Look After Me

Bash

The door locks in place behind me as I quietly make my way through my house.

It’s quiet tonight as I’ve given the house staff the day off, one of my men nods their head at me as I make my way upstairs and he finishes securing the perimeter.

Not that I don’t trust my men, but I just like to make sure with my own eyes.

I open the second door to one of my guest rooms and see the small lump on the bed I’ve become accustomed to checking in on.

I watch his chest rise and fall and I count his breaths for a few minutes.

Once I’m satisfied I quietly close the door and I’m met with the lumps mother staring right at me.

“It worries me that you didn’t even realize I was standing here,” Emily says quietly so as to not wake her son in the room behind me.

“You should be asleep,” I say, leaning against the door.

“Why? It’s not my first day of school.”

I chuckle.

“Yes, but it is your sons.”

Her grey eyes look like dark sea water right now in this dark hallway.

It’s been a long six months of living together. Not because of her or Bruno, but because I am tested almost everyday. It was easier when Dalia was staying here, but she just had to move back in with her husband.

It takes everything in me not to touch her. Instead, I stand three feet away from her.

This is a safe distance.

“I was looking at apartments today—”

I immediately cut her off.

“You’re moving out?”

Panic fills my chest at the thought.

“Well, we agreed this living situation would be temporary. I don’t think it’s reasonable to put Bruno through an hour car drive every morning and afternoon for school, so I figured this seemed like a good time to transition out of here.”

“I do have an apartment downtown that you—”

“The one you occupy when you’re not here?” She frowns.

“Yes.” I should be shutting my mouth, but I can’t.

“I think it would be better if we moved out alone, Seb.”

Seb.

She’s the only one that calls me that.

“What if you wait until after the holidays?” I ask.

“The holidays?”

I watch Emily move back a loose piece of blond hair that fell out of her messy bun. I’ve gotten so used to her signature before bed look, I can’t imagine not seeing it.

“Move into the apartment, it’s close to Dalia and his school, and I promise to use it only when necessary. Bruno deserves to be surrounded by people who love him after all you two have been through.”

Emily crosses her arms.

“Are you sure?”

Am I sure?

This woman could ask for the world and I’d figure out a way to give it to her. She still hasn’t realized that in all the years she’s known me.

“I’m positive.”

Her eyes move towards the door, she’s contemplating for a few seconds before she gives in.

“Fine.”

“And I’ll give you a security detail as well.”

I should have just stopped when she agreed with me.

“What?”

She takes a step towards me and my body goes into full alert. Every alarm is ringing in my head, I slip my hands into my pockets, trying to grasp onto whatever control I have left.

“If you’re going to be in the city, you need someone with you.”

“No.”

“Yes.” I stand up straighter and with my height I tower over her, yet she doesn’t back down. “There isn’t an argument here, so don’t go looking for one, Emily. I need to know you and Bruno are both safe, this is not about surveilling you.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but a cry coming from Bruno’s room stops her.

Emily sighs and gives me a look.

“We will talk about this later.”

She steps into her sons temporary room, brushing past me, before slamming the door behind her.

I lean my forehead against the door, taking a deep breath.

I’ve worked so hard my whole life to be this put together man—Don of Chicago— and this five foot two woman unravels me with one look and her sassy mouth.

Pathetic.

I make my way to my side of the house, where I don’t have to worry about the blonde on the other side.