Chapter 6 - THE SHIELD
Victoria opened her mouth to argue, but the absolute malice in Mateo’s eyes cut the words short in her throat.
She scrambled backward on her hands, her heels digging into the wet carpet as she backed away toward the hallway.
Under Mateo’s heavy arm, little Mateo pulled his hands away from his father's lapel.
He held up his broken blue race car, pressing the bent wheel against Mateo’s grey vest.
"Daddy," the boy whispered, his eyes wide and round.
"The car is broken. But the wood kept me safe."
Mateo looked down at his son, his expression instantly softening as fresh tears leaked from his dark eyes.
He gently took the plastic car from the boy's small hand.
"I'll fix the car, Mateo," his father whispered, pressing his forehead against his son's.
"And nobody is ever going to hurt either of you again."
May you like
He stood up slowly, keeping both children held tight against his hips, and walked out the open doors into the bright, clean daylight.
THE END
