Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Yordan
The Safe Harbor Orphanage has a whole new wing, fully renovated and upgraded thanks to Ana. She’s been working with them for months now, using her own money to help the once poorly funded charity improve.
Today’s event is meant to help the facility build a nest egg of cash so it can continue to thrive as the years go on. Well, that, and to give the kids a fun time. It is a mini carnival, after all.
The first time I met Ana Moretti at Apollo’s house, she started babbling about the event to me. The way she spoke about the kids and all the good that Safe Harbor does, it was infectious. The more we talked about it, the more I wanted to be a part of it.
I don’t think she believed me at first, thinking that I was trying to appease her, or showing interest so that she’d like me. But a week later, I was volunteering with her, even bringing Apollo along with me. It was just a normal day in the building, nothing special planned. But I loved it.
Ana could tell that I genuinely enjoyed helping, it felt as fulfilling for me as it did to her. So, she officially invited me to be a part of her fundraising event. And now, here we are.
The large backyard of the Safe Harbor building has been fully transformed into something out of a movie.
Colors decorate every surface, and wild giggling fills the air.
The little carnival has been a huge hit with the kids, and I can see why.
I would have loved doing something like this when I was younger.
“Your-dan, up,” Leo says, tugging on my pant leg. I grin down at Leon’s son. He’s holding a tiny bag of cotton candy and has a blue ring of sugar around his little lips.
Ana told me the story of him being adopted from the place in NYC she used to volunteer at.
And if I didn’t know it, I’d never guess that he wasn’t Leon’s son.
Not only are their names similar, but they remind me so much of one another.
Their features aren’t identical, but they have the same calm and kind energy.
Reaching down to scoop the toddler up, my heart warms as he tucks himself into my hold. The sign of trust feels natural, as we’ve spent plenty of time together this past month.
“Are you having fun, little dude?”
“Fun,” he echoes. His English is improving every day.
I chuckle at his tired sounding voice. “How much candy have you had, hmm?” I’m sensing a sugar crash.
“Candy,” he repeats, nodding with a grin. “Daddy, where?”
“You want your dad?” I swing my gaze around, immediately finding Leon close by. He’s had an eye on his son this whole time, only around fifteen feet away, standing with Cassio. “Well, I can help with that.”
Leo yawns twice on the small walk over to his father and I smother a laugh. He’s all tuckered out, either from the candy, or from running around and making friends for the last couple hours.
“Got something here for you,” I tell Leon with a grin. “One very sleepy candy monster, express delivery.”
“Hi, Daddy,” Leo greets, nearly flinging himself out of my arms and into Leon’s. He shoves his half-empty cotton candy bag at his Dad’s chest and lays his head down. “All done.”
Chuckling, Leon presses a kiss to the top of his son’s head. “Do you want to leave soon, figlio?”
“No leave.”
Cassio chuckles at the quick response. “Looks like you’re stuck here, at least until he passes out.”
“Hand him here,” Armani says, joining us. “I’ll wake him right up.”
“You’ll shake his brain if you toss him around anymore today,” Colton chastises, following behind his friend.
Armani waves him off. “Don’t be dramatic.”
My eyes scan our surroundings as the family interacts, catching on a lone figure sitting in the grass. A girl with her head down and hands on her shoes, no other kids around.
“Be right back,” I say absently, feet already moving.
She doesn’t look up as I approach, like she doesn’t hear me coming.
“Stupid,” she mutters, sounding frustrated.
“Need some help?” I ask, trying not to startle her.
Her head snaps up, bright eyes narrowing at me. “No.”
I bite back a laugh at her confident denial. “Are you sure? It’s no trouble. I’m volunteering here with my good friend Ana; that basically makes you my boss. I have to help you if you tell me to.”
Her nose scrunches. “You’re friends with Ana?”
I hold a hand over my heart, feigning offense. “Do I not look cool enough? Or is it the accent? None of her friends sound like her since she lives here now, you know?”
“Whatever,” she huffs. “I don’t need your help.”
“I don’t want to be annoying,” I say carefully. “But I can see that you’re struggling. If you want, I can just tie them really quick for you and disappear so I’m not bothering you anymore.”
Her face turns as red as a tomato and her eyes well up. “I’m not stupid, you know! It’s not my fault they didn’t show me how.”
“Hey, hey,” I say quickly, sympathy hitting me in the gut. “I’m not judging. My parents didn’t show me how either. The only reason I know how is because my sister taught me.”
The girl, probably only eight or nine, looks at me. She scrutinizes my face, like she’s trying to figure out if she believes me.
“Fine,” she relents, standing up. “You can help me.”
The pride I feel for getting through to this obviously guarded kid is immense. I feel like a fucking superhero.
I kneel down and start working on her laces, trying to move quickly before she changes her mind and kicks me in the face or something.
Almost done with the final loop, I look up. Gone is the grumpy defense mechanism, all I see on her face is the look of pure terror. I start to stand just as the first scream rings out. The back of my neck prickles with awareness, and I hear the sound of a gun cocking from behind me.
I don’t think, I act, covering the young girl with my frame.
Bang.
My back burns and tenses.
And then all hell breaks loose.