My mouth parts as I lock eyes with Luna, and I gasp, “Jax, where is Jax?”
Her tears fall and my heart stops as she sobs, “I-I wasn’t quick enough. I shot Misty, but she’d already pulled the trigger and he-he pushed you out of the way…”
My mouth dries and my stomach tightens as I demand, “Where is he, Luna?”
“In a coma two levels up,” she whispers, and I shake my head in denial, my tears instantly falling and she continues, “The bullet hit his stomach, and they managed to remove it but he-he hit his head hard Ives. They-they’re not sure when he’ll wake, or if he will…”
Oh god, no, please, please, no, this can’t be happening, not when I finally confessed my feelings for him.
A sob crawls out, and I put my hand over my mouth, the struggle to breathe becoming difficult at the thought of losing him.
He shouldn’t have pushed me out of the way, he shouldn’t have.
Oh god, what have I done, what have I done, please, I can’t lose him, I can’t, I won’t be able to survive without him by my side, my best friend, my everything.
I place my hand on my stomach out of instinct, but freeze.
It’s not hard, why isn’t it hard?
I quickly move to look at my stomach with panic but groan at the pain shooting through it causing the machines to go haywire and Luna stands, holding me down as the door opens. I look up to see my dad and Blade rush in, but I don’t stop trying to get up, causing Luna to hold me down tighter and plead, “Stay lying down, please, Ivy, your body has been through a lot, please.”
I shake my head, cry, “No, my baby, where is my baby?!”
Blade quickly takes over from Luna, who steps back with tears running down her cheeks.
He cups my cheek, gently rubbing my jaw, and whispers, “You need to remain calm, but more importantly, little doll, I need you to remain still.”
I take in gulps of air, the room suddenly spinning, and Blade grips my jaw harder, seeing he’s losing me. He mutters, “Focus on me, focus on my voice, please, if not for me, do it for Jax,” he swallows, “Do it for your son.”
I freeze at his words, my eyes racing between his and I choke, “My son?”
He nods slowly and confirms, “Raya and Skylar are with him, he’s in the neonatal intensive care unit.”
I sob, “It’s too early. He won’t survive…”
Blade’s eyes tear and rasps, “His chances are extremely low, little doll…”
No, please no.
I sob, my whole body shaking uncontrollably as Dad states, “Give her a minute, she’s just found out about her child,” but I don’t look up to see who he’s talking to and I grip Blade’s wrists and he places his forehead against mine and whispers, “I know it hurts Ives, I know you want nothing more than to be swallowed up but I am begging you, please have faith, please fight. Fight for Jax, like you wanted him to fight for you and your son.”
I could lose them both, all because I didn’t communicate.
I shake my head and cry, “It’s a-all my fault, all mine…”
“No, little doll, it isn’t your fault.” Blade instantly snaps, but I sob. “B-but if I had just fought that day instead of running…”
His grip tightens, and he consoles, “You can’t change the past, sweetheart, only fight for your future.”
“I don’t have a future without Jax and our son,” I admit, and Luna sobs behind Blade, who squeezes his eyes shut while my dad squeezes my calf, and I sob.
I lose them, I’ll lose myself…
“Has anyone called Gary?” I ask in a whisper, not looking at anyone, just focusing on the plain blue blanket covering my empty stomach.
I took a week off work, knowing I’d need time to figure out the whole wedding thing, but he needs to know I need more time than I originally requested.
“Pitbull and Jessica went and saw him an hour ago and explained everything,” Dad admits, and I hum nonchalantly.
