Page 80 of Betrayed in the Dark
They all stand strong and resilient in the face of death as the casket is carried from the back of a vehicle, making its way to its final resting place. My throat tightens with emotion at the sight of the black casket, knowing who resides inside.
A man I was lucky enough to look up to as a second father figure in my life while studying in the States, thousands of miles away from my actual family overseas. It was Leo who introduced me to his family, but it was Charles Alarie who welcomed me with open arms.
I approach the family as the priest begins to speak, positioning myself behind Madeleine. The brothers all nod in a polite greeting, their eyes telling me how lost they feel.
As the casket is lowered, Cecilia’s cries echo across the vast expanse of land. Vin wraps a supportive arm around her, and she clings to him like a lifeline while he appears unaffected by the events happening around us.
But as the new head of the Alarie family, it’s his job not to display fear or sadness in front of others, even as his father’s remains are being laid to rest.
Nearby, other women let out soft sobs and dab at their faces with tissues. However, when I glance down at Madeleine, who fixates coldly on her father’s casket, there’s no trace of a single tear. Her face appears uninterested. Cold. Unnerving.
Always wearing her mask for the world to see.
After the burial, everyone heads to Charles’s, or rather, Cecilia’s home. So many powerful yet unfamiliar faces who will try to get a glimpse into the Alarie world.
In the open living room, I find the brothers and step toward them, but I don’t see a girl walking before me, and I clumsily knock right into her. Quickly, I grab her by her arms to keep her standing upright. “Apologies. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you okay?”
The girl nods, appearing a little startled. I offer her a slight smile as I release her.
“Eli,” Leo calls from the other side of the room, gaining my attention.
I dip my chin to the girl and apologize again before moving around her to approach him.
“I’m so sorry, Leo,” I say, gripping his shoulder as he clasps mine in return. “I should have been here.”
He shakes his head. “You’ve been off saving the world.” One side of his lips slightly lift before altogether falling. “Besides, there’s nothing you could have done. It all happened so fast.” His eyes glaze over as he clears his throat, running his fingers through his hair.
“Thank you for coming, Eli,” Vin greets me, patting a strong hand on my back. “We appreciate your support during this time.”
Alex shakes hands with a couple nearby before turning to us. His hand rests on my shoulder. “How long did they allow you?”
“Two days,” I respond. “Took most of that time for traveling, so I’ll be heading back on a flight tomorrow morning.”
They look downcast at my words, and I wish there were a way I could stay longer, but when you’re in the military, your life is no longer in your own hands.
“How’s Mauro doing?” I ask, hoping for good news.
“Better,” Alex replies. “He’s out of the hospital and just resting now at his place. The doctors…” He squeezes the back of his neck before pushing up his glasses. “They don’t think he’ll be able to speak again.”
“Shit,” I breathe, feeling the weight of that news.
“Yeah.” Vin lets out a deep sigh. “It will be an adjustment, that’s for sure. But he’s alive, and that’s all we could ask for.”
Leo looks out the window beside us, appearing lost in his head.
“Where’s Scarlett?” I ask, scanning the room for her and her father, who is Charles’s right-hand man.
“She’s gone,” Leo answers matter-of-factly.
“Gone?”
Leo turns his gaze toward me, and the look in his eyes conveys more than words ever could.
He’s hurting. Not just from losing his father but from losing his heart as well.
“Her father didn’t want to risk her safety by staying here, so he took her away.” He tugs a finger on the collar of his shirt. “It’s for the best. She’ll be safer away from here.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Safer away from here? The Alarie Estate is the safest place in the whole goddamn world.”
