𝐑𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 | 𝟏𝟖 +

𝐅 𝐈 𝐅 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

Sevan

When I woke up, I felt an unfamiliar weight on my chest. Blinking my eyes open, I realized it was Marilyn, fast asleep on top of me, her head tucked neatly under my chin. Her arms were wrapped around me, and I wasn't going to lie, I missed this. I missed holding her, feeling her warmth and the comfort she used to bring me. For a moment, I let myself just lie there, enjoying the quiet and the sensation of having her so close again. I could feel the steady rise and fall of her breathing, and it was... peaceful.

Eventually, Marilyn stirred, her eyelashes fluttering open. She looked up at me with a soft smile, her voice still husky from sleep. "Hello, darling." she murmured.

I couldn't help but smile back at her. "Hi." I replied. "Where's Dakota?"

"She's with the nanny, Savannah." Marilyn said, her voice a little more alert now as she sat up. I nodded, feeling the warmth of her absence as she moved off of me, but I shook it off.

We made our way downstairs, the house quiet except for the faint sound of Dakota's giggles coming from the kitchen. As soon as we stepped in, the sight that greeted me was nothing short of chaotic.

There was Dakota, sitting in her high chair with a face full of soup, giggling as the nanny, Savannah, tried to clean her up. Only, Savannah was just as messy, covered in soup herself. The whole scene was hilarious, and before I could stop myself, I burst out laughing.

Marilyn shot me an amused smile before kissing Dakota's head. "Look at the mess you've made, sweetheart." she said, her tone playful.

Dakota giggled even louder, and with her little hand, she reached up and smeared soup all over Marilyn's cheek. I snorted, quickly covering it up with a cough as Marilyn shot me a glare.

But my amusement faded when I saw who the nanny was. Savannah. The memory of losing Dakota in the park came rushing back, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of anger rise up in me. How could she be trusted again after that? I crossed my arms, fixing Savannah with a cold stare.

"If you ever loose sight of Dakota again! If something like what happened in the park ever happens again," I said firmly, "you're fired. For good."

Savannah's eyes widened, and she stammered out an apology, looking nervous. "I promise, Ms. Clifford, it won't happen again. I've learned from my mistake."

I didn't reply, but the warning was clear. If anything happened to Dakota again under her watch, she wouldn't be getting another chance.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Marilyn's expression tighten. She didn't say anything, but I knew her well enough to feel the shift in her mood. She was pissed, not just at Savannah but at the situation. I could almost feel the scolding that Savannah was going to get later, and frankly, I couldn't blame Marilyn for being upset. Dakota's safety was non-negotiable.

For now, though, I pushed the tension aside. Marilyn and I had to focus on what mattered, our daughter. Dakota squealed again, clearly entertained by the whole situation, and as I looked at her with her messy face and bright blue eyes, I couldn't help but feel that surge of love again.

"You're lucky you're cute." I muttered to Dakota, wiping a bit of soup from her cheek. She gave me a big, toothy grin in response, and just like that, all the frustration melted away. This was what mattered, her laughter, her joy, and keeping her safe.

As soon as Savannah made herself scarce after my warning, the kitchen felt a lot more peaceful. Dakota was still in her high chair, grinning and wiggling her tiny feet as she played with what was left of her soup. Marilyn was cleaning off her cheek, shaking her head with a small smile.

I watched them for a moment, feeling something shift inside me. There was no way I could stay a few kilometers away from this. From them.

"Marilyn." I started, my voice steady as I looked at her. "I want to move into the D'Angelo Estate."

Marilyn paused, turning to face me with a surprised expression. "Are you sure?" she asked, though I could see the hint of hope in her eyes.

"Yes." I nodded. "I need to be here if Dakota needs me. I can't be living miles away when she could wake up in the middle of the night crying for her mama. I need to be close to her."

Marilyn's face softened, and she smiled at me, the kind of smile that made me feel like everything might just be okay. "I completely understand, darling. And of course, you're welcome here. This is your home too now."

It felt strange hearing those words, but they were comforting all the same. I had been living independently for so long, and now, here I was, making decisions that were no longer just about me. It was about Dakota, our daughter.

"There's something else." Marilyn added, her tone growing a little more serious. "I want to train you. Teach you how to defend yourself."

I was taken aback by that. "Train me?" I asked, unsure of where this was coming from. "I don't think I—"

Marilyn interrupted me gently. "Sevan, you're involved in this now, whether you like it or not. I can't have you getting hurt or caught off guard. I need to know you can take care of yourself, even when I'm not around. For Dakota's sake."

I hesitated. She was right, of course, but the thought of jumping into this world, the Mafia world, was daunting. It was terrifying. And yet, I had no choice but to face it head-on. I had to think about Dakota's safety too.

After a moment, I nodded slowly. "Alright." I said. "I'll do it. I'll train."

Marilyn's smile returned, this time filled with pride. "Good. You'll start next Monday. Theodore will be training you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Theodore? I haven't met him yet."

Marilyn chuckled softly. "You will soon. He's my right-hand man. I trust him with my life. We've known each other since we were young, and he helped me... well, let's just say he played a big part in helping me get out of that mess with Victor."

I nodded again, absorbing the information. Theodore sounded like someone important, someone I needed to trust too. If Marilyn trusted him, then I would give him a chance. I didn't know what to expect from the training, but I had a week to prepare myself mentally.

"Okay." I said finally. "I'll be ready by Monday."

Marilyn's smile grew wider, and I could see the relief in her eyes. She stepped closer to me and placed a hand on my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Sevan." she said softly. "This means a lot. For both of us."

I glanced at Dakota, who was busy giggling and smearing more soup on her little face, completely oblivious to the conversation happening between us. I smiled down at her and then looked back at Marilyn. "It's for her." I said. "Everything I'm doing is for her." And you of course.

Marilyn's eyes shimmered with emotion, and for a brief moment, I saw a glimpse of the vulnerability she rarely let anyone see. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, her lips lingering just long enough to make my heart flutter.

"You're doing the right thing." she whispered.

I hoped she was right. Because there was no turning back now. This was my life, our life, and I had to make it work. For Dakota.

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~ R