"Hello"
"It's Judith I need to see you"
"The usual place?"
" Yes."
"I'm coming. "
When her contact hung up she turned to her boss.
"I'm taking my break"
She sighed when he nodded without taking his eyes off his soap opera.
Everyone knew Tom's diner in Night City. At Heywood the red walls mingled with golden accents in the colors of the Valentinos that dominated the neighborhood.
He was as usual at the back of the room with an open box of a monstrous synthetic pineapple pizza. He hadn't changed. His long brown hair barely concealed the Santa Muerte tattoo that sat on his neck. He had put his jacket on the chair and was wearing a burgundy-colored waistcoat. Cigar in hand, he gestured for her to sit down.
"I didn't expect to see you again. You made me understand what you thought of me. It was a memorable slap."
"I regret nothing."
"Having regrets is not like you. So why am I here ?"
Judith sighed and sent him a video. His eyes gleaming telling him he was watching her.
"Is she mine?" he asked in a harsh voice
"Yes."
The man ran his hand through his hair. A gesture of nervousness she knew well.
"Are you crazy? Do you know the risks you're taking by telling me. You know the rules."
"What else am I supposed to do. She's a genius. She's trying to say words in Japanese already. You know what they do to those kids. She needs her dad Campo even though he's the boss of a gang."
A rare smile lit up the face of Campo Orta, the leader of the Valentinos.
"Alright, I'll protect her. What...what is her name?"
"Arya, her name is Arya."
"She's gorgeous. Would you let me meet her?"
Judith hesitated for a moment but nodded.
Arya looked up from her tablet when she heard the door to the apartment. She offered a smile to her mother when she saw her enter, but it disappeared when a stranger followed her.
He was dangerous.
Was it his golden cybernetic arms or the tattoos that marked his skin that signaled the danger to her. No, that was his approach. He stood like a man who knew power and had been burned by it. Once again Arya regretted her age. If this man put her mother in danger, there was nothing she could do.
Then her mother picked her up and put her in the arms of the stranger.
Arya was about to scream in distress when she felt something wet on her face.
She looked up at the man and tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Arya, this is Campo Orta, your dad."
What? She had a father?
Eddard Stark's bloody face paused for a moment before disappearing.
It had been a long time since she had had a father. He might stay alive longer.
Arya put her hand to her moist cheeks and smiled.
"Pa"
Campo's eyes widened before hugging her tighter.
"Si mi hija, papa will protect you."