I'm getting old.

And I'm not saying that because of the few grey hairs, the constant back pain, or because of the wrinkles.

No, it's for a whole different reason.

I'm not strong enough to protect my family on my own. And that scares the shit out of me.

I'm not getting any younger, and neither is Lyssa. My empire does not have a descendant. I mean yes, I have a daughter, but there's no way I would ever put that burden on my little girl.

Even though she's not so little anymore. And she surely is one of the most responsible people I've ever met.

"Your face is going to freeze like that one day."

A smile crept unto my lips. "Oh yeah?" I raised my head to see my beautiful wife in the doorway of the living room. She was wearing her brown, silk pajama set that consisted of shorts and a shirt.

After almost two decades together, there hasn't been a day when I have not felt love for this woman. She's as beautiful as when I met her. But now she's less worried. She doesn't carry all that baggage anymore.

"Are you going to leave me when that happens?" I chuckled.

"I'll think about it and let you know." She shrugged, walking towards me and stopping between my spread legs as I sat on the couch. "What's wrong, Killy?" She raised her hand to my face, gently caressing my cheek. I leaned into her touch, closed my eyes, and put my hands on her hips, keeping her close.

"I'm just..." I exhaled heavily, feeling a crushing weight on my shoulders.

"Hey." She said gently, tilting my head up and I opened my eyes to look at her. "What are you thinking about again?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm not getting any younger."

"This again?" She rolled her eyes. "Killy, come on."

"I'm scared that..."

"Nothing is going to happen." She cut me off. "Stop worrying. We're fine. I'm fine, Lucy's fine."

And I thank god every night before I go to sleep for that.

"You need to stop thinking about what-ifs. We have enough security and after the last two decades, anyone would be crazy to go after us."

Deep down I know she's right. People are terrified of us. I mean who wouldn't be? My wife is a damn assassin, I'm the mafia boss and I have so many alliances with other mafia members who I consider family, that only someone who wants to die a painful death would go after us.

Yet, I'm still worrying. Because what if someone really is that crazy? What if someone goes after my wife or my little girl?

"You need to stop worrying or you'll give yourself a heart attack." She poked my cheek, bringing me back from my thoughts. "We haven't had any problems in the last five years. Take a breath and leave the worries to your men."

"Yeah, you're right." Like most of the time.

But still, maybe I should hire more men to protect my two girls.

"Now..." Lyssa started, lowering herself onto my lap. My hands slipped from her hips to her lower back, bringing her closer to my chest. "You left me alone in bed. I'm taking that personally, husband."

"Oh really?" I raised my eyebrows, lowering my head down to her shoulder and kissing it gently. "I'll find a way to make it up to you," I murmured into her soft skin, nibbling on her neck.

"You better." She teased, her fingers finding their way into my hair.

I pulled away just a little so I could kiss her properly. I can not get enough of this woman. I don't think I'll ever will.

My hands started traveling around her body, teasing and grabbing, until I stopped at her chest, pinching her nipples.

The moment a soft moan escaped her lips I wanted to devour her whole.

And why I didn't do that? Well...

"Oh, Jesus Christ, not again!"

We both pulled away in an instant like two teenagers being caught doing something they shouldn't be.

"Not on the couch!" She groaned.

"Hi, sweetheart." Lyssa chuckled, resting her hands on my chest.

"Don't sweetheart me, mom." Lucy frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.

Yeah, so I mentioned that my little girl is not so little anymore. Well, she's twenty-five actually.

Lucy grew into a beautiful woman. Her hair is now long, wavy, light brown, or more blonde I'd say. They are in a messy bun now though. She used to have these cute cheeks that you wanted to pinch every time you saw her, but now they're much less visible.

And even under those loose-fitting, comfortable clothes she's wearing, she has a body almost like Lyssa. I'm so fucking glad she's wearing that for work so no one can ogle her.

Yes, my daughter works. We didn't spoil her enough.

After high school, she decided she wanted to study medicine and become a nurse. Hence the blue scrubs she's wearing right now. She works twelve-hour shifts at a local hospital.

She would never have to lift a finger in her life. I'd make sure of that. But no, my girl wanted to help people.

I'm so fucking proud I could cry.

"Could you stop doing this on the couch? What are you? Teenagers? You have a room." She threw her arms in the air.

"We didn't get to cause you trauma when you were younger, we're compensating." With a wink, Lyssa stood up from me and I tried to hide the bulge in my pants with a nearby pillow. Lucy does not need to see that.

"Thanks a lot." She deadpanned.

"Maybe someone else needs to get rid of some nerves and relax a little."

"No," I said sternly at the same time as Lucy said. "No, thanks."

Lyssa's gaze skipped between the two of us. "See that? We're never going to have grandbabies because of you." Lyssa slapped my shoulder hard.

"Ouch!" I frowned, massaging the place where she hit me.

"Jesus, Mom." Lucy ran her hand down her tired face.

"Yeah, yeah." She rolled her eyes. "You have too much work, I know."

And I'm happy with that.

Is that a shitty thing to say?

Lucy has never brought a guy home. I know there were some guys in her high school years but none of them got to meet us. Lucky bastards. I'd probably shoot them in the doorway.

