Page 78 of Recklessly You
“Liam, you don’t need—”
“I do. I want to tell you.”
She nods.
“This is where my dad died, inside Luigi’s, having pizza.” I close my eyes, exhale a long breath, and tell her everything.
* * *
I fixmy gaze on the television and marvel at how Raphael and Michelangelo take the villains. I stand and try some moves the Ninja Turtles perform. I hear my papá chuckle as he watches me. I wonder if my papá fights the bad guys the way Ninja Turtles do.
My papá reaches out and messes up my hair affectionately. At the same time, my mamá enters the room carrying my coat. I offer her a smile as she waddles toward me.
“Here, Liam, let’s get your coat on so you can go have dinner with your papá.” Her beautiful brown eyes always sparkle. I kiss her round tummy. In four months, I will be a big brother. Mamá is having twins.
“Okay, Mamá. You’re not coming?” I ask.
“No, your little brothers in my tummy make me so tired. I’m going to get some rest.” My papá kisses my mamá. I watch as he rubs her tummy and tells her he loves her.
“What do you feel like eating, Liam?” my papá asks as he straps his holster around his waist. He always carries his gun and badge with him.
I bring my finger to my chin, thinking. “Pizza, Papá. I want pizza.”
“Pizza it is. Let’s go so your mamá can rest.” My papá leans in to kiss my mamá again.
Yuck.
“Get some rest, my love.” Papá sweeps his thumb on her cheek.
I scrunch my nose.
* * *
Papá pulls upto Luigi’s Pizza, and we make our way inside. I get a cheese pizza for myself, and he orders a meat lover’s plus some breadsticks. As soon as we sit down, I take my Ninja Turtle action figure out of my pocket. My father watches me with a kind smile.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” he asks.
I shrug. “A ninja. I want to fight bad guys like you, Papá.”
His head tips back, a roaring laugh escapes his mouth, and his chest shakes. I take a bite of my pizza and smile. Papá is a brilliant detective. I want to find bad guys like he does.
“You will be an amazing officer and detective one day, Liam. You’re strong, smart, and courageous.”
He takes a bite of his pizza when his head jolts up. His face goes pale. My head turns to look in the direction he’s staring. Two men walk in, glaring at him.
Papá whispers, “Hide under the table, okay? I need you to be strong right now and have courage. Close your eyes. If you need to run, you run fast from the bad guys, okay?”
I stare into Papá’s eyes. I’ve never seen him this scared. I nod. I duck under the table.
“Rodriguez,” a man shouts, wearing jeans and black boots.
I watch from under the table, my father’s hand on his gun.
“What can I help you with, Pablo?” My papá’s voice is seething with anger.
I rub my ninja turtle, praying he will give me some magical power to turn into a ninja and help Papá.
“You took something from me, Rodriguez.” The man’s voice is filled with rage.
