Weakness of a Gang Leader

Cleo

He came storming in, slamming the door behind him as his heavy footsteps echoed across the floor. I jumped, and the noise scared Lilianna,and causing her to begin crying. I pulled her close to me and bounced her on my leg to try and calm her down. "Shh. Shh shh, baby girl." I whispered against her head.

She was still crying when I lashed my head to look at Luke. "What that fuck, Luke? What happened?"

He didn't answer at first, and just ran a hand through his hair before he noticed Lilianna crying. His expression changed entirely, and he came over to take her out of my arms. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." I heard him whisper as he kissed her head.

He left the room for a moment, I assume to calm Lilianna and put her down for a nap. He returned ten minutes later and sat next to me. "I'm sorry I scared you and Lil." He murmured as he pulled me onto his lap.

I turned to cup his cheeks and kissed his forehead softly. "What happened, baby?" I whispered.

He sighed, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist. "I'm not getting out of the gang anytime soon." He whispered against my neck. "Rodrigo is coming after the guys one by one. My life, yours...Lilianna's, we're all at risk. I don't know what I'm going to do, Cleo."

I could feel tears hitting my shoulder as he started to cry. Few times had I ever seen Luke cry. The only time I had actually seen him cry was when his mom die. Aside from that, I'd seen him kill people, torture, watch as young kids were killed without him ever batting an eyelash. This, I knew, was different.

We were a couple now. Of course he worried about someone coming after me. But, even more so, he worried about someone coming after Lilianna. She was his daughter, his only child; the thought of something happening to her had terrified him since the night she was dropped off at his doorstep. Why wouldn't he worry?

"He's going to hurt my little girl, Cleo." He sobbed against my shoulder when I turned to take him in my arms. "He'll hurt her and maybe kill her eventually, if he doesn't sell her to be a sex slave in Mexico. And you...he will torture you. Beat you, rape you. And he'll make me watch as he hurts both of you.

"I can't be the father she needs. I can't be the man to protect you. I'm useless. So fucking useless. I've failed both of you and...I don't know what is going to happen to any of us because of the mistakes I've made."

I couldn't believe the words I was hearing. This was not Luke. Not my Luke anyway. The Luke I knew didn't give up. He didn't sit and wait for things to play out, waiting for inevitable fear of watching the few he cared about suffer. And since his daughter was one particularly at risk, he definitely would not waste time in panicking and crying, he would have gotten up and hunted Rodrigo down to torture and slowly kill him. Where was that Luke?

"Babe, look at me." I took his face in my hands and made him look up at me, brushing away the tears under his eyes as I did. "I know you're scared. I understand that. But, you are not going to protect Lilianna by panicking and waiting for Rodrigo to find you. I know you. And as her father, I know you are going to do whatever you have to, to make sure that little girl is safe.

"You love that girl more than I've ever seen you love anything. Knowing you, you'll let this scare you off in thinking you're bad for her. You'll run, and not look bad without even thinking of the broken pieces of her heart she'd have to pick up. Do not let this push you away from her, Luke. She needs you more than she needs and will ever need anyone else. Trust me. And if you can't trust me, trust the fact that she's crying for you right now. Not me, but you." I saw the look in his eyes change when I said that.

It was true, down the hall in her nursery, Lilianna was indeed crying dada repeatedly. While she did calm down upon me holding her, Luke's touch always did the best in soothing her and coaxing her to calm down. She calmed at the feeling of his arms around her, his kiss on her forehead, and the sound of his voice when he sang to her.

He didn't know that I was aware he would sing to her. He always did it when they were alone, or when he thought they were alone. But, I had heard him. It sometimes made me wish I'd had a father who would have sang me to sleep, but with Luke it was enough.

He wiped his eyes and sniffed softly before setting me up and leaving without another word to go pick up Lilianna. Of course, I followed him quietly, making sure he didn't notice as I did.

"Hi, babygirl. It's okay. It's okay, daddy's here. Daddy's got you, little girl." I heard him say as I approached the door. When I peaked inside he was sitting on the rocking chair with Lilianna in his arms resting with her head against his shoulder.

Tears were still in his eyes as he rubbed her back. I knew he would need my comfort tonight, and I would gladly give it. But, right now, what he needed was the comfort of his daughter in his arms. To know she was there and that she was alright. These next few months would be hell, and he would need her more than ever. He would be more scared than he ever has been. There would be more tears than he'd ever cried.

"No one is going to hurt you, little angel. I promise. No one is going to hurt you or your mommy. I will protect you and mommy with my life. Always."

Hey guys. I am so sorry for the late update. Something was going on with my wattpad. It would let me read and comment but I couldn't write at all. The problem is fixed though so here is a new chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Leave a comment and a vote!