Page 37 of Vengeance

I raise an eyebrow expectantly.

“I took it from where Eileen takes me when she shows me how to shoot,” Lady elaborates.

Of course Eileen had something to do with this. The lecture of how dangerous guns can be in her small hands can come later. I simply take it from her for now to put away later.

Then, remembering that the twins weren’t brought here alone, I look around the room for Velia Uccello.

She’s laying on the bed, asleep, still in the same clothes as before.

Before I can ask the question, Leon explains, “They had to make her go to sleep because she wouldn’t calm down earlier when they wouldn’t tell her where Aunt Bella was.” Then he looks at me. “Where is Aunt Bella anyway? And Uncle Bond.”

“They’re dead aren’t they?” Lady says matter-of-factly.

Dele would probably chide her for her lack of tact and bluntness, but Lady also didn’t steal that particular trait.

“Isabella, yes. I don’t know about Bond. I’m going to have to make some calls.”

That’s something for Dele to reveal to the girl and deal with. I hardly knew what to do with Lady and Leon when they threw cried as children, let alone the reaction of a young child finding out that she just lost her mother. Fate, unfortunately, doesn’t smile down on me.

“Where are you going?” a quiet voice asks as we’re about to leave.

I turn to see the platinum-haired girl with her eyes open and watching us warily. I’m a cruel man, but I also remember what it’s like to wonder where your mother is and not be given answers. It may be painful, but the least I can do is let her know.

“Your sister is down the hall,” I say to the twins. “Eileen is there. She’ll introduce you to her.”

The twins nod and leave side by side to find Eileen and the baby. I close the door again and walk over to where Velia is now sitting up on the bed.

As soon as I’m standing over her, she asks quietly, “Where’s my mommy?”

“I think you already know the answer to that,” I say bluntly.

She buries her head in her knees and shakes her head.

“She’s dead,” I say deciding that the best thing to do is rip off the band aid. And because this is likely true I add, “Your dad is probably as well.”

Predictably, she bursts into tears. Dele would probably pull her into her arms to comfort her. But I don’t know this child, and she doesn’t know me except that when I would send Lady and Leon gifts, I would send her something also. Besides, I’m not good at comfort. However, it would be cruel to just leave her. So I nudge her to lift her face out her knees and then put my finger on her chin and tilt her face up to me.

“Your parents knew what they signed up for. It’s the unfortunate realities of the life they chose to make a better one for you. Safe from the man who took them from you and knows no bounds in his hunger for power.”

I don’t know that she comprehended any of that, but she does answer and makes me think she did.

“Still doesn’t mean I’m not sad,” she says, lips trembling.

“No. It doesn’t,” I say. “But don’t wallow in it. Be sad. And then do something about it.”

“I can’t do anything. I’m just a kid,” she reminds me wryly, a bit of personality shining through at her annoyance at me.

“You won’t be one day. And when you aren’t, I’ll make sure the legacy your parents left you is yours to do with as you please.”

Velia nods and then rubs her eyes as she says, “Thank you, Mr. Blake.” Then, “Mommy was wrong about you. You’re not that bad.”

Of course, Isabella has planted her ideas about me in her daughter’s head. To be fair, her ideas weren’t all wrong.

“Just wait. You might find out she was right.”

It’s not meant to be funny, but Velia laughs and then asks, “Can I meet the baby too?”

“After you get cleaned up and changed,” I say, eying the robe and gown she’s still dressed in.

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