𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧

/53./

CARTER

Pain. Sorrow. Lost. Angry.

I didn't feel any of it. My father was gone and despite losing a man who didn't give shit about his family unless it benefited him, I was relieved.

Silently watching as my men carry out the lifeless body that belonged to my father, I barely registered the fact that Tiana was nearby. Despite telling her to go with Troy, who arrived an hour after everything came to an end, she refused.

My girl didn't speak a word unless it was to our sleeping daughter. The hold Tiana had on her was a clear sign that she was not letting Cariana go for a second.

I didn't blame her and the wave of guilt that consumed me even though everything came to an end, I knew I needed to do better at protecting my family.

This was never going to happen again.

I was going to reevaluate my options and the safest places where I can live my life besides my family while continue doing what I do as a Boss.

"Camille is doing okay from what Ace-" I turned to Troy and glared, my eyes narrowing into slits.

"You left my sister with him?" My voice raised.

Troy frowns and pushes away from me. I didn't know I grabbed him up by his shirt until now. Troy's eyes narrowed back at me, a muscle ticking. "Look, man." he looks behind me to Tiana who was focused on no one but our baby girl. "I did you a favor but I'm worried about my own sister right now."

"She will be okay," Tiana spoke up causing Troy and I to look at her. "Camille will be okay. Ace loves her-"

"Doubtful. He's only protecting himself now because he got caught working with Cartron. Camille wouldn't fall for his shit." I grit while trying my best to calm down.

This was neither the time nor the place. I had to get Cariana and Tiana somewhere warm for them to sleep peacefully.

"Rick will be there," Troy mutters.

I sighed. Shaking away that bitter feeling. I wanted to beat the shit out of Ace. I knew from the start that Camille was way too good for him and she was tangling herself up with someone she shouldn't have in the first place.

But I had most of the blame.

I should have never listened to my fcking father and brought the fuckhead back with me after Tiana was kidnapped by her own family.

Fuck.

I walk over to Tiana, tired and worn out, and gesture to her to me. Slowly but surely she stood to her feet and made her way to me. Leaning forward, I kissed her forehead and placed my arm around her, bringing her impossibly close to my body.

"I'm tired," she says while holding Cariana in a different position on her chest.

"Me too, baby. Me too." I murmured, pulling her towards the exit of this bombshell of a hideout and to the awaiting cars with Troy following behind us.

----

After checking into a hotel in the best suite on short notice, I looked beyond Paris. The dark sky causes the lights to illuminate the surroundings. The little splashes of water and a light laugh came from the bathroom.

Walking away from the window, I neared the bathroom to hear the soft laughter of my baby girl ringing. Pushing lightly on the cracked door, I peaked my head inside to see Tiana in the tub full of soapy water and kissing all over Cariana.

Unintentionally making my presence known, Tiana lifts her head and meets my gaze. A soft look takes over her features and the look she gives me goes straight to my dark heart.

I didn't deserve this woman.

After all the shit I've put her through, why is she still here with me. At first, I didn't give her much of a choice and damn her soft heart. I wished I could go back and do things differently and my father should have never been an excuse as to why I acted the way I did.

Once there was a time when I wanted a father's love. For him to be proud of me instead of using me to gain him more power in this dangerous life. I hated the way I grew up. The way my sister grew up and I vowed the day Cariana was born that she was never going to experience that.

My beautiful girl was going to find her own happiness one day and I will not interfere. Unless need be.

I am an overprotective father now.

"Carter?" The concern in Tiana's voice gnaws at me. So much so that I walk into the bathroom and crouch down on the side of the tub.

Tiana shifts Cariana on her thighs and she clamps with her little hands. Without a second thought, I reached out and caressed Cariana's small cheek. Her eyes --my eyes-- stare at me with so much light. The smile she gives me makes me mirror hers. She makes a small noise, one of glee, and splashes at the water again.

My head lifts to Tiana whose watching me closely with tearful eyes. Unexpectedly, she lifts a wet hand towards me and uses her thumb to wipe at my cheek. "I have never seen you cry," she whispers.

I didn't know I could.

Exhaling, I lean back against the wall beside her and stare straight ahead of me. "I almost lost Cariana. Almost lost you." I murmured.

"Carter-"

"I'm fucking everything up and I've been so blind, looking for my father nonstop that I didn't realize that he was so close."

I lost a few good men, Curt being one of them and I almost lost my sister. So much has happened.

"But it's all over now." Tiana breathes, turning slightly in the tub, her hold on Cariana firm.

I look back at her with a firm stare. "Is it really though?"

Her lips parted to speak but she doesn't say anything for a while. There was still so much to do to ensure that there weren't more threats to my family. I leaned back over, capturing her lips in a small kiss. "Don't stay in here too long. You both need to sleep."

With that, I stand to my feet and walk out of the bathroom and leave her to finish her bath. Stripping out of my old clothes, I changed into something else for the time being. Just then, my phone began to ring and I quickly grab it in hopes that it was Camille.

"Cam? How are you feeling? Do you want me to come to get you?"

"Actually, sir. This is Curt." The familiar voice that belonged to one of my trusted guards speaks through the line.

"Curt?"

"Yes, sir. We need to talk." He says, his tone firm. "And I believe you're going to want to hear this."