Fighting for Us - Bella Emy Page 0,4

her chest confirms she must already be on her fifth dream or so of the night. I bend down to push her dark-brown hair out of her face and place a kiss on her forehead. Thankfully, she doesn’t even stir.

“Sweet dreams, princess,” I whisper.

I leave her room, satisfied, and walk back out into the living room. My brother is still passed out.

I laugh to myself and say, “Gianna wear you out again?”

Max jumps up. “Huh? What?” He turns his head from left to right. “Oh, you’re back. What time is it?”

I smile, still amused. “Just after eleven thirty.”

He stretches, yawning. “Damn, one minute we’re watching Cinderella, and the next minute, the two of us are knocked out in dreamland. I woke up during the credits and placed her in her bed.”

The TV is still on, and another Disney classic movie is playing.

I nod. “Yeah, I just checked on her. She’s fast asleep. Thanks, man.”

He takes a step forward. “Don’t mention it, Enz. I love that little munchkin.”

I smile again. “I know you do. But it can’t be easy coming here right after your day job to hang out with a five-year-old so her dad can go do his thing.”

He slaps a hand on my back. “That’s what family is for, bro. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He’s right. As a family, we’ve always been tightly knit. My two siblings, he and his twin, Marianna, and I have always been close. Our parents raised us to understand that family always comes first, and as long as we’ve got each other, everything else will always work itself out.

That’s what I believe in anyway, but ever since that dreadful day five years ago when I lost her, I haven’t known what to do. Part of my family is gone… How can things ever work themselves out?

Not wanting to let my brother see me dwell on my past, I ask about our sister. “Marianna doing okay?”

“Yeah, you know she called in to check on us around six. I think she wants to stop by tomorrow. Her job’s kicking her ass right now.”

My sister is a pediatrician at her office downtown. She loves working with children, but since it’s cold and flu season, she’s seeing many sick kids. Maybe it’s the reason she’s been looking so beat up, but honestly, I think it’s her husband, Jordan. The bastard…

“That’s fine. I know she’s busy.”

Max nods and stretches once more. “Yeah, but you know she can’t stay away from the little one too long.”

I smile. What he says is true. My siblings and parents have always been obsessed with my little girl. She’s their first niece and granddaughter, so of course she’s special to them. I’m fortunate that they’ve always been here for me and Gianna.

“I’d better run. The blaring alarm isn’t going to have mercy on me at five a.m. Office life sucks sometimes.” Max walks to the front door, and I follow closely behind him.

“I know, man.”

Unlike Max, I don’t have to be up until seven. I’ll get ready and take Gianna to school. While she’s there, I run errands and keep up the house until it’s time to pick her up again. Then, before I head to work, Max comes to stay with her. MMA is my job. Well, it’s my company. I own the gym: Lorenzo’s Fitness Center. It’s not your typical nine-to-five, but along with competing and winning, owning the place brings in cash. Thanks to my pension from my navy days, I was able to open my own gym and afford to do what I love. I mean, I can’t think of anything else I would rather be doing than taking out my anger and frustration in the ring. Lord knows I have a ton of it, plus some to spare.

“Have a good night, Enz. Get some sleep.” Max steps out the front door.

“Night, man. Drive safe.” I lock the door behind him and turn off the television.

I head to the bathroom and jump in the shower. I lather and rinse in record time; I’m so ready to hit the sack and, hopefully, pass out within minutes.

Once I finish toweling off, I put on a pair of gray boxer briefs and climb into bed. I never sleep with a shirt on. Hell, I used to sleep naked back in the day. If I lived alone, I probably still would.

I turn on the television and flip through channels, not really caring for much of anything I’m seeing.

Then, as I come across