claire? Have you seen her?"

"I'm right here. You seriously don't like how you look?"

"Y-yes."

I put my sister down.

"Go play with Harvey or your toys."

She walked away. Me and Evelyne walked over to my bed and sat down.

"Why didn't you say this?"

"Same reason you didn't tell me stuff. I didn't want to upset you."

"Are you worried about how I'll see you?"

"I-I guess."

"You don't care about my scars right?"

"I don't."

"And I don't care about yours."

She grabbed my hands and put them on her stomach. I felt a kick.

"Our baby isn't going to care about your scars. They're gonna look at you and just see their dad. Maybe they'll think they make you look badass."

"I keep replaying those threats."

"The 30 strikes?"

I nodded.

"I-I didn't know if they were real. I was scared to find out. All I wanted to do was, keep you safe. I was down to 29 strikes. She said she'd watch you and take the baby out of your arms."

I held my arms out. She got in the hint and started holding me.

"If anything happened to you both then, I'd never forgive myself."

"Jace stop. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

"For now, just fucking hold me."

"You got it."

I burrowed my face into the crook of her neck.

"You're gonna be fine in the end. You've been helping me through my trauma. Now, it's time I help you with yours."

"T-thank you. I-I'm so grateful that you're mine now."

"I think the same thing about you."

I kissed her stomach.

"I can't wait to meet you. I'll be a better father than mine."

"You're scared of that, aren't you?"

I kissed her stomach again.

"Very. I-I don't wish to be like Benjamin. He hurt me then, he hurt you. I let that happen."

"My love don't do that. It's not healthy for you."

I felt her fingers going through my hair.

"I-I don't want our baby to think I'm a deadbeat."

"Do you remember the last time you spent actual time with him?"

"Goddamn. I think I was 7? His idea of fun was leaving me out in the rain to play. I got sick from that once."