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“I’ll do that.”
I end the call and let out an aggravated huff. This is why I love my world. If you give a fucking order, people take it seriously because they know they’ll die if they don’t.
Fucking red tape pisses me off.
Getting up, I stalk out of the office and almost bump into Philippe. He bounces back, takes one look at my face, then whispers, “Mon Dieu.”
There’s fear in his eyes as he says, “Camille’s awake…sir…I thought I should inform you.”
Giving the man a nod, I step around him and head to her bedroom. When I enter the room, she’s sitting on the bed with her back against the headboard and her arms wrapped around her shins. She’s staring off into space until I sit down. Her eyes drift to me, then her chin starts to tremble.
I open my arms wide. “Come here, baby.”
Cami moves sluggishly as she crawls onto my lap, and I cradle her against my body.
“I had a nightmare, then I woke up and realized it was real,” she whispers.
My arms tighten around her. “I’m sorry,moya lyubov'.” It’s the first time I’ve spoken in Russian to her. I don’t think she’s ready to hear that I love her, and I don’t want to put pressure on her while she’s in this state.
But after she’s had some time to mourn her father, we will talk about us. I’ll tell her how much I love her, and we’ll build a life together.
Chapter 30
Cami
God, my heart can’t take much more.
Standing up front in the Church of Saint-Sulpice, that’s filled with people, I swallow hard on my grief as I unfold the eulogy I’ve written for Papa.
For a moment, my eyes land on Max, and I draw strength from him.
Don’t speak to everyone. Just focus on Max.
“My father was a kind and generous man. He wanted a better future for France.” A wave of heartache hits and I take a moment and try to breathe through it, but it grips my chest so tight it feels like I’m going to pass out. “I miss him.” My chin starts to tremble, and I have to force the words out, “So much.”
The silence is loud in the church until someone coughs.
The silence has been loud since my father died.
I’m unable to get out another word and give Max a pleading look. He stands up, and coming to me, he wraps his arm around me. He takes the paper that my eulogy is written on and continues to read on my behalf.
As soon as he’s finished, he leads me to the back of the church. The moment we step outside, the guards from St. Monarch’s surround us.
I hear questions being shouted by members of the press but ignore them. Max removes his jacket and holds it over my head to shield me from the cameras.
I can’t cry anymore, and only manage a dry sob.
When we make it to the safety of the SUV, I’m bundled into the backseat.
“Montparnasse cemetery,” Max gives the order to Danil.
Not once does he let go of me. I know I depend on him too much, but I just don’t have the will to make decisions for myself.
Danil parks quite a distance from where my father will be laid to rest.
“Are we walking all the way?” I ask Max.
“No. We’re just waiting for the other guards to check the grounds again. I need to make sure it’s safe for you.”
