33. Lexi
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
LEXI
Death in the air as the wind gusts around me, I wrap my arms around myself, inhaling slowly, pushing the chill away from my chest. Valentin is gone, and that casket, with him inside, is the final reminder that he’s not coming back.
The only person I’ve ever laid to rest was my mom. Elise didn’t even bother to come home. She remained in New York while I scattered our mother’s ashes into the sea all alone. I thought I felt lonely then, but that pain pales in comparison to the deep emptiness I feel in my heart right now.
The grave site is quite a spectacle.
Beside Valentin’s son stands Andrei Savin, struggling to hold back his tears just like Daniel. The Savin brothers, each accompanied by their wives, stand united in the front row.
The seat beside Elise remains painfully empty as I hide behind a tree stump.
Hundreds of people have gathered here for Valentin.
He was an important figure in the city, as evidenced by the mayor standing right behind Andrei and a senator positioned behind Dmitri. I knew he held significance due to his role as the Brigadier, but I could not have imagined just how much until today.
Anguished cries cut through the deepest chambers of my heart. The men bow their heads, clearly trying to hold back their tears too, as they share in the sorrow.
“May the Lord open His arms to you at the gates of heaven, and may you find everlasting peace.” The priest finishes his heartfelt prayer, gently scattering soil from his hands over the casket as it lowers into the earth.
The Savins have insisted that the casket stay closed and be buried underground during the funeral, ensuring he rests in peace, shielded from any disturbances by the police or their adversaries.
So, as the casket now sinks deeper and gradually disappears into the earth, it feels like a weight is pressing down on my chest, making it harder to breathe.
“I love you, Krasotka,” were his final words to me. Krasotka, his special name for me, will remain in my heart forever, even though I’ll never hear him speak them again.
With a handful of dirt, Andrei brings the funeral to a close, casting it into the grave. There Valentin lies, resting six feet beneath the earth.
I lean my forehead against the rough tree trunk, struggling to catch my breath and cling to life. He saved me from the fate I deserved.
Now, it’s haunting to think that I should be the one Elise is saying goodbye to today.
I lift my gaze and freeze. Dark black eyes meet mine—cold, calculating. I’m staring at the new Brigadier Volkov—Daniel Volkov.
My breath catches, and my heart races as he approaches me.
I blink rapidly, fighting back tears that threaten to fall.
Daniel stands before me, and his presence alone makes me uneasy. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything,” he says, wrapping me in a hug. My arms hang limply at my sides, too shocked to respond, his voice whispering in my ear. “He’s always with us.”
What does that even mean?
I shake my head, unsure if I have heard him correctly, but it’s too late. He turns and walks away, his daughter cradled in his arms.
The sounds of shuffling feet begin to fade, and when I finally look up, the grave site is empty.
A heavy weight pulls me toward the casket, where the men are already beginning to cover it with dirt.
The world sways beneath me. I collapse to my knees, the ground barely felt as the heavy weight in my chest overwhelms me.
I struggle to breathe, each inhale sharp and jagged, my ribs constricting as if the very air has been knocked from my lungs.
“I love you,” I whisper into the silence, hoping somehow, he can sense my words. “I love you,” I say again, just in case he missed it the first time.
I feel an arm wrap around me, the familiar scent of her expensive perfume surrounding me.
“I’m so sorry, Lexi,” Ivy says, pressing her cheeks to mine as she stands protectively behind me, holding me close.
At my side, a pair of elegant black high heels and a stunning black dress catch my eye. Elise takes my hands in hers. “He loved you, Alexis.”
I can’t seem to say anything. There’s nothing to say.
I have lost the man I love. I wanted more time with him, needed more time with him.
Before me stands a man in a suit, but my head feels too heavy to lift, and my eyes are glued to the spot where Valentin rests.
The man kneels, and I recognize Andrei Savin before me.
His eyes dart to Elise, revealing his unease.
Elise tightens her grip around my fingers in a silent show of support. “Valentin wanted me to give this to you,” he says, drawing an envelope from his pocket and placing it in my hand.
As I meet his gaze, I sense a weight in his eyes, a struggle to stay composed.
Valentin cherished him like a son, and I can only fathom that Andrei reciprocated that affection as if Valentin were his father.
Elise grips my hand tightly. “Come on, let’s go home.”
I look up at my sister, pulling my hand from hers.
“I am going home. I’m heading back to Seattle.”
At this moment, I feel completely shattered, as if every part of me has been torn apart. I need to rebuild the pieces of my heart that have just been buried with Valentin.
She kisses me on the cheek, leaving me.
The graveyard is still and silent now, with only the men lingering near Valentin’s car—my car.
I glance at the envelope, a moment of anticipation coursing through me as my heart races. With a deep breath, I open it and begin to read my letter.
Krasotka,
I will be waiting for you, wearing my Speedos and holding a Mai Tai.
You are my everything.
You belong to me.
Please keep my words close to your heart until we meet again, and I can whisper them into your ear.
I love you!
Eternally yours,
Daddy Brigadier.
With a trembling breath, I unleash a gut-wrenching wail, a cry coming from the most profound anguish of my soul.
I gaze at the dark clouds hanging over the cemetery, the inviting aroma of rain filling the air. I close my eyes, embracing the soothing scent of rain as it begins to patter down.
As night falls, the graveyard takes on an eerie silence, a stark reminder of the inevitable presence of death surrounding me.
“Krasotka,” I hear, a whisper weaving through the rhythmic patter of the falling raindrops.
I quickly turn my head and rise from the ground, sensing that I’m not alone.
Someone is watching me. I narrow my eyes in the darkness, almost convinced I can make out a figure hiding behind a tree.
“Hello,” I call out into the stillness of the night.
Silence echoes back. Maybe it’s just my imagination.
But really, who would choose to linger in a graveyard after dark?
I move toward the car waiting for me, where Lev stands casually against it. As I walk closer, my gaze drifts through the graveyard, and an unsettling feeling clings to me. I can’t shake the feeling that Valentin is still here, lingering right by my side.
“Did you see anyone?” I ask Lev, my new protector and head of my security team.
He stands tall, his gaze locked on the gravestones. “No, Lexi.”
I feel my shoulders sag as the rain eases, my clothes clinging uncomfortably. “I could have sworn I saw someone,” I murmur, doubt creeping in.
“It’s been a long day. Let’s get you home,” Lev encourages, holding the door open for me.
I silently nod and step inside.
As we drive away from the curb, I glance out the window, but all I can see is the impenetrable darkness, a shroud of blackness surrounding me.
I grip the envelope tightly, feeling as though Valentin’s letter is my only lifeline to him. That’s when I notice something else tucked inside. I pull it out and discover another sheet of paper. As I unfold it, a sleek black keycard slips out, landing in my palm.
I hold it up, confusion swirling in my mind. “What the hell?” I whisper to myself.
Scanning the paper, I find a bank account number typed, and next to it, an astonishing balance: $1 billion.
“Valentin!” I whisper.
I sink into my seat, tracing his initial on my throat with my wet fingers.
With my eyes closed, I let the tears flow freely.