Chapter 9 - The One Promise That Mattered
Three years passed.
Lucy was six.
Ethan was eight.
They knew the truth now.
Not all of it.
Dante refused to burden children with adult darkness.
But they knew enough.
Their mother had protected them.
Their father had loved them.
A dangerous man had tried to use them.
And Dante had refused to let him.
One afternoon, Lucy asked:
"Are you my daddy?"
Dante froze.
Anna stood nearby.
"No."
Lucy frowned.
"Then what are you?"
Dante crouched.
"Family."
"Even though you aren't married to Mama?"
Anna coughed.
Dante looked at her.
She was trying not to laugh.
Lucy continued.
"Can family be chosen?"
"Yes."
"Then I choose you."
Dante's eyes burned.
He hugged her.
"Then I'm your family."
Anna watched them.
Something changed in her expression.
That night, after the children slept, she found Dante on the balcony.
"She loves you."
"I love her too."
"She loves Ethan."
"I know."
Anna smiled.
"And me?"
Dante looked at her.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether you're staying."
She stepped closer.
"I think I'm staying."
Dante's voice became quiet.
"Good."
She smiled.
"Why?"
"Because I've gotten used to having you here."
"That sounds romantic."
"I'm a difficult man."
"That's true."
They laughed.
The next morning, Dante found a chessboard on his desk.
Three pieces were missing.
A note sat beneath it.
COME FIND US.
He smiled.
The children had hidden them.
He spent the next hour searching the mansion.
He found the queen beneath his pillow.
The bishop inside his shoe.
The king inside the refrigerator.
Lucy laughed so hard she fell off the couch.
Dante shook his head.
"I raised criminals."
Anna smiled.
"Family."
"Same thing."
She kissed his cheek.
"Not quite."
He looked at her.
Then smiled.
May you like
"No."
"Family."
