Page 92 of Untamed Protector

Damn it. How does she know?

“If you’re wondering how I know, I have a friend at school who’s good with tech. He checked my phone when I got suspicious about Dean and his buddies showing up at every party I went to. I left the app so you wouldn’t freak out. I wanted us to talk things through first.”

Welcome to parenthood, Gabriel. The anxiety has worn off. Negotiation and surveillance are what I do best. I’ve handled similar situations with other teenagers, like my clients’ kids.

Lexi gives me an encouraging smile. I wink back, giving her the I got this look.

“Sure, we can negotiate, but the tracking app stays.”

“Fine. But if I let you know in advance where I’m going and when, your guys need to wait a block away.”

“Okay, seems reasonable.”

“And I can go out with whoever I want.”

“Whoever you want and pre-approved by me.”

“I can’t fall in love with whom you want me to.”

“God, who said anything about falling in love? I thought you were going to a party.”

Iris bursts out laughing. I raise an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation, as Lexi chuckles quietly, covering her mouth.

“Okay, Uncle Gabriel, you’ve handled this like a pro. You passed the test.”

What? Am I really that out of touch that I didn’t notice what Iris was up to? Huh, this is going to be harder than I thought. She’ll definitely keep me on my toes.

“Actually,” she goes on, “I’ll be a senior soon, preparing for college. I won’t have much time for parties. I really want a scholarship, and there’s a lot of studying to do.”

For the first time since we got here, I see Iris almost daydreaming. She has great grades and can go wherever she wants. Getting into college will be easy for her, and I’ll cover the costs.

“Uncle Gabriel, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you.”

“If I can answer, sure.”

“What was my dad like?”

“Your father? Hmm. He had a big heart. He was just like a big kid. You couldn’t help but love him. Jake didn’t let others bully him and stayed strong. He believed he had a purpose in this world, and nothing could stand in his way.”

“Unfortunately, he never got to fulfill it,” Iris says.

“He did, but he just didn’t get to see it. He didn’t get to see you, Iris, his greatest achievement. Trust me, he would’ve been so proud of you. A gifted, intelligent young woman, brought into the world by a father who never knew a parent’s love… He would’ve talked about you to everyone. Jake had no filter. He loved to talk and brag, a big leader in a small, unfortunately, sickly body. But he made up for it tenfold with his courage and his love for people.”

“I learned that about him, too,” she says, a wistful smile playing on her lips. “Hold on a sec. I want to show you something.” Iris excuses herself and disappears into the house. Soon after, she returns with a book and opens it in front of us. From it, she pulls out a piece of paper with writing on both sides and noticeable creases from being folded over and over again.

“It’s a letter from him. I got it from Grandma. He wrote it for me before I was born, but never got around to giving it to me.” She whispers the last words, swallowing hard as she fights back tears and gathers the courage to read it.

My dear princess, she begins,

I’m writing this because I want you to know everything I feel as I wait for you to be born. I’m worried I’ll forget most of it once we start stressing over how to raise you. I figured I’d write letters for different stages of your life so you can read them when I’m too tired or too old to remember. But I’m certain, princess, that you’ll always be in my thoughts and in my heart.

I was over the moon when I found out you’d be born to bring joy to our hearts and our lives—your mom’s and mine. As you probably know by now, I had no family. So, the only thing I want to be the best at in this world is being a father. Your father. We’re getting ready for your arrival, and we’re a bit of a mess. Your mom and I don’t know much about raising a child, but we know how to love. And I’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing. You should’ve seen how scared I was when we went to buy your first clothes and crib. It felt like a giant in a dwarves’ world.

As you read this letter, you’re all grown up, and we’ve shared so many wonderful times together. You’ve learned to read and write, you know how to ride a bike, and you certainly drove your mother crazy with your fashion demands. I know you’re incredibly beautiful and have big plans for your future.

I’ll leave you a piece of advice in each letter for you to remember during moments of need or when you face important decisions. Your mother and I will be there, too, but your life should be shaped by your own desires. If you’re ever unsure about what to do, remember that there are two ways to decide, which never fail. I know this because I’ve relied on them during my darkest moments, have always found my way, and met people who’ve helped me.

First, always follow your heart. It might sound cliché, but the best decisions often come from trusting your instincts.

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