Page 122 of Gamble with Me

Reaching the end of the stairs, I exhaled, but Bluff thrust my leg to continue. I rolled my eyes at him, pursuing his shadow in the dark hall. He halted before the door into Zara’s bedroom, pushing it open with his nose.

My heartbeat increased when I heard crying and shuffling coming from the inside. I found Zara fighting with the duvet, sobbing so hard her entire tiny body shook. The lamp on the nightstand enlightened the space, but all I could see was her wretched expression.

“What’s going on, Zara?” I asked gently, but she almost jumped out of her skin in fright. Her wide eyes zoomed on me, and she stepped back. “Easy. It’s just me, Zyon,” I said, walking inside. “What happened? Did you have a nightmare?”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, bursting into crying again. She tightly clutched the duvet, trembling uncontrollably.

“Sorry for what, princess?” I approached her, yet she backed away like she was afraid I might hurt her. “Talk to me, please.”

“You will yell at me,” she wept, my heart cracking at her words. I couldn’t imagine what she went through with her idiotic father.

“Zara,” I exhaled, dropping to my knees before her. The pain shot through me, but I ignored it, keeping my gaze on her wet face. “I have no reason to yell at you. Whatever happened, you can tell me. I’ll do everything in my power to help you.”

“You’ll get angry,” she sobbed, barely catching her breath. I had no idea how to prove myself. She didn’t know me. She needed her mother.

“I won’t, princess,” I objected, placing my hand on the bed to support my wavering body, but I touched something wet. “What the…” I mumbled, observing my fingers when it clicked. Valeria mentioned Zara’s night problems, but I completely forgot about them.

I looked at Zara, whose eyes broadened in panic. She hastily stepped back, hitting the chest of drawers, when she realized I knew what happened.

“Did you have an accident, Zara?” I asked in the gentlest voice I was capable of, trying not to scare her more.

She hesitantly nodded, watching my every move cautiously.

“It’s not the end of the world, princess.” I smiled at her encouragingly. “Let’s go to your mom, and I’ll arrange someone to clean it, okay?”

“Please, no,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Mom will be sad and worried. I’ll clean it.”

“Can I help you?” I sat on the chair because my body was exhausted, but I would never leave my baby girl in this mess alone.

“Do you know how to change sheets?” she inquired in a thin voice, wiping the tears from her cheeks. I loved that she was finally starting to calm down.

“Of course,” I replied, thinking it had been a good thirty years since I last did it. But what could be complicated about it?

“Then okay, you can help me,” Zara agreed, returning to the bed, yet I had a better idea.

“How about you showering and changing your pajamas? I’ll take care of the bed,” I suggested, hoping Jamal was around to help. Graciela lived in the pool house, and I didn’t want to wake her up in the middle of the night for something we could do ourselves.

“Are you sure?” Zara let go of the cover, bending to pick up her stuffed animal. “It’s my mess.”

This girl had grown up too quickly. I didn’t know if it was because of her family situation or thanks to her intelligence, but she didn’t behave like a typical seven-year-old child.

“I’m sure, princess,” I confirmed. “Do you know where your clean pajamas are?”

“Yes.” She pointed at the closet, still watching me like I was an alien.

“Do you need help with a shower?” I questioned, sending Jamal a request to meet me.

“No.” Zara shook her head, taking out a set of clean clothes. “But I’ll leave the door open.”

“Okay, shout if you need anything.”

She smiled at me and entered the bathroom, leaving me with erratic thoughts. I’d never lived with a child. I had no idea how to handle any situation involving a gentle, underaged soul. I wasn’t a great role model, and raising someone seemed hard, but Mom once said it wasn’t rocket science. Children needed love. I just hoped I didn’t fuck up with Zara because Valeria would chew my head off.

“What’s so urgent?” Jamal interrupted my musing, walking inside without knocking.

“We need to clean this bed,” I replied, pointing at the pile of wet sheets.

Jamal’s eyes almost fell from their sockets as he stared at the mess.