Chapter 75
2158words
Zurich | Hotel Belvedere | Suite 1107
Noon (CET)
Kristina checked her bag one last time, smoothing the front of her coat as Eli and Lucian moved around the suite, making sure everything was stowed and ready. The quiet hum of the suite was punctuated by the soft shuffle of papers, the clink of keys, and the occasional murmur about schedules.
“So, back to work after this?” Eli asked, leaning against the dresser with a sly grin. “Stockholm first, or straight to the U.S.?”
Lucian glanced at him, voice calm but precise. “Depends on the reports. I’ll want a full briefing from Fischer once we land.”
Kristina’s eyes flicked to him, curious. “Fischer hasn’t caused trouble lately, has he?”
Lucian shrugged. “Nothing significant. Just… routine checks. We’ll deal with it if it escalates.”
Eli’s gaze slid toward Kristina, catching the subtle edge of concern in her expression. “And the plane? Who’s flying us back?”
Kristina’s tone was light, but there was a hidden tension in her question. Lucian and Eli exchanged a small glance, both understanding exactly why she asked.
Lucian offered a faint smile. “Don’t worry. Melissa won’t bother Eli this time.”
Eli chuckled, shaking his head. “See? Already jealous, aren’t you?”
Kristina huffed softly, cheeks coloring just slightly. “I’m not—”
“Oh, come on,” Eli interrupted, teasing. “You weren’t like that with Savannah when she tried flirting with Lucian.”
Lucian froze, eyes wide, shock written clearly across his face. “Hey! Don’t include me in your problem,” he said, voice a mixture of disbelief and irritation.
Eli laughed, unbothered. “I’m not including you. I’m just asking.”
Kristina tilted her head, smoothing the sleeve of her coat. “Well… Savannah is more professional. She has a reputation to protect. She won’t be as… vulgar as Melissa,” she said, a dry smile tugging at her lips.
She paused, then added softly, almost to herself, “I still don’t like them both. And… I swear, if I see that Valerie again—”
She stopped, realizing mid-thought. Her jealousy had surfaced before she could even deny it, a new and subtle awareness she hadn’t allowed herself to feel before.
Lucian’s eyes flicked toward her. “What about Valerie?”
Eli scratched the back of his head, hesitant, unsure whether to speak.
Kristina’s tone turned dry, almost clipped. “Well… she ‘coincidentally’ saw us at a café. Saying how it was fate that she and Eli met again.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow. “‘Coincidentally’? Here in Zurich?”
“Yes,” Kristina answered, her voice flat, leaving no room for debate.
Lucian’s gaze shifted toward Eli, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “Wow… everywhere you go, huh. There’s always a woman.”
Eli pouted, throwing his hands up slightly. “Come on, man. You know I’m not like that.”
Lucian’s laugh was soft, amused—but it faltered when he noticed Kristina’s expression, sharp and sour, daggers aimed straight at Eli. He cleared his throat. “I was just kidding, Kristina. Eli is not like that.”
Kristina didn’t answer, twisting her lips into a suspicious line. One eyebrow lifted ever so slightly, hands on her waist, stance firm and akimbo.
Lucian said nothing further. He simply turned and walked past Eli toward the bathroom, leaning close enough to murmur, “Someone’s showing her colors.”
Eli’s smirk faded into a quiet, thoughtful expression as he watched her, while Lucian closed the bathroom door behind him.
Kristina, meanwhile, let her gaze drift, caught in a rare, unguarded moment of vulnerability. Her shoulders relaxed just slightly, but the tension in her stance betrayed the new awareness she was still processing. Eli and Lucian both noticed, each in their own way—the subtle shifts in her demeanor, the flashes of emotion usually so carefully contained. The quiet hum of the suite wrapped around them, a gentle acknowledgment that she had allowed herself to feel, even briefly, without masking it.
Zurich | Hotel Belvedere | Entrance
Past Noon (CET)
By 12:30 p.m., the three of them had descended to the hotel entrance, the crisp air brushing against their coats. The soft crunch of snow underfoot mixed with the faint rush of passing cars. The service cars arrived, sleek and quiet, engines running low, drivers already briefed and waiting.
