Red

CHAPTER 36.

The next morning, sunlight poured through the windows, dusting the room in warmth. Xam was already up, bouncing on her feet in excitement with Salt trailing after her like a devoted little shadow. Lorenzo leaned against the doorway leading to the backyard.

His grey long-sleeve shirt gripped to his wide chest, crisp and commanding as ever, the fabric stretching each time he breathed. Faded, gray distressed jeans dusted with dirt gripped his thick thighs.

His chocolate-brown hair, still damp and tousled from the bath, framed his face which softened by the faint hangover under his eyes.

Lorenzo glanced at me for a moment and from last night I saw him differently, how despite his flaws of not being a great father, he still followed through with his promise of keeping that date with Xam.

He could've brushed it off, let her forget, given her the kind of empty reassurance men like him gave out when it's not befitting his business. But he didn't. He woke up, showed up, and kept his word.

In a world where power made promises cheap, he chose to make this one real.

And I... I admired him for that more than I wanted to admit. He could have said she was just a child but he didn't and I rate him for that no kid.

"Okay, bambina," he said voice echoing in the room of the kitchen, it made Xam stop and paid attention. "Today... is Don training day."

Xam's eyes lit up. "Wait you really meant it papa! Don training day?" she asked, bouncing on her heels. "What do I need to do?"

She hurriedly grabbed his hands, and I couldn't help but laugh at the contrast her tiny fingers barely grabbing around two of his. His hand was so large that her whole palm disappeared inside it.

I followed behind them as he took her to the lawn outside, where he'd set up a stack of toy blocks... and apparently a full mini obstacle course. Only Lorenzo would treat a toddler's playdate like a military recruitment and I rolled my eyes smiling.

"Like this." He smirked, turning fully toward her before crouching down to her level. His smile stretched so wide it looked ridiculous on a man who usually scowled for a living.

I scoffed, squinting at him. "Sir... please."

He snapped his eyes at me in a glare the kind he usually reserved for men who owed him money which only made it funnier on his big grown face while he was holding a tiny foam gun.

"Don't start," he muttered.

I snickered, and he stretched a hand out, cupping Xam's little cheeks with his big palm. His smile somehow grew even bigger, and my stomach did an embarrassing twist of butterflies.

"I heard about your first murder," he said, completely serious. "I'm so proud of you for killing Fire. He's really annoying."

I choked on a laugh just as Fire popped up from behind one of the props like he'd been summoned by name.

"Boss... why would you tell her that?" he whined, brushing grass off his hoodie.

Lorenzo didn't even look at him. "Because you are annoying."

Xam giggled, raising her foam gun with the same little don energy she'd shown last night.

Fire froze. "Don't shoot me again, little boss. Pleas-"

Pop. The foam bullet hit him in the chest.

I covered my mouth to hide a laugh.

Lorenzo clutched his heart dramatically. "That's my girl."

Fire threw himself back into the grass like he'd been hit by a sniper round.

"AHHH-I'm dying again! Somebody tell my mother I love her!"