With that, he was gone, and the rest of us were left in silence. It was quiet for a while before Valentina grabbed Lucian and me.
“Come, let us get to it. I have a son to bury, and you a father to mourn.”
I glanced at the SUV, then squeezed Valentina's hand. “I'll be there in a bit; I have something to do first.”
Lucian nodded and motioned for his men to follow. He left without a word to me; he knew I needed time. I watched them go, but Valentina hung back.
“I'll catch up to you, Lucian," She motioned for him to go, " I want to talk to Reggie.”
Lucian shot her a smile and kept walking, leaving just the two of us. With peace returned, grief hit like a Mack truck. I fell to my knees, tears freely falling. Valentina joined me on the floor, pulling me into a hug.
“Feel it, then move on from it. Don't let it consume you.”
I let her comfort me and cried into her shoulder. She had been the first person to accept me when Don had taken me in. I loved her as if she had really been my grandmother. She was also the only one who had ever seen me break down before.
This was normal for us.
I didn't know how long we had been there, but I pulled away, getting off the ground. Using my bloody shirt, I wiped my face and cleared my throat.
“Thank you, Valentina.”
Her smile was always so warm.
“I need to go. Please let Lucian know I will see him in a few days.”
She grabbed my arm. “Wait.”
I stopped and turned back to her. She had walked off behind the SUV, grabbing something out of the back. I was confused when she handed me a book.
“What's this?” I asked, taking it from her.
Her hand was gentle when she placed it on my chest, just over my heart. “It's what will fill the void that's here, and take away the pain you're feeling.”
I turned the book over and noticed it was a Bible. She answered my unspoken question.
“I have them in all of the SUVs my son and grandson use. In case they ever decide to listen to the voice of peace, rather than the roar of war.”
I smirked, “Well, I don't know if Lucian will be any different than his father.”
A huge smile played across her face. “It will be peaceful for a time, a generation, I believe.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “A generation? You think Lucian's heir will start a war?”
She shook her head. “No, but his choices will.”
I embraced her when she pulled me into a hug one last time. Her smile was sweet when she went to walk away, but her comment was unsettling.
“The next time I see you, things will be very different, and it will be in the middle of a war, and we will learn that love will save us.”
I didn't have time to ask what she meant; she was already too far gone to call her back. I stood there, staring at this book, wondering how it would ever bring light into such a dark soul.