Kristina adjusted the strap of her bag, glancing at Lucian and Eli. Her voice was careful but steady. “Would it… be all right if we made a stop at the cemetery before heading to the airport?”
Lucian’s brow lifted in mild surprise. “Again?”His tone carried no judgment, only the quiet worry that another visit might stir emotions too heavy for her to carry right before their flight.
She nodded. “Just to say goodbye properly. To let my parents know I’ll be back soon. And… to give Ash, Vex, and Sebastian a chance to meet them as well.”
Eli’s lips quirked into a small, knowing smile. “It makes sense. We can handle it. Won’t take long.”
Lucian exchanged a glance with Eli, then nodded. “We’ll do it. It’s important to you.”
Kristina’s expression softened, relief flickering in her eyes. “Thank you.”
Ash, Vex, and Sebastian had approached from the hotel lobby, noting the group waiting by the cars. Their eyes lingered on Kristina, recognizing the rare softness in her posture and the quiet purpose in her steps. They could feel the significance of the stop.
Lucian lowered his voice just enough for the group to hear. “Cemetery first. Quick stop. Then straight to the airport. We leave Zurich at 3 p.m., so everyone stay ready.”
Eli nodded subtly, eyes on Kristina. “You’ll get your proper goodbye,” he murmured, like a promise.
Kristina’s lips curved faintly, gratitude passing silently. The cars had been positioned and ready; the drivers eased the doors open. Lucian and Eli moved instinctively to her sides, protective. Kristina climbed in, sliding into the back seat, Lucian on one side, Eli on the other. Ash, Vex, and Sebastian followed in the next car, maintaining a discreet distance.
As the convoy began moving, the city streets of Zurich slid past, snow glinting in the winter sunlight. Kristina leaned back slightly, eyes toward the distant cemetery, anticipation and reverence threading through her thoughts. For her, this brief detour was more than a goodbye—it was a quiet promise to return.
Zurich | Lichtergarten | Pavillon der Erinnerung
Early Afternoon (CET)
The service cars slowed as the iron gates opened, and the path gave way to the quiet expanse of the cemetery. Beyond the winter-bare trees, the pavilion stood in solemn stillness, its white columns softened by the pale light.
Ash, Vex, and Sebastian exchanged glances when they stepped out of the car. None of them spoke. At first there had been confusion—the detour hadn’t been explained—but the moment they followed Kristina along the path, saw the gravestones and the hush of the place, understanding silenced them completely.
Kristina’s coat swayed lightly as she walked ahead, leading them toward the pavilion. Lucian and Eli lingered just a pace behind, their eyes on her, not in doubt but in concern—both quietly braced in case the weight of memory pressed too heavily again. But Kristina’s shoulders were steady, her steps sure. They trusted her with her own grief.
At the pavilion, she turned to face the three men who had come with her. Her voice soft, her breath misting in the air as she spoke—sharing just enough for them to understand.
Ash lowered his head respectfully. Vex’s usual restless energy stilled. And Sebastian, after a moment, stepped forward. His hands tucked behind his back, his tone quiet but firm, he spoke as though he were addressing the air itself—and the presence he believed lingered in it.
“Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo…” He paused, searching for words that felt worthy. “She is… one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. She’s taken care of all of us, even when she didn’t have to. And now… she’s surrounded. Look after her if you can, but don’t worry—she’s not alone anymore. We’ll make sure of it.”
The silence that followed carried weight. Ash swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the stone steps. Vex muttered something under his breath that sounded like agreement, though his voice cracked just slightly.
Kristina’s lips trembled before she pressed them together, her gaze lowered, her hands clasped tightly in front of her coat. Even Lucian and Eli—men so practiced at restraint—felt their chests tighten. There was something disarming in Sebastian’s sincerity, something that softened the air around all of them.
