CHAPTER 7
Chapter 7
Lily suddenly dropped her crayon, stood up, and marched over to the front of the desk, planting both fists firmly on her hips. “Mr. Dante?” she asked, tilting her head back to look at him with that same deadly serious expression from their first meeting.
“Yes, Lily?” Dante asked, lowering the document he was reading and leaning forward with genuine, unhurried respect.
“Barnaby says he wants to know when you’re going to teach me how to lift the really big weights in the downstairs gym,” she declared. “Because mommy says we have to stay here forever, and I need to make sure I can protect you too.”
Dante let out a laugh—no longer rusty or surprised, but full, bright, and ringing cleanly off the reinforced glass windows above the awakening city. He stood up, walked around the massive walnut desk, and offered his hand to the tiny girl who had saved his soul.
May you like
“We can start this afternoon, Lily,” Dante promised, gently shaking her small hand while Emma watched them with shining, joyful eyes. “Under this roof, nobody ever has to fight alone again. That is a promise that will never be broken as long as I live.”
—END OF Chapter 7,
