Chapter Eight Xalori Carson
The midday sun cast sharp shadows across the perfectly manicured grass of Everly Grove Cemetery as I stood over my daughter’s grave, the warmth of the day doing nothing to thaw the ice that had settled in my chest.
It had been a month since the charity event.
A month since I stopped fighting Eason’s presence in my life, since I let down my walls just enough for him to slip through the cracks.
A month of Ginger curling up in my arms, Nasir laughing louder than he had in over a year, and Eason being exactly what I told myself I didn’t need.
A month of stolen moments, unexpected smiles, and a dangerous comfort I wasn’t ready to name.
But standing here, staring at Aaliyah’s name etched into stone, I couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling in my gut.
What the fuck am I doing? I had spent the past year surviving, keeping my head down, keeping my heart locked away, and making sure Nasir had everything he needed while I made sure I never needed anyone.
But now there was Eason.
A dangerous storm disguised as security. A man who had forced his way into my life and refused to leave. A man who made me feel things I had buried right alongside my daughter. A man who was starting to feel permanent. A man who had given me Ginger.
My throat tightened as I sucked in a shaky breath, my fingers lightly grazing the top of Aaliyah’s headstone.
“I don’t know what to do, baby.” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the gentle rustling of the trees. “I think… I think I’m starting to care about them.”
The admission felt like a betrayal. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way.
I wasn’t supposed to hold Ginger in my arms and love on her like she was mine.
I wasn’t supposed to watch her toddle after Nas, her big brown eyes full of admiration, and feel my heart swell.
I wasn’t supposed to smile when she curled up in my lap, playing with my fingers, trusting me in a way that made my chest ache.
She wasn’t my daughter. But sometimes it felt like she was and that scared the fuck out of me. I ran my hand down my face, exhaling sharply as guilt twisted in my gut.
“It’s not fair, Aaliyah,” I murmured, blinking rapidly to fight the sting in my eyes. “I shouldn’t get to feel this way. Not after losing you.”
I clenched my jaw, shaking my head as I stared down at the cold, unfeeling marble beneath my fingers.
“I love you. I’ll always love you,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “And I don’t want you to think I’m replacing you, because I swear, I’m not. No one could ever take your place.”
But Ginger had found a way into my heart anyway. And so had Eason.
I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into fists as my head dropped. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let them in. I couldn’t let myself fall. Because the last time I let myself love, I ended up here, standing over a grave, talking to a headstone, and begging for forgiveness that would never come.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding.”
The voice was low, familiar, and unwelcome. Prime.
I stiffened, my body going rigid as his presence invaded my space. I didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge him, just kept my eyes trained on the dirt covering the daughter he abandoned.
“I’ve been showing up to your house every night, trying to talk to you,” he continued, stepping closer. “You sitting up in this shit can’t be healthy, ma.”
“You abandoned us. You left your daughter in the goddamn ground and didn’t look back. You changed your number, locked us out of the house, and disappeared like we never meant shit.”
He stepped back, expression shifting. “I came back to fix that.”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You’re here ‘cause you found out another man was taking care of what you threw away.”
Prime’s eyes darkened. “I’m here ‘cause you’re still mine.” His stance shifted, his arms folding across his chest. “I love y’all, and I know I’ve made some mistakes, but I want my family back. Shouldn’t Aaliyah’s death—”
“Don’t you dare!” I snapped, jabbing another finger into his chest. “Don’t you fucking dare use my daughter to justify your bullshit!”
His expression hardened, his breathing shallow and sharp.
“She died from SIDS! And you weren’t there!” I screamed, my throat burning from the force of words. “You didn’t hold her. You didn’t fight for her. You weren’t there when she took her last breath, when I had to say goodbye. You just fucking left.”
“She was still my daughter too.”
“Bitch, please!” I stepped even closer, lowering my voice. “I would rather shove a cactus up my asshole than deal with you again.”
Prime’s nostrils flared, his eyes darkening with something ugly and familiar. But before I could react, his hands wrapped around my throat. I gasped, my body going stiff as the air in my lungs turned thin.
“You think suckin’ Eason Storm’s dick make you untouchable?” he growled. “Bitch, I made you. You belong to me until death.”
He held me like that, just for a second too long before shoving me back. I gasped, coughing while trying to catch my breath. Prime eyes darted over to Aaliyah’s grave, and he smirked.
“Sick as she was, she ain’t even the one who shoulda died. But hey, I still gave you two kids. That means I own you, Xalori.”
Bile immediately hit the back of my throat.
“You’re disgusting,” I choked.
He leaned closely. “Get rid of that nigga, or I’ll take Nasir. He’s my son too. And with my money and my connections, all I need is one courtroom to make your ass disappear.”
My chest seized, my throat closing.
“You can’t do that,” I whispered, voice shaking. “No judge will give you custody after you abandoned him.”
“You’ve already had one kid die on your watch,” he added coldly. “You think a judge’s gonna take your side over mine?”
My knees went weak as soon as the harsh words left his mouth.
“You’ve had your fun,” he said, backing away. “Now make you choice, Xalori. Get rid of him. Or lose your son.”
Then, he was gone. And I was barely breathing.