Chapter 10
When Monday morning rolled around, Coco struggled to get out of bed.
Not because of sleepiness. She didn’t want the weekend to end.
Being with her Daddy had rocked. He’d kept her with him with only a quick trip to her rented room to pick up Zelda and a few things she needed.
She wished she could just stay with him.
“You’re not moving very fast, Coco. Do you feel okay?” Roman asked in concern.
“I’m good.” She forced herself out of bed. “Can I take a shower?”
“You don’t need to ask, Little girl. I’d like you to feel like you’re at home. Hopefully, you’ll agree to move in soon.”
“You want me here?” she asked, completely distracted from her thoughts of getting ready for work.
“Always. How about if we talk about this tonight? We can make a plan to empty your room.”
“Think about it today. Make sure this is what you want. I don’t want to intrude,” she said, gathering her clothes and underwear for today from the drawers he’d emptied for her use. It would kill her to move in and have him change his mind.
“What happens if I like your intrusion?” he teased, rolling out of bed to stroll toward her.
Coco struggled not to let his nudity distract her. It was impossible. Roman gathered her into his arms and kissed her hard before smacking her butt.
“I’m committed to you already, Coco. There are no doubts in my mind. You’re mine and I want you with me. Go shower, Little girl. I’ll make you some breakfast.”
“I can grab some coffee on the way.”
“You will eat breakfast, Coco. I’ll put together your lunch for today. You can grab it on the way out. Now, scoot,” he said, stepping out of her way.
She dashed to shower and dress. Coco never wore makeup to work. The animals licked it off her quickly. After pulling on her cushioned sneakers, Coco rushed to the kitchen.
Roman handed her a travel mug of coffee. “Take a couple of sips to make sure I mixed it the way you like.”
Following his instructions, she tried the hot beverage. It was milky and sweet, just like she concocted it for herself. “Perfect!” she announced with a smile and clung to her cup when he tugged it away.
“Little girl,” he said sternly, holding her gaze until she let go.
“But I want it.”
“You have to pay for your coffee in this house. I think that special brew deserves at least five kisses.”
Her emotions flipped from concern to celebration. She threw her arms around Roman, dancing against him in excitement.
“How did I know that coffee would be all over the front of me if you’d held on to it?” he teased before adding, “I’ll take those kisses, Little girl.”
Coco pressed her lips to his, eagerly paying the charge. She was breathing hard by the time she finished. Leaning against her Daddy’s chest, she reverted to not wishing to go to work again.
“Thank you, Coco. Now off you go. Puppies and kitties need you. I’ll walk out with you.”
He tucked her into her car, setting her lunchbox on the passenger seat and snapping her seatbelt before closing the door.
“Only sips of coffee at red lights,” he warned.
“Here’s a breakfast sandwich in pieces. Eat it carefully.
You need something in your tummy. Text me when you’ve gotten there safely. ”
“Yes, Daddy.” She took another bolstering sip of coffee under his watchful eye before setting it down and starting her car.
When she turned the corner, Coco missed him terribly. Who knew that one short weekend with someone could make such an impact on her. She turned on the radio to drown out the voice in the back of her head urging her to go back and busied herself with eating. His homemade concoction was delicious.
When she pulled into the parking lot, Coco had pulled herself together. She gathered her coffee, lunch, and trash. Walking to the door still felt like swimming through pudding. After a weekend of being Little, being a responsible adult was highly overrated.
The welcoming barks and meows helped her dive in to take care of the animals. Her focus changed when everyone was settled to get ready for the day of shepherding pets through exams and treatments. The busy practice was hopping as always on Monday. She didn’t have a second to be lonely.
When she finally got lunch, Coco opened the goodies Roman had packed for her. On each item, he’d attached a kiss sticker in different colors. She stared at the display, blinking away the tears.
Kissy sounds came from behind her. Sofia, usually so reserved and businesslike, slid into the seat next to her and wrapped an arm around her waist to give her a quick hug. “Someone likes you. Let’s see if my lunch is as incredible as yours.”
Sofia opened her lunch to reveal that each of her items had a word taped to it. Quickly, she rearranged them to form two sentences. Drink your water, Little girl. Rewards to come!
Immediately, Sofia picked up her water bottle and grimaced. “I’ve been so busy it’s almost full.” Unscrewing the top, she drank deeply. “I’m going to have to pee all afternoon.”
“But you get a reward,” Coco reminded her. “Do you know what that will be?”
Sofia’s face turned an adorable shade of pink. “Oh, yeah.”
Coco didn’t ask any follow-up questions. She simply picked the red kiss sticker off her sandwich and placed it on her scrub top before sending her Daddy a message. With that sent, she announced, “I’m starting with dessert first.”
“Backward lunch? I’m in!” Isabella announced as she walked into the break room. “Oh, you got a message?” she asked Sofia and rushed to sit down to reveal what her Daddy had sent her. Quickly, she rearranged her lunch to reveal her message. You are precious, Isabella. Hugs soon!
Sofia stuck her tongue out at her twin. “Why didn’t he tell you to drink your water?”
“Mine’s almost gone already,” Isabella reported.
Coco noticed Isabella took a drink before opening her pudding cup.
As the receptionist and other techs walked in to join them, Isabella and Sofia shifted into a more professional mode.
