Until the End (Volkov Bratva #2)(9)

By the time she got to the cemetery, it was still dark out, a bank of fog making it hard to make out any of the gravestone, but Lauren knew the route like the back of her hand.

Two aisles down, four rows up, second to the left.

Her father didn’t have a headstone, rather a ledger stone, one that was set into the ground. Lauren knew what it said, had read the words plenty of times over the years, but every single time since she realized how final those words were, tears formed in her eyes. It never got easier, but while there was residual pain, there was still a level of comfort that being here brought.

Setting the flowers on the ground for the moment, she took the time to take out the older ones since they looked like they’d been there for a few weeks, and brushed away a few stray leaves. Placing her own arrangement into the pot, she fanned them out, twisting them in every direction until she was satisfied.

But no matter how long she tried to hold off, she knew she would have to face it.

The grass was slightly damp, wetting the knees of her jeans as she tucked her legs beneath her. Finally, when she couldn’t wait any longer, she read the words.





CAMERON ISAAC THOMPSON


JUNE 1, 1962 - NOVEMBER 15, 1997





LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER


Even still, the numbness she had grown accustomed to was cracking again, the fissure growing so large that it took everything within her not to breakdown.

The guilt was too much.

It felt wrong, being here, knowing that she had consorted with the very men that stole his life. Coming here hadn’t just been for sentimental reasons, but because she wanted a reminder why she should stay away from Mishca, what his life would lead her to, but no matter how hard she tried, she found an excuse.

The biggest one of all?

At the time of her father’s death, Mishca had only been nine years old, a child himself.

The only thing she knew for sure was that he knew her father had died, but he looked just as surprised that day she told Mikhail that she believed he hadn’t known—and there was no doubt Mikhail didn’t.

If she wanted to blame Mishca, why not blame herself? While he had been hundreds of miles away, she had been in the closet mere feet away. She could have done something, anything to stop Viktor and his men.

Susan’s words came back to her then.

It was no one’s fault but the person that took his life.

She wished she could believe that.

“I wish we’d had more time,” Lauren whispered touching the sides of the stone. “I don’t…I don’t blame you. I just want to know why. Why would you work for people like them?”

No matter how long she sat there, she knew she would never get an answer, but it felt good to ask the question anyway.

“I moved to New York,” she said suddenly. “I guess you know that, but I feel like I haven’t really moved forward. What would you say if you knew I’m still undeclared?”

She laughed, tracing the letters of his name. “I did pretty well with my volunteer work at the hospital.”

A sudden breeze blew, ruffling Lauren’s hair. It was only for a second, just enough to make her smile.

In that moment, she knew how to move forward.





August

A couple days later, Lauren was packing the last of her things in the car when she felt a sense of déjà vu. After all this time, it was getting ridiculous.

“If I promise to call whenever I make a stop, will you stop crying?” Lauren asked trying not to smile.

Susan and Ross were standing next to the car, the former sniffling as Ross kept a comforting hand around her shoulders. Lauren would think that Susan would be done crying at this point.

“Every hour,” Susan amended looking far too serious.

“Okay, let’s just stick to whenever she’s stopped,” Ross butted in, kissing Susan’s forehead.

Shutting the trunk, Lauren hugged Susan first, accepting the bawling and the kisses until she finally let go. Ross was next, his arms like bands around her.

“I’m sorry about what I said,” he whispered in her ear. “I just want you to be safe.”

She nodded against his chest. She knew he meant well, even if she wasn’t ready to hear it yet…just like he’d said

“Do you still have that gun I gave you?”

“Ross.”

He held his hands up innocently. “Just making sure you’re safe.”

Funny thing was, the gun was still tucked away in her desk.

Waving goodbye, she climbed into the car. As she started the engine, and the view of Susan and Ross faded in the rearview mirror as she pulled away, she had no idea what to expect when she got home, but she was ready for anything.





Several hours later, Lauren climbed out of her car, staring up at the familiar brownstone just outside of the city. Almost a year ago, she had relocated here to escape small town living, moving in with Amber who was more of a best friend rather than a roommate.

She couldn’t wait—

“You f*cking *!”

She swung around at the sound of Amber’s angry voice, spotting her barreling down the stairs towards her, but she wasn’t alone. Rob was hurrying behind her looking sheepish. For a moment, Lauren stood in dazed confusion, wondering why Amber would be upset with her, but she wasn’t the target of Amber’s rage.