Page 115 of Lethal Legacy

“Most importantly, when a friend is in danger, we don’t turn our backs on them. We don’t let them face that danger alone. We take them in. Make them feel like family. And we do everything in our power to ensure they are protected—even if that means keeping their identity a secret.”

Ofelia’s eyes widen, and she turns instinctively to look out onto the terrace, to where Lucia is on her hands and knees with Masha, scrabbling through the plants for the elusive Mr. Potato. Mickey has colored slightly, his eyes fixed on my face.

“I thought I was doing the right thing for Lucia and her father by keeping their secret.” I hold Ofelia’s eyes. “But when I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong. I realize now that I could have trusted you with that secret, and been certain that you would keep it. Nobody understands family better than both of you. You both protect Masha every day. You have each other’s backs without question. I should have known you would have Lucia’s, too.”

Mickey is nodding vigorously, and Ofelia has hectic spots of color on her cheeks.

“I wasreallymean to her,” she mutters, glancing shamefacedly at the door.

“I wouldn’t worry about that. Lucia absolutely adores you.” I give Ofelia a smile, and for once, she tentatively returns it. “She will understand, probably better than anyone, why you were so afraid.”

“But if she’s in so much danger,” says Mickey worriedly, “how are we supposed to protect her?”

Oh, no.

“That’s my job.” I pin them both with a serious look. “I want you to always be thinking for yourselves, to be smart and accountable for your own safety, as I said. But keeping this family safe is my job. That includes Lucia.

“I need you to trust me to do that. I realize that after what happened to your father, you might find that hard to believe. I understand that. Believe me when I say that I, too, learned lessons from that experience. I can promise you this: your safety is my primary mission in life. I do nothing without considering it, first and foremost. And that goes for Lucia and her father, too. Do you trust that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe?”

Ofelia and Mickey look at each other, then back at me.

“Yes,” Mickey says.

“Yes.” Ofelia actually nods at me. “I do.”

“Thank you.” Reaching across the table, I take one each of their hands. “And for my part, I promise that I will be honest with you both from now on. The first example of that is what I’m about to say now.

“It’s safer for Lucia, and for our family, if we all continue to call her and her father by the names they use. I know it’s asking a lot, and I hope you know I wouldn’t ask it if I didn’t believe it was strictly necessary. But Lucia is our responsibility. Our family. And what do we do when someone is family?”

“We protect them,” say Ofelia and Mickey in unison.

I nod. “Exactly. Are you willing to help me protect Lucia and her father?”

“Yes.” They answer without hesitation.

“Good.” I squeeze their hands, and they return the pressure. “Then let’s go outside and show them how a real family takes care of one another.”

34

ROMAN

“Lucia.” She’s kneeling on the tiles, poking about in the bushes with Masha, presumably in search of the elusive Mr. Potato. She jerks around at her name, her eyes darting worriedly between Ofelia and Mickey.

She isn’t concerned for herself,I realize. Lucia is worried about the children.

“I’d like to have lunch served here, so we can all eat together.”

Her face is a picture of confusion. She looks at the children, then glances behind her, at the old man in the wheelchair.

“Ofelia.” I turn to my goddaughter. “Would you guys like to take Lucia in and show her how we set the table? And Masha, perhaps you might like to pick some flowers to go in the center?”

Ofelia smiles shyly at Lucia. “I’d like that.”

“I can pick flowers,” says Masha proudly, immediately heading for the doors.

Ofelia slips a tentative hand into Lucia’s, leaning her head on her shoulder briefly. “Sorry,” she mumbles.

“Oh, no.” Lucia kisses the top of her head. “Don’t be, darling.”

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