Page 69 of Shield and Savior

Izzy: You’re coming, right?

Me: Absolutely.

There’s no way I would miss it.

I scratch Midge under her chin, and she raises her head higher and closes her eyes. It’s almost like she’s smiling. Amazing how one tiny act can give so much pleasure.

So, now I’m trapped until the cat tires of my touch and leaves. If I stop, she will never like me again. And, if I’m being honest, now that I have this, I don’t want to lose it.

Um…okay…it’s not about the cat. It’s Izzy, it’s Drew, it’s all of it. I’m not sure what it would look like—I don’t know how to be a father—but with Izzy comes Drew, and they’re the best package deal I can think of.

Izzy: My dad’s not coming, neither is Joey. So, I’ve got an extra seat, if you want it.

I send her a GIF of a baby saying “mine.”

Izzy: But my mom and Nonna will be there.

Me: Oh, ummm…that’s going to be a problem.

Izzy: Why?

Me: Nonna hits on me every time I see her. Not sure how much longer I’ll be able to keep my animal attraction at bay.

Izzy: Why don’t you deflect that attention to me?

Me: Done and done.

Izzy: Lol. See you soon.

I toss my phone to the side, but Midge doesn’t like the sudden motion and turns her head away before lifting up, stretching, and hopping off my bed. After I shower and shave, there’s a debate about what I should wear. It’s a family event, so I should look nice. But I’m not going in an official capacity, so the customary bodyguard suit is not required. I opt for jeans, a button-down shirt, and a casual jacket. Hopefully Izzy will approve.

It doesn’t take long for the second guessing to kick in. God, what if I don’t look right, or I’m too dressed up? Or too casual? Most of the parents attending are CEOs and world leaders. Maybe my off-the-rack jacket won’t be enough.

But Izzy doesn’t care about that. Drew doesn’t either.

Still, the doubt eats away at my brain. Feelings of not being enough. Not knowing exactly what it takes to be a man a kid can look up to. Did my dad feel like that? Probably not. That’s why he walked out. But this constant doubt and fear, like we’re all making it up as we go, sucks. I wish adulthood came with a manual. Or at least something to let me know if I was moving in the right direction.

That’s one of the reasons I like my job so much. If the client is alive, I did it right. It’s pretty black and white. I’m good at taking care of people. Hell, I kept Alana alive all this time. But, she is pretty self-sufficient.

On the way out, I feed Midge, who rewards me by rubbing up against my leg and sharing all her fur with my pants.

The school is packed, and it’s a security nightmare. Balloons obstruct visibility. The lines are long, which means a lot of standing in one place. All the other personal security officers from the other companies have straight lines for mouths and are constantly moving their heads like birds, surveying the area from behind their sunglasses. The jeebies must be in high effect right now. Glad to know I’m not the only one who has them.

The mood changes as the crowd shifts. I’m waiting in line to get checked in when the whispers start. I’m used to that. The whispers. But who makes world leaders, CEOs, and mafia bosses whisper? Only an Olympian.

“Lance, my man, how you doing?” Hadeon Olympian slaps my arm, and his three dogs sniff me before sitting nicely at his feet. For as long as I’ve known Hadeon, he’s always tried to be casual. And it never seems to work. His suit costs more than a car. He’s still awkward from a lifetime of private tutors. I think he went to public school for a year, but he was already a teen. Too old for that leopard to change his spots at that point, I guess. It’s a fucking miracle he convinced Penny to marry him, and his daughter Olivia is as magical as the Big Bang.

I smile back at him. “Just fine, my dude.”

He frowns. “Yeah, we shouldn’t do this.”

“Nope, it’s weird.”

“Hey, I texted Alana. She should be here, right?”

“Of course. I’m sure she’s already inside.” I nod at the black dogs who flank him. If his suit costs more than a car, his dogs are worth more than a house. “Still using the puppies as security?”

A wicked grin flashes on his face. “Yeah. You know what they won’t do? Fuck my wife.”

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