Page 78 of Arianna

“Ellaiza.” I gruffly say, choked up with emotion. Most of the time, I feel like I’m failing her, but then I look at her innocent face, and I am instantly reminded of the thousands of kids like her that end up in the hands of the depraved.

I might do a lot of shit I am not proud of, but dismantling sex traffic rings and lowering the crime rate in this city, my daughter’s city, are two of the most selfless acts I have ever done, and it is all because of her.

Being a father opened my eyes to things I never thought about before.

Now, that is all I think about.

How this world we live in is too rotten for angels like my baby girl.

Like Arianna.

The images of the little kids that we managed to rescue tonight will haunt me for the rest of my life. They are safe and in their parents’ arms, but a part of them died at the hands of every single sick cunt that touched them.

That took what was not theirs to take.

Their innocence.

Flashbacks of tonight’s events hit me. I did my part with the help of the law, and now it is up to Sandoval.

I deliver the filthy, and he gets his hands dirty.

That is our arrangement.

We both win.

“Daddy!” My daughter’s happy squeal chases the ugly images away, replacing them with all she is.

Pure sunshine.

Magic.

I hurry to her side when she starts bouncing in her bed.

She is the one thing that makes it worth it.

My one love.

My only reason.

All sunshine, love, and exuberance smiling up at me with arms outstretched.

Ellaiza.

My daughter.

The only thing beautiful and big enough to fill the hallowed hole in the middle of my black heart.

The only thing bright enough to give me a glimpse of light.

She is the one good thing I have in my life.

She is dressed in a light pink, Versace shirt and matching pink socks. Looking like the stunning princess she is. No doubt it is one of the items the brat got for her with my credit card.

Smiling, I sit down on the tiny bed and take my daughter into my arms, relinquishing the sweetness of her presence. “Thank you for waiting for me, baby,” I tell her, kissing the top of her head. She pulls her head back and gives me a wide smile. Fuck, that smile undoes me.

Ella frees herself from my arms and pulls herself up using my shirt to do it. I place my palm on her back to prevent her from falling backward. “Wecom, daddyyyy!” She starts jumping again, little legs propelling herself as high as she can go, hands clutching my shirt tightly, and all that dark hair bouncing around her chubby face.

A slight chuckle rumbles out, and I start tickling her sides. “I think it is time for you to go to bed, baby. What is up with all this energy?”

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