Chapter 54

ZAVIER (Zero)

"Wooooooah! Is that a dinosaur!?" Romeo asked as we bypassed another children's toy store.

"Yes, it is." I said patiently.

We entered another damn store for groceries. I looked around, this is still so new to me. I ain't do grocery shoppings before, that bastard Morris always got it covered.

Damn, I miss that assh0le. Maybe I'll call him to come around again now of these days. I don't know what the fvck he's still doing in Santa Orion. He doesn't want out of that town.

"We done buying cooking things?" Romeo asked, staring up at me.

"Nope. Remains three things..." I trialed off as I withdrew the list Lani wrote from my back pocket and glanced through it again.

I've canceled out almost every fvck in here. Remains three things to be done.

"What's remaining, Uncle?

" Milk, Cereals and Bread."

"I know where to buy milk! Momma takes me and Ria there all the time. Come on, Uncle." His little hand tugged at mine.

I know where to buy milk too but I decided to placate him. I followed the little boy to indeed a milk store and we bought milk.

Afterwards, I bought several breads and cereals. We're ready to go now. "Let's go, buddy."

"We going home?" He asked in that tiny voice.

"Yes, we're going home."

"Okay, Uncle." He said dutifully and followed me. The car was parked a few blocks away, so we walked patiently.

It didn't get pass me that people try their damn best to move away from my route when I walk. Women stare with fear and scurry away, while men just look wary.

Not a damn business of mine.

We walked the first block away before I heard heavy footsteps of someone walking up behind me. I swiveled my head to see a man in a police uniform.

"Hi, can I have a word please." The man stated as he walked closer.

I'd give him credit. He doesn't look scared of me at all.

I turned and faced him, saying nothing. The man would be in his early fifties. Romeo stared up at him too with interest.

"Hi, little Romeo. Who's your friend?" The policeman said to Romeo.

The boy smiled widely. "Good day, Mr Cole. This is my Uncle Zavier and he lives next door to me and Romeria. He's real nice and his wife is reeeeeal good too."

"Aaah! The new family in town. I heard all about it." The man smiled and ruffled the boy's hair before he turned to me.

"Hi, I'm Mr Cole. The town's sheriff." He stretched out his hand.

I shook it in a firm grip. "Zavier." I stated.

"Nice meeting you. How's your wife? That's a very beautiful woman you have there. The town men try their best not to stare." His smiled mischievously.

My hackles rose. I wasn't finding it funny at all. "Do them a favor and tell them to keep on keeping their eyes to their goddamn selves or heads will roll." I stated flatly.

Silence. The man looked completely speechless.

He gave a shocked laughter. "Jeez, man. You're too serious, even when you're joking. Anyway, that isn't why I followed you out here."

For a moment, I contemplated telling him that I wasn't joking. Instead, I cocked myself to the side in thought. "Why did you follow me out?"

"Well, it's kind of a job offer. A man your size, who's got his scary looks mastered like you do, will do really great in the law enforcement, don't you think?"

I let go of Romeo and crossed my arms. Work with the law enforcement? Be a sheriff?

I like the idea of it because I don't think I can sit my whole life doing nothing even though I've got the money. I've always been an outdoor knife-and-gun motherfvcker, even though I've always worked fvcking underground. Ghost work. Shady.

But, I ain't got no taste for that kinda life anymore, 'specially with a woman like Lani as mine. A sheriff wouldn't be a bad idea.

One problem though. I've always been on the other fvcking side of the law. I don't know nothing about being on the good side.

"Uhm? Or don't you want to?"

Don't I want to? I thought about it.

"Uncle will look really good dressed police!" Romeo clapped his little hands, "Become sheriff, pleeease Uncle!"

I glanced at the little boy and he gave me a huge adorable smile. I returned the smile with a twitch of my lips.

"I'll think about it." I said to the sheriff at last. I need to talk to Lani about it.

