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THIRTY-SEVEN

Dante

Carlos never learned patience. He’s been on a warpath since he knocked himself out. His goal for vengeance is consuming him and he’s not focused. Lack of focus breeds sloppiness. Each of his attempts to implicate me in crimes just gives the detectives more doubt because he continues to leave a little of himself behind. He’s blinded by hatred and Father isn’t around to use him as a weapon. A rabid beast without an owner.

It works in my favor; I’ve been able to manipulate evidence against him. He’ll learn the proper way to set a trap for someone at his own expense. I’ve been on this mission too long. It’s making me restless. Father needs to die after his empire fails, so I can move on with my life.

The loud pop of a gun firing brings my attention back to the present in time to see Inaya’s bullet graze the shoulder of a target. The fact that she hit it is an improvement, but she still has much work to do.

“What in the hell was that? Inaya, I already told you. Take a steady breath. Focus on your aim. Slowly exhale. Pause. Fire before your next breath.” I take the gun to demonstrate. “And ease your finger on the trigger. Don’t squeeze hard or force it!”

Inaya gives me that look she gets when she wants to punch me, but knows it’s not a good idea. I wouldn’t hurt her, but she met me when I was my worst, so I understand the hesitation. The creasing in her forehead and her lips pouting out to give me her mad face is still one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen, but cute doesn’t always keep you alive.

“Frown later and focus,” I tell her. “Try again.”

Inaya places the gun on the table out of silent protest.

“Dante, this isn’t going to work. You’re a distraction.”

My eyebrows shoot up because her words are news to me. “ I’m a distraction?”

Some of her curls bob when she nods.

“Yes. You . Dante Orejón, assassin extraordinaire. The sexy as hell Spaniard with the patience of a toddler oscillates between tempting me and making me want to use you as a target.”

I smirk despite my frustration with her learning curve. I’ll never understand why people live such dangerous lifestyles, yet refuse to give their children the tools necessary to survive. The ones who do go from one extreme to another. The kids are either like Andrea or Inaya. There needs to be a place in the middle.

“You want to shoot me, baby?”

Inaya blinks slowly because my tone is seductive, despite my inquiry about her threat. The violent side of her shouldn’t be sexy, but it’s turning me on just a little. I get in her face while holding her chin to maintain eye contact. Inaya doesn’t need to go off the deep end where her dad pushed me, but I like knowing that she’s adapting to her dangerous surroundings.

“Sounds like a good idea right now,” she admits. “I at the very least owe you a tase.”

I suck on my bottom lip to keep my grunt at bay. Fuck . That shouldn’t be arousing. She can hurt me if it makes her feel better. The pain I felt when I tased her isn’t completely gone, but it’s a distant feeling now.

“Promise?”

Inaya giggles, but I know she’s serious when she speaks. “When you least expect it, I will tase your ass.”

“As long as you’re prepared to be fucked after.”

“Your foreplay sounds adventurous,” Andrea quips, taking my attention from my wife.

“What are you doing here?”

Andrea’s blue eyes shine with amusement and just a hint of annoyance. “Well, I live here. I go where the fuck I want to go on my property.”

His words are sharper than his delivery. Andrea’s tone simply suggests that he’s just stating a fact; he said it as if he was mentioning what he wanted for dinner.

His gaze moves to Inaya, and he raises his eyebrows expectantly. “You rang?”

“Yes,” she admits while moving out of my space. Inaya looks at me. “You’re fired.”

Andrea and I laugh for two different reasons. His laugh is full of amusement, while mine is incredulous. I’m the best gunman on the compound.

“Fired? I have the most extensive knowledge close up and long range”

Inaya shakes her head. “Knowledge doesn’t equal a good teacher. The main goal is for me to learn the basics, right?”

“Correct,” I agree slowly while folding my arms.

“Then everyone here is qualified to teach me.”

“She has a point,” Andrea points out like I asked him.

Andrea turns his attention to Inaya. “I can get you started, but I’m not sure if my patience is much better than your husband’s, so I’m calling for reinforcements.”

He sends a few texts, then drops his phone back into his pocket and moves closer to her to adjust her position. I know that he’s being helpful, but I still need to fight the urge to stab him at the base of his spine so that he’ll never walk again.

Andrea whispers something to her, pulling a giggle out of her. My eyes narrow as I watch her nod, then focus on the target. Hesitating, she adjusts her aim a few times until she finally pulls the trigger. The gun still jerks since she’s overcorrecting in expectation of the kickback, but the bullet pierces the target’s stomach.

“Very good,” Andrea tells her as he claps like she’s a sharpshooter.

“Nice!” Theodore says from behind me before I can point out that we shouldn’t give praises so easily.

I block out what they’re saying as I take a moment to consider the scene in front of me. Inaya “fired” me because I’m not a good teacher but the only thing Andrea did differently was give her positive reinforcement. Theodore did the same without knowing the entire story.

I had to earn every good thing that was said to me, and even then, it was sporadic. It’s just another example of something to reprogram in my head. My first instinct was to point out that it’s better, but not good yet.

Tatum’s cry grabs my attention, and I turn to look at Theodore for the first time since his arrival. He holds his son close and whispers soothing things to him until he calms. My chest tightens a little as I wonder again if I have the tools to raise a child. Yes, I know I wouldn’t allow any outside harm to my child physically, but I’m not sure if I’m the right person for my child’s mental and emotional well-being. I’m lacking in both departments because my “norm” was altered.

“Dante?” Inaya calls my name and snaps. Refocusing, I look at her with a raised eyebrow. “Theodore was talking to you.”

Without a word, I make eye contact with him to let him know that I’m listening.

Theodore smiles, as if he can read my thoughts, then repeats himself. “Can you take Tatum to River while I help Inaya?”

I’ve seen his child almost daily, yet I’m sure I’m the only one who hasn’t held him. “I don’t think I’ve ever held a baby,” I admit.

He nods in the direction of my visibly pregnant wife and says, “Now is a good time to learn.”

Extending his arms, he brings the baby closer. Tatum sucks on his fist as he looks up at me with big eyes. Both of us give each other awkward stares. The wind blows some of his curls and he kicks his dangling legs and coos like he’s trying to tell me something. I smile as some of my discomfort fades.

His soft little body is a little heavier than I thought, making him feel a little less fragile.

“Just cradle him in your arms and support his head,” Theodore instructs as he smiles down at his son.

After I adjust him to Theodore’s specifications, a sense of calm washes over me. Looking up, I tell Theodore the first thing that settles in my mind.

“He’s safe with me.”

I walk away without waiting for a response, happy to have my resolve back intact. I’ll be there for my family; I just need to get rid of Father and Carlos first.