No man is good for my little girl.

"Dad is happy with that."

Lyssa shot me a glare. "Yeah well, Dad does not get a say in this." She looked back at our daughter. "No dating until thirty is a load of bullshit and you know it. You're young, you should..."

While Lyssa continued talking, I shook my head at Lucy and mouthed "No dating until thirty".

She did not have a good poker face. She started laughing, which made Lyssa look at me again and I was too slow to stop my shenanigans.

"Ouch!" I screamed again as now she slapped my head. Is this domestic abuse?

"You're not getting any for a week." She said with all seriousness before leaving the living room.

"Whoa, babe. Come on, I was joking." I shouted after her but then with a low voice, I said to Lucy, "I wasn't."

"I heard that!" Lyssa screamed back. Jesus that woman has hearing like a hawk.

"Make that two weeks, dad." My daughter laughed, enjoying my pain.

"Damn it." I cursed under my breath as I stood up and walked over to her. "Anyways, how was work?" I hugged her like always.

"I can barely feel my feet." She chuckled as she pulled away. "But they brought this kid in today." Her face lit up. "Just a broken wrist, nothing too bad. But he was twelve and flirting with all the nurses. He was so damn adorable."

Good. Twelve-year-old boys are not my enemies. She should have more patients like that all year round.

"I'm glad you had a good day." I kissed the top of her head.

"Where's Loki?" She looked around.

"Probably in your room."

So yeah, Loki is Lucy's dog. He's a husky and a rescue. After Odin passed, she didn't really want another dog but when that little puppy just appeared out of thin air, we kept him.

"I can't wait to take a shower." She groaned, tilting her head backward. "And get some sleep."

"Yeah, you really need a shower." I joked.

Lucy shot me a glare before slapping my arm. Damnit, she's too much like her mom.

"Be mean to me and see what happens." She frowned.

"I will not let you move out," I said sternly.

Lucy said that a few times. That she wanted her own space. But since she's most of the time in the work anyway, it'd be useless. Plus, Lyssa and I will never let that girl go if we have any say in it.

Me especially.

I'm not ready to lose my little girl.

"I'm twenty-five, Dad. You realize that, right?" She scoffed.

"Doesn't matter if you're seventy. This is your home."

Her lips curved into a warm smile. "And it always will be." She stood on her tiptoes, kissing my cheek. "Love you, Dad. Goodnight, see you tomorrow."

"Love you, sweetheart," I whispered as she smiled at me again and left me alone in the living room.

I looked at the clock. It was a little after eight in the morning. I bet I can make Lyssa forgive me by the end of the day.

With that in mind, I started to look for her.

And where else would she be if not in the kitchen, making herself coffee?

I sneaked up behind her, even though I knew she could feel she wasn't alone. And hugged her from behind.

"Lucy went to bed," I whispered into her hair.

"Good." I smiled at her agreement. So she's not mad. "That means Loki is with her. The doghouse is free for you to use." She slipped from under my arms and hit the counter with my palms.

My shoulders started to shake with laughter as I watched my wife move around the kitchen.

Okay, so maybe a little mad. I'll get that out of her system in no time.

Determined to make her forgive me I walked to her once again and turned her around so she would look at me. If she was really mad she wouldn't let me, so I knew this truly was just temporary.

I raised my hand to her face, caressing her cheek. "I love you so fucking much," I said with a smile.

"Mhm."

The corner of my lip twitched. She's going to make me work for it.

I slowly let my hand down and grabbed the counter behind her, lowering myself to my knees. The spark in her eyes came back that exact second.

"I know you do like me on my knees." I chuckled.

"That's where all men belong, no?" She tried to look unaffected but I noticed how her chest was rising and falling a little bit quicker than normal.

"This one for sure." I kissed her inner thigh, spreading her legs a little. "Worshiping only you," I whispered and smiled against her skin, nipping on it as I got higher.

"Well, then you..."

"Oh, for fuck's sake!"

Lucy Acker, ladies and gentlemen. My own, personal cockblocker that I raised myself.

I raised my head to see her in the doorway, a husky standing next to her, looking up like she was his whole world.

"You have a room for a reason, people." She complained. "I can't even get water. Come on, Loki, let's go." She turned around, stomping up to her bedroom.

I looked up at Lyssa who was laughing silently. "She's going to move out in a week at this pace."

"Not going to happen."

She looked down at me and I realized that I was like that stupid dog. Looking up at a woman, who was my whole world.

"I doubt she'll go downstairs today after all this." She chuckled and grabbed me by my hair, dragging me closer to her. I swallowed the moan that came after that. "Continue, Mr. Acker, I do believe you started something."

"Gladly, Mrs. Acker." I smiled as I slowly reached for her sleeping shorts.

"Get. A. Room." Lucy screamed from somewhere in the house.

Lyssa and I exchanged looks before we burst out laughing.

Never did I think that this is how my life would end up being.

But I know that I couldn't be happier.

I'm a lucky motherfucker.

And I know that I'll die a happy man.

Preferably while holding my girls.



I don't even have an excuse. I was just in a mood to write about these three ;)