Guarded: Sequal to Broken

Twenty-Two

"If she does, it's on her... If her numbers changed, and her online presence is gone. We have no way to contact her. She has to come back on her own. And this is Maddie... She may have been doing better, but we all know her. We all know she would sacrifice her own sanity, happiness, life even, if it meant protecting anyone else in the whole world; and Calum is her world. If she thinks he is being saved by her staying away... I hate to say it, but I don't think we will see her again, at least not for a very, very, long time." KayKay frowns.

"I hate that you are right. I hate knowing I've lost her to her own demons and there is no way to change that." A small sob bubbles out of my chest, eyes already stinging from all the crying I'd done today as fresh tears leak from them again. I can barely believe Maddie woke up in my arms only hours ago, for the last time. "I hate thinking the next time we hear about her could be too late... could be anything. She's the target of a death hunt... and I have no way to protect her from that."

"She's smart, Cal, she lived with the man for ten years, she knows better than anyone how to avoid, and trap him. How to get him put back where he should be." Ashton sighs, keeping a tight hold around me as I cry.

"Sorry, today is supposed to be happy. We are supposed to be focused on Arabella." I sigh, wiping my face as I try to get control of myself.

"Mate, you just lost the love of your life out of no where. It's okay. Bella has no idea what's going on or who's here, and the rest of us know someone is missing. We all want to make sure you're okay too, you are our brother and we hate to see you like this." Michael offers kindly.

"Honestly, it's kind of nice to not be the most emotional person in a room for once in the last while" Crystal laughs, "I can't stop crying either."

I chuckle softly at that, "So glad I could help."

"Do you want to hold her first, Cal?" Crystal smiles, offering over the infant in her arms.

"Honestly, I don't know if I have the emotional strength right now. Looking at her just reminds me of the dreams I had for the kids I wanted with Mads."

"When you're ready then." Crystal nods.

"Can I hold her?" Luke beams, reaching out excitedly for the baby, "I need all the practice I can get..." His eyes go wide as Sierra smacks his arm.

"Practice for what exactly?" Michael smirks, lifting his daughter carefully from his wife's arms and resting her in Luke's.

"Well now he can't be mad at Maddie and I for already knowing." KayKay laughs.

"Hey! You told them?" Luke pouts turning to Sierra.

"No, they figured it out." She giggles, "About three weeks ago now."

"You guys are having a baby too?" Ashton asks, trying to clarify the conversation.

"Baby Hemmo will be arriving in June." Sierra nods, "I'm eleven weeks. We were going to wait until Christmas to tell everyone, but Luke blew that one."

"Sorry." Luke chuckles, his eyes not leaving little Bella in his arms.

"Um, I'm going to go." I clear my throat awkwardly, standing abruptly. "Congratulations on the baby, guys. And you two too, can't wait to have another little one in the family soon." I nod, hurrying out of the room, and house.

I was supposed to be starting the next phase of life with Maddie soon. I was supposed to be doing the proposal, marriage, kids thing with the love of my life, and instead I'm being haunted by all the plans we had made. All the plans her stupid stepdad ruined with his manipulative and cunning ways.