Chapter Twelve Eason Storm
My fists clenched as I took a step back, dragging a rough hand down my face. I had to move. Now.
Shoving past the gawking crowd, I stormed toward the exit, my heart hammering and my pulse hammering like a fucking war drum in my ear.
I knew Xalori. I knew how her mind worked when she felt cornered and betrayed.
And right now, she was probably spiraling.
I needed to reach her before she disappeared behind those walls I worked so damn hard to tear down.
Bursting through the double doors, I scanned the parking lot, my eyes darting in every direction.
My breath came in short, sharp bursts as my gaze landed on her retreating figure in the distance.
She was moving fast, her body tense, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding herself together.
I broke into a stride, my long legs eating up the space between us in seconds.
“Xalori,” I called out, my voice rough, urgent.
She didn’t stop. In fact, her ass started picking up her pace like she was running to get away from me. I gritted my teeth, picking up my pace until I reached her, gripping her wrist before she could take another step.
She jerked violently against my hold, her body twisting as she tried to yank free. “Don’t touch me, Eason,” she snapped, her voice cracking. Her eyes burned with a mixture of fury and heartbreak.
Fuck.
I loosened my grip but didn’t let her go. I couldn’t.
“Muffin, listen—”
“I was going to tell you,” I muttered, my voice tight. “I just—I needed to handle shit first.”
She let out a hollow, humorless laugh while shaking her head. “Handle shit?” she repeated, her chest rising and falling. “So, what, Eason? You was just gonna keep fucking me and playing house with me, until your wife fucking returned?”
“It’s not like that,” I growled, stepping closer.
Xalori took a step back. Seeing her move away from me like I was the plague fucked with a nigga more than I cared to admit.
“It’s exactly like that,” she spat, her voice thick with emotions. “You let me fall for you. You let my son fall for you, Eason. You let us think this shit was real.”
It is real.
The words sat heavy on my tongue, but I knew she wasn’t ready to hear them[MH5]. Me saying those words would probably just push her further over the edge.
I watched intensely as her hands clenched at her sides as she sucked in a shaky breath. “I was stupid. I fucking knew better. Every part of me told me not to trust you, not to let you in. But I did. And look where the fuck that got me.”
My jaw ticked as frustration built in my chest. I knew this was bad, but I needed her to fucking understand.
“I never lied to you,” I said slowly. “I didn’t tell you everything, yeah. But I never fucking lied.”
She let out a shaky breath, her chin trembling slightly. And for a second, I saw the part of her that wanted to believe me. The part of her that wasn’t ready to let me go. But then, just as fast as it came, it was gone.
“I need to go.” she whispered.
No. I couldn’t let that happen.
I tightened my grip on her wrist. “Xalori, don’t do this. Not like this.”
Xalori shook her head, her eyes shutting briefly before she exhaled sharply. “I just need to fucking breathe, Eason.”
I stared at her for a long moment, reading the exhaustion in her eyes, the pain etched into her features. She was hanging on by a fucking thread. I slowly let her go, my jaw clenching as I watched her take a step back, then another.
“I need space,” she murmured. “Just… just give me some space.”
I didn’t say shit. Didn’t agree. Didn’t argue. There was really no need to. She could take all the space she wanted. But she wasn’t leaving me. Not now. Not ever.
I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting every fucking instinct screaming at me to chase her. To snatch her back into my arms. To make her understand.
I should’ve grabbed her and never let her go.
But instead, I hesitated. And that’s when I saw it. The stumble.
It was quick, so quick, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me but then she swayed again. Her steps faltered, her body wavering like she was suddenly walking through water.
My gut clenched. Something was wrong.
“Xalori!”
Her name barely left my lips before her body folded. I lunged forward just in time to catch her before she hit the pavement.
“Fuck!” I hissed, sinking to my knees, her limp body cradled against me.
The world blurred, but nothing mattered but the weight of her in my arms, the terrifying stillness of her body.
“Muffin, wake up,” I rasped, tapping her cheek lightly, trying to get some kind of reaction out of her. “Come on, baby, open them pretty eyes for me.”
My heartbeat thundered against my ribs, a violent rhythm of panic I wasn’t used to feeling. This scared the shit out of me.
The crowd outside the venue had already begun to gather, hushed murmurs and gasps filling the air as my mother rushed forward, her face drawn with worry. She dropped to her knees beside us, her hands immediately going to Xalori’s forehead, gently smoothing back her curls.
“Eason, baby, what happened?” She asked, her voice low, controlled but I could hear the concern bleeding through.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. “One second, she was standing here, arguing with me. The next…” My throat closed up.
A sharp pang of fear stabbed through my chest as I brushed my fingers along the side of her face. Her breathing was shallow, her body too still. That wasn’t Xalori. She was fire, chaos, and attitude. Seeing her like this wasn’t right.
Then I heard Sayani’s voice.
“I called the ambulance,” she announced from behind me, her voice tight. “They should be here any minute.”
I lifted my head slowly. And when my eyes locked onto hers, she must’ve realized in that moment that she had fucked up.
