Caius POV:

The Romanov mansion was eerily quiet as I walked through its grand hallways, my footsteps echoing off marble floors. It felt colder than usual, as if the walls themselves knew what was about to happen. It was after 1 midnight so I knew he would be in his room but, just in case I decided to check his study , I didn't want any surprises.

As luck would have it, I  found him in his study, sitting behind the massive oak desk, speaking on his phone , his tone cold and calculated . His eyes shifted to me as I entered and he smiled but, it didn't reach his eyes even as he ended the call telling the person on the line that he would call them back but, he wouldn’t.  I was going to make sure of that . There would be no witnesses and the guards wouldn't speak either because their duty was to only report to me , their boss and the new heir to the Romanov empire.

“You’re back sooner than expected. Is she dead?” His voice was cold, indifferent. So the fucking pussyhole have eh audacity fi deveen act surprise .

My jaw clenched.

"No. She’s alive. And she’ll stay that way unlike the bitch you sent to kill her".

Ivan turned then, his eyes narrowing. "You’re soft, Caius. Just like your mother. She was always weak , couldn't understand why I do the things I do and then she left and I had to took care of her , you know family confidentiality and all . Couldn't risk her talking and now I am seeing those traits in you and I just don't fucking like it Caius ".

A familiar anger surged through my veins, but I kept my composure, stepping further into the room.

" so you killed her ? You took care of her like you have always taken cared of everything else in your fucking life but, you made a mistake tonight when you went after what belongs to me".

Ivan’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "You’re exactly like me. Ruthless. Cold. A Romanov but, you have a soul or rather you got it back no doubt because of your little insignificant plaything but, in order to be a leader of this empire Caius you cannot have a soul or empathy, its weakness and weakness gets you killed".

"No", I said, my voice dangerously low.

" I am not like you but, you will fucking pay for your little game that you played tonight".

Before he could react, I pulled my gun out from behind my back , the cold metal steady in my hand. I aimed it directly at his  head, my finger resting on the trigger. I knew he had a gun compartment built underneath his desk and right at this moment,  his hand was likely on it as he searched for his gun but, I wasn't going to give him the chance.

Hia eyes widened, a flicker of fear breaking through his usual stoic mask before it was replaced by a cold smirk , guess he had found his weapon.

"You wouldn’t dare. You’re my heir. My blood".

My lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Exactly and my first duty as the new head of the Romanov empire is to send you to hell… where you belong".

His hand came up swiftly from underneath the desk , the gun in his hand but , I didn’t give him even the slightest chance . I pulled the trigger three times watching as the bulltes found their mark in his head , blood, flesh and brain matter spluttering across his  desk and the wall behind him as well as staining the chair he was seated in, a dark crimson red and then his body slumped forward, lifeless.

For a moment, I simply stood there, staring at the body of the man who had tormented me my entire life. The man who had created the evil I had become. A strange sense of emptiness washed over me , followed by a hollow relief.

"It ends with you",  I whispered, my voice  cold and echoing slightly in the now empty room.

" Your ruling ends here".

I turned away,  my shoulders heavy but my steps steady as I walked out of the study locking the door softly behind me . I took the elevator up to the third floor and then went into the room Bria and I had shared.  I packed our luggage and called for one of the guards to take them down to the main floor and hand them over to the driver that would take me back to the hospital.

Once that was done , I sent a message to Sergei telling him that Ivan’s body was in his study and that he should do with that as he saw fit . I didn't give a fuck about them or this empire anymore, all that I needed now was to leave Russia with Bria .

I returned to the hospital and entered into Bria’s hospital room , locking the door quietly behind me as my eyes drifted back to her, her face peaceful in sleep.  I sat down in the chair beside her bed, my hand instinctively reaching out to take hers. Her skin was warm, soft against my palm. I tightened my grip, my thumb brushing over her knuckles, grounding myself in her presence.

She was my anchor. My light in the darkness and I had almost lost her.

I stayed there, my hand holding hers, my eyes never leaving her face. The hours passed in silence, the first rays of dawn painting the room in hues of pink and gold. I watched as her eyelids fluttered, her breathing shifting as she slowly woke up.

Her eyes opened, hazy with sleep before focusing on me. She looked at me for a long moment, her gaze searching my face as if to confirm I was really there.

"Caius…", Her voice was soft, a whisper that shattered something inside me.

" mi deh here Bria " I said, my voice rough. "I’m right here.

She swallowed, her eyes flicking to the bandage on her shoulder before returning to my face.

" mi deh right here suh Bria and mi nah mek nuhun happen to yuh ". She looked at me  her eyes shining with unshed tears and exhaustion.

"I want to go home", Her voice was a plea, fragile and vulnerable.

"Mi wah lef dah place yah Caius, now , please ".

I felt my chest tighten, my resolve hardening. "Then that’s what we’ll do".

I stood up, my hand still holding hers. "I’ll get you out of here".

Her eyes softened, her fingers curling around mine. "Thank you".

I leaned down, pressing my lips to her forehead , my voice low and raw.

"You don’t have to thank me. I should have kept you safe but, mi handle it . As long as mi live Bria , yuh aguh safe , mi swear pon mi life".

She looked up at him, her gaze unwavering. " I know  and mi nuh blame yuh fi none a this , anuh your fault ".

I closed my eyes, my jaw clenching.

I didn’t deserve her forgiveness but, I would spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of it. I straightened, my voice firm. "Mi aguh get eh doctor fi discharge yuh , wi aguh home Bria ".

Half an hour later and we were being escorted towards the Romanov jet that was waiting on the tarmac, sleek and imposing against the morning sky. I held Bria’s hand as we walked up the steps, my eyes constantly scanning our surroundings, my senses on high alert.

I wouldn’t let my guard down.

Not again.

Inside, the cabin was luxurious, fitted with plush leather seats and rich mahogany accents. I helped Bria settle into one of the seats, buckling her in myself before taking the seat beside her. My hand never left hers, my thumb tracing gentle circles over her skin.

The jet took off smoothly, the ground falling away beneath us as we soared into the sky. I leaned back, my eyes on Bria as she looked out the window, her face relaxed, her body finally at ease.

I watched her, my chest tightening with a feeling I couldn’t name. Relief. Gratitude. Love. It was all tangled up inside me, a raw ache I didn’t know how to express.She turned to me,  her eyes meeting mine.

" yuh ok? Mi know it nuh easy wid eh burden a eh responsibility weh yuh fada left pon yuh and I am here if you want to talk about it".

I looked at her, my expression softening.

" eh good , tek care a everything a ready".

She smiled, a gentle curve of her lips that made my heart twisted painfully and I tightened my grip on her hand.

" Bria ?"

" hmm?" , she asked as she turned  her head to face me .

" thank you ", I said as I raised her hand that was intertwined with mine to my mouth and kissed the back of it .

" for?"

" trusting me and for caring " and she smiled, her eyes glowing with a warmth that made my heart ached.

" of course ".