Chapter 198 201

Chapter 198 201
Then a huge and joyous smile splits across her face.

“Papa!”

She runs at me. I grab her and throw her into the air as high as I can.

She squeals—the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard—as she lands back in my arms.

“My girl,” I croon, hugging her tight.

“Papa, I missed you.”

“I missed you, tesoro,” I tell her, kissing her head hard.

“Charlotte told me lots of stories about you while you were gone,” she says.

I glance at my beautiful nanny. “All good stories?” I ask.

“Mhmm,” Evie replies. “All about how you fought dingoes and crocodiles to save Paulie.”

“All true,” I confirm with the utmost seriousness. “One day, I’ll tell you those stories myself.”

Evie grins. “I’m so happy you’re back,” she says, burying her face in my neck.

“I am, too. And I’m never leaving you again.”

She looks up at me. Her expression turns serious. “You promise?”

I look at Charlotte and then at Evie.

“I promise.”

“You have to pinky swear,” Evie tells me solemnly.

“Pinkie swears are serious business,” Charlotte warns me. “They can’t be broken.”

“Let me at it,” I tell Evie.

We’re cementing my promise with a surprisingly formal pinkie swear ritual—Charlotte and Adriano standing as witnesses—when the moment is interrupted by Giovanni.

“Sorry to intrude, boss,” he tells me. “But something just arrived at the front gate for you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a… it’s an unusual package.”

I tense instantly. “You’ve checked it?” I ask, putting Evie down.

“It’s already been screened and checked. Multiple times,” he tells me.

“So it’s not dangerous?” Charlotte asks, stepping in.

Giovanni looks between us. “Depends on what you consider dangerous, I suppose.”

I exchange a glance with Charlotte.

“Stay here with Evie,” I tell her. “I’ll go check this out.”

She grabs my hand. “Lucio…”

“It’s been screened,” I assure her. “Don’t worry. Give me ten minutes and then meet me downstairs in the kitchen. We can have lunch together.”

She gives me a small nod and I head downstairs with Adriano and Giovanni.

I walk to the entrance of the house where a large crate is sitting right next to the massive front doors.

As I move closer, I hear a little noise that makes me pause.

“What the fuck?”

“Is there something in there?” Adriano asks incredulously.

“It came with a note, boss,” Giovanni says, handing me a thin envelope.

I walk over to the crate and look inside.

“Jesus,” I say. “Is that what I think it is?”

“It’s a platypus,” Giovanni informs me. “Says so on the side of the crate. Dunno where the hell you get one of those things from, though.”

“Australia,” I mutter. I tear open the envelope and pull out the letter nestled inside it.

“Well?” Adriano asks, before I’ve even started reading. “Who’s it from?”

I smile. “Sonya.”

“Jesus,” Adriano remarks. “Just when you think she can’t surprise you anymore.”

I ignore him and start reading her handwritten letter.

Lucio,

The creature is for Evie, as I’m sure you could’ve guessed. I had to pull some strings to get it, and it’s not legal to own, strictly speaking, so I’d be careful walking it around the neighborhood. It’s a big responsibility but I think she can handle it.

And I think you can handle her.

I was wrong about a lot of things. But perhaps the biggest error was thinking that you were incapable of putting another human being before yourself and the Family.

I can see now how much you love Evie. And I think it’s right that she stays with you. I know you can keep her safe. I know she’ll be happy with you.

As for the rest of it… I’m leaving the States. I don’t have a place here anymore. And let’s face it, there are still a bunch of Polish assholes who aren’t happy with some things I did.

Don’t worry about me, though. I’ll land on my feet. I always do.

Keep my daughter safe. Keep her happy.

Maybe one day, I’ll come around again, just to make sure she’s okay.

That’s not a threat, by the way. Just a personal wish. A hope for the future, if you will. The simple hope of a mother who finally sees that walking away is the right thing for her kid.

Be safe, Lucio. All of you, be safe.

Sonya

Once I’ve finished reading the letter, I take a long breath.

It’s… a lot to process. Filled with commands, which is very on brand for her—fleeing the country from law enforcement and criminals alike, and yet she still finds time to tell me what to do.

But that’s okay. Some things can change. Some things can’t.

And there’s enough good in the letter to make me think that there’s hope for her to change yet—in the important ways, at least.

“Papa?”

I turn to see Charlotte and Evie at the bottom step of the staircase. They’re both focused on the crate with curiosity.

“Papa, what’s that?” Evie asks.

“It’s a gift for you,” I tell Evie, putting the letter away. “It’s from your mother.”

Evie’s eyes go round with happiness and she rushes forward. She takes one look inside the crate and squeals with delight.

“It’s a Paulie!”

Evie squeals again and I feel Charlotte come cling to my side.

I look down at her. “You up for this?” I ask.

Charlotte glances at Evie who’s lifting the top lid of the crate so she can stroke her new pet. The creature is going to be a lot of work, but seeing the look on Evie’s face makes me like the thing a lot better.

“I’m up for anything,” she says without skipping a beat.

I put my arm around her shoulders and draw her against me. She stiffens slightly and gestures towards Evie.

“She’ll see us,” she whispers cautiously.

“I don’t think she’s noticing anything at the moment,” I point out with a chuckle.

Evie lifts the platypus out of the crate with difficulty, but when she finally manages, he rubs his soft duck-like bill against her cheek and she giggles madly.

“And anyway,” I continue, “it’s about time she started seeing us like this.”

Charlotte gazes up at me searchingly for a moment.

And then she smiles.

A slow, happy smile overflowing with promise.

“Aww, Papa, Charlotte, look… he’s so cute!” Evie says, forcing us to break eye contact.

“Well?” Charlotte says excitedly. “What are you gonna name him?”

“Paulie,” Evie chirps immediately.

We both laugh.

“You’ve already got a Paulie,” I remind her.

“They’ll be confused,” Charlotte adds.

Evie thinks about that for a moment. She doesn’t even seem to register that my arm is wrapped around Charlotte. Clearly, it doesn’t faze her at all.

“Okay,” she says contemplatively. “Then… Paulina.”

Charlotte laughs. “Paulie and Paulina, huh?”

“Mhmm.”

“I like it,” I tell her.

She beams and strokes her new friend carefully. “Can I take him to the garden to play?” she asks.

“Go ahead.”

With another squeal, she takes off running. The platypus, much to my surprise, goes waddling off after her.

“Kindred spirits,” Charlotte says as we watch them go.