PINK MIST 2 ½

CHAPTER TWENTY- EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY- EIGHT

The next morning, on every channel, on every newspaper... magazine... there was him. The news spread faster than light all over the world. His beautiful face was looking at me through every paper... every screen.

Lucian Colt decided to cover up what actually caused his son's death but at the same time, he covered up the fact that Dante died a hero... saving his brother and his family.

It took the strength of the whole world to pull from the back of my closet that stupid dress... the dress I wore to my mom's and brother's funeral. I couldn't throw it away that day, never wanting to forget them, but I wished that I would never have to use it again.

"Fuck..."

I slipped inside it, grumbling. The soft fabric felt like thorns that were slowly digging my flesh. I braided my hair and took a deep breath. I had to remain sane, calm... for him, for Nathan.

My heart dropped when my eyes lingered on Nathan into his black suit, with his elbows resting on his knees while he held his head inside his palms, preventing the sun from reaching his eyes.

"Hey..." I whispered as I sat next to him, resting my head on his shoulder, startling him.

"I'm sorry, angel. I'm a bit..."

"Hurt?" I replied.

"I felt like I was the one to take the fucking shot, Valeria. This void... I feel like half of me is missing right now."

"I can't," I chocked back a sob as Nathan pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head.

"You were right all along... and I was so blind, angel. So fucking blind."

"I can't see him inside a casket, Nate. I don't think my heart can take it..."

"Please, baby girl," he whispered, resting his hand on my tummy. "You have to remain calm, don't harm the babies. We need to tell them all about him to them, about their heroic uncle."

I nodded, unable to contradict him. Unable to tell him that no matter what, he wouldn't be able to play with his nieces... or nephews. He wouldn't be able to carry them on his shoulders like he was daydreaming all along.

We moved towards the living room, slower than ever. I placed a kiss on Angus's head, who looked at me as if he knew what was happening. My thoughts drifted to Jake for an instant, making me frown.

"What's wrong?" Nathan muttered as he wrapped me in an embrace.

"Besides... that?" I replied.

"Yeah, angel. You frowned while looking at Angus. It's not a thing you usually do."

"You know," I hesitated, before resuming. "Angus never liked Jake. He was always very aggressive when he was near..."

"I love that dog every day a bit more," Nathan sighed deeply before pecking my lips.

"I'm serious, Nate."

"So am I baby girl. You should always trust his instinct. Dogs are pure... they always see evil better than we do.

"I don't want to believe that Jake was evil... he saved us..."

"No," Nathan replied stiffly, "Dante did. He knew about all of this and didn't care enough to warn you."

"Maybe you're right... I don't know. It doesn't really matter anymore."

"Promise me you'll stay away from him, Valeria. Please."

"Trust me," I murmured, kissing him softly, "I don't want any reminder of what happened yesterday..."

"Fuck..." he replied.

"What?"

"It's our wedding anniversary."

"God!"

"We don't need a day to celebrate our bond, baby girl. We'll make it an every day thing," he smiled warmly as he kissed my lips.

"I love you," I whispered.

I took his hand in mine, placing a soft kiss on the top, as we moved to the elevator. On our way there to the cemetery, I turned my phone off, not wanting to hear anything else about him... nor see him in a state I would never see him again... beautiful, striving... full of life.

When we arrived at the cemetery, I couldn't take the image of his white coffin lowering into the fucking ground. I moved back from the crowd, trying to remain calm as I had promised my husband.

My dad, my brother... Emily and Adam... all came by my side when they saw me retreating. I hugged my father tightly, clenching my fists on his shirt as Nick hugged my back like a protective wing.

Lucian eyes were dark, foggy. He didn't lower his gaze, not even for an instant. For a moment, I thought that he was praying for his son. Their mother was inconsolable, unable to stop crying into Nathan's arms.

"I need to walk a bit," I whispered to my dad.

"Go, chickpea," he replied. "But stay near, I need to have an eye on you."

"Of course," I replied.

I moved deeper into the cemetery, unable to raise my eyes from the ground. The sun was shining bright, and birds were flying around us, almost as if they were rushing.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, raising my head to the sky, silently praying to wake up from this nightmare. I felt a cold, soft tuft land on my face. It was snowing again...

A tear started to trickle down my frozen face. I buried my hands into my hair and tried to suppress a scream that seemed to be stuck in my throat since that day until I heard my name, making me look around startled.

"Princess..."

"Dante?" I murmured, turning around frantically, knowing very well that this was impossible until...

I could swear that I was looking at him. I could see him casually leaning on a tree, while the sun was flickering through the thick patch of leafs. He was calm... gorgeous, in his crème colored suit and light blue tie.

I looked at him through misty eyes. He gave me his eternal grin, barely moving his fingers upwards to salute me. His beautiful eyes were gleaming... peacefully, happily.

I exhaled his name, watching his gorgeous smile, unable to form a sentence until his tall, muscular figure slowly faded into nothing, colliding with the depth of the little forest ahead of us.

I stood still, instantly turning into a pillar of salt when I felt a reassuring presence wrapping his arms around me as my legs finally gave in to the emotional exhaustion I was feeling.

"Hey, hey!" Nathan whispered, holding my body tightly. "It's over, baby girl. I'm taking you home."

"I saw him..."

"I thought you were in the back?" Nathan replied confused.

"No, Nate... I... saw- him."

Nathan frowned, looking at me confused until he finally caught up. His eyes widened in surprise as he took a deep breath, before looking at me kindly.

"If there was any person he would choose to say goodbye, angel, that would be you."

That day soon faded. I stored it in the back of my mind under the files I would never want to relive, together with my mom and brother. They say hard times don't last... Thank God, the months flew in a flash after that.