Page 64 of Merciless Oath

Matilda hops off the couch and slowly walks over to him, pretending to inspect him from every angle. She’s really making him sweat, and I can’t believe how proud I am of her.What a tough little lady.

“Hi, Dad,” she finally says, extending her hand. Enzo accepts it and shakes it.

“I think I just made a business deal,” he moans, twisting his face into comedic horror. “And I don’t even know what it was.”

Hours later, as Matilda’s being led around the snowy field on a horse, I watch her and reflect on the entire day. After we told her the story of how we met and fell in love, she questioned Enzo like a little interrogator, but he took it well.

I laugh to myself as I remember their voices floating in from the living room while Lux and I were baking.

“Favorite food?”

“Sushi.”

“Ew, that’s gross. Choose again.”

“Okay, princess cupcakes.”

“Wow, you really are my daddy. Favorite color?”

“Gotta be pink.”

“Me too!”

“High-five, girl!”

I glance back at Enzo, relaxed and happy by the fire, chatting with Rafael. Lux is telling Alfonso some insane story while bouncing Rosie on her knee.

I crack a smile at Alfonso’s horrified face, knowing that Lux is probably going into way too much detail for him.

The horse trainer leads Matilda back over to me, and I push away from the wooden fence, walking to meet them.

“Again, Mama!” she screams with delight. “Can I go again?”

“I think it’s time for princess movies,” I cajole her, apologizing silently to the poor trainer who’s been walking in circles for the last hour. “What do you think?”

The girls only make it through half a princess movie before they’re both snoring, snuggled against each other on the couch. Lux and Alfonso gather them up gently and take them upstairs to their bedrooms while we crack open the whiskey.

Rafael wanders in from the kitchen holding two wine bottles with swirly straws and shakes his head.

“I’m simply the delivery boy,” he apologizes, handing me a bottle. “Send any complaints to the general.”

I laugh and gratefully accept the bottle. We spend another cozy evening gathered around the fireplace, trading stories and playing cards.

By the time everyone starts yawning and suggesting sleep, I’m so deeply happy that I’m pretty sure I’m vibrating.

I have Enzo back. Matilda has a father. We have new friends. Life is good.

“I’ll check on Matilda before I go to sleep,” Alfonso says with a yawn, pulling himself out of the armchair.

“Oh no.” I jump up, dragging Enzo with me. “Let us do it!”

We tiptoe upstairs so we don’t disturb the kids and sneak down the hall to her doorway. Enzo presses a soft, drunk kiss against my temple, and I smile up at him.

Together, we push open the door and slip inside.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Enzo manages before I do, and when I feel him tense beneath my touch, I know something’s wrong.

“Lenny?” he whispers, his voice strained. “Get the lights.”

---