Page 124 of Vendetta Crown

The girls turn to look at me. Stella's face is swollen from crying and Sofia's eyes are rimmed with red. Mikayla's expression is the hardest to bear. She looks too much like her mother in this moment.

"Politics," I mutter, low enough that only Aurora can hear. "Even now."

Aurora's eyes slide past me to where the pakhans are still huddled in conference. "I saw."

I take Stella's small hand in mine and she squeezes my fingers with surprising strength. "They wanted me to declare myself pakhan of pakhans. Here. Now."

Aurora's eyes widen slightly. "That's..."

"Disgusting, I know," I finish for her. "Instead, I'm having them pass a vote to declare war on the Triads. It'll keep them busy while I take care of what matters." I glance at the girls, and speak just a little bit louder. "And that's all of you.

I kneel down, bringing myself to Stella and Sofia's level. Their small faces crumple at the gesture, and suddenly they're rushing into my arms with such force I nearly topple backward.

"Uncle Ruslan," Sofia wails, burying her face against my shoulder. "Why did Mama have to go too?"

Stella's voice breaks through her sobs. "Is she with Papa and Mikhail now? Like the angels?"

Their questions pierce me. Simple words carrying the weight of grief too heavy for such small shoulders.

I hold them tighter, feeling their tears soak through my suit jacket. What can I possibly say that would make sense of this? That their mother died at the hands of a psychopath working with their grand-uncle? That the bratva life their parents chose has claimed yet another victim?

"Yes,dorogaya," I murmur into Stella's hair. "Your mama is with your papa and brother now."

"But why couldn't she stay with us? Didn't she want to?"

My throat tightens. "She wanted to stay with you more than anything in the world."

"Then why did she leave?" Stella hiccups, pulling back to search my face for answers I don't have. "It's not fair!"

I stroke her tear-streaked cheek. "Sometimes people have to leave even when they don't want to."

Over their heads, I see Mikayla standing apart, spine rigid, eyes fighting to stay dry when every muscle in her body tells me that she wants nothing more than to break down and cry.

"Mikayla," I call softly. "You don't have to be strong right now. Not for me. Not for anyone."

She shakes her head slightly, her lips pressed together in a thin line. But I see the tremor in her chin, the barely contained storm in her eyes.

"It's okay to hurt," I tell her.

To my surprise, I feel moisture gathering in my own eyes. These girls have lost everything. Their father, their brother, and now their mother.

Aurora kneels beside me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Sofia immediately reaches for her, collapsing into her embrace with a fresh wave of sobs.

Aurora wraps her arms around the little girl, rocking her gently, whispering soft words only the two of them can hear.

Together, we stay like this for another few moments, before my mother taps me gently on my shoulder.

"It's time to go," she says.

"I don't want to go." Sofia shakes her head. "What if mama wakes up and we're not here?"

Her innocent question shatters me, but it's Aurora who speaks before I can.

"Sofia, we have to go now," she says gently. "But your mama will always be right here." She presses her hand gently to Sofia's heart. "That's where she'll always be."

Sofia's eyes well with fresh tears. "Do you promise?"

"I do, sweetie."

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