The Assasination Project

Part Eight

Eva's POV

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Quince enquired seeming a little concerned. I nodded my head in response and he heaved a sigh before we both entered the social services building.

It was a week after we had found out Nancy and dad passed away. Quince kept coming by daily and I honestly didn't have an issue. He got along well with Azzy and made her smile. Even on the day of the funeral, three days ago, he managed to make her smile.

I didn't quite tell Azzy I was going to adopt her yet. Tomorrow was her birthday and I planned to surprise her by telling her then. Hopefully this all goes well.

Quince knocked on the door of the social worker's office who was assigned to us.

"Come in", a feminine voice sounded from the other side and we entered in to see a woman dressed professionally behind a large desk and starring back at us questioningly.

"Can I help you?" she asked as I tried to gather all my thoughts. I could do this. I was ready to be a mother.

"Yeah. I'm Eva McLane", I responded as confidently as I could.

"Oh yes, we have an appointment concerning your little sister's guardianship. Please have a seat", she offered and Quince and I sat on the visitor seats opposite her on the desk.

"And who may you be?" she enquired of Quince raising her perfectly plucked eyebrow skeptically at him.

"That really isn't important. What is important is why exactly I came here", I got her to focus her attention back to me.

"Very well, what is it? The guardianship is still being decided", she informed.

I breathed in a sigh before I continued and Quince took hold of my hand below the table. I wasn't complaining though, it gave me the strength I needed at the moment.

"I want to adopt Azzy. I know the guardianship over her is still being decided, but she needs me and I need her", I stated as bravely as I could.

"I'm sorry Ms. McLane, you know that it's not about who Azzy needs. It's about her safety. Someone was responsible for your parents death, and that same person may come after her as well", the lady said sternly. And it killed me to admit it was true.

Someone had killed Nancy and dad. Their accident wasn't no accident, it was planned. But the police hadn't apprehended the criminal just yet. They didn't even know who it was. According to them, the person could have still been after both Azzy and I.

"Furthermore, you are single. Azzy is used to having both parents. Your father's brother and his wife may be more suited to raise her", the lady continued and my eyes welled up with tears at the harsh truth.

Quince tightened his grip on my hand he was holding and I looked up to see that his dark gaze was settled on the social worker.

"Listen", he demanded of her and she looked at him coldly, "Eva has been raising Azzy since day one. She knows her sister better than she knows herself. She's perfect mother for Azzy. If Azzy needs a father, then here I am. I'm ready to out my name on those papers as her dad. And as far as safety is concerned, trust me... you don't want to know who I am".

I couldn't help the tears that fell. They were tears of joy. I couldn't believe it. This stranger, who was gradually becoming more, was willing to not only become Azzy's dad, but risk everything to be there for her. Not only that, but keep her safe. I think I'm in love.

It sounded stupid, but it was true. I was falling for the handsome business, and possible gang leader, named Quince Mavoric. But I wasn't bother as much as before about the gang leader nonsense. Quince was proving that even if he was the leader of a bunch of killers, he would keep Azzy and I far away from it.

"Very well, I'll arrange for the papers by tomorrow morning. You can come in then and sign them", the social worker responded, but didn't sound very pleased. But who cares about her. I was going to be my little sister's mother, and Quince apparently was going to share in the parenthood with me.

Quince kept Azzy and I happy and never gave us a chance to be sulky. He didn't even bother speaking about the snail these few days.

Speaking of the snail, hardly anyone knew about it still. Only Quince, Linos, Davin, Trevor and his crew and I knew about it. To make it even more secretive, Trevor had arranged for other endangered species to come to the zoo with the snail.

But in separate containers obviously. We didn't want the endangered species to become even more endangered because of that poisonous little creature. I remember when I had first seen it in person. It was last week and I wanted to take my mind of dad and Nancy.

Only Davin was allowed to feed it, but while wearing a protective suite. The other staff at the zoo didn't know much. Those who had found out, were sworn to secrecy. The little creature was so tiny and looked harmless, but it wasn't. It looked just like the picture Davin had shown me.

"Amazing", Quince's hard look turned into a grin and without another word we exited the building and out into the cold outdoors. The air was crisp and the weather was cloudy. Winter was coming soon. There were barely any trees around the city, but those it did have, were going bald due to the season.

"Thank you", I hugged Quince and he seemed stunned for a few moments before he hugged me back.

"No need to thank me", he said as we broke apart.

"Yes I do. I wouldn't have gotten Azzy if it wasn't for you", I argued.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night", he quoted my words from a week back.

"Hot chocolate and Oreos help me sleep at night", I sent him a cheeky smile. His look was one which was obviously faking being hurt.

"I beg your pardon", he laughed amusingly, "You fell asleep on me last night during a movie".

Guilty is charged. Once again, it is true. His broad and muscular shoulder was a great pillow.

"I help you sleep at night", he bent down and whispered in my ears huskily, "Not Oreos or hot chocolate".

I looked down at my feet and speed walked to his sports car so that he didn't see the blush which was crawling up cheeks. I heard his sexy laugh coming from behind me, and I didn't bother turning around to look.

"You are so cute", he gushed and I turned around instantly to scowl at him Did he just call me cute?!

"Don't call me that!" I demanded.

"What? Cute?" he pretended as though he was clueless. He would make one heck of an actor.

"Yes! That word!"

"But you..." his facial expression changed in a split second as his eyes narrowed into thin splits at something behind me.

I turned around and was surprised to see who was there...

"Linos"...