Page 39 of Powerful Deception

The guard sitting in the passenger seat, Bruno, lets out a grunt and steps out of the car to open my door wider.

I give him a nod as a thank you.

“Angel is sleeping, I will be back before he wakes up, I promise.” I explain and all I get is another grunt in return.

Grunts.

I’ve been surrounded by grunts these last four days. Grunts from the bodyguards, grunts from Alessandra and grunts from Dante.

Alessandra, I understand completely.

The guards, well I expect them to be hard even with me and the kids. As for Dante, I get the feeling that on top of not trusting me, he also doesn’t like me, and not liking me must mean not talking to me.

That man is a bastard and a half, a hot one at that but I can’t wait until I find something to bring him down.

In the meantime, I’ll concentrate on his kids.

That thought has me churning inside.

It’s only been four days, and I already care deeply for them. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve spent countless hours with them or what, but I feel this kinship with them, that at times is making me overthink everything.

Like maybe I should quit my job tomorrow and figure out another way to do this.

Or just stop this all together.

Then the kids won’t get hurt by my actions and won’t lose their second parent and become orphans like I did.

I can walk away right now, but I don’t want to.

I need to see this through. I have to continue this, if not for revenge than to stop another daughter from going through the same pain I am.

For right now, I will treat this like as any other job, giving it my all, and I will try to not get more attached to the kids than what I already have.

If that’s even possible.

Shaking my head, I put a smile on my face, forgetting my though process and walk into the building.

When

I reach the classroom that Evelyn directed me to, I’m instantly thrown into the world of the most put together woman and their perfect children.

Everyone in the room looks pristine and dressed as if they just came from the country club. Then there’s me, wearing skinny jeans with flats and a Chicago Dark Knights t-shirt that has seen better days.

I stick out and I know it when all the adults stop talking and turn to look at me.

My cheeks heat up, so I turn away from the country club moms and look around the room for Alessandra.

I find her at a table by herself coloring, not giving the world any attention. Or is it that the world is not giving any attention to her?

Looking around some more, I see all the other kids playing with at least one other person. Alessandra is the only one that’s by herself.

Ignoring all the stares that I’m getting, I approach her and crouch down to her level.

“Hi Allie, how was your day?” I ask her and at the sound of my voice she turns to face me.

Her eyes brighten up when she sees me and it looks like she wants to smile, but she doesn’t.

“I hope it’s okay that I’m the one to pick you up today. You’re papi had to work. Is it okay that I’m here?”