Page 49 of Monstrosity

"I heard talking." She climbs down carefully and pads over to our bed. "Are you going to work?"

I lift her up to sit between us. "Yeah, baby. Got a meeting with some important people."

"The kind of meeting where you need your gun?" She's too perceptive for an eight year old.

"All Daddy's meetings involve guns," Cali announces from her bunk, apparently also awake. "That's why he's cool."

"Come here, monkey." I help her climb up too, and suddenly our bed is full of my entire world. "Yes, I'll have my gun. But it's just for protection, not for using."

"Like a seatbelt," Dasha offers. "You wear it just in case, but hope you don't need it."

"Exactly." I kiss the top of her head, grateful for her quick thinking.

"Will you be home for dinner?" Florencia asks.

"Wouldn't miss it."

We spend the next twenty minutes in bed together, the girls chattering about their plans for the day while Dasha and I exchange looks over their heads.

These moments—normal, peaceful, family moments—are what I'm fighting for.

Eventually, I have to get ready.

The girls put up a fight when I extract myself from the pile, but Dasha distracts them with promises of pancakes for breakfast.

I shower quickly, dress in my usual—jeans, black shirt, cut.

The weight of my gun at my hip is familiar, comforting even.

When I emerge from the bathroom, Dasha's gotten the girls dressed and ready for the day.

She approaches me while they're distracted with their shoes.

"Be careful," she says quietly, straightening my cut. "I know you have to do this, but?—"

"I'll be careful," I promise, pulling her close. "This is just talking. Negotiating. I'm good at that."

"You're good at a lot of things." She stretches up to kiss me. "Just come back in one piece."

"Daddy, we're hungry!" Cali announces, bouncing impatiently by the door.

"Better go feed the monsters," I say, stealing one more kiss before we head out.

The main room is already busy, even though it’s early as shit.

Runes is at one of the tables with Ivar, both nursing coffee and reviewing notes. They look up as we approach.

"Family man," Ivar greets me with a grin. "Ready to dance with the Irish?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." I accept the coffee Meghan hands me with a grateful nod. "Where are we meeting them?"

"Neutral ground," Runes says. "That warehouse complex off Highway 90. Doran suggested it—his family uses it for legitimate shipping, so there won't be any surprises."

"How many are they bringing?"

"Liam doesn't travel light," Ivar says. "Expect at least six soldiers plus Doran. We'll be outnumbered."

"We're always outnumbered," I point out. "Hasn't stopped us yet."