Save Me

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

"Papa, we go to wowk?" Lucca questions as we near the end of breakfast with a curious, and hopeful expression.

Nodding as I swallow my last bite before answering; "Yeah, bubs, we're gonna go to work. First we need to help clean up from breakfast, then get dressed, and brush our teeth and hair, okay?"

"Yesh!" he hollers, fist bumping his little right hand into the air, causing all of us to softly laugh at his cute behavior.

After cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast, Lucca and I head to his bedroom to get him dressed, before heading into my bedroom to do the same, and then into my bathroom to brush our teeth and hair. Upon completing these tasks, we head down to the fully furnished basement where the offices are located, and walk into my office.

Flipping on the light, I turn on the television to a music station while Lucca grabs his "work" which is coloring books (some have animals, some have shapes, and some have numbers and letters), his big container of crayons, and he sits these on his end of my wooden desk where his chair is located. He then grabs an grape juice bottle from the mini fridge, his sippy cup from on top of the mini fridge, and rushes back to his chair.

I've sorted my own paperwork while Lucca's done his own, and happily pour his juice into the cup while he climbs onto his chair. We do this every day when I need to work, and usually once a week, he and I will go to the park, or somewhere he can socialize. No one here on the grounds has a child or children, so I try to make sure he gets some sort of social activity with other children.

We just can't have any child come here because I don't need their parents, who are outsiders, to question what we're doing here. I know it isn't fair to Lucca, but for now this is what has to be done. When he's older, hopefully some of the other members of this Mafia will have their own child or children whom he can socialize with.

Working through the numbers for our legit businesses, and for the mafia part of the accounting for some time while Lucca colors in his books, and we listen to the music playing in the background. We've been doing this for almost an hour before there's a loud knock on the open door. Snapping my head up toward the door in surprise as does Lucca, and we find ourselves looking at Alexi, who is looking back at us.

Raising my eyebrows at him as Lucca focuses back on his coloring book as I ask Alexi; "Can I help you?"

He shifts awkwardly on his feet for several seconds before finally answering; "I was wondering if you'd like me to watch Lucca while you work?"

Instantly frowning at him, I shake my head; "No, thank you. I'm almost done with my work, and then Lucca and I are going to the park, so he can play for a while."

His body deflates at my answer, and I feel kinda bad, but I don't understand why he's even offering to watch my son; "Oh, okay. Um, would you guys like company while at the park?"

Placing my pen on top of the desk; "Alexi, please don't take my question the wrong way, but why do you want to watch my son for me, and spend time with us at the park?"

He shrugs with a light blush of color across his cheeks; "I just want to spend time with you, and become antiquated with you, and get to know your son."

"Okay, um, I guess you can come with us to the park," I shrug, chewing on my lower lip. "We're gonna leave here in about thirty minutes."

Alexi eagerly nods with a bright smile; "Thanks! I'll be ready to leave before then! Do you need me to grab anything before we leave?"

"No, thanks though," I reply, still confused as to why he really wants to spend time with us, but I'm gonna leave this topic alone for now.

Shaking my head as he quickly rushes from the room to do whatever he needs to do before we leave the house. Focusing back on my work, Lucca and I are quiet for a few minutes before he asks me a question.

"Papa, does he wike you?" he innocently asks, his hand hovering above his page, and looks at me with wonder-filled eyes.

"No, baby, he just wants to be our friend," I reply, not wanting to explain to him how Alexi does feel about me. "Are you okay with us becoming friends with Alexi?"

Lucca shrugs his tiny shoulders as he focuses back on his page while answering; "I guess that's fine. I though he unkie's fwiend."

"He is uncle Romeo's friend, but he can be our friend, too," I reply, and my answer is valid that people can have more than one friend.

"Otay, Papa," he mumbles, over this conversation already.

Fifteen minutes later, Lucca and I are leaving my office for the kitchen to grab three water bottles from the fridge, and three bags of individual chips for the park. When we arrive in the kitchen, Alexi and Romeo are in there already, and I grab an extra water bottle and bag of chips for Romeo because I already know without being told, that he's coming along, too.

"Come on, I'm driving," Romeo grins as he grabs his keys from the bowl by the front door.

"You don't have a car seat for Lucca, remember," I remind him with an eye roll.

Romeo's grin widens as he holds the keys up for me to see; "I know. I'm driving yours."

"Stronzo," I mutter under my breath at my brother, and he and Alexi just laugh, and Lucca tells me that I owe him a dollar for saying a bad word. (Asshole)