Assassin with a Heart//Camren//

Chapter 34

Lauren dries off her hair and body as she hops out from her steaming, warm shower. She puts on a red sweatshirt and grey sweatpants and brushes out her hair. She puts on her Louis Vuitton slides she stole from a nearby mall and heads to her father's office to discuss the meeting.

She was greeted by a couple of mafia members before she stood before her father's office. Lauren was about to knock but paused when she heard her father's voice say "come in." With that she turned the door handle and entered in her father's orange citrus scented office.

"Ahh my sweet angel has finally decided to pay her father a visit. I was wondering where you had run off to." Mike remarked to his daughter.

"I apologize father, I had other manners to attend to that were important and I was in desperate need for a shower." Lauren said quietly as she played with her fingers after slouching in a olive colored leather chair.

Mike quirked his eyebrow in confusion to his daughter's unusual behavior.

"Lauren my sweet, is everything all right?" Mike said in his old, soft, fatherly tone.

Lauren's breath hitched and eyes widen at the tone. He hasn't spoken to her like this since she was a toddler. Before she was exposed to all the training, responsibilities, and killing.

Lauren cleared her throat and said, "Yes father, everything is fine."

"Now now stop with the lies. I know when my daughter is upset. What's going on mija? Is because of the meeting with the Hansen's?" Mike questioned.

"No, the meeting actually went wonderfully. Dinah and I have come to agreeing terms and we even have a plan to throw the newly aligned Caldoza's off track." Lauren said proudly, finally making eye contact with her father.

"Well that's excellent news my angel! Now surely with that success it shouldn't cause you to be so down." Mike said, frowning slightly.

"It's just... ugh... before we even left the base Camila and I got into an argument. I lost myself and practically threatened her with my knife. I kicked her out the car, causing her to cry, and I ended up leaving to the meeting without her." Lauren said as she ran her hand through her damp hair.

"I see." Mike said.

"It eventually sank in what I did and I felt awful. So I tried doing what you always did for mama when you guys fought before she passed away." Lauren admits.

"And what would that be?" Mike asked curiously.

"I brought her flowers." Lauren said softly.

"That's it? Just brought her flowers?" Mike asked.

"Well yeah? You just brought flowers to mama and she forgave you." Lauren said.

"Lauren just because I brought your mother flowers doesn't mean she'll instantly forgive me. After I gave them to her, I sat her down on our bed in our room and talked to her. Let her know I'm sorry for whatever I did wrong that upset her and let her know I love her." Mike said with a small smile.

"That's thing father I just can't do that... it felt so weird just giving Camila the flowers. Hell, I didn't even give them to her, I practically just shoved them into her hands so I can get them away from me as quickly as possible." Lauren sighs as she rubs her temples.

"Father I don't know how to do that kind of stuff. All that lovey dovey shit. I don't have time to be sitting down for cheesy talks. I have a mafia to be ruling over soon, I have enemies to take care of, I have blood shed to do, and I have currency and stocks of materials I need to obtain and control. I'm not built for what you and mama had. Makes me question why I even got with Camila in the first place." Lauren huffs out as she slouches deeper into the chair.

"I was always afraid you would get too caught up in the business of the mafia and obtain the unhealthy lifestyle of it." Mike sighed.

"Huh? What do you mean father?" Lauren asked.

"Yes, the mafia is a big responsibility and there's much to do when it comes to maintaining it. It's a big job for just one boss to handle, even with the hundreds of members ready to serve to your command. However, the one thing that really helped me get through it the most was your mother." Mike's smile grew wider at the thought of his beloved wife.

"Your mother always knew how to keep the edge off a long day. Your mother is the love of my life. Nothing can replace that pure heart of gold she had. It was truly a love at first sight. It took me awhile to even realize it and accept it. I was just like you mija, trained and adapted to the ruling lifestyle of the mafia. Not giving a crap about anything except the mafia and it's business. It was until my own father was taking his final breaths of life, he told me "remember your life isn't always about work mijo, there's so much more joy to it when you meet the right somebody, don't push that away." Mike said, getting a little choked up by the mention of his father.

Lauren listened intently on what her father had to say.

"I didn't fully understand what my father meant until the day I met your mother. I fell head over heels for her when the recruits of the mafia brought her in from the streets, seeing how her skill for shooting could be useful. After several tries of asking her to be mine and then marrying her a few years later, ha, I thought I couldn't be anymore happier. That was until you came along Lauren. My sweet, precious baby girl in my arms. I was over the moon. My father was always right, there was more joy in life than just the endless labor I was so used to and had grown up with." Mike said as he took out an old picture of the first time he held his daughter in his arms.

"Father please, you have to teach me how to do this. How to get to a point like you and mama. Train me I can handle it." Lauren said desperately, wanting to understand and learn this skill she was lacking.

Mike sighed, "Lauren my love this isn't something I can teach you. Every couple is different. This is up to you and Camila to figure out. I can see you care for her Lauren. She cares for you too, and a lot as well. It's time to open up your hardened heart to her. I know I have trained you to be ruthless killer, but a true mafia leader knows how to manage both worlds. Trust me mija, you're life will be saved from so much misery." Mike said as he escorted his daughter out of his office.

"But father... I don't know if can." Lauren said sadly.

"Yes you can Lauren. I know you can. It's just a new jump into life you must learn to figure out." With that Mike closed the door in front of Lauren's face.

Lauren sighed as she rubbed her temples. This was territory she was unfamiliar with and never believed she would ever even dare to cross. All her life she's seen love as a distraction from the real goal that must be reached. However, she has to admit, before Camila she was never truly happy. The amount of violence, blood, drugs, and business she took part in eventually did put a toll on her.

She's was seen (and possibly still seen) as a stern, grumpy, heartless monster. Who only strived to reach the top, letting no one stop her, no matter how much baggage she carries. Monsters cannot... love. They only feed off the fear and blood of those who cross their path. Now with Camila in picture, Lauren feels herself feel more calm and more lightweight as if she wasn't carrying so much on her shoulders even if it's just for instant when they share a kiss.

Lauren feels her heart trying to break through the black gated walls she's built up so strongly around it, but her pride just doesn't let up the key. It makes Lauren frustrated she can't just do this naturally like how she does other things like lodging a knife in between someone's eyes at a 50ft or more distance. It's a skill she has no experience in.

Lauren always wondered if it would've been different if her mother was still alive. Maybe her mother could've taught her about the simple yet happier part of life, teach her to care and love. While her father handle training her to be a killer and conduct mafia business. Then she would have really understood the management of both worlds. Unfortunately, that was her case. She had to learn the other side of the world on her own.

All Lauren can hope, however, is that Camila is willing to be by her side and help her understand.... what it is to love.