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Chapter 5

The drive back to her mothers was silent. Don Falcone had been quite clear, he needed his daughter back at her mother's immediately, and that was the reason for the silence. Neither of us knew what the Don wanted, we only knew that it could be anything, so as I drove I could feel the nerves rolling off her. It only increased when the house came into view. Don Falcone was standing outside looking like his usual cryptic self. Surprisingly Constance's mother was by his side, though they were as far apart as they needed to be, and as the car came to a stop I moved to get out to open the door when the Don held up his hand stopping me. It was in that moment that Sophia Falcone turned marching with that bitchy walk of hers right back into the house. That more than anything said that something important was going on; either that or the Don had pissed her off really bad. I didn't try to find out then, I knew I'd find out soon enough though looking at Constance I was a bit worried for her.

"Thank you, Victor, I can take it from here," said Don Falcone dismissing me and nodding I let her go with her father. As I drove away I spotted his guards already surrounding the property, so I wasn't worried for her safety. I knew they were capable enough. And if anything did happen I would kill them all for it later. Though I immediately corrected that thought; nothing would happen. I was only partially curious about what the Don was doing with his daughter, but that didn't occupy my mind for long.

If Constance didn't tell me, Don Falcone would. I was right, for the next day I was at the Don's house before dawn. He had called, waking me up, and said he needed to speak with me. He had said it was important, so now I was here waiting with my assassin's patience to be seen. And then the door to his office opened. The Don called me inside into his surprisingly light office and as soon as I sat down he got right to the point.

"Victor, I'm having a party here at the house in a few days, and as always I need you to run security. But I have a more important job for you also. I need you to shoulder my daughter, I want you watching her at all times, so if something should happen you can get her out. Do you understand?" explained Don Falcone.

"I am her bodyguard already, sir. I won't let her out of my sight and if anyone tries to hurt her I will snap their neck myself," I said giving him my signature smile telling him just how serious I truly was. I hid the anger that rose at the thought of someone hurting her. I didn't like any thoughts like that. Constance was an angel and the thought of anyone hurting her seemed wrong in so many ways to me. The thought just made my blood boil, it made me hot with rage, and only killing had ever made me feel that way before. It made me think again that Constance seemed to have a certain way about her, I'd never felt a connection with anyone like I felt with her; even when she wasn't in the room. That along with everything else made me more confused because I'd never felt anything like this before.

"That is a load off my mind. I knew placing her in your capable hands was the best idea…I knew you would be able to protect her. I can't have anyone hurting my little girl, Victor, and this party would be the perfect opportunity. My friends will be there, of course, but as of late I can't seem to distinguish them from my enemies. The death of the Wayne's has turned Gotham to chaos," said Don Falcone resent events seeming to weigh heavily on him. A silence fell between us then, the Don seemed deep in thought until finally with a snap of his head Don Falcone looked at me.

"I don't want me or my daughter to be next…if I fall I fear so would Gotham, and if it is my daughter…I would have to tear the city apart myself," whispered Don Falcone smiling gently showing me what I already knew; that he loved his daughter even if he didn't always show her that I smiled back at him then letting him walk me out of the house.

"Take her for a dress today, Victor, I want my princess to look like a princess. Get her whatever she wants and charge it to me. Nothing is too much, I want everybody to look at her, and wish they had such a fine girl for a daughter," whispered Don Falcone.

"Of course, sir. I'll take good care of her," I whispered meeting his gaze as he handed me a charge card before letting me leave the house to get his daughter. The drive to get Constance, my mind was occupied with so many thoughts all of her and of her father. It was sad, her father did love her, but he didn't take the time to show her. But even as that thought passed through my mind I couldn't help thinking that the Don didn't know a thing about his daughter. He loved her yes, but he never took the time to know her. Not the way I was getting to know her. He only wanted her to be his perfect little girl; he didn't see the angel that she truly was. He thought of her as just a fine girl, but the more I knew her, the more I thought of her as an angel. She was more then what he wanted or expected her to be.

"She is something truly god given," I thought remembering what I had been expecting that first day when I went to pick her up in that very moment pulling up outside where she lived.

Before I could fully walk up to the door it was already being opened and Constance was walking out. Right away, I knew she wasn't happy just by the speed with which she was walking to the car. And then as if she didn't appear angry enough the source of that anger, her mother, appeared. She looked her usual bitchy self as she appeared. I frowned at the sight of her, Constance was already mad it seemed, and I was hoping to get her away from the house to calm down before her mother came out. But I for once wasn't quick enough.

"Constance, you had better do as I say or you'll regret it. Your father started all of this by having the gall to say I couldn't attend that party with you," screamed Sophia her anger clear. As she finished speaking her eyes fell on me, I looked right back at her, and glared when she glared at me. I wasn't afraid of her, but glaring back I wanted her to be afraid of me. But it didn't appear she was as she looked right back. With that glare still on her face, she turned walking back into the house.

When I got into the car, I immediately looked over at Constance, but she didn't look back. Her anger was clear, she wouldn't look at me, and instead just glared straight ahead. Following her gaze, I found that that happened to be the very spot where her mother had stood moments before. And remembering her mother's words I knew partly what they were fighting about. The Don hadn't invited his ex-wife to the party and now Constance was stuck in the middle of it. It brought me back to my own childhood when my parents would do the same thing to me, but I didn't dwell on those memories. I put them right back where they belonged, in the back of my mind where someday they would be forgotten. I allowed myself to only focus on her as I drove watching her out of the corner of my eye. Constance was kind of cute as she sat there in her anger. Her long hair was obscuring her face, her arms were crossed firmly across her chest, and I could hear her lightly mumbling underneath her breath. It was like there was a tiny fire inside her and it made me smile even as it concerned me. I didn't like when she was upset and instantly for reasons I didn't understand I wanted to make her happy again as soon as possible. Being friends with anyone was still so new to me the emotions I felt towards her, my friend, were something I wasn't altogether sure of.

