Chapter 3 - The green alligator
She dropped the receiver, letting it dangle by its curly cord off the edge of the desk. Adeline carefully slid down from the desk and dragged the chair back. She walked around to the space behind the desk where Vincent was slumping further down in his leather chair.
Adeline sat cross-legged on the thick rug right beside him. She hugged her stuffed alligator tightly against her chest, her fair, rosy cheeks looking up at the frighteningly powerful Mafia Boss as he struggled to stay awake. His broad chest heaved, his vision blurring.
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Adeline leaned closer, her voice completely calm and soothing, mimicking the way her mother spoke to her at bedtime. “You gotta keep eyes open.”
Vincent’s dark eyes shifted downward, focusing weakly on the tiny girl in the blue dress. For a man who controlled politicians, syndicates, and cities, his only lifeline in this fading moment was a two-year-old child holding a toy reptile. He forced his eyes to stay open, anchoring his slipping consciousness to the sound of her soft, innocent voice.
