Page 93 of Daddy Brigadier

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, tooshocked 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.