Page 36 of Vengeance

It’s not an order. It’s not a request either.

There’s silence on the other end. Then, “Daddy?”

She’s not certain. Could be the stress of the day. Could be that I haven’t seen her in almost a year.

“It’s me, little one,” I say trying to match Dele’s soothing tones. She’s the one who usually deals with Lady and Leon when they’re being stubborn. I’m, in her words, the fun parent.

“Prove it.”

“I can’t do that unless you open the door.”

“Tell me something only you would know.”

“Like what?”

“Like the first time you met mama.”

That’s actually a good test. Only four people know that story. Me and Dele. And Wyan and Phae, and apparently Dele told the children.

“She shot at me,” I mutter.

“Yeah. But why?”

“My old mentor decided to take her under his wing. Thought she had potential. I walked in on him teaching her how to shoot, and according to her, she was so nervous when I walked in the room she kept missing her target. I laughed at her and said, ‘Sure. Potential,’ and walked away. And the next thing I know, a bullet is whizzing past my ear.”

“And what did Mama say?”

“How’s that for potential?”

“And then you said?”

“You missed, hot stuff, and she said, ‘I know. That’s the point.’ And ever since…”

“She’s been pointing a gun at you every time she’s mad at you,” the twins say together.

The door clicks. I open it, enter the room, and close it behind me.

“Dad,” Leon and Lady yell as they launch themselves at me.

They’ve long since grown out of me picking them up into my arms and carrying them. Especially Lady, who usually rolls her eyes and trudges ahead defiantly. But today, neither protest as I pick them up and they bury their faces into my shoulders and neck.

“Is Mama okay. These people wouldn’t tell us anything.”

“She’s fine,” I assure belatedly realizing I don’t have the exact answers to that. But she better be. Or the Fantonis are going to go from possible allies to enemies when I burn their entire estate down.

“Where’s the baby?” Leon asks. “We heard her crying. Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” I say.

“Can we meet her?” Leon asks.

“We can,” I reply as I set the twins down on the ground to look them over.

Despite the fact that they barricaded themselves in the room, it appears they cleaned themselves up in the attached bathroom and found it safe to change into the clothes that were provided for them. Lady, also, actually has a gun in her hand.

“Where did you get that?” I ask. Not that I object. I knew how to use a gun at her age. The only reason I hadn’t taught her is that Dele constantly objects to it.

“I took it,” Lady says vaguely.

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