I make my way into the house and lock the front door behind me. The house still smells like him and in every single room I look in to all I see is our memories.
I make way up the stairs and to his office door. Slowly I twist the handle and make my way in. The smell of his cologne fills the room once more and I wipe away a tear that rolls down down my cheek.
Reaching the drawer, I sit down in his seat and pull it open. Just like Lorenzo had stated, there is a letter sitting on top of everything in the draw with my name on it.
Aubrey,
Sweetheart if you're reading this then it means I am no longer here, and for that, I am so, so sorry. I hope you know how much I love you and our baby girl. Not being able to see her grow has been the hardest thing for me to try and come to terms with, along with the fact I'll never get to see your beautiful face again. As Alena grows I hope you will show her photos of me and remind her each day just how much I wanted her and that couldn't wait to meet her, that finding out about her was the happiest day of my life.
Sweetheart we've through so much together in a short amount of time but I love you Aubrey, with every single inch of my heart I love you and I'm so sorry that we didn't get the chance to grow old together.
Before I left I had the deeds to the house signed into your name, it's yours, yours and Alena's, all of the cars are signed over to you as well as the business's, everything I've ever had is yours and our daughters.
I know this isn't going to be easy for you, I've put myself in your place and if it was me losing you I would be a mess, I wouldn't know what to do. But I want you to be happy sweetheart, I want you to be strong, I want you to live your life and surround yourself with people who bring you joy, I don't want you to lose your light. I love you forever and always, I'm so sorry.
Love Easton
I read the letter aloud, tears streaming down my cheeks as I do. Everything is mine, he has left everything to me and Alena. But I don't want everything, I'd trade everything I have to have him back. To see him just one more time.
I look my eyes to the bottom of the page, a bunch of random letters are scribbled at the bottom, it doesn't make any sense to me, but maybe someone else will know.
J xjmm dpnf cbdl up zpv
I fold up the letter and place it back in the envelope, then stand up and make my way into our bedroom. I walk into our walk-in robe and strip off to my panties before pulling one of his shirts from the wardrobe then pull it over my body. Making my way over to the bed I lay down and snuggle into the sheets that smell just like him.
I pull his pillow into my arms and hug it tight as I cry "Please East, I need to know you're still with me, give me a sign, anything at all." I cry
But I get nothing.
I lay awake waiting for a sign for what seems like hours but nothing happens. Maybe it was just wishful thinking but I've read stories about people who have lost loved ones still feeling them around them, some people feel their loved one laying next to them or holding their hand, and even kissing him on the top of the head in some cases. But I don't, I feel nothing.
Shay's POV: (Back at the Ravens)
"I just don't know how she's going to get through this Lane, she's already been through so much."
"I don't know how any of us are going to get through this Sweetheart, but I understand your concern for Aubrey and our Granddaughter."
"How did this happen Lane? How did we lose him?" I begin to sob
"I let him down, I let you down, I let Aubrey down, the baby." Lane shakes his head, tears rolling down his cheeks "I'm so sorry."
"This isn't your fault, it's no one's fault but the Colombians and the Russians." I shake my head and pull him into my arms kissing the top of his head. "I was them gone Lane, I want them over with once and for all, end them."
"Easton made an agreement." Reid says as he makes his way into the kitchen. "His life for all of ours, they won't touch us again, and we're not to go after them."
"Fuck the agreement, my brother is dead." Amara snaps as she enters the room. "I'm with mum, I want them finished, every single one of them."
"We'll get to that Sweetheart, just give us a little time" Lane speaks once more.
"Does this mean you're back in charge?" I ask Lane
"I don't know, and I won't know until I read what was in his will and letter." He admits "But for now I will take charge again yes."
"Whatever you need us for, we're here you know that right?" I place my hands on either cheek
"I know sweetheart." He nods
"Should I go to Easton's and check on Aubrey? She's been gone a really long time." Amara says looking at the clock on the wall.
"Good idea, I'll come with you."
♠
We arrive at Easton's home five minutes later and using my key we enter the house. Everything is quiet and still, there is no TV playing, no music, nothing.
Slowly we make our way up the stairs and I notice the bedroom door open, I push it and find Aubrey in Easton's shirt snuggled up to his pillow, tears stained down her cheeks and her eyes closed, she's asleep.
I begin to pull the door closed once more, but she sits up quickly, her eyes to the door
"Easton." She calls
My heart breaks and I push the door back open. "No honey it's just me, I was just coming to check on you."
"Sorry, I just, I want him to come home so bad, but I know he never will." She begins to sob.
I make my way over and sit down on the bed pulling her into my arms. "Shhh, I know honey, I know." I cry softly with her as she sobs in my arms.
"What am I going to do without him?" She sobs "I need him Shay, I want him here with me."
I stroke her hair as her breathing becomes erratic "shh honey, take a breath."
She attempts to take in some deep breaths but struggles. I sit her up and hold her face in my hands "Aubrey deep breaths, breath in and out."
She takes some deep breaths and her breathing soon calms down close to normal "sweetie I know this is so hard for you as it is for all of us but we need to keep your little one stress-free." I place my hand on her stomach "she's only got a month before she's due."
"I know." She nods and takes a few more deep breaths
"Did you read the letter?"
"Yes." She nods and reaches for it handing it to me.
I take the letter in my hands and read it. He left both businesses to Aubrey and Alena once she's born, meaning Alena is set to be the first female to take over the Cobras, and for now Aubrey is in charge.
"Oh." I whisper and bite down on my bottom lip
"I don't want it." She tells me looking up at me "the Corba chair I mean, Lane can have it or Nate or whoever wants it."
"He picked you for a reason Aubrey, he must think you're able to handle it or he wouldn't have chosen you."
"I wouldn't know what to do, and I've only been training for a few months, how could I possibly tell people what to do when they've been doing this for years?"
"Easton choose you, and everyone will respect his decision," I assure and look back to the paper. "What's this?" I ask and point to a random bunch of letters on the page
"I don't know. I was hoping someone might know." She says sadly "it makes no sense to me at all."
"Do you mind if we take it home to Lane? He might have some idea."
"You can take it." She nods
"You're not coming home?"
"No." She shakes her head "this is my home and this is where I feel closest to Easton, everything smells like him, I want to stay here."
"I understand." I nod "I think it might be a good idea for someone to stay with you if you don't mind of course?"
"I suppose with my due date so close it's a good idea." She nods
Lorenzos POV: (Italy)
"Watching is only going to make it harder." I close down the laptop screen with my finger
"I feel horrible for her, for the entire family. How will they ever move past this?"
"I don't know, but we can't worry about that right now, we need to work out what we do next with the Cobras."