Red

CHAPTER 35.

Lost in the haze of my dream, I drifted deeper into it until a sharp knock shattered the quiet. It cracked straight through the fog of sleep, and I groaned helplessly as it sounded again, louder this time.

I snapped my eyes open and adjusted them to the darkness, the knock repeated once again and I slid off the bed, with Xam sleeping over the other side of the bed with Salt.

The hem of my black fishnet chemise had bunched during sleep, so I tugged it down. Fingers brushing over the bonnet that covered my hair, I eased the door open, squinting against the light.

A frass-out Don stood before me, white shirt hanging loose and black shorts low on his hips, clearly under the influence.

His eyes were darker, more dangerous than usual, and I took a step back as he stumbled into the room, reeking of liquor and weed. If I'd known it was him, I wouldn't have opened the door for his stupid, frass-out ass.

I didn't want Xam to see her father like this, so without touching him, I whispered, "Lorenzo... you need to leave."

He swayed slightly as he stepped inside, one hand gripping the doorframe, the other brushing a stray curl from his forehead. The smell of liquor and weed hit me first, making me wrinkle my nose.

"Aurora..." His voice slurred, yet every word carried weight. He stumbled toward the dresser, catching it with one hand, his movements uneven, but his glare never let up. "You... always think you're in control..."

I planted my hands on my hips, refusing to be intimidated. "I am in control here. For Xam's sake, you need to leave."

He let out a slow, broken laugh, swaying on his feet. "Control... huh? You think you can control me?" He took a step closer, nearly bumping into me, yet somehow, his presence still filled the room, commanding it like he always did.

"Even when I'm... like this... I'm still the one who decides what happens in this house."

I swallowed hard, feeling the tension coil tight in my chest. He was drunk, frass out, but he was still Lorenzo. He was still Dangerous. Still dominant. And still impossible to ignore.

"Leave," I whispered.

His brows pinched together as he staggered closer, and I instinctively took several steps back.

"Why the fuck are you whispering...?" His voice slurred but still carried that sharp tone the one that warned everyone else to fall in line.

He shook his head, chocolate hair dropping over his eyes. "I-I'm not going anywhere until you listen to me."

I exhaled sharply. I couldn't handle drunk men and Lorenzo drunk was ten times more stubborn, ten times more reckless.

"You need to go, Lorenzo. Xami is sleeping. I don't want her to see you like this."

He moved closer, crowding me with his body until my back hit cold glass. The floor‑to‑ceiling window chilled my spine, and I stiffened.

"Lorenzo-" He planted a knee between mine, spreading my thighs. Not sexual but territorial, confrontational. A warning. A cornering. Even when he's drunk this bitch was still hell bent on testing my patience.

"What are you doing?" I hissed under my breath.

"I said get out."

He caught my wrists before I could push him, swinging them behind my back in one clumsy but determined motion. It wasn't graceful he was too drunk for that but it was forceful, forceful enough to remind me that even when he's under the influence his enemies had no chance against him.

He's too alert.

My chest pressed forward from the position, and I fought against his grip, but he only tightened his hold. My eyes darted over his shoulder, checking the bed to make sure Xam wasn't up from the noise her stupid father was making.

But he leaned in, breath hot with liquor, distracting me completely as he hissed. "Look at me for fucks sakes."

"It's like you don't give a fuck that your daughter is literally right there. Have you no respect for that?" I whispered, my voice sharp despite the nerves twisting in my chest.

His eyes darkened with every word, and I realized I'd angered him further. His grip on my wrists tightened, and he leaned in closer.

The sharp scent of liquor and weed, laced with mint, drifted across my face, and I felt my eyelids lower consciously under the heat of his gaze.

"I'm sorry, okay?" His voice was rough, slurred but sincere. "I know I've been a shitty father. It's comical, really... my own father treated me the same at her age, and I ended up... following in his footsteps."

He held me in that heated stare, lowering his voice. "Forgive me."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Lorenzo," I whispered. "It's your daughter."

His broad chest heaved with a slow sigh.

"I know," he said, voice quiet now, "but I can see your disappointment, and..." He tilted his head, swallowing hard, Adam's apple bobbing. "I don't like it."

I froze, my mind racing. Please, Lord, don't let him... feel anything for me. This would just complicate everything.

I parted my lips to respond when a sharp object clinked beside Lorenzo's head.

I froze. His eyes widened as he stumbled back, and there standing tall and furious on my bed was Xam.

Tears streaked her cheeks, but her stance was firm. "I-I thought he was hurting you," she stammered.

Her small hands gripped the edge of her toy gun with a precision I hadn't seen before. Her eyes, wide and fierce, locked on her father with something more than fear. It was command.

Before I could stop her, she kept it raised and pointed it directly at him. Not in panic, but brave. Her tiny finger pressed the trigger, and a soft pop rang out as a small toy foam bullet struck his chest.

Lorenzo froze, stunned. The dangerous, commanding Don I knew blinked at her, his intoxicated self was replaced with pride, speechless for the first time that I'd ever seen.

Xam didn't flinch. She kept her stance firm, eyes locked on him, as if silently saying I see you. I know you. And Im disappointed so I'm handling this.

I felt my chest tighten, pride and awe mixed with fear. Even though she was just a toddler, she carried herself like a hero even when her nightmares tried to tell her otherwise. I admired her strength.

Lorenzo's face softened, guilt and amazement swirling. "God... I've done wrong," he muttered, voice almost breaking. "I've never seen you like this... my daughter... my bambina..."

Xam didn't hesitate. She ran to him, arms wrapping around his broad shoulders as sobs broke free.

He whispered softly to her, and I gave them privacy, standing back and watching.

"No, don't leave, Aurora," Lorenzo called quietly. "You can stay. Xam wouldn't want you to leave either."

I stayed, the warmth of their small reunion melting the tension that had gripped the room. Eventually after his consistent promise of him never hurting her again and promising her a father and daughter date where he'd have a mini Don training day and a picnic after. We all ended up on my bed with him, Xam, and I and Salt laying between us.

I let myself sink into sleep, letting my dreams carry me far from the chaos of reality.