Page 83

"I know, okay? I just… keep seeing it when I think about going back."

"I know you're scared, but where's the woman that stomped into this manor, saw five gangsters sitting at the table playing D&D, and called us 'fucking nerds'? He asked, air-quoting my words. "Besides, you won't be alone. This 'fucking nerd' will be there, with a gun and all the skills required to keep you safe."

I couldn't help but smirk, picturing the five of them that first night. Gathered around the table, playing their game with guns and pizza boxes casually strewn about. As much as I didn't want to return to the center, I had difficulty arguing with his logic. I'd been actively antagonizing dangerous men for months now. Well before I figured out that they wouldn't just kill me the first chance they had.

"Get out of your head and go get ready because we're going. I'm not Joey. I'm not going to coddle you and let you psychyourself out of doing the hard thing. But… If you don't sass me about it, maybe I'll reward you when we get back." He spoke.

"Yes,sir," I said, rolling my eyes at him as I moved toward the gym doors.

About forty minutes later, we were pulling up to the curb in front of the center in Az's Porsche. A heavy sensation descended upon my chest as I gazed through the car window at the front doors. Memories of the devastation inflicted upon my office played on repeat in my mind, causing a surge of distress. The thought of the heart pierced by a letter opener serving as a macabre backdrop for my best friend's picture stirred a nauseating churn in my stomach.

"Hey," Az spoke, pulling me from my near panic. "You're going to be alright. We aren't here because of something bad happening."

He gently squeezed my clammy hand before climbing from the car. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply through my nose before puffing the air out of my mouth and exiting the vehicle. I wiped my palms on my jeans, fretting with my shirt to buy myself a few more moments before facing whatever awaited me inside.

The sun glinting off the two-way mirrored outer doors caught my attention as Mrs. McMillan stepped outside.

"What are you doing out here, girl? Everybody's been waiting for ya inside."

Az chuckled, causing me to glare at him as I apologized and strode toward the door. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I stepped inside. My mind had been so caught up in the horrific memories of the damage to my office and the horrifying gift left behind that I hadn't considered anything else. What I found when I finally entered the center nearly brought me to tears.

A large, hand-painted banner was held up by many of the center's kids. The others were clustered behind it, a myriad of smiling faces. I pressed my hand to my lips as I read, 'We've missed you Ms. Bristol,' in their barely legible painted scrawl. The 'r' in my name was capitalized and backward, and I couldn't help how it made me smile.

"Welcome back, Victoria. We figured it was about time you got back to work." Mrs. McMillan beamed, nudging me with her elbow. She smiled as she stepped back, grabbing Az's arm as she did so. I raised an eyebrow.

"Welcome back, Ms. Bristol!" The roar from the collective yell the children gave seemed loud enough to shake the glass. I didn't have much time to brace myself as they rushed forward, little arms outstretched and grins plastered on their faces. The group collided with me, nearly knocking me off my feet.

"Hold on, hold on!" I laughed, speaking loudly over the children. They were chattering at me all at once, and I couldn't make out most of what they were saying. I ended up kneeling down so I could be at their level and did my best to make sure that everyone who reached out for hugs got one.

The kids were so sweet and beamed so brightly. They all tried to talk over each other and tell me about what they'd been doing while I hadn't been coming to the center. My heart swelled, and it felt good to be reminded of why we worked so hard.

I felt eyes on me and looked past the gaggle of children surrounding me to find Az staring at me. There was some soft emotion in his eyes, and I wasn't sure we'd come to a place yet where I wanted to put a name to it. He noticed me looking, and a genuinely warm smile spread across his face as he winked at me. I felt the flush creep into my cheeks and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Alright, kids! Let the woman breathe, come on, back up." Mrs. McMillan's voice cut through the chatter, and the kids stepped back, allowing me to stand. Stepping through them, she gave me a warm hug of her own. "As you can see, we're happy to have you back. There ain't much more than this to the welcoming committee."

"Oh, no… this is exactly what I needed." I said, grinning.

"Well, we have another surprise for you. But I think our young man here deserves the reveal for it," she said, motioning for Az to come over to us.

"What could you possibly have to surprise me?" I asked, my gaze sliding to him.

A smug smile painted his lips as he shrugged and held his hand to me. "I guess you'll just have to come with me to find out."

I waded through the kids and took Az's hand. "You look like the cat that ate the canary. What did you do?"

He smirked as he led me toward the back of the center. "Ididn't do anything, Princess. It was more of a… group effort," he said as he pushed open the door that led to the old playyard. I eyed him suspiciously as I entered the empty, run-down yard.

My suspicion didn't last long, however, as my eyes adjusted to see the chain-link fence facing the alley had been torn down. New construction was underway, spanning the distance between the playground and the formerly empty lot behind the center. My mother had managed to secure the lot for constructing an addition before she passed, and the Gala I'd hosted afterward was meant to raise the funds for the new building. With everything that had happened since the Gala fire, I had barely been able to raise enough funds to keep the center staffed and functional, and the addition had been a forgotten pipe dream.

"Did you pay for this?" I asked, staring at Az in awe.

He rubbed his jaw, looking like he was thinking hard. "It definitely looks like someone did. Do you know any other wealthy gangsters who might have done it? You should definitely send them a thank-you card if you do." He smirked, looking very proud of himself.

"Okay, Az-hole, way to ruin a moment." I laughed, playfully slapping his arm.

He grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the alley. "Come on, let me show you the work that's been completed so far. I think you're going to love it."

I allowed him to lead me toward the new construction as he told me about the enclosed walkway that would be built to connect the two buildings. I knew better than to ask how they'd gotten around the issue of building across the alley. Money talked. Especially in Sacona, and if the guys could pay for the addition to be built, they definitely had the funds to stop dissent about an enclosed walkway.