50. Chapter 50

Jade

We have the funeral a week later. It's intimate, with only our closest friends and family in attendance. The flowers are in bloom in the garden, tiny white petals spilling around everyone's feet. It was Apollo's idea to have the funeral at home, knowing Uncle Cesar wouldn't want it any other way.

My eldest brother has done a lot of the heavy lifting, taking a big weight off of our dad. Apollo is great at controlling his emotions, better than anyone else I know, but even he isn't immune to the all-consuming grief our family feels. I've seen his facade cracking more than once, and still, he keeps moving forward.

Emilio and Melani are here with both of their children. It was a horrible way to meet my sister-in-law for the first time, but I know I'm not alone when I say having her and her babies here has brought some light to this dark time. Valerio and Mila are absolutely precious and so well-behaved, bringing smiles with them wherever they go.

Similarly, Leon and Cleo's son Bastian is being a little ray of sunshine, sitting in my father's lap for the ceremony. I can tell that he's helping because even if it's hard for my father to smile, he can't help it when his grandson giggles.

Since the semester is over now, Colton is here, too, for Armani. The two of them sit stoically in the back row, wearing their tuxes while passing a flask between each other. Cassio is sitting with them, but he refuses the alcohol each time they offer.

None of us have started to truly cope yet, but I'm better off than most, having both Dmitri and Ivan keeping me afloat. Dmitri never fails to remind me that Uncle Cesar would hate to see me sad and that he'll be happier in Heaven if he can see that I'm doing okay down here without him.

I never gave much thought to what I believe in when it comes to religion or spirituality or whatever. But now, I have to believe. I need to know that Cesar is up there, keeping Isobel and Angel company. He'd want me to think that, so I will.

Elio is sitting with Martha, being the one who was able to coax her out of the house. She's been silently devastated just like the rest of us.

Anatoly is here, still recovering from his injuries with a broken shoulder in a sling over his tuxedo and a healing black eye bruising his face. He's sitting with his father, Dr. Petrov, who had made the trip to support his son. The two of them seem to have a quiet relationship. Hell, I didn't even put together that they shared a last name until he showed up with flowers in hand, looking for his son.

Dmitri's father made the trip out to be here with us too, as a sign of respect, but he can't stay long. Leaving Anya with only her guards makes him immensely uncomfortable and we all understand. He does make sure to meet me properly, welcoming me into his family with open arms. He even calls me his Nevestka, Russian for daughter-in-law.

He leaves with the first wave of guests, leaving mostly family behind as we start the burial service. I cry, of course, but I'm able to keep myself from sobbing uncontrollably as Matteo holds my hand. A few tears leak from his eyes as well, but he doesn't let them stay long, wiping them away with the back of his shirt sleeves.

Uncle Cesar has a plot right next to Isobel and Angel's shared grave. I didn't even know it existed on the property, but it does. Their headstones are matching. While Isobel's says Loving Mother and Son, Uncle Cesar's reads Brother, Uncle, Friend.

After the casket is lowered, flowers are thrown, and the dirt is all settled into place, Dmitri kisses my head, taking me from Matteo.

"Nico and I have something for you, baby. Can you stay strong for me?"

Not knowing what he could mean, I agree automatically. "Always."

Just then, Nico walks toward us. He'd been skipping the funeral to watch from the roof, or at least I thought he had. But he's currently directing a bunch of guards, carrying what looks like another coffin.

Relief and tragedy strike me all at once. "You found them, didn't you?"

"We did," he confirms, squeezing my arms. Nico must have tortured the original burial location out of Karina. His abilities have never really scared me, but now I have a reason to be grateful for them. "They're at peace now, Jade. I think we should bury them with the rest of your family, don't you?"

My lips wobble, but I nod rapidly. "Yes."

"Does my dad know?"

Dmitri dips his head sadly. "When we dug them up, we couldn't deny him the right to see them. But Jade, trust me when I tell you, don't ask me to look in the casket, okay? They're bones, baby, it's been too many years. You'll never unsee it if you look."

"I trust you," I rasp, resting my head on his chest.

He lets out a relieved breath and holds me tighter.

We watch on as the guards work like machines, digging up space for my mother and my twin. I don't know if someone asks him to help or if he volunteers, but Colton pulls off his hat and jacket, grabbing a shovel to help shape the rectangular plot.

Nico comes over, pressing the first kiss he's ever given me to the side of my face. "Do you want to say anything?"

"I can't," I admit. If I say anything, I'll break down.

"That's okay," he replies immediately. "Talk to them whenever you're ready. They'll be here. Cassio visits with Isobel and Angel all the time."

I nod, sniffing back the emotion clogging my throat. "Thank you?—"

"Don't," he says automatically. "Don't thank me for this."

I thank him silently anyway. I'm never not going to be grateful for Nico.

"If you ever need," he hesitates, "a twin to talk to, you know you can come to me?"

I can't even reply, choosing to squeeze the hell out of him instead. He wraps his arms around me, too, not even flinching when Matteo embraces both of us, getting in on the action.

Once the casket is good and buried, I watch as a custom headstone is lowered into place. A shaky gasp leaves my lips when I notice… they gave him a name. The beautiful marble stone reads Kimberly and Sage Moretti. Mother. Son and Brother.

"Did Dad pick that?" I ask, voice shaking.

"He did," Nico confirms.

He named him after a shade of green too. Not an Italian name like the rest of my brothers have. But something that matches mine. Either he truly meant that Kimberly didn't hate the color, or he's going to great lengths to help me love my name in spite of the turmoil surrounding it.

I have to go see, and I do, pushing past the crowd of family to find him with Mila in his arms, watching numbly as the dust begins to settle. She's wearing the sweetest little baby dress, white instead of black.

"I love you so much," I murmur, tucking myself into his side.

"I love you too, sweetheart," he returns, his voice breaking.

My little niece doesn't pick up on the somber mood, reaching out to grab some of my hair and pulling it to her mouth to chew on.

"Ja, Ja, Ja," she chants, unable to say my name just yet.

"Smart girl," I coo, using a finger to tickle her cheek.

Despite all of the sadness and the deep bit of longing for our family who has passed, that little girl's responding giggle is enough to make both Dad and me smile.

We're going to be okay, and it's going to be the next generation of kids who get us through this. Even when the present is gloomy and dull, there's the light of the future to look forward to.

Soon enough, I'll have my own babies to hold on to. To make the bad days good, and the best days even better. And everything I have, I owe to this family. The Morettis and the Morozovs. The best people in the whole wide world.