A few weeks later, our home was raided by the Feds and then by the cartel claiming he stole millions of dollars from them. After that, I knew I was going to be their next move. I hired a live-in nanny and her military-trained husband to care for my sister, fortified the house, supplying money for security, set up a trust account to make sure she had everything she needed, and I left. The hardest thing I ever did was leave my baby sister behind, but she was so young I knew she was safe for the moment.
I swore to myself I would never fall for anyone after that. No woman could handle this life, and why should she have to? No. I never want to give my enemies something to hold over my head, and enemies are something we have plenty of. We have had to double security everywhere after Dario went apeshit and killed half of the remaining families left in Florida.
So I have to question why in the hell he would agree to house a fucking teenager here? I get that her family and Dario have been allies from the beginning. Knowing that the heads of the DeSantis' have recently been assassinated, the Boss, Giuseppe, had three daughters left. The oldest is looking to take over. Smartly, she is sending her twin sisters to other states as she makes her play, but here? Seriously? Like I don't have enough on my plate to have to babysit a damn teenager. Speaking of the Boss.
"I see you are outside waiting for the car to arrive," he says, his eyes not on me but on the bundle of chubby pink cheeks he is holding in his arms. His wife Jewel gave birth to their daughter Lorelei five months ago, and once again, I watched him change right before my eyes. Hell, to be honest, when they made me her godfather, I damn near dropped a tear myself. She looks at me and smiles, and Dario chuckles. "Seems your Goddaughter would like to see you." he hands her over to me, and no shit, pieces of my heart continue to warm. This little girl is seriously dangerous. All of the men in the compound bend over backward to make sure she and Jewel are safe and not just because it is their job. No. They have both wormed their way into everyone's heart.
I pull her further into my chest and allow myself one sniff of her baby scent. One moment to wish this were in the cards for me before I kiss her cute face and hand her back to her father. "Still running from it, I see." He says, placing her back in the crook of his arm.
"I am running from nothing, asshole. I just don't have the desire for domesticity. It's too dangerous." I give him the truth, not that he doesn't know it. His wife was shot over a year ago and almost died, and I watched as he attempted to take his life, hearing her heart flatline. Thank fuck, I am a quick bastard and stopped him. Yeah, I don't need anyone having that kind of control over my heart or head.
"There you two are." Jewel walks out from behind me, and I smile at her before turning my attention back to the horizon.
"Hello, my treasure. Did you enjoy your nap?" I may not be looking at them, but their conversation can be heard.
"I did. Someone does not want to sleep at night." I hear baby Rory giggle.
"I told you to let me get up with her, baby."
"I know, but I knew you had a busy morning. It's fine. I enjoy it." Why the hell does my chest hurt. "Click," she turns her attention to me. "You do remember that this poor girl just lost her father and is being separated from her sisters. Be nice." She chastises me like a damn kid, and still, I can feel nothing but brotherly love towards her.
"I know, boss lady. I know." As if on cue, a black hummer pulls up in front of the driveway. I watch the driver get out and walk over to the other side. I can't see anything from where I am standing. I hear heels clicking on the stone driveway, and then the driver emerges with bags. Suddenly it is like I am in a movie that is being filmed in slow motion. Like she has been dropped from the sky, a blonde angel walks into view, and my chest begins to burn. My mind is whirring, demanding that my heart fucking quits with this shit, but then she looks up at me, and even though I am still at the top of the porch, her eyes fucking knock me backward. I find myself stumbling, grabbing onto the stone wall for balance, praying no one else saw it.