Treasure Of Dragons, Royal Dragons Book 1 Chapter 77

Drago

My brothers and I are all just sitting here. Ria just ran from the room. My brain refuses to process what just happened.

"What just happened?" Cinder whispers that. I see on his face the confusion I feel.

"Honestly, I have no idea. We need to reach the Landrys and find out why they didn't join the call as previously agreed." I was trying to piece things together, but nothing fit.

Ash spoke, "Maybe things will calm down in a couple of days. We can call them back for more information then."

I nodded, "That sounds like a good plan Ash."

I found Ria in the nursery. She was feeding Sarah, and Jeremy and Dillon were playing in the toddler room. Ria sat on the floor with them. I had finally managed to talk to the Landrys, and I needed to tell Ria what was going on.

As I approached Ria turned and looked at me. She turned back to Sarah very quickly. I sat on the floor next to her.

Jeremy and Dillon were showing me their toys and talking to me while they played with each other. When I kissed Sarah's head she smiled a milky smile and reached out her little hand to me. I gave her my finger and she grasped it and held on, while continuing to nurse.

"We talked to the Landrys. Elizabeth left their property in the middle of the night during a snowstorm. They're not sure where she is, but they're searching for her. They will keep us informed."

I saw her grit her teeth, and her body shudder, but she was concentrating on Sarah, and I knew she felt she had to be completely controlled for the kids.

"I swear Ria, we will find her, I won't stop looking for her baby."

She just nodded. A lone tear slipped past her control and down her cheek. She quickly swiped it away and smiled down at Sarah. I played with the boys for a bit, both to spend time with them, and to be close to Ria.

That night dinner was rather subdued for our normally rowdy bunch, but I'm sure they felt the tension rolling off of us. They didn't ask but I saw Brand, especially, watching Ria like a hawk. He was extremely protective of his older sisters and Ria, a trait we had always encouraged.

So, it didn't surprise me that he was attuned to something being wrong, but he just watched. Ria remained engaged with all of the kids, but it was a struggle for her.

That night after everyone had been put to bed I went to try and find her. I finally did when I reached the solarium. She was in her favorite chair with a blanket and a mug of tea, just watching outside.

She knew I was here, but didn't say anything. I honestly wasn't sure I wanted her to say anything. I just wanted to be with her.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one as all of my brothers ended up here with us. Eventually, I went to her and scooped her up out of the chair and took her to our room.

When I sat her down she went into the closet and changed into sweats and a hoodie, then she crawled into the middle of the bed, lay on her back, and looked at the ceiling. We all got ready for bed and crawled in close to our mate. We drew comfort and strength just from being near her, but I was very afraid that wasn't the same for her.

Right now I knew she was keeping her mouth shut, but we all heard the echoes of so many years of warnings. We still weren't willing to think that this would not blow over and that everything would be fine.

Several times throughout the night I woke up. Each time I looked at her Ria was awake, staring up at the ceiling, except for once she was in the bathroom.

I would reach out and gather her against my chest. She didn't fight me, but neither did she snuggle up to me. Once I found Ash holding her, but she was still staring at the ceiling.

In the morning her face was drawn and there were dark circles under her eyes. She didn't really say anything, just pulled a brush through her hair and brushed her teeth, then left the room.

The next time I saw her was at breakfast, and I could almost see the distress and tension coiling tighter and tighter. I just had no idea how to help.

Before breakfast was done, Victor came to me and whispered into my ear, that there was a very important phone call for me. Everyone was just watching me as I got up and quickly followed Victor. Ash got up and followed me.

I rushed into my office, picked up the phone on my desk, where Victor had placed it. "Drago." Was all I said.

"Drago it's Anthony." I could hear distress and sorrow in his voice, and he sounded like he was fighting to maintain control.

I felt the blood leave my face, and my heart was trying to beat out of my chest. "What's going on Anthony?" Ash was immediately on alert.

"Drago there's no easy way to say this, but Desiree is gone. She killed herself. We couldn't save her. I'm so sorry." He choked and I heard a swallowed sob, then he hung up.

I robotically hung up the phone. My brain couldn't process what he'd said. There was no context or way to file it, it just didn't fit.

"Drago, what the hell, what did Anthony want?"

I looked at Ash and felt tears fall down my face for the first time in a very long time, Ash's face was frozen in horror as he saw it.

"Desiree is dead, she killed herself, Ash."

He blinked and tried to catch his breath, he shook his head, and then I saw his own tears start to fall. We grabbed onto each other and cried for our daughter, and the rest of our family.

When Ash and I were able to get ourselves under control I called Victor and asked him to have Ria, Cole, and Cinder come to my office. The three of them rushed in. Ria scanned my face, and as she read whatever she could see, her face became more and more distressed.

Ash was between Cole and Cinder, and I grabbed onto Ria. "Drago what the hell is going on?" She asked me.

"The call was Anthony Escarra. Desiree is dead, she killed herself." I watched Ria.

I saw my brothers crumbling and Ash supporting them.

"No, no, no,no. Tell me he's wrong. Tell me Drago, please, tell me."

I grabbed her and pulled her into my chest. She grabbed my shirt and screamed her anguish into my chest as I held her, and shed my own tears with her.

How would my family face this?