Zane had told himself for years not to get close to anyone, especially a woman, due to his choice of job. However, when he met Yani, he can't deny their connection, and will embark on a new journey with her, that neither of them expected.
After I picked up my money, I make my way to my second destination. 45 minutes later, I pull up to . I park and I turn off the car. I look in the mirror at my reflection . My eyes are low as hell. I rub my eyes quickly and then I take off my sweatshirt, revealing just my white t-shirt. I get out of the car and I take a deep breath of the warm Houston air. It's September, but the weather is still 80 degrees down here. I walk up to the door and I knock on it. Within a minute, this woman answers.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hey ma," I said in my thick Texan accent.
"You're late," my mom said sternly.
"Only a few minutes late." My mom shakes her head and she moves to the side and I walk in. I walk to the back bedroom and I quietly open the door. I look in and I see her sleeping peacefully. My little princess is so beautiful.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I gather her things and I place them in her small overnight bag. I put her bag on my shoulder and then I remove the covers from her small body and I pick her up. She squirms around a bit and I look down at her as she slowly opens her eyes and looks up at me.
"Hi daddy," she said tiredly.
"Hi Nia. Sorry daddy woke you up," I said softly.
"It's ok....I tried to stay awake for you, but I was tired," Nia said while yawning.
"That's ok baby girl I know it's late. Let's head home." Nia nods her head and closes her eyes as she rests her head on my shoulder and wraps her small arms around my neck. I leave the bedroom and I walk down the hall to the door and I see my mom standing at the door. I smile a bit and I pull out an envelope and I hand it out to her.
"You know I can't take that baby," my mom said while sighing.
"I want you to have it ma," I said. She shakes her head "no" and I set it on a nearby table.
"Thank you for watching her. I appreciate it. Nia say bye to grandma," I said.
"Bye grandma I love you," Nia said while opening her eyes.
"I love you too Nia," my mom said while smiling softly. My mom hugs Nia and kisses her cheek. My mom then puts Nia's shoes on.
"I love you ma," I said.
"I love you too baby. Be safe," my mom said. I nod my head and I hug her, kiss her cheek and then I leave as she closes the door behind me. I unlock my car doors and I gently place Nia in the back seat. I make sure she is strapped in and then I set her overnight bag next to her. I kiss her cheek before closing the door and hopping in the front seat. I start up the car and I pull out of the driveway and I make my way home. Once I pull up to my apartment complex and park, I turn off the car and I get out. I get my baby girl out of the car and her bag. I close and lock the doors and I walk to the apartment complex door. I type in the security code on the keypad and then I open the door. I take the elevator to the sixth floor and once I step out of the elevator I walk down the hall to my apartment. I unlock and open the door to my apartment and I close and lock the door behind me, trying my best not to wake up Nia in the process. I slip off my shoes and I set my keys on the kitchen counter. I walk down the hall and I take the few steps up to the second level. I take Nia to her room and I lie her down and then I set her overnight bag near her closet. I take off her shoes and socks. I then try to take off her shirt, so I can put on her pajamas and as I am doing so, Nia wakes up. She is not a deep sleeper at all. She yawns loudly as she looks at me and waves.
"Sorry I woke you up baby girl but I have to put your pajamas on," I said.
"It's ok daddy," Nia said. She lifts up her arms and I take off her shirt and I put her in a long pajama nightgown. I then take off her jeans and I put her clothes in the dirty clothes hamper. She lies down and I pull the covers over her. She turns her head to look at me.
"We have to wrap your crazy hair," I said while running my hands through her kinky hair and laughing a bit. Nia giggles softly and nods her head. She sits up and I put a large satin scarf on her hair. She then lies back down and looks up at me.
"Daddy can we spend tomorrow together?," Nia asked nicely.
"Of course I would love that. As long as all of your homework and chores are done, then we can do whatever you want," I said.
"Great! I will do all my homework and chores in the morning." I smile at my little girl; she's so precious. I lean down and I kiss her all over her face in a playful manner and she laughs hard.
"Daddy you're silly!," Nia squealed.
"I know but you love me anyway right?," I asked.
"Yes daddy I love you so much."
"You're so sweet baby girl. Give me a kiss." I pucker my lips and Nia laughs and rests her small hands on my cheeks and pecks my lips, then my nose and then my forehead. I chuckle softly; she's silly too. She clearly got that from me.
"Daddy were you out helping people again?," Nia asked.
"Yes I was that is why I was late," I said.
"That's ok you're doing good things so it's ok." I smile and I kiss her forehead.
"Close your eyes. It's late," I said. Nia holds out her left hand to me and I grab it and I hold it tightly. I kiss it and she closes her eyes and turns on her side to face me. I run my other hand over her left cheek softly. I sit with Nia until she is knocked out again. I kiss her hand and forehead and then I leave her bedroom closing the door behind me. That little girl is my heart. I would do anything for her and to protect her. She's six now and is growing so fast. I remember the early morning she was born. She's just such a blessing and I make sure she knows that every chance I get. I walk next door to my bedroom and I take a deep breath. It's been a long day. I take off all my jewelry and I set it on my dresser. I then take out my gun and I set it on the dresser as well. I then walk into my large master bathroom and I turn on the shower to a warm temperature. I strip out of my clothes, grab a washcloth, and then I step in the shower and I close the glass door behind me. I stand under the high pressure shower and I close my eyes as the water flows down my entire body. I think about the events of earlier tonight. That nigga I shot was beating his girlfriend to a pulp every chance he got. I should have killed him, but that's not my job. I DO NOT kill any of my targets. My job is to scare them enough to where they stop the bad actions that they are doing. They only have one chance from me. If they continue doing wrong, then those in a higher position than me take care of it. I'm the first step. I'm ruthless enough at times, so if you don't heed my first warning, then you will regret it. I won't go into too much more detail; I just know that this is my life now. Of course I know how dangerous this lifestyle is. Anyone of my targets could put a price on my head if they ever found out it was me that harmed them. I am extremely careful when it comes to my identity. I do everything I can to conceal it. As good as I am at this job; it's always in the back of my mind that I could slip up. I could slip up and it could destroy me and my little girl. I would not want Nia to grow up without me in her life. That would destroy me. She needs me and I need her. These thoughts flood my mind every time I complete an assignment. I have to push those thoughts into the back of my head, because on Monday, I will have a new assignment and I need to stay focused.