"Alright, man. Just come to the station when you can. Here's the card..." He handed me a card. I took it from him and slipped into my back pocket. "My number is at the back of it in case you want to call--"

"I'll find you." I said simply.

He nodded once and smiled at Romeo. "I've gotta go, little man. You take care of your twin sister and always look out for her. There's a bad man on the loose that likes hurting children, and I don't want you two to get hurt okay?"

"Alright, Mr Cole. I'll protect Romeria." He replied automatically.

"A man on the loose who hurts children?" I asked.

The sheriff nodded. "Yeah. Our town's free of crime and all that, but last three weeks two criminals has been terrorising children. One caught but one's still on the loose."

"Mmh." What sort of bastard terrorizes kids? And just what does the man mean by 'hurting' kids? Does he kidnapped them? Kill them?

"See you later, man." The sheriff was already on his way.

I watched him leave until he disappeared down the block. Then, I took Romeo's hand and we resumed walking back to the car.

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At night, we finished dinner. Lani laid with her head on my shoulder as she watched a TV show.

I told her about my encounter with the sheriff. Her eyes was huge with interest.

"He offered you a job as a sheriff?" Lani asked, pulling her head back to get a better look at my face.

"Yeah. Romeo called him Mr Cole."

"Mr Cole? I've heard Romeo's mother, Valeria talk about him. He's the Chief general, and I heard he's not easily impressed. What did you do to impress him?" She asked incredulously.

I shrugged. "Did nothing. He walked up to me and Romeo."

She signed and laid her head back on my chest. I caressed her soft blond hair, running my hand down her back. Damn, I want to bury myself deep inside of her.

"So, what do you think about it? Working as a sheriff here?" She whispered.

"What do YOU think about it?" I asked instead, caressing her chin.

She picked an interest with the drawing on my top. She ran her hand on it, "I love it. But the question is, do you?"

"I....guess I like it too. It's the best job for me apart from taking missions and working underground."

"Yeah, I agree. Oh, Zavier, I'm so happy right now. When will you go to the station to see Mr Cole?"

"I'll do that shit tomorrow. What about your flower store? You said you're gonna set it up when we move here."

"And I'll do that too. Tomorrow or next, I'll go shop-hunting. I need a very good place...close to the market but not in the market. I don't like the noise and the ruckus. What kind of store should I rent?" She asked me.

"The best kind. We'll buy it, not rent it. Big and spacious so you don't feel claustrophobic at some point." I said matter-of-factly.

Her eyes found mine, a soft smile on her beautiful face. "Just like my store in Santa Orion?"

"Just like that. Maybe very better."

She signed blissfully and laid her head back on my chest. "Yeah, maybe better."

A comfortable silence descended afterwards. A nagging thought that has been on my mind all day came to my head.

"Doll?"

"Mmh?" She pulled back and stared at me attentively again.

It's one of the reason I love her so much. The way she listens and gives her ultimate attention when it's needed, as if I'm the center of her goddamn world.

I've never been the center of anybody's world before, I guess this is what it feels like. The feeling was positively indescribable.

"What is it, honey?" She whispered.

How to say this...how to say this.

"I think we should have our own children." I rushed out, finally.

"C-Children?" She looked so shocked, her eyes wide.

"Yes, children. I want them, Lani. I might never understand them, and hell, I might not know shit about taking care of one, or even being a good father. But I want to try and I'm gonna give it my best shot too."

"And I have you here with me, so, I won't have to do it alone like Pops did. You and I together, I think we'll do a great job. Before, I only had myself as a lad to compare with having a damn baby of my own, but Romeo....he's nothing like I was, and he's an adorable child even though he isn't ours. I keep wondering about a little baby with eyes like yours...a little version of you...a child we made together...."

Lani had tears in her eyes as she stared at me in shocked silence.

"I find that I want that, Lani. I want a child. Your child....my child...." I closed my eyes and placed my forehead on hers, I took a deep breath and whispered, "I want a child with you, Leilani."

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