"No…" I whispered.
His cries got louder. Rawer.
"No. No. No. Please." The sound shattered me. I covered my ears crying too. "Stop!" I screamed. "Please stop!"
Then everything went silent…
The softness of the carpet now replaced by the cool dew of moist grass that tickled my legs. Tentatively, I looked up. I was surrounded by headstones. Rising to my feet I saw him a few feet in front of me in an all-black suit on his knees. His head was down as he gripped the headstone shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
"Baby…" I whispered moving toward him. I reached for him again. Still couldn't touch him.
My eyes slowly lowered toward the tombstone. The words blurry but slowly becoming clearer the closer I got—
GIANNA TAYLOR.
"No," I gasped shaking my head violently stumbling backward. "No—this isn't right."
I tripped—but before I could hit the ground, warm firm hands caught me gently.
"Easy, Gianna." A soft voice said.
I whipped around, eyes blinking in disbelief. "Kendrix?" I whispered.
She smiled instantly. Warm and soft. She was beautiful. Glowing beneath sunlight in a flowing dress. "Yes. It's me." She laughed lightly. "I've been waiting to meet you, girl."
Tears instantly flooded my eyes. "Am I…dead?"
She reached out taking my hand. Her touch felt so warm and soft, my fingers squeezed around her grip. "No," she said softly. "Not if you don't stop fighting."
I stared at her trembling. "I don't understand."
Her eyes moved toward Remy kneeling at my grave. "He loves hard, don't he?" she smiled sadly.
My chest tightened. "He does. I tried to leave him," I whispered emotionally.
"I know." Kendrix squeezed my hand gently. "And that hardheaded man still chased after you anyway, huh?"
"He deserves better than me," I whispered.
Kendrix face softened. "Gianna…" She stepped closer brushing tears from my cheeks. "You are exactly what he deserves." She glanced toward him again. "Trust me."
I swallowed hard looking at him too. "He lost you."
"Yes," she answered softly. "And losing me almost destroyed him." Her eyes came back to mine. "But loving you brought him back to life again."
Fresh tears slid down my face. "I ruined everything."
"No." Kendrix shook her head firmly. "Broken people ruin themselves, Gianna. Not you. You're not broken."
Her words wrapped around something shattered inside me. I felt some of the guilt loosen its grip around my throat."I was trying to protect them," I whispered. "Remy…Melo… I just wanted them safe."
"I know." Kendrix smiled softly. "And that's exactly why I knew you were the one."
My brows pinched together. "Really?"
"You think I don't see my boys?" she asked warmly. "I visit them all the time. I know what they need."
Emotion instantly climbed up my throat.