Pleased the two Littles had accepted her as an insider to share that part of their lives with her, Coco hoped she’d get to meet other Littles.
She crossed her fingers under the table and made a wish to get to live this life forever before diving into the conversation around the table.
This staff had become like family. Grieving losses and celebrating triumphs together as they helped animals who visited, each person around the table supported each other. She felt truly blessed.
Roman’s house was quiet without his Little there to add fun and company.
He headed to his office soon after Coco left for work.
Immersing himself in a pile of business that needed his attention, Roman didn’t look up until his phone buzzed around one.
A kiss emoji popped up on his screen. His Little girl was eating lunch.
He returned the symbol and headed for the kitchen to grab some food.
He’d already set out steaks to grill for dinner. Those were thawed by now, so he tossed them into the fridge. When his phone buzzed as he put together a sandwich, Roman expected to see his Little’s name. Instead, it was the security office at the mall.
His heart rate quickened as he accepted the call. “Amato here.”
“Mr. Amato. This is Bert Onado, with the security office. I think you should come to the mall. We have a situation here.”
Roman was already halfway to the bedroom to grab his shoes and keys. “What’s up, Bert?”
“There’s a hostage situation in the food court. We’ve called the police and evacuated the area, but the captor is demanding to see you.”
“Do you know who he is?” Roman asked. He wanted to know what he was dealing with.
“The police are working on that. They should have a name by the time you arrive,” Bert suggested.
“Good. I’m on my way. Keep everyone out of that area.”
“A few food workers are still trapped in their kitchens as well as the one woman being held at gunpoint. We don’t know her name either.”
“Let me know if they’re identified before I get there. Tell the police I’m on my way.”
“An officer will meet you at the east entrance. I think they’re worried about what will happen if the gunman sees you,” Bert shared.
“Got it. Thanks, Bert, for all you’re doing. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Forcing himself to drive no faster than the posted speed limits, Roman faced his first challenge when he tried to turn into the mall parking lot.
The stream of cars exiting with urgency slowed him down tremendously.
He could feel his blood pressure rising and took deep breaths to relax as he scanned the area.
A police car blocked the next entrance. Roman drove toward the vehicle and pulled close.
“I’m sorry, sir. The mall is closed.”
“Officer, I’m Roman Amato. I own the mall. My security officers asked me to come in to help.”
“Can I see some ID?” The officer looked skeptical but read Roman’s name. “Zigler at the east entrance. A Roman Amato is here and stating that he’s the mall owner. Do I let him in?”
“Immediately. Escort him through the crowd with a car to the east entrance,” the walkie-talkie squawked back.
“Sorry, sir. Here’s your ID. Let me get a car to take you.” The officer’s tone had drastically changed.
In a few minutes, Roman parked and jogged to the officers who waited at the entrance. “I’m Roman Amato.” He nodded to Bert.
“Thank you for coming in, Mr. Amato. I’m Detective Sam Parks. Bert reported he’d talked to you, but let me give you the latest update as we head inside.”
Roman nodded as they turned to walk.
“A Frank Wilson has taken a woman hostage and is holding a gun to her head. He is demanding to talk to you. Do you know who he is?”
“Frank Wilson?” Roman repeated. “That name doesn’t sound familiar. Do you know why they want to talk to me? Does he have a record of violence?”
“Not even a parking ticket. He’s demanding to talk to you in person. Are you willing to speak to him? We can try a phone call first.”
Detective Parks’s tone told Roman a lot. “You don’t believe he will respond well to a phone call.”
“No, sir. We would have tried that before.”
“In person, it is. Can you protect me from getting shot?” Roman asked, cutting to the bottom line.
“We’ll stop at that security point, sir, to get you equipped with riot gear.” Detective Parks pointed a short distance away, where racks of vests and helmets stood.
Fitting the bulletproof vest over his clothing took the most time. Roman’s body temperature rose as the vest material and the metal helmet trapped his body heat. He mentally thanked the mall staff who had kept the interior chilly. The officer talked about safety and logistics.
Roman was overwhelmed with worry, the hustle and bustle of activities around him, not to mention scouring his brain for any clue about who Frank Wilson was. Still, he did his best to focus. His life could be at risk. He didn’t plan to die when he’d just met his Little girl.
He hoped Coco wouldn’t hear about this until she got home this evening. If she could see he was alright, that would be much less scary for her.
“Got it. Try not to get shot,” he told the detective.
“We have a sharpshooter maintaining a direct connection to the subject. He will take Frank out before he can pull the trigger. Come with me.”
That fact repeated in his brain. Roman didn’t look up to reveal the marksman’s position.
In the open area of the mall, he could be in several places.
He kept his gaze focused on the officer in front of him.
The detective led him through a mass of people concealed behind various walls, supports, and furniture.
The number of people there to keep everyone safe reassured Roman.
From a distance, he spotted a short man with brown hair and a mustache, standing in a wide-open spot. Frank Wilson held a teenage girl in a fast-food uniform at gunpoint. Roman hated him immediately. “I don’t know that guy,” he whispered to the detective.
When they got close enough to communicate, Detective Parks stopped behind a half wall. “Call to him. See if he will talk to you.”
Roman cleared his throat. “Frank Wilson. I’m Roman Amato. You wanted to talk to me?”