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“Deceased?”

My own voice didn’t sound right.

Detective Jones nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

I stared at him.

Xavier.

The father of my children.

The boy I’d loved before he became the man I couldn’t fucking stand.

All of it hit me at once.

My knees buckled.

My lawyer caught my arm before I hit the floor.

“Oh my God.”

I covered my mouth.

“Oh my fucking God.”

Tears came before I could stop them.

Not cute tears.

Not one little tear rolling down my cheek.

My whole fucking body started shaking.

Because whatever Xavier and I had become⁠—

he was still Xavier.

How the fuck was I supposed to tell my babies their daddy wasn’t coming back?

“Can she sit down?” my attorney asked sharply.

“Yes. Of course.”

They got me onto one of the benches along the hallway.

I bent forward with both hands over my face.

“Oh my God.”

My chest hurt.

I couldn’t breathe right.

My lawyer rubbed my back.

“Take your time.”