Page 24 of The Fight For Survival

I glare at him, "what? You would have come back?"

His ashamed face tells me that, no, he wouldn't have. I try not to take it too personally.

Taking a deep breath, I carry on. "The pregnancy was textbook. The birth was not. I had to have a c-section because the baby was too big to fit through my pelvis. I blame you for that, by the way," I smile, trying to lighten the mood before getting to the part that will end any and all humor. He tries to smile, but I think he knows what's coming.

"When he was born, he was the most perfect thing I had ever seen. Dark hair and dark blue eyes that I'm convinced were going to turn light just like yours," I choke out, the tears coming again. Kane's eyes tear up, and he wraps an arm around me, letting me rest my head on his shoulder. "I was strapped down on the operating table, so they handed him to Cade first."

A soft laugh passes my lips when I remember Cade's face. "He stood as still as a statue, eyes wide like if he moved an inch, he would harm the baby or something" Kane stays silent.

"We had a month with him," I whisper brokenly. Kane sucks in a breath. "I went into the nursery to check on him because he hadn't woken for his feed like he normally would." I close my eyes, reliving the worst day of my life. "He looked so peaceful. Just like he was asleep, but when I touched him-" I choke out, unable to finish.

Kane pulls me into him. I feel a wetness on my shoulder as he shakes in my arms. We sit there clutching onto each other, grieving our son, and I swear I feel a warm brush of wind against my face. Closing my eyes, I give the smallest of smiles.

I love you too, baby.

Kane

I'vebeenthroughhelland back in my lifetime. I would take it all over again to replace the pain I feel now. I had gained and son and lost him on the same night. My Mia has lost so much. But her light still shines, and I don't know how.

We sit for a while in silence. I don't think we can talk about anything else after that. I hate myself for not protecting her against pregnancy, for not being there when she had and then lost our son. I was so fucking stupid! Mia isn't impressed when I express my thoughts. She stands up with a furious look on her pretty face.

"Don't you dare do that to yourself, Kane!" she points in my face. "You hear me? I don't regret having Chase. The loss is a constant pain in my heart, but I'll take that over, never getting to hold him in my arms and spending the short time I had with him." The stab in my chest is real. I didn't get that time with him. Would I have wanted to spend a month with him only to lose him?A month is better than no time at all.

"I'm sorry, Mia. I shouldn't have said that. My head is just a mess right now," I pull on her hand. She sits back down and puts her small hand on my leg comfortingly as I put my arm around her shoulder. She rests her head back on my arm. I take a selfish moment to enjoy having Mia back in my arms. I rest my cheek on top of her head and breathe her scent in, closing my eyes.

I've fucking missed you, baby. My heart hearts every day we are not together. I'm sorry.

Those are the words I want to say to her but never leave my mouth. I don't know what to say now, and my eyes are starting to feel heavy, the weight of this day finally taking its toll. "I'm going to head back to the apartment. Do you need a ride?" I ask, getting up. She shakes her head. "I think I'm going to stay here a bit longer. I have my car. I'll be okay." she smiles softly.

I suck in a sharp breath. Mia hasn't looked at me like that since I've been back. Her eyes have softened, and she's looking at me like she cares for me. That look comforts me. I can leave here knowing she isn't angry anymore. It also wrecks me because Iamleaving again. I have to.

Even though tonight was hard to talk about, I feel like it brought us closer and closed a chapter in our lives.

Just as I'm about to leave, Mia speaks. "Oh, can you tell Damon that I don't appreciate walking in on him sucking my boyfriend's cock and that we will be having words?" I stop dead in my tracks, my veins turning ice cold. I turn to her and growl, "he fuckingwhat?"

Mia's eyes widen at the venom in my voice, and her mouth pops open, "I walked in on them tonight. That's why I came here." I ball my fists and turn away from her, walking towards my car.

"Don't kill him, Kane. He's your friend."That's what Mia's last words were, and I have to tell myself that as I walk into our apartment.

Damon has on some sweatpants and is just leaving the bathroom, drying his hair off with a towel, when he spots me. The look on my face must tell him I know. He holds his hands out as I stride toward him. "Look, man, it just-" I punch him in the face stopping his excuses. He stays standing, much to my annoyance. He glares at me. "Will you stop fucking hitting me? What's your goddamn problem?" I laugh, scoffing.

"My problem? Mia walked in on you sucking Cade's dick!" he smirks, making me want to hit him again.

"So. You jealous?" something must show on my face because his smirk drops and his eyes widen. "Holy shit, you are."

"You don't know what you're talking about," I spit out.

"Really? so if I told you how much I loved swallowing his cock and can't wait to do it again? That wouldn't bother you?"

I snarl, taking a step toward him, the blood pumping so hard through my veins I can hear it. "Shut your goddamn mouth."

It takes everything in me not to beat his smug face bloody. I hate that he is right. I am fucking jealous. He gave Cade something I could never give him, and that is eating me up inside.

You won't go near him again. Are we clear?" Damon looks disappointed. "You don't own him, Kane, and you sure as hell don't own me."

Pointing in his face, I hiss, "Mia was heartbroken when I saw her tonight. He might not belong to me, but he is Mia's, and you hurt her with your actions." Damon's face looks crestfallen as I finish.

"You can sleep on the couch tonight. I don't want you in my space," I bite. "I can't look at your face anymore tonight," I add before going to my room and closing the door.