Danger and Tattoos

End of a Beginning

                River's POV::

    The feeling of someone kissing my forehead and cheeks wakes me. The sunlight coming in from the window hurts my eyes. Vito props himself up on his elbows as he stares down at me. He's like wine, only gets better with age.
    "I made the kids breakfast before they go off to school," he days. "I can to leave in twenty," he says. I brush my hair back and sit up.
    "Have they left yet?" I ask, my voice rough with sleep. I trace the tattoo on his stomach, taking deep breaths, for my chest still hurts from being sick over the weekend. 
     "No," he says. I get up and put on his shirt from yesterday and tights. "You should relax a little bit, hermosa."
     "I'm fine," I say, opening the bedroom door and walking downstairs. Lulu sits on the couch with her dog toy, cute as can be. Esteban and Astra look over at me from their food, stopping their conversation.
    "Excited about today, Princesá?" Vito asks Astra once he's down the stairs. Her entire school career she's been home schooled for the reason that both Vito and I thought it would be too dangerous. Esteban can defend himself, but not Astra; she's innocent...with a smart mouth.
    "Kind of, just anxious," she says. That's never a good thing for me her. She has the same anxiety disorder as I do, but the doctors refuse to give her medication. They have her see a therapist twice a week to talk about her feelings and thoughts. The doctors even said that they believe she might have it worse than I do.
   "It'll be fine," Esteban tells her. They've always been close for being brother and sister. Usually you heat about siblings always fighting and arguing, that's never been them. "My first day of highschool was fun," he says.
    "That's cause you had friends, I don't know anyone," she says. He shrugs, knowing that's the truth. Vito's brows knit together.
    "What about Na-"
    "Not family, dad. Actual friends," she says. "Not people that are like cousins." He ruffles her hair and kisses my forehead.
    "Well come on before we're both late," he says, grabbing the keys. Esteban hands her her backpack and stands up next to me as they leave.
    "She'll be fine," he tells me. I nod, looking up at him. He's taller than Vito, so that means he's a literal giant compared to me.
    "I know."

  AN: The end!...but it's not. I have a NEW STORY coming out that is a SEQUEL/SPINOFF to this story called You Really Got A Hold On Me. It is the story of Astra and...a certain someone 😏. Please comment and check out that story. Believe in yourself -Vaeh