Page 9 of Fractured Empire

“She’s just grieving, Son,” he tells me with a sigh. “She’s mad that Cleo hid something like this from her, and she can’t take it out on her friend so⁠—”

“So I’m the next best thing,” I fill in, sighing and tipping my head back to groan.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be here,” Rayna says, her voice suddenly devoid of its previous pep. “If she talks to you some type of way I’ll drag her out of this house by her bottle-blonde hair.”

Dad winces, Apollo smirks, and I just chuckle.

“Thanks for the offer.”

She grins. “Anytime.”

Rayna and Melani haven’t made up since they got into a screaming match over Melani’s younger sister Sienna. Rayna and Sienna have been friends for years, despite having a small age gap between them. They existed as prisoners in the same territory. Rayna in an abusive marriage, and Sienna trapped by her parents who operated within the Casa Nostra just as Rayna’s husband did.

The girl was not only held captive in her childhood home but apparently abused for years, forced into plastic surgery by her mother while Melani sat happy and healthy in a loving marriage—seemingly forgetting about Sienna completely. It was a whole situation, and one that hasn’t really been resolved. Even since Elio and Nico liberated the now young woman from her family.

Even with all of the details that were spilled during that family dinner fight, no one really has the whole story. Well, apart from Emilio and Melani I imagine. My brother has been madly in love and obsessed with his wife since almost immediately after being arranged to marry her years and years ago. They have two beautiful children, and live a lavish life together in their own little area. If Melani didn’t have some kind of reason for leaving Sienna behind, I imagine the revealing of her circumstances would have caused more of a rift between her and my brother.

Whatever reasons she may have, she never shared them with Cleo. So, I guess both of them had their secrets. Though, one might argue that Cleo’s was bigger. As far as I know, Melani’s secrets haven’t concealed something as permanent as a terminal illness. Death is something that you can’t come back from, and I don’t know if Cleo will regret not confiding in her only friend. Can you even feel regret after you’re gone?

I doubt it.

A ding sounds and Apollo stands up to get the blueberry muffins out so that his wife doesn’t have to. She smiles at him gratefully and presses a little kiss to their son’s head. The little moment is quickly interrupted by the sound of tiny feet slapping against hardwood floors. Dad meets my eye with a slow nod and I take a deep breath before turning around to greet my boys—knowing full well that their lives are about to change forever.

“Aunt Rain-uhh!” Leo screeches in surprise, a giant smile taking over his sleepy face. “You’re here!” He picks up speed, rushing over to her in his blue striped pajamas. Bastian trails quietly behind him, rubbing his eyes and noting all the people in the kitchen. He doesn’t look confused, or as excited as his little brother.

“Hello, handsome boy,” Rayna says happily, crouching down to greet him with a warm hug. “I am here. And I brought some of your favorite people with me! Papa, baby Vaughn, and Uncle Apollo, isn’t that fun?”

“Yes,” Leo agrees enthusiastically. “Hi, baby. I hold him today?”

“Of course,” his aunt tells him with a chuckle. “In a little bit, okay? Did you sleep well, mister?”

While Rayna speaks to my youngest, Bastian climbs up to sit with Dad and me. Muttering tired greetings to the both of us. A big yawn seems to wake him up further and he rubs his eyes once more.

“Hi, Papa,” he says again, looking up at my dad. “Are you here for breakfast?”

“I’m here to see you,” Dad tells him, patting him on the shoulder. “Your father and I are going to talk to you boys today, is that all right?”

Bastian shrugs. “Okay. Is it about Mom?

He’s too damn smart. “Yeah, bud,” I answer. “It is.”

“Okay.”

“Why don’t we get you two some juice, hmm?” Rayna suggests. “And we can go sit in the living room while Uncle Apollo guards the last batch of muffins. Once we talk, they’ll have cooled down and we can eat breakfast together. Does that sound nice?”

“Love muffins,” Leo replies happily. “And juice.”

That settles it.

The boys get their juice, and Apollo takes Vaughn so Rayna can give my boys all of her attention for our talk. Leo loves the baby, but he’s also elated that he can sit in his aunt’s lap now that it’s free as we settle into the family room.

Everyone looks to me to start, and I know that I could pass this responsibility off to my father. He would take it in stride, and he wouldn’t mind stepping up. But I know it’s something that I need to do. Something I’ll regret not handling myself in the future if I do this wrong. I know what to say, and now I just need to say it.

“Boys, you know how Mama and Daddy have been talking to you about Mama being sick? That she wouldn’t be getting better?”

“Yes,” Bastian replies while Leo nods.

“Well, last night…Mama had to go. She was too sick, and she died. Do you remember when we talked about dying?”