For a long moment, no one moved. The winter light filtered through the bare branches, pale and unyielding, yet it seemed to rest gently upon them all.
Zurich | En Route to Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Afternoon (CET)
The convoy wound its way through Zurich’s afternoon traffic, the airport still a good stretch ahead.
Through the window, the scenery shifted from broad boulevards to a narrower street lined with shops—quaint façades with hand-painted signs, old glass windows, and displays that seemed caught between past and present.
“Could we stop here?” she asked the driver, her voice calm but decisive. “Just for a few minutes.”
The man in the front nodded, easing the car toward the curb.
The sedan rolled to a smooth halt, its reflection catching in the glass panes of the shopfronts.
Eli stepped out first, stretching his shoulders, and Lucian followed. Kristina lingered behind them for a moment before slipping out, adjusting her coat against the winter chill.
She nodded toward the storefront across the street, a narrow little shop tucked between cafés, its sign written in elegant, faded lettering: Papeterie Weiss — Vintage & Bespoke Stationery.
“I won’t take long,” she said.
As she disappeared inside, Eli leaned closer to Lucian with a low chuckle.
“She might be buying more pens. Or another notebook. I gave her some on her birthday… maybe she’s already run out of pages again.”
Lucian’s mouth curved into a snicker, amused by the familiar habit.
Inside, a small bell tinkled as the glass door swung shut. Warm light filled the quiet shop, glinting off shelves of leather-bound journals, polished wood cases, and displays of old fountain pens.
“Fraulein Kristina,” came a voice, rich and warmly accented.
An older man, handsome in that dignified way age sometimes allowed, looked up from behind the counter. His silver hair was neatly combed, his smile genuine.
Kristina’s face softened. “Herr Weiss.”
“You are here to get them, yes?” His German accent lent a gentle weight to his English.
“Yes,” Kristina said, her smile faint but certain.
The old man nodded, moving toward the back. He returned moments later, carrying three slender boxes. He set them carefully on the glass counter, then reached for a paper bag.
“I am sure,” he said as he tucked the boxes neatly inside, “the people who receive these will value them.”
Kristina hesitated, brushing her fingers along the edge of one box before it disappeared into the bag. “I’m not sure why I thought of this,” she admitted quietly. “I just… felt like I should. Maybe they’ll be useful in the future.”
Herr Weiss tilted his head, his expression softening with a thoughtful pause. Then, with a knowing smile, he murmured:
“Sometimes, Fräulein, we buy things not for today, but for the days waiting ahead. Perhaps your heart already knows what your mind has not yet seen. Call it… a glimpse. A premonition, if you like.”
Kristina looked at him for a moment longer, a trace of weight in her eyes, then nodded. “Thank you. And thank you for preparing these on such short notice—just from my phone call.”
“Ach, it is no trouble.” His smile was warm again. “When will you be back in Zürich?”
“Same time as the previous years,” she replied softly. “On my parents’ anniversary.”
He inclined his head, kindly. “Then do not forget to stop here again, as always. I will have something waiting.”
Kristina’s lips curved faintly. “I will.”
With that, she took the bag, thanked him once more, and stepped back into the cold where Lucian and Eli waited.
By the time Kristina returned, the vehicles were already idling in quiet patience. The convoy resumed its steady pace, cutting across Zurich’s orderly streets until the airport came into view. Security checks passed without complication—efficient, practiced motions that spoke to the rhythm of their lives.
They moved together through the terminal, close enough that their presence felt like its own small orbit, shutting out the noise and eyes around them. Passports stamped, bags cleared, boarding passes in hand, they advanced without pause.
The jet waited on the tarmac, sleek against the fading light. Within minutes they were stepping aboard, the calm of the cabin wrapping around them. Kristina settled between Eli and Lucian again, the quiet comfort of their nearness making the space feel smaller, safer. Outside, ground crew moved with quiet precision; inside, the world narrowed to the promise of altitude and the long hours ahead—together.
Some goodbyes linger, not as endings, but as the beginnings of what waits ahead.
—To be continued.
