The Gang Leader's Little Girl

S I X

UNEDITED

My eyes are red and puffy from crying as I stared at the boy in front of me. "Brandon?! What the hell are you doing here?!" I say, standing up from my chair with a shocked look on my face. Brandon simply crosses his arms and sighs before beginning to speak.

"Hey... Malia, I uh-." He stopped short, clenching his jaw as he looked towards the cold hospital floor. "I didn't know who your father was... If I did, I would have said something, I-." Brandon is cut off as Jacob Woods, his father steps up, starting to speak.

"Malia, it's good to see you again. Well, not good to see you here, but... Eh, you know what I mean, kiddo!" Mr. Woods says as he goes to shake my hand. My father's bodyguard, Ernesto, steps in between me and Mr. Woods. Mr. Woods seems to get the idea, backing down from the large man standing in front of him.

Ernesto has protected me since I could remember and he wasn't a small man. Yes, he was extremely intimidating. He is one of the reasons that I have never had a boyfriend. Whenever a boy would be interested, he would suddenly disappear and start to avoid me. I would always yell at Ernesto and my Dad about it, but they would deny everything. I know the truth.

Brandon stands off to the side, looking awkwardly around the hospital room. 'Probably for a way to escape before I strangle his dumbass.' I think, glaring at him. 

"Princesa, please," Ernesto says, taking my eyes away from Brandon's face. I sigh, sitting back down next to my father's hospital bed. The machines attached to his body would beep softly as his chest would rise and fall. Mr. Woods starts to talk, but I don't listen. All I can think about how my Father is this close to death and I'm stuck just waiting for him to wake up.

My daddy. The man who raised me after my mother passed when I was three. The man who helped me feel better when I would get a cold. The man who would scold me before softening and wrapping up my injuries from a day at the playground at age six.

Tears escape my eyes again as I hold his hand. He's colder than usual. He doesn't have that insane warmness to his hands like he usually does when he gives me a hug and a kiss in the morning.

Ernesto taps my shoulder, causing me to look up at him. "I need to take you home, princesa. You need to get some rest before school tomorrow." He says, smiling sadly at me.

"I'm not leaving and there is no way in hell that I'm going to school tomorrow!" I say loudly, glaring in his direction. I hear Ernesto sigh in defeat before walking away, escorting Mr. Woods and Brandon out of the room.

However, Brandon stays, whispering to Ernesto.

Ernesto nods, walking over and kissing me on the head. "I'll go get you some clothes and something to eat. I'll be back soon." I nod as he leaves the room, leaving Brandon and me alone.

I glare in his direction for a second before softening my eyes. 'Why am I mad at him? He didn't know...' I think before sighing.

"I'm sorry that I was so rude before, I just... I hate seeing my dad like this. I don't want him to be fighting for his life. I hate all of these machines hooked up to every part of his body. I hate everything about this place! The smell, the look... Those god damn white walls!" I say, frustration clear in my voice as Brandon smiles softly, walking a little closer. "I can't believe I have a friend in all of this," I say quietly, smiling at Brandon as he chuckles.

"Neither can I. So, we've both grown up within this lifestyle. Not knowing if we were about to become orphans." Brandon says, taking my hand in his and smiling sweetly towards me. "You know, you really should go and get some rest at home... Your father is well taken care of. I'll even drive you and I'll stay with you. Not in the same bed, but... Ugh! You know what I meant!" Brandon says, beginning to get flustered. His face turning bright pink. I giggle before slowly nodding.

"Fine. I know my Dad would kill me if he knew I was going to try and sleep in a chair." I laugh, getting out my phone and letting Ernesto know that Brandon was going to take me home to sleep. I put my phone back into my pocket before looking back towards Brandon. "Ready," I say as Brandon gives me his hand, pulling me up off the chair. I let go of his hand, walking over to my Dad.

"Buenas Noches Papá." I say, kissing him on the head before letting Brandon lead me out of the room and down towards his car.

The ride back to my penthouse is uneventful. We sit in comfortable silence, the radio playing softly in the background. We arrive, Brandon parks his car in a space in our private underground garage, leading me upstairs to the penthouse. I grab my keys, putting them into the lock, and unlocking the door. "Welcome," I say, throwing my keys on the kitchen counter before walking into the living room and throwing myself onto the couch head first.

Brandon laughs at my behavior. "You are such a child..." He says, continuing to laugh as he sits on the other couch. I nod, laughing as well as I sit up.

"I am a child... And proud of it! Are you gonna judge me? Hmm?" I say, making a ridiculous-looking face as I stare at him. He laughs at me before shaking his head. I stick my tongue out at him in a childish manner as he holds his stomach, laughing even more.

"Can we watch a movie?" I say suddenly. "And can I choose why you make the popcorn?" I say, moving my eyebrows up and down in a strange way. Brandon laughs, nodding. I smile before jumping up and running over to grab the remotes.

Tonight was going to be fun.