Carter Novel – I was stuck living with my abusive mother and step-father. It wasn’t until my stepfather was murdered that I was taken out of the toxic household. The officer came back, standing in front of my child Miles and I. ” I’ve got some good news. We’ve found your family. They’re paying to fly you out to their home in New York.” he informed me. Suddenly, I felt a heavy hand land on my shoulder. I turned around and swung, landing a hard hit on the man’s chin. He let out a grunt, ” Jesus, relax!” he said, stepping back. “Who are you?!” I spat, feeling protective. ” I’m Caspian, your oldest brother.” “I don’t have a brother, you have the wrong person.” I told him, backing away. He smiled at me, “Caspian King, you’re Carter King.” he said and I did my best to hide my confusion. I have a brother?
Carter’s pov- Please leave soon, please leave soon, please leave soon. I repeated that over and over again until Chris finished, rolling off of me. My body was tense and shaking as he placed pecks all over my neck. I took a shaky breath before getting off the bed. I wanted nothing more than to shower him off of me but I knew better. Anytime I try to take a shower he joins me. I woke up tied down with him on top of me and my clothes ripped off. Even if I wanted to fight back I couldn’t. I’ve learned better than to try and fight back, it only makes things worse for me. He’s bigger and stronger than I am. I walked into the bathroom and cleaned myself up the best I could. As I was walking back to my room Miles started crying. I made sure to scoop him up and quiet him before Chris or Natalie heard. ” Shh, go back to sleep, my love.” I whispered, cradling him in my arms. I sat down on the bed with him in my arms, coaxing him back to sleep. Miles hit four months about two weeks ago.
I got pregnant with him when I was thirteen. Unfortunately he’s the result of Chris’s nightly visits. Chris is married to my mother, Natalie. They got married when I was just a baby. Chris used to be great. He’d take care of me, treat me like a father would treat a daughter. I even called him dad. Natalie has always been a cherry. For some reason she despises me. I don’t know what I ever did to make her hate me and at this point I don’t care. Everything was fine until I turned eight. That’s when it went sideways for me. Chris became more aggressive. At first he’d just snap at me or yell over something simple. Like my room not being clean enough. Then he turned violent. Once he started hitting me, Natalie did too. I realized that until that day Chris had been protecting me from her wrath. He then became more touchy. He would come into my room at night and apologize to me, saying he was sorry he lost his temper. He’d crawl into bed with me and read me a story that eventually ended with his hand in my pants. Things only escalated from there and I ended up getting pregnant with Miles.
As soon as it hit five thirty I picked Miles up, slipped my shoes on and snuck out of the house. I always leave early in the morning so I’m able to avoid Chris and Natalie. Miles sleeps in my arms as I walk to the subway station. It’s about a twenty minute walk to the subway and I wait about ten minutes until the train shows up. I ride it into the city and then walk thirty minutes to my building. Thankfully it’s early enough that no one is really here yet. I’m able to slip into my office without anyone seeing me. I don’t want my employees to see me. I don’t want to risk them seeing how I’m dressed or seeing my bruises. All of my employees had to sign a contract, saying they’ll keep my involvement a secret. They all know Jack Johnson is just a front but I didn’t want to risk any of them spilling my secret. The day goes by fast. I spend half my day working and the other half playing with Miles. I didn’t get as much work done as I usually do but I don’t mind. I love spending time with my son.
He’s the reason I haven’t given up yet. If it weren’t for him I would’ve been dead months ago. I stay late, waiting for the office to clear out. I haven’t eaten all day but that’s okay, as long as Miles is being fed. Miles is still being breastfed but I can’t wait for him to be old enough to eat solids. I never thought breastfeeding would be so painful. The doctor recommended that I breastfeed him until he hits at least six months. ” You ready to go, my love?” I asked Miles, bouncing him on my hip. I got a bunch of baby babbles back in response. I smiled at him before opening my office door and making my way to the subway station. I was freezing my hip off but I was more concerned about Miles. Thankfully the subway car was relatively warm but the twenty minute walk back to the house wasn’t. My steps faltered when my house came into view, cop cars surrounding it. I considered turning around and running but I knew I’d have to face this eventually. Whatever this was.