"Are you going to tell me why you're all slumped over?" I said waiting for her answer, but only receiving a sigh.

"Don't make me mad, little girl," I said firmly upon that response until looking directly at her I caught her looking at me now.

I couldn't take my eyes off her in that moment, she was looking at me, but I didn't like the look in her eyes. They were sad, they were vulnerable, and most of all they had tears in them. Instantly, again, I wanted to make her happy, but also, I wanted to kill her mother. But I suppressed the urge to do so. I just kept driving and kept my mind focused on her.

"I don't want to talk, Victor…just drive. Wherever we're going I'm sure it'll be fine," said Constance her voice dejected as she finally looked away from me. Once again, Constance just looked straight ahead, this time I could see the frown clear on her face, and the tears slowly leaving her eyes. I looked at the road then as I tried to think of a way to make that smile I had grown to love so much. It made me think of her mother. I had only known the woman a short time, but was growing to hate her already because she made her daughter so unhappy. But then looking at Constance I sighed too deciding to just leave it be.

"Your father wants me to take you to buy a dress, dress shoes; anything you want. Apparently, you're going to a party," I whispered turning to smile at her hoping she would smile back. But I didn't get that response. Instead that seemed to make things even worse, it was like that distressed her more. Constance only started to cry harder and laying her head back on the seat her hands covered her face. I was stunned, I wasn't expecting that response, I didn't think it was that bad, but as I watched her cry it occurred to me that maybe the party was a bigger issue then I thought. Watching her out of the corner of my eye, I waited to say anything until she looked at me again, but she never did. She only sat there crying and I hated that the more we drove down the road.

"Look at me, little girl," I whispered only hearing her sniffle in response not doing as I asked.

Her response angered me immediately, but not just at her. I was mad at all the people that had made her this way as I abruptly stopped the car. Pulling to the side of the road, I slammed on the brakes making her scream finally uncovering her face as I did so. Turning I faced her and frowning I found that she was still not looking at me.

"Look at me, little girl," I snapped making her eyes snap to me as she immediately sat up straight in her seat.

"What is wrong with you?" I exclaimed still wanting to see that smile of hers. Once again, she was silent, but when I openly glared at her I think she got the hint that that was not allowed when she was with me. But then she burst into tears again. Constance was crying her eyes out at the same time as she tried to talk to me and though I was glad she was talking to me I couldn't understand a word she was saying. That was why I raised my hand stopping her in the middle of a blubbering sentence. I waited to try again until she was only crying just a little bit.

"My parents are using me against each other again. Daddy's having a party and won't invite my mom, and mom's getting back at me by making me buy a dress that will make me look…slutty because she wants me to embarrass him. They both wants me to be a certain way, but they don't want me to just be who I am. Mom wants a little whore just like she is so daddy will by mad and all my dad wants is a sweet little girl to show off. No matter what I do I can't please both and be happy myself," whispered Constance wiping away her tears as her eyes finally met mine.

"And?" I said somehow knowing there was more.

"I love both my parents, Victor, even my mom even if she is a bitch most of the time. I want them to be happy with me, but that seems so hopeless," whispered Constance giving me a look in that moment as if she expected me to understand and though I didn't let on I did.

"They both want me a certain way. Daddy wants me to be his perfect little princess, mom wants me to be bad, a slut, just to spite him…but I just want to be me. I want to be me, but I want to make them happy too. How do I do that?" whispered Constance looking to me once more. I didn't know what to say to her at first, I understood how she was feeling, my parents had been the same, but once again pushing all thoughts of them away I looked at her. It was as I was focusing on her that Don Falcone's words echoed in my brain and I realized that maybe I had a solution for her. The Don had said after all to get her anything she wanted, well, she wanted to please her parents, but also let them see who she was. Maybe I could help her do that.

"What do you think I should do, Victor?" whispered Constance leaning heavily against the armrest of her seat just as a smile appeared on my face.

"You can get a dress to please everyone and when the night of the party comes just wear the one you want. Don Falcone said you can get whatever you want, whatever makes you happy, so if three dresses do that I don't think he'll mind. He does love you and he does want you to be happy," I explained watching as her mouth fell open in that moment. I had made her speechless, but I didn't care as her mouth closed. Then there it was, her smile. I had made her happy again and as our eyes locked I was happy because I had done that. I had made my new friend happy and that pleased me more than I could express. It was a feeling I didn't altogether understand. I knew I had it when that smile I had been searching for spread wide across her face.

And then it happened. No one in my life had ever dared hug me, but she did. Constance moved forward before I could stop her and she wrapped her around the middle of my body hugging me tightly. It took my breath away even as I sat there not responding back. I didn't know how to respond right away, I was in shock I think as I just sat there with her hugging me, and me sitting there stiff as a board. It was something from that moment forward I would only allow her to do; if anyone else even tried I would shoot them.

"Oh, thank you, Victor. You're a genius, I never would have thought of that," exclaimed Constance pulling back as she said it surprising me again with a kiss on the cheek. Once again, I was shocked as I sat there staring at her. That would be yet another thing that only she would ever do. I decided that in that moment as I sat back in my seat slowly coming back to myself. Sitting back, I started to drive again still watching her out of the corner of my eye as she did the same, and suddenly I realized it was happening again. My heart was pounding and once again I didn't understand why. This time, Constance didn't take her eyes off me.

"Stop staring, little girl," I whispered making her smile.

"You know, you pretend to be all hard and cold hearted, but I think you're a sweetheart deep down," whispered Constance.

"No, I'm not," I said making that the only answer I gave her in return.