I could see it all over her face. She knew.
The entire night had been a game to her—one big, petty-ass move to make herself feel better, to take me down a peg, to humiliate Xalori in front of everybody. Now look where we were.
“You better fucking pray she’s okay,” I growled, my voice laced with venom.
I dropped my gaze back to my woman.
Still cradling her like something precious.
Something irreplaceable.
“Because if she’s not, Sayani, you’re gonna regret ever opening your mouth tonight.”
Sayani paled, her arms tightening around herself. She glanced toward our parents, our brothers, like she was looking someone to save her. But nobody said shit.
“She passed out ‘cause she couldn’t handle the truth,” she muttered weakly. “That ain’t on me.”
I stood slowly, towering over her, fists clenching so hard I felt my nails bite into my palms. “No, Sayani, she passed out ‘cause you wanted to be a bitter ass bitch and invited that bitch here.” My voice dropped lower. “I know you’re the reason Harmony showed up tonight.”
Sayani’s mouth parted, her lips trembling slightly. “Eason, I—”
I took a slow, deliberate step toward her. “I don’t give a fuck how mad you are at me,” I continued, my voice eerily calm, “but the second you dragged her into it, you put a target on your back.”
Sayani stiffened. “You wouldn’t.”
I leaned closely, my tone dripping with disgust. “You don’t think I’d ruin your fucking life over this?” My eyes darkened. “Try me.”
Her breath hitched. I saw the exact moment my words sank in, the realization dawning on her that she’d fucked up.
But before she could respond, the ambulance finally pulled up.
I took a slow breath, forcing myself to step back as the paramedics rushed over, pushing through the crowd to get to Xalori.
I stayed where I was, my heart pounding in my ears as they lifted her onto the stretcher.
My hands curled at my sides; jaw locked as I watched them strap her in.
A lump lodged itself in my throat as they carried her toward the back of the ambulance.
I dragged a hand down my face, trying to keep myself from losing it right here in front of everybody.
She looked so small strapped to that gurney. So still. So, fucking vulnerable.
And it was my fault. I should’ve protected her. I should’ve ripped Harmony’s tongue out the minute she opened her mouth. I should’ve gotten Xalori the fuck out of that building before that petty bullshit spiraled outta control.
Now she was in the back of an ambulance.
And it was on me.
I turned my head slowly, my eyes locking onto Sayani’s pale face. My voice dropped to something dark and hollow.
“Hope that shit was worth it,” I muttered, every word a blade. “Because if anything happens to her, you’re fucking dead to me.”
I didn’t wait for her response. Didn’t need it.
I turned, storming to my truck, engine roaring to life as I peeled out behind the ambulance, refusing to let it outta my sight.
My grip on the steering wheel was tight enough to crack it, my knuckles turning white as my mind raced through every possible scenario that could’ve made her collapse. Was it stress? Had she been sick and kept it from me?
The thought sent a sharp pang through my chest, but I shook it off.
Nah. That wasn’t even a possibility. I paid attention to everything about Xalori.
She couldn’t have been sick without me noticing.
So, what the fuck happened? I needed to see her.
I needed to know she was breathing and not fucking leaving me.
My tires squealed as I whipped into the ER lot, barely throwing my truck in park before I was out and sprinting. The double doors slid open, but they weren’t fast enough. Nothing was fucking fast enough right now. I stormed through the entrance like a one-man wrecking crew.
“Where the fuck is Xalori Carson?” I barked, my voice vibrating with lethal authority.
“She was just brought in unconscious. I need to see her now.”
The nurse flinched, blinking like she wasn’t sure if she was about to help me or call for backup.
“Sir, you need to have a seat in the waiting area,” she said nervously. “The doctors will give you an update when they—”
“I ain’t sitting down,” I snapped. “And I damn sure ain’t waiting. Either you get up and take me back there—” I leaned closer, my voice dropping low, “or I’ll take myself.”
Her mouth opened and closed. Fear flickered across her face.
“If you don’t lower your voice, I’ll have to call security,” she threatened weakly.
I chuckled, cold and dangerously.
“Call every rent-a-cop in this bitch. Call every real cop you can find. Call the fucking president.”
I stepped even closer, letting her feel the storm pouring off me.
“‘Cause ain’t no badge gonna stop me from getting to mine.”
The nurse straightened like she was about to get smart and make me choke her ass out, but my mother’s voice cut through before shit escalated.
“Eason!” My mother’s voice snapped through the tension, her hand gripping my arm. “Baby, breathe.” She turned toward the nurse, her expression calmer but just as firm. “Look, ma’am, I understand y’all got procedures, but he’s not going to calm down until he knows she’s okay. Help him out.”
The nurse hesitated before sighing and typing something into the computer. “She’s in trauma bay three. A doctor will be out soon.”
I clenched my jaw. That’s all she had to fucking say. Without another word, I turned and leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. I wasn’t going anywhere. And the second I got my Muffin back, nobody— not even God Himself—was gonna separate us again.