NALLA,HIS LITTLE GIRL

D DAY

I really hated hiding something from her. The bosses called a meeting on Sunday where I had to show up. And I showed up, pissed. I left messages around the apartment because I didn't want to wake her. But I imagined her escorting me barefoot to the door and conveying her energy to me with a kiss.

Somewhere in the middle of the meeting, I received a short but important message. It occurred to me to run out of the building, to run those seven or eight miles to the house.

"I love you," she wrote.

I read those words over and over, it took her months to tell me that.

As soon as the meeting ended, I hurried to catch up with the boss because I needed his help more than ever before.

"Egon, I need you today," I said, making a plan as I walked. "And I need permission to take Eli out."

"You can't even take it out with my permission. First explain to me what's going on. "

"I have to tell my girlfriend what I'm doing. It kills me when I hide something from her. "

"You just took a bite out of the little one... Fine. Wait for me at the car, I'll get it for you. "He patted me on the shoulder. "Should I go with you?"

"I don't need to hold your hand if that's what you mean, but you can jump in for coffee at any time, even now."

"Wait for me downstairs. I hope you don't need company at the bar later. "

Egon came to my car shortly after me carrying a bag. My stomach tied in a knot now that I realized how all this could end. I've already seen her run away from me, grabbing at the door and cursing the day she met me. How long would it take her to forget me?

"You still need to hold hands!" Egon smiled understandingly. "Do not panic. We will explain to her, so what the hell. "

"I hope that God is in a good mood."

I called Nalla to announce the guest. She was happy about it. Except for our company and Nona, no one came on weekends. That was our time. I paused in front of the building to breathe. I wasn’t a panicker by the way, but today is a turning point.

We entered the apartment almost on tiptoe. She got up from the two-seater when she saw that we had already passed through the hall. She wore a gray tracksuit that accentuated her curves and my mild jealousy.

"Hey, baby!" I said as she jumped into my arms. "Did you miss me?"

"Always, prince."

"Nalla, this is Egon, my boss." I said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you." she held out her hand. "I'm Nalla."

She went to make coffee while the two of us settled down. I was nervous, which gave Egon great pleasure.

I looked at one point with no idea how to tell her. I've waited for her to show up.

Egon handed me the bag while I nibbled inside with unanswered questions. What if Nalla really leaves? How do you explain to her that she declared her love to a monster?

I was afraid of life without her. Nalla has become my new addiction. But I will fully understand if she wants to escape to the bottom of the ocean to hide from me.

"The coffee is ready!" she said smiling as she came out of the kitchen.

"Nalla, sit down, please." I said seriously. "It's time to talk."

"Don't be rude, Victor, we have a guest." she scolded me.

"I'm here for questions and answers, too." Egon joined in the conversation. "Victor, show Ellie."

"Who's Ellie?" she asked.

"It's not who but what." I said opening the bag.

It took me five long minutes to assemble the rifle. My hands shook as Ellie took shape. When I finally put it together, I put it on the table in front of Nalla. I didn’t dare look at Nalla, so I just sat and watched my work tools.

"What the hell is this?" she asked breathlessly.

"You asked when I would tell you what I do. This is Ellie, my means of work." I sighed. "Nalla, honey, I'm a mercenary."

Nalla kept her eyes on the rifle. She looked amazed. I could say that her reaction surprised me. or lack thereof. What held me back was that she hadn't escaped yet. Someone else would have already forgotten I existed. But not Nalla.

“Mercenary?” She looked at me in astonishment. "Like, someone pays you to kill someone?"

"Not exactly, but similar." Egon answered for me.

She looked back at the weapon in front of her. She seemed amazed. I was silent, counting down the seconds to her escape. She looked at the two of us again as if thinking about what to say, ask or do next. She took her coffee and slowly leaned back in her chair.

"So this is Ellie?" her lack of reaction scared me more than the possibility of her leaving.

"Yes, it's Elli. Do you have any questions for us?" Egon continued the conversation.

"Just one thing. Why are you letting the coffee cool?"

"I was wondering if you had any questions about what you heard ... and saw."

"Yeah, I have a few more questions but we can solve that over coffee. I really don't like it when it's cold." she smiled slightly.

I sighed with relief when I saw that Nalla was completely relaxed. I did not expect that she would accept that news so well. Still, maybe she just put on a mask to take off when there were only the two of us left. She learned over time not to show all her emotions right away. Big girls don't cry when everyone can see them.

And then she surprised me. She approached me and sat on my lap. I looked into her eyes looking for any hint of anything. But she was completely calm. It's like she hears about this every day. It was as if she had heard "good morning."

"If you want to leave, I'll understand you." I said when I regained the power of speech.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No, damn it! I'm sorry, baby ... I wish I could tell you I'm a lawyer or an architect ..."

"So I would be bored?"

"Nalla, business doesn't work like in the movies." Egon began to explain to her. "We're not one of those publics everyone knows about. I'd ask you to keep it that way."

“Vic, I like this one.” She laughed. "He may think I'm a complete i***t, but don't worry, I'll always keep our secret."

"I knew from day one that you were special. That's why I fell in love with you ..." I kissed the tip of her nose. "Don't tell anyone about this, okay?"

"All right, all right, can I take it now?" she jumped in my lap like a child before opening Christmas presents. "I'm going to die of desire! Please." she blinked. "Please, with whipped cream and cherries on top."

"Honey, do whatever you want. It's empty, it's a little heavy, be careful not to drop it." I laughed and got up as soon as she stood next to me. "And I'm going to get something stronger to drink. I almost died."

I brought a bottle of bourbon and two glasses to the table. While Nalla was looking at the toy Egon and I started a new topic of conversation.

Some of the great bosses came up with a clever idea to put some girls in our business. In a way, the idea didn't seem bad to me, because women never had a moral brake when it came to finishing work with another woman. That plan has been around for a long time, we all knew about it, but no one ever had an idea how to attract girls to our side.

Not all girls are like Nalla. And I learned that the hard way ... Some were afraid of the very thought of a gun, let alone rifles and gunshots. Nalla was a chameleon. She was good at hiding all emotions, so that no one would ever see if she was afraid of something. Hey, it took me four months to realize that she's afraid of heights more than death.

"Victor, she's the one." Egon concluded after a few minutes of conversation. "Look at her and tell me she wasn't born for it."

"She's still too young. What if that changes with age? And we have to wait until she turns eighteen so she can decide for herself. I'm sorry, but I can't explain the details to her family. And they look at me like the worst thing that could have happened to her."

"Nalla, when are you finishing school?" he asked, startling us both out of our thoughts.

"In a few years ..." she sighed. "Why?"

"If I offered you a job, would you accept it?"

"Of course I would. You'd just have to point me to the details. I'm sure your business isn't being entered from the street."

"And two problems have already been solved. It's time for me to go. Nalla, it was a pleasure." Egon laughed and extended his hand in greeting. "Victor, if this kid walks away from you, you'll be on the wrong side."