Disappearance: A broken Wing

Baby Blue

I couldn't believe I'd made it to nine months pregnant. My stomach was so big now that I felt like this baby could come at any second. Two months ago, I found out I was having a boy. I should have been overjoyed—but fear overshadowed everything. How could I raise a child in this nightmare?

Baxton and I had been spending more time together, and every stolen moment with him made my heart race—not just with love but with fear that we'd eventually get caught.

"I can't wait until Alex is born," Hito said as he rubbed my shoulders in the tub. Alex. That's the name Hito had chosen for my child. But I already knew his real name. Baxton Zayden Smalls. No matter what Hito said, that would be my son's name.

"Come on, babe, let's get you out of this tub," Hito said as he reached for my hands. It was harder to do anything now—standing, walking, even breathing—with this baby pressing down on me.

Hito wrapped me in my robe and helped me onto the bed, handing me a book to read while he stepped out to "handle business" with one of the women.

As I read, I heard a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," I called, expecting maybe one of the guards.

"Hey, lovely," Baxton's voice came through like a rush of air I'd been holding in for months.

"Baxton!" I hissed. "What are you doing here? Hito will kill you!"

"Then I'll die happy," he said with that crooked smile of his, climbing onto the bed beside me like he belonged there.

"Get out," I warned, even as my heart fluttered.

"Not before a kiss," he murmured, leaning closer.

"I'm serious, Bax. If Hito finds you here, we are—"

I never finished the sentence. His lips crashed into mine, stealing the breath right out of me. God, I wanted him to stay. I wanted to keep kissing him and forget the world, but I also knew what Hito would do if he saw us. I shoved Baxton back with all the strength I could gather.

"No," I whispered.

"Relax," he said, standing with a playful grin. "I'm leaving now."

But the second he opened the door— Hito was standing there.

"...What's going on in here?" Hito's voice was a dangerous calm.

"She was in pain," Baxton said quickly, "so I helped her out."

"Is that so?" Hito asked, stepping closer. His eyes weren't buying a word of it.

"Yes," Baxton said, steady but tense.

A wicked grin spread across Hito's face. He knew.

"Alright then," Hito said softly. "I'm here now. You can go."

Baxton gave me one last look as he stepped past Hito—

BANG!

The gunshot ripped through the room.

"NOOO!" I screamed, clutching my stomach as Baxton fell to the floor.

"Baxton," Hito said coldly, "why must you lie to me?"

Lucas and Leo rushed in, dragging Baxton's limp body out of the room. My throat burned with panic. He couldn't be dead. He couldn't be...

"Kara, sweetie," Hito said, turning his attention to me, "you're the reason why he's going to die." He climbed onto the bed, his hands reaching for me—

But suddenly, pain tore through me like fire.

I screamed, clutching my belly.

"GET THE DOCTOR!" Hito roared.

The doctor rushed in, barely glancing at Hito as he assessed me.

"She's in labor!"

"Labor? Now?"

"Yes. She's stressed, which triggered it. Kara, I need you to push."

I screamed, the pain splitting me apart.

"Push, baby, push!" the doctor urged.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed—and then I heard it. A tiny, beautiful cry.

The doctor placed a warm, wriggling baby boy into my arms. His crying softened when I hummed the lullaby only Zayden and I knew. His tiny features mirrored mine—my eyes, my cheeks.

I stared down at him, my tears soaking his soft skin.

I was a mother.

And I would make sure my brother met his nephew one day. No matter what it took.