Body Count (BWWM)

Chapter 16

Gloria

It's 10am in the morning and Tati's birthday is Saturday. So, we have 2 days to finish planning and I want to make the day as perfect as possible. This will be her first birthday celebrating with her father. He's been overwhelmed and you'd think it's because he's working overtime to keep us safe. No, it's because he's been spending thousands on decorations, food, and presents for his soon-to-be four year old. He's literally on the phone right now with the Circus.

I roll my eyes at his demands as he's handling the call like it's important business. He furrows his brows and curses something in Russian and slams the phone on the nightstand.

I chuckle, "Artemis. She's turning four, she probably won't even remember half of this. Don't you think you're going a little overboard?" I questioned.

"Gloria, no. I've already missed so much and my baby girl is going to get whatever she wants." He assures me.

"Listen, I understand you're trying to make up for lost time. But she has many birthdays ahead of her. My God if you're doing this for her 4th birthday, I can only imagine what her 16th, 18th, or 21st will look like." I chuckle.

"Hmm...you sound jealous." He smirks at me.

"Jealous? Please. She a great kid and deserves the world but I just don't want to spoil her too much." I tell him as I sit on the edge of the bed next to him.

"You know if it was your birthday. I'd go all out too." I roll my eyes, playfully nudging him. 

He swipes my hair out of my face and cups my cheek. He scoots closer and I could smell his minty breath, his lips almost touching mine.

I grab his hands and back away. "Artemis, please."

He looks defeated and grabs my hands. "Gloria, I want you. I want this. You can't deny your feelings for me. I think for Tati, we should give this a shot."

"I don't know if I'm ready, Artemis. What if someone goes wrong and then I have to pick up the pieces with Tati." He sits back and looks at me with disgust in his eyes.

"You really think if you and I don't work out I would leave Tati? You think that low of me?" He questions.

He continues. "Gloria, I would fucking never leave you to raise Tati on your own. What happen before wasn't my fault. I thought we've been thr-"

"No, Artemis. That's not what I'm saying."

I clasp my hands together and sigh, "what if something happens to you?" I find myself getting emotional. "What if you're killed or sent away again? Do you know what that would do to her? To me?" I said the last part lowly.

He kneel in front of me. "Baby, is that why you won't be with me? You think something is going to happen to me?"

"In this short time, Tati has grown to love you. She adores you so much and I don't want her to be without you ever again."

"And you?" He asks.

I look at his beautiful blue orbs. "I find myself hoping we could be more one day. I just don't know how to start that process."

He stands up, pulling me into his hard chest. "I'll start it. Let me take you out on a date."

I smile at him. "A date? What about Tati?"

"She's in a secure home with two people who would protect her with their lives, Niko and Alicia." He reminds me.

"When and where? I don't have any clothes here, Artemis and neither does Alicia. We need to go home and grab our stuff." I tell him.