As we started walking home, we were still teasing each other, nudging each other back and forth. Then I heard it. A scream. Before Seren had even registered it, I was already off, running towards the sound as fast as my legs would carry me. In a back alley, a teenage boy was being dragged towards a van. Immediately, I charged forward before the kidnapper could register I was even there and slammed my shoulder into his chest as hard as I could, sending him flying and forcing him to let go of the boy. “LEAVE HIM ALONE!” I yelled, then I heard running and glanced over my shoulder to see Seren get there just as someone got out of the van. “Seren! Get the boy out of here!” I say and Seren scoffs as he pushes the boy and I behind him.

“And leave you to defend yourself? What kind of guard dog would I be if I left you alone?” I couldn’t help but smile and I brought the boy around the corner, watching Seren as he got into a fighting stance. I also sent a distress signal to my father, so he can send backup. Though… I didn’t mind watching Seren fight in the meantime. He threw a right hook, then uppercut the same person, then he turned and throat punched the person to his right, leg sweep the person to his left, throat punch and throat punch again. I felt myself bite my lip, watching him take on enemy after enemy, for me. Cazzo, that’s hot… I thought to myself. Then one of them pulled out a gun. I pulled the gun out of my thigh holster, shooting the gunman in the shoulder, forcing him to drop the gun. Seren glanced back at me, then smirked and kept fighting. I pressed a button on my thigh holster, which sent a distress signal to my father. Seren picked a guy up and threw him into a dumpster, making me giggle softly, then he roundhouse kicked another guy into the same dumpster, causing the lid to slam shut on them. “That all of them, Princess?” He called out and I looked around, seeing all of them unconscious or not moving, probably out of fear.

“Yep. Good job, guard dog!” I called out and he jogged over to me with a big smile on his face.

“Thanks, Princess! I did my best to fight to protect you. Were you hurt?” He asked and I shook my head, rolling my eyes playfully.

“Come on, small fry like this won’t be able to-” Then… I was cut off by the sound of a gunshot and I felt my heart drop to my stomach. Seren looked… pained. Seren was shot. “SEREN!” I heard myself yell and I carefully directed him to lie on his stomach, then I take off his jacket and put pressure on the wound, my stomach churning at the sight of the growing bloody stain on the back of his shirt. As I glanced up, I noticed the person who did it falling unconscious, the gun falling from their hand. I glanced over my shoulder as I put more pressure on the wound, seeing the teenage boy just staring in horror. I knew I was shaking, and could feel tears pricking my eyes, but I tried to speak without my voice breaking. “Get out of here! It’s not safe!” The boy hesitated, then nodded and ran off. I looked back down at Seren, my heart clenching at the pained expression on his face. But what hurt even more was the fact that he still smiled, still tried to comfort me.

“R-Rosine… Do-n’t… Don’t cry…” He almost breathed out, and I felt the tears running down my face as I tried to breathe evenly. But I forced myself to talk, to keep him awake.

“I-If you die on me… I’ll k-ill you, Guard D-og…!” I mumbled, then sniffled and shook my head. He chuckled, then winced and I felt my heart rate spike. “Don’t move! I don’t want you bleeding out on me!” He nodded, and my mind raced as I tried to figure out what to say. “... S-Seren… Seren, tell me a-about your mom. Keep talking, stay awake.” He blinked, obviously surprised, but breathed slowly and nodded a little. 

“Y-Yeah… Yeah, I ca-n do th-at…” I watched as he thought, then he smiled a bit and mumbled, “Mama… Mama l-oved buttercup flo-wers… They w-ere her fa-vorite… She s-said that her fav-orite food was beef ste-w… She l-oved math and s-science… I would be c-chased out of the library… but I s-till… still went in to get books for h-er… She’d s-smile so widely and w-e’d sit to r-read them for hours… She’d a-answer e-every question… with the s-ame gentle tone… I… I miss her…” He mumbled and my heart ached at the vulnerability in his tone. Then I heard a car and I felt the weight on my chest ease as I heard my father and 2 doctors rushing over to Seren and I. I moved, allowing the doctors to take over. I looked at my father and hugged him, feeling my body shake as I tried desperately to not cry.

“Shh… It’s going to be okay, Rosine… My daughter… We will do everything we can to save him.” I sniffled and nodded, my body shaking with soft sobs as I cried into his shoulder, my hands soaked with blood. Father just gently rubbed my back and held me close. After a few moments, he looked over his shoulder and told his men, “Bring all of them back to base. Put them in the basement. We’ll decide what to do with them there.” The men nodded and Father picked me up so gently, smoothing my hair down with his free hand as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Go ahead and rest, Rosine. We’ll handle it from here. You’re safe now.” I hiccupped and nodded a little, feeling myself slowly drift into unconsciousness. 

As I held Rosine in my arms, I sighed softly, then I gently sat her in the armored car I arrived in and buckled her seatbelt, making sure to put her next to me so she could lie against me and rest peacefully. I closed the door behind us, then buckled my seatbelt as well and rested Rosine’s head on my shoulder. I nodded to the driver to signal them to start moving, then I made a call. “Vinnie? You there?” I asked and I heard a deep voice on the other end reply.

“‘Course, Boss. What can I do ‘ya for?” 

“Great. There’s a group I need you to look into and… take care of for me.” I heard Vinnie go silent, then the smirk in his voice as he replied.

“Oh, ‘course, Boss! Man, it’s been a while since you had me ‘take care of’ someone. What’d they do?” He asked and I forced myself to stay quiet so I didn’t wake Rosine, though I couldn’t hold back the growl in my voice as I replied.

“They hurt my daughter and her bodyguard. She’s not physically hurt, but she could’ve been, and she seems traumatized. When we got there, their van was still there, but it might be gone by the time you get there. Their emblem looked like a star with angel wings.” Vinnie paused, then he spoke.

“You got it, Boss. I’ll let you know when I have any information.” I nodded, then I hung up and looked out the window, watching the scenery go by. I heard Rosine make a small noise of discomfort as we turned a corner, and my gaze softened as I looked at her, gently running my fingers through her hair to comfort her. Then, I started to sing softly to her.

“You are my sunshine…

My little sunshine…

You make me happy…~

When skies are gray…

You’ll never know dear…~

How much I love you…

Please don’t take…

My sunshine away…~” I sang softly and I smiled as Rosine relaxed, cuddling into me more. That song’s always comforted her since she was little. I’m glad it still works. I thought to myself, then looked back out the window. It was then that I got a text from a group chat with my employees. 

[Dr. Med:

Boss, the guard is stable. We got the bullet out. Thankfully it didn’t hit anything major, but he’ll need some time to recover.

Tweedledee:

Boss, all the guys we got from the scene are in the basement.

Tweedledum:

Just waiting on your cue, Boss!]

I paused, remembering how Rosine used to burst into my office and refuse to let me harm others at first, how she insisted there were better ways. She’d understand this time. I thought to myself, then messaged back.

[Big Boss:

Do it. Make them suffer. But don’t kill them yet. Doctor, thank you for your assistance.

Dr. Med:

Of course, sir.

Tweedledee:

By the way, how’s little boss?] 

My gaze softened and I chuckled.

[Big Boss:

She’s resting right now. Please don’t disturb her. However, she did defend herself quite well and handled the situation quite well, despite everything. I’m very proud of her.

Tweedledum:

Wouldn’t you be proud of her regardless?

Big Boss:

Of course I would be. She’s my daughter, and has grown into a wonderful young woman. She’s quite intelligent, did you see her latest debate?

Dr. Med:

I have to go and tend to my patients, but I’m happy for her, sir.]