Page 125 of Broken Empire

She’snow being seen as my caretaker, so people will follow her.Ican’t do much about it, seeing as she’s older andI’mnot the head yet.Theyprobably think she has my best interests at heart, butIknow she doesn’t.Ifshe could pull the wool over my father’s eyes for so long,Iknow she’ll be able to do that with everyone else as well.

Forthe time being,Ican’t trust anyone besides myself.Itdidn’t take them long to switch sides and start following her orders.Ilet out a quiet sigh, knowing the worst is yet to come.Ijust hope that whatever it is, it doesn’t break me.

Peoplepass by us one after the other, saying how sorry they are for our loss, yada, yada, yada…Ihate this part becauseI’drather be anywhere but here at the moment.

Butthen that would be a disservice to my father, andIwould never want to disrespect him.Afterall,Iloved him dearly and nowIhave no one, and no, stepmother dearest doesn’t count.Ihave a feeling she’d much ratherIwas out of the picture.

Thiswas never howIenvisioned my life going, thoughIknew from a young age it would never be an easy one.

“Let’sgo,” is all she says to me as the last person leaves the church.That’sthe only words she’s said to me the entire day.Ohwell, there’s no love lost between us.

Wewalk out of the church and down the steps toward the two limos parked in the front.Thedrivers open both doors andIslip into mine while she slips into hers and then we’re off.I’mactually gladIdon’t have to ride with her, because it gives me a moment to get my thoughts together before we get to the cemetery.Smallblessings,Iguess.That’sallIcan hope for right now.

Ijust stare out the window the whole ride there and thirty minutes later we pull up to the cemetery.

Assoon asIstep out of the car, the skies open, and the rain starts pouring.IfIwas a superstitious person,I’dbe inclined to believe that was an omen for bad things to come.

Ilift my head up and let the rainwater wash over my face for a few moments before walking toward where the casket is laid over the open grave, waiting to go in.

Thepriest starts the last prayer and for the millionth time for today;Iget lost in my head.Thememory of the last nightIspoke to my father resurfaces in my head.

“Tellme a story,”Isay asIlay on the bed next to my father.He’sbeen sick for a few weeks now and he’s been getting worse as the days go by.Iknow he’s just trying to stay strong for me.

“Whichone?Yourfavorite?” he asks.

“Yeah, the one about you andMom,”Isay.I’vealways loved listening to their story and how crazy he was about her from the moment he laid eyes on her.Ihate the factIdidn’t get the chance to get to know her, butIknew about her and that has to be enough.

“Onceupon a time, the king of theRomanovempire went to a party theRothswere throwing.Itwas a boring fucking party, but as soon as he sawSophiaRoth, he knew she was his,” he says.

“Didshe know she was his?”Iask, giggling becauseIknow how this story goes.

“Nah, she resisted at first, so naturallyIhad to steal her away,” he says with a straight face. “Butit didn’t take her long to realize that she was meant for me just asIwas meant for her.Lessthan a year later, she was pregnant and when she finally gave birth to our baby girl, it was the second-best day of my life.Ourbaby girl was the most precious and beautiful thing that ever graced the face of this earth,” he says.

Ilook at him with a smile on my face. “I’mglad you two had an epic love story.Ijust wishIhad gotten to know her.”

“You’llalways have a part of her in you.Knowthat she was brave and fierce, just like you are.Shegave as good as she got and wasn’t afraid to put me in my place whenIannoyed her,” he says with a fond smile on his face.

Hethen pulls me into him and gives me a kiss on the forehead before looking at me with a serious expression on his face.

“I’mnot sure how longIhave to live,” he says.Iopen my mouth to cut him off, but he silences me. “Shhh, sweetheart.Iknow this isn’t what you want to hear, butIneed you to be prepared in case something happens to me.Knowthat no matter what happens to you in life, you’re aRomanovand they always survive, no matter what life throws at them.”

Tearsform in my eyes.Ican’t fathom a world without him in it.Heleans over and wipes away the tears from my eyes before giving me another kiss on the forehead.I’llnever admit it, butIlove it when he does that.Italways makes me feel safe inside.

“Ifanything happens to me, know as soon as you turn twenty-one, theRomanovempire belongs to you, no matter who’s running it at the time.I’veadded some clauses that no one knows about and they’re to keep you safe.Youalready know how our family tradition works,” he says, andInod.

“Whatdo you mean, though?Isthere somethingIshould know about?”Iask.

“Yourstepmother… something’s not right.Anyway, listen,I’lltake care of that.Don’tyou worry about it,” he says.

“Areyou sure you’re okay,Dad?Ican help you if you need me to,”Itell him.

“Yes,I’msure.Justpromise me that if you ever need to run, you’ll get in contact with my lawyer inLondon.Onlyyou and one other person know about him, and you need to keep it that way.Ifyou ever need to go to him, he’ll know what to do.”

“WhywouldIneed to run?”Iask, confused.He’snot making any sense right now.

“Somethingisn’t right, baby girl, andIneed to get to the bottom of it.Ican’t say much right now, but just know that if you do have to leave for any reason, come back once you turn twenty-one to claim your empire and kill anyone who stands in your way.Babygirl, this empire was always meant to be yours.”

WhenIcame out of the memory of my father telling me that story for the last time,Ilooked back over to his casket and told him exactly howIwas feeling, even thoughIknewIwas lying.

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