Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Paolo gripped him hard. His bottom lip quivered. “Daddy, can we go now?”
“No. . .” Tears streaked Pavel’s cheeks. “We cannot, but. . . Remember that no matter what happens, I will always be with you in spirit, in your heart. . . You are never going to be alone. I won’t let it happen. I’ll. . .I’ll turn away from the gates of heaven and run back to earth, just to watch you. . .grow. . .You will never be alone.”
“No alone, daddy.”
“No alone.” Pavel kissed Paolo’s cheeks. “Don’t. . .forget me. . .please. . .”
Crying, Paolo mumbled, “Where is mommy?”
“Mommy is. . .sleeping. . .”
“Where?”
Pavel shook. “Remember us. . .”
By then, I directed my view to Emily.
I doubted my mouse could understand their words, yet she trembled in sadness.
I frowned. “Mysh, take the boy.”
She trembled again. “M-maybe, we could let them—”
“Take him.” I looked back at Pavel, ready to kill him, ready to finally end the inevitable.
Back in the hallway, this cloud of turmoil hovered over me.
Pavel had been the first kill of mine to hurt me—to truly break my heart, mind, and soul.
What had my mother thought when she watched me do it? Knowing that she had spent a large part of our childhood protecting us both from harm.
Guilt rose within me.
In heaven, did she fist her hands and fall to her knees when she saw me raising the gun and pressing the tip against Pavel’s chin?
Was she mad when I pulled the trigger?
Did she scream in agony when the bullet hit him?
“After your mother died, you went insane,” Pavel had whispered that day. “You had to go.”
I clenched my fists at the memory.
It was true. After my mother passed, I felt like I had lost everything. I delved into the darkness and found solace in the Brotherhood.
Killing became my only purpose.
And then. . .the Lion met the Mouse.
I closed my eyes, lifted my chin, and leaned my head against the wall.
And then, Emilio came.
I not only wanted to be a better man for Emily, but I yearned be a good father to my son.
It wasn’t just about me anymore. I had to make amends for my past actions, and that meant telling Paolo the truth about his father and mother as much as he could handle for now.
But, how much?
Movement sounded.
I opened my eyes.
Emily walked into the hallway. “I called Emilio’s guards. They’re on the way.”
I turned to her.
She studied me. “Kaz. . .I can do this by myself. It will be difficult and—”
“You cannot do this by yourself.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was the one who killed Pavel.”
“You killed him for Valentina and me, so. . .”
“Mysh.” I shook my head. “I will not let you do this alone.”
Her bottom lip quivered. “Then, we do it together.”
I swallowed down sadness.
“I. . .umm. . .” Emily ran her fingers through her hair. “I did some research on how to do this.”
“What did you find?”
“We should use simple and clear language to explain that his parents have passed away.”
“In what way?”
“Basically. . .we shouldn’t say stuff like gone to sleep or gone away. It could confuse him.”
“I understand.”
“We also should emphasize that his parents loved him very much and that they will always be a part of his life, even though they are no longer physically present.”
“Anything else?”
“We are supposed to reassure him that he will not be alone.” Stepping closer to me, she took my hand and squeezed it. “Do you think Pavel or Rosetta was religious?”
“Pavel prayed and went to church from time to time.”
“That could help. Hopefully, Pavel explained heaven to him.” She sighed. “Also. . .if you are going to do this with me. . .perhaps you can tell him in Italian, since that is his first language.”
I thought back to Paolo talking to him in Italian and shivered. “I agree.”
Emily gazed at the nursery’s doorway. “Kaz?”
“Yes, mysh.”
“Did you recognize the photo album in the chest?”
I slowly nodded. “After my mother killed Pavel’s father for severely hurting him. . .she spent her last bit of rubles to get a nice album.”
“Those were her written notes inside the pages?”
“You looked inside?”
“I did.”
“Yes.” I shivered. “Those were her notes.”
“Baba said. . .Paolo will look at that album and the other things in the chest for his birthday every year.”
I gritted my teeth.
Mama, does that make you happy that he will cherish your album just as much as Pavel did?
Chapter 30
A Circle of Love
Kazimir
Footsteps sounded to the left.
I looked that way.
Five of Emilio’s guards marched toward us, all dressed in their nicest suits.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself off the wall.
Once they got in position in front of the nursery, I quietly headed into the nursery.
Emily whispered, “Kaz?”
I went to the wooden chest, picked it up, and carried it away.
Once I entered the hallway, Emily got to my side, and we walked down the hallway.