He looked up and saw her standing there, and his lopsided grin appeared. She felt her heart to flip-flops in her chest because of that look. “Get the kids ready,” he said.“For?” she asked, and Gina turned around.“Dad is going to make me and Lista sleep on the floor!” she said. Krissy saw the look in Gina's eyes when she said, dad. She was hoping that her mother would not correct her. Though the urge was there, Krissy swallowed it down and walked into the room. Both Gina and Mark looked like they were holding their breaths.“I doubt he is going to make you two sleep on the floor,” Krissy said, ending their tension.“That’s why I was telling you to get the kids ready, Mouse,” he said.“Gina, go tell your brother and sister to get ready,” Krissy said. “Dad has somewhere to go.”“Yes, mom,” Gina said with a smile.

 The fireworks he spoke of began the moment he pulled on the street and saw the line of cars and trucks in front of his house. ”Damnit.” he said under his breath.“Problem?” she asked as she also was eying the cars.“I was hoping we could at least get the kids in the house before this,” he said.“You expected this?” she said.“From the second Boogs spoke,” he said softly.“They are going to have an issue with us, aren’t they?” she asked.“No, they are going to have an issue with me,” he said as he took her hand in his. “You and the kids are perfect.”“Mark,” she said.“They are going to tell me I am too dangerous for you guys,” he said.“Dangerous?” she asked.“My line of work,” he said with a grin.“Mark, I don’t care about that,&rdqu

  The morning light filled the room. She woke up and forgot where she was for a moment as panic coursed through her views for a second. She then saw the room and remembered not only the fact it was her childhood best friends but also now the room she was sharing with Mark. It was his house now. She let the thoughts take over. Everything had happened so fast in the past few days. He had made his way to the center of her small world, and he was the thing that kept her grounded. She knew everything was going to be fine, as her parents once told her sometimes when things all fall apart, the thing you need to bind them together will surprise you.She was surprised, to say the least. She knew he was there the whole time but not that he could actually want her, and not only her but the kids as well. She heard a squeal of delight come from downstairs, and she smiled to herself as she got up and redressed. She made her way down the stairs to find boogs in the

   After the trip to the home improvement store and seeing the number of things he was buying, she couldn’t believe the amount he spent without batting an eye. They had loaded up the trucks with ease and even had a system worked out before they got to the house. Within a half an hour, everything was in the basement, and he had the whole neighborhood watching him. He didn’t seem to mind in the least as the kids danced around in the front yard and then went into the back while he and the other worked up a sweat bring the wood to the basement. He had some plans already drawn out and was ready to begin. So as the other guys left, he called the kids in, and she headed to the hospital to see how Reena was. She walked into the ICU and smiled as she walked in the room and saw Reena holding the xrays and looking them over.“Hi, mom,” she said as she waved her arm that had been cast up.“Well,

  Six months later… They sat in the front row of the courthouse as the two people were sentenced. They had watched both of the women were shaking a little with the nightmare of that horrid day. They stood firm, though, in the belief that everything would work out. The judge spoke and ended the fears they had. Reena smiled through her tears as she nearly jumped up and with joy. When the courthouse emptied, the four of them stood together as the steps when a group of other men walked up the steps. “It is some good news,” Oda said.“It is the best news!” Reena said with a huge grin. “I don’t have to worry about them ever again.”“You didn’t anyway, little princess,” Maleek said as he placed his arm over her shoulders.“Uncle Maleek, stop it,” Reena said as she shook him off.“Yeah, stop it,&