1. One last cigarette

Chapter 45: Definition

Walking into the house with one of the puppies I jumped at the 9 year old girl screaming in joy behind me.

Holding the puppy higher so she couldn't reach I chuckled, enjoying my brother jumping up and down in front of me to get to the puppy I lowered it down so he could stop being a child and calm down.

"We got a fucking dog!" he shouted almost squishing the life out of the poor puppy.

"Us yes. You no" rescuing the poor pup I saw Sofia stumbling towards the kitchen trying to carry everything on her own.

She's been quite the whole car ride back after I used the L word with her.

After spending so much time together I knew she had my heart and soon enough she'd have my last name too.

I don't know if it was too early for her but as long as she knows how deeply I feel about her, about us I'll wait till she's ready.

Deciding to get some work done so I could spend the rest of the day with her I slowly dragged my feet towards my at home office.

I made sure Scar stayed away from Sofia after talking to her about him joining, when she told me he was the one who did all those horrible things to her I was definitely going to kill him but she calmed me down and told me to keep a close eye on him because he could have information we needed which he did.

Ivan Valentin had changed his whole plan and decided he would keep Sofia as his after finding out she's with me and not working for me like he thought before she was kidnapped.

I'd made sure that she was guarded at all times when I couldn't be with her or she wanted to go to the club for some work and files.

After moving some meetings and shipments earlier I finished my work at 3 leaving enough time for some alone time with my baby.

Finding her in the living room cuddled up with the two dogs watching a movie I grabbed a blanket and rapped it around her feeling her body tense under my touch.

"You okay?" not responding Sofia shook her head while picking the dogs up and moving them of the blanket before standing up.

"Where are you going?" I asked confused knowing she had nowhere to be right now except in my arms watching her favorite movie while I place soft kisses on her head, shoulder, lips and neck.

Grabbing my hand I followed her outside and she opened her car door motioning for me to get into the passenger side.

Obeying I slid in not bothered to ask her where were going seeing that she hasn't spoken to me since I said I love her.

Driving for a while Sofia stopped outside an old looking building.

The brick wall was cracked all over and stained windows littered the building.

Walking in the inside look much older with fines hanging from the ceiling and a big desk in front of us higher than Sofia which doesn't say a lot with her short legs.

Arriving at the desk Sofia stood on her tippy toes trying to see over it.

"Hello dear what can I help you with?" an old woman asked moving her bright red glasses closer to her face. "Hello I'd just like a card thank you" Sofia kindly smiled and a brown card was placed in her out stretched hand filled with different names and numbers.

"Love care to tell me why we're here and where here is exactly?" not getting a response again I only followed behind her enjoying the feeling of her tiny hand in mine fitting together perfectly.

Walking past a few doors we reached a separate room filled with big book shelves with hundreds of book lined up.

Moving her finger over the names Sofia picked a few before we sat down on an orange couch with a small table next to it and a yellow lamp resting on top.

Behind the couch was a big floor to roof window showcasing a small meadow and the rainy clouds that's starting to build outside. Opening one of the books Sofia grabbed my arm pulling it over her shoulder while she rested against my chest with her back facing me.

"You told me you love me Noah but before I say it back I need to make sure you know the full meaning so I found this place with Isabel's help-" she remembered me telling her about reading stories to understand what love really meant and not what my father made me believe it was "-so all you have to do pretty boy is read your favorite books to me" she finished kissing my hand.

Feeling the familiar warm feeling burning threw my body I made sure there was no space between us opening up The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough and I started reading.

Reading the familiar words the little boy in me returned hanging on to every single word I spoke while building his own definition of love as I carried on.

Hearing the rain fall against the window the cold wind filled the room and thunder filled the silence between each sentence I spoke. One page after the other I kept reading long after Sofia fell asleep while her body turned in my hold and her hands gripped onto my shirt keeping me close to her.

Twirling her hair between my fingers while I finished the book I felt at my happiest.

The definition of love was formed the first night I told Sofia about my past and she chose to stay and give me a chance to make it right.

After each minute I spent with this she devil the definition of love got longer with more description but after tonight my definition of love changed completely yet not at all.

From a few sentences to one word.

From being someone who loves me enough to stay and make me a better person day after day, support and help me when I need it and always being the light in my darkness the definition kept screaming one word.

'Sofia'