I hesitantly walked up to the house, ” I’m sorry, ma’am. This area is closed off.” An officer said to me when I tried to enter the house. ” I live here, what’s going on?” I asked skeptically, trying to peek inside but the officer’s bulky body was blocking my view. ” What’s your name?” he asked me, not answering my question. I was annoyed he was ignoring my question. ” I’m Carter King. My mother is Natalie King and my step-father is Chris Ronson.” I told him. A sympathetic look came onto his face, ” I’m so sorry to inform you but your mother and step-father are dead.” he said in a much more gentle tone than before. I took a deep breath and clung to Miles. They’re gone. ” How did they die?” I asked warily, unsure if I actually wanted the answer.
The cop hesitate, unsure if he should be telling me this, ” It was a murder suicide. Your mother killed your step-father and then herself.” he said grimly. She killed him? I never would’ve guessed she’d be the one to end it. I really don’t know how I feel about their death. I’m happy they’re gone but I’m afraid about what it means for Miles and I. I can’t risk us being separated. I will not lose my son. I was snapped out of my thoughts when Miles giggled. I followed his gaze to see what he was laughing at. Two paramedics came out, carrying a body bag. I turned him around, shielding him from the body bags. I know he’s too young to understand it but he shouldn’t have to see this. I could tell the officer was jarred by my lack of reaction towards my parents death. I really didn’t care enough to fake a reaction. My only concern is Miles. I need to find a guardian that’s willing to take us both in. ” What happens now?” I asked regrettably. He cleared his throat, still confused by my lack of emotion towards the situation. ” Well, you’re going to have to come to the station while we search for family,” he told me.
We were escorted to the police station where we proceeded to spend four hours sitting there as people shuffled around the station. I was about ready to walk out of the station and go back to my office when the officer came back, standing in front of Miles and I. ” I’ve got some good news. We’ve found your family. They’re paying to fly you out to their home in New York.” he informed me. New york? I don’t want to go to New York. ” I’m sorry, New York?” I asked, distaste in my tone. He gave me a sympathetic smile, ” I’m afraid so. I know Americans don’t seem entirely appealing but maybe you’ll like it.” he said hopefully. Instead I asked, ” Are they willing to take Miles as well?” I was afraid of his answer. If they try to split us up I’m running. I don’t care. I’d rather be on the run than let them take my son away from me. He nodded, ” Yes, you’re taking your brother with you. We booked you the earliest flight we could, it’s in an hour. You’re going to have to rush to make it. I’m sorry but I don’t think you’ll have time to grab your belongings. We’ll send officers over to box everything up and send it over to you.” he told me and I nodded.
I didn’t care about anything in the house. Once I land in New York I’ll call and tell them I don’t want anything. I went to coach to find my seat but was stopped by a flight attendant. ” I’m sorry, miss, your seat is actually up here.” she said, gently grabbing my arm to stop me. I quickly shake her off and follow her, confused on where she was taking me. She pushed a curtain aside and took me to first class. ” I’m sorry, ma’am, I think you’ve got me confused with someone else.” I told her. ” You’re Ms. King, are you not?” she asked. I furrowed my brows but chose not to argue. She led me to my seat, thankfully they purchased the seat next to me as well. I love Miles but he’s been sitting on me for the past six hours, I needed a little break. I helped him strap in before leaning my head back against the cushy seat. I was exhausted. My boobs were sore, Miles was fussy, my parents are dead, I haven’t slept in two days, and now I have to go to New York to meet people I don’t know. I don’t even know who’s taking custody. A long lost aunt maybe or a random cousin. Who knows? God, could things get any more terrible?
It was a nine hour flight, nine bloody hours. Somehow Miles slept through the landing, which I was grateful for. I felt a heavy hand land on my shoulder and my instincts kicked in. I turned around and swung, landing a hard hit on the man’s chin. He let out a grunt, ” Jesus, relax!” he said, stepping back. My guard was up and I made sure Miles was facing away from the man, letting myself act as a shield. ” Who are you?!” I spat, feeling protective. Everything is different when you have children. Everything becomes a threat, you’re constantly terrified something will happen to them. Fear is a conflicting emotion, especially when you’re a parent. I don’t care about what happens to me but I’ll be screwed if someone hurts my baby.
“I’m Caspian, your oldest brother.” he said casually, like I already knew about him. ” I don’t have a brother, you have the wrong person.” I told him, backing away. He smiled at me, ” Caspian King, you’re Carter King.” he said and I did my best to hide my confusion. I have a brother? I have a brother. That bimbo told me I had no other family. God, she was such a little cherry. ” I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware I had a brother.” a small frown appeared on his lips but disappeared within seconds. ” It’s alright, I know the whole situation is messed up.” he said with a comforting smile. He started looking around, ” I was told there were two of you. You have an older step brother, right?” he asked.