Page 45 of A Game of Survival

“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Teddy cuts in, causing my attention to stray, and though I can tell there’s some hesitation against his fingers, Silas releases his hold on my chin so I can return my attention back to my son but he refuses to move from his position.

I smile softly, gazing into his innocently large round eyes and that’s all the reminder I need to know everything will be OK. “I’m fine, baby. Don’t worry, finish your breakfast,” I sigh, leaning forward to kiss his cheek before standing and signaling for Silas to back off, taking note of Linc and Max eyeing me suspiciously from the breakfast bar as I make my way over with Silas hot on my heels.

“Are you alright?” Max calls tipping his chin. He’s seen me zone out a few times so it’s not an uncommon occurrence for him, though it has been a while.

“I think so. I just need to get some air. I’m going to meet Kat. I’m desperate for some girl talk and she’s bringing Bella for Teddy. I think he needs it too.” I admit, turning to face him, making sure I haven’t given the surprise away just yet.

“One of us will go with you. It’s not—”

“NO!” I snap involuntarily, catching them all off guard before lowering my voice again. “I need some air from all of you, too. You’re suffocating me.”

Max snorts in an offended manner. “You’re not going alone, Lucille,” he asserts, standing to his full height. His overbearing posture would have had an effect on me years ago, but now it has very little effect on me coming from him.

“I agree, Lucille. It’s too dangerous. You’re not going alone without somebody with you.” Linc adds.

I scoff, almost offended that they feel like I must have a babysitter with me at all times but I know I won’t win this one so I give in to their demands.

“Fine. But I’m not going with either of you three,” I snap before turning back to Teddy. “Have you finished your breakfast Ted? Let’s go and get dressed.”

Teddy and I spend the rest of the morning play-fighting, making arts and craft dinosaurs with feathers and sprinkles and watching back to back episodes of cartoon Spiderman. It’s wholesome and I haven't been able to keep the smile from my face all day. I can't wait to see his reaction when he sees Kat and Isabella.

“You ready to get going kiddo?” I ask. It’s just turned noon and I know it won’t take Kat long to get Bella from Kindergarten with the promise of seeing Teddy.

Teddy beams up at me, looking proud as punch at his sparkly feathered dinosaur creation. “Yeah, let's go!” He shouts, running off to grab his coat and trainers, to which I follow and do the same.

I don’t bother letting the others know we’re leaving. I’ve already been given my security detail, who I was politely informed should have been waiting outside the house for me from ten o’clock incase I decided to slip out early.

“Hey Dario, hey Enzo, it seems you have the pleasure of babysitting again today.” I joke, trying to keep it as lighthearted as I can between us with Teddy in tow.

“Lucille,” they both nod respectfully, but I still notice the faint smile at his lips as Dario dips his head and turns to greet Teddy too. “Hello Teddy, you can call me D,” he smiles, transforming his usually hard and scary looking face into a much softer, more approachable appearance.

Teddy looks up, his eyes widening and his mouth falls slack with shock. “Wow, D. You’re huge!” he gawps, making Dario chuckle lightly before ushering us into his car.

“Oxford Park, please Dario. But would you mind just parking down the road a little please?” I ask, catching his eyes in the rearview mirror, hoping he’ll understand that I’m asking him to make it seem not so suspicious that we’re having a private driver. He nods silently, acknowledging my request and I drop a quick text to Kat once we’re on our way.

“And what’s your name Mr?” Teddy directs at Enzo who turn to face us from the front of the car smiling a goofy grin.

“I’m Enzo, but you can call me Z” he says with a wink.

“D and Z, you can call me T” Teddy beams playfully causing the rest of us to burst out laughing. It’s a beautiful moment that fills my heart. I guess these guys aren't too bad afterall. Maybe I should apologize for pointing a gun at them? I’ll make sure to do that when we get home.

“Hey, guess what baby boy?” I ask Teddy after the laughter dies down.

“What is it, Mommy?” He smiles back at me,

“Auntie Kat and Isabella are going to be meeting us at the park.” I grin wildly at him.

Teddy’s response is everything I had hoped for, he audibly gasped as I said the words and his eyes bulged wide with excitement before he squealed animatedly in his seat.

“Oh, I can’t wait!” He cries hugging me tightly.

“I know, neither can I. We’re going to have lots of fun.”

Dario parks at the bottom of the road from the park and insists on checking the area thoroughly first before letting us out of the car, leaving us with Enzo as he scopes the area. Both of them ignore my eye rolls and protests. They both have a gun. What could possibly go wrong?

When Dario returns, comfortably satisfied that the surrounding areas are clear of threats, he opens the door to let us out of the car. We make our way down the street with the park in sight and our guards keeping their space between us from behind, always on the lookout for threats. I’m surprised Teddy hasn’t asked why they're following us but my thoughts are interrupted as I hear a high pitched squeal in the distance. Without needing to look to know who it belongs to, my grin spreads wide and I can’t help the laugh that falls from my lips at the sight of Bella screaming, running with her arms stretched out in our direction.

“Teddy!” she screams excitedly as Kat trails along waving her arms around with a huge grin on her face too.

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