Chapter 6 - Broken Pieces
Claire’s heart slammed against her ribs. She looked from Mia to Dante, unable to speak.
Dante slowly sank down onto his knees on the wooden floor. It was an agonizing movement that clearly caused him immense physical pain, but he didn't care. He brought himself down to Mia’s eye level, his eyes shining with unspilled tears.
"Hi, Mia," Dante said softly, his voice trembling violently. "I'm... I'm Dante."
Mia took a hesitant step forward, leaving the safety of Claire’s arms. Claire reached out instinctively to stop her, but then pulled her hand back. She couldn't stop this. Not anymore.
Mia stopped a foot away from Dante. She looked at his dark shirt, noticing the wet, dark stain spreading across his side.
"You're hurt," Mia said matter-of-factly, pointing her tiny finger at his chest. "Mommy is a doctor. She fixes people who are hurt."
A tear finally escaped Dante's eye, tracing a path down his scarred cheek. "Your mommy already saved my life once, little one. She's... she's the bravest person I know."
Mia looked at him curiously, leaning closer. "Why do you have eyes like mine?"
Dante choked back a sob, placing a hand gently over his heart. "Because... because a part of my heart belongs to you. It has belonged to you since before you were even born."
Mia processed this with six-year-old gravity. She turned her head, looking up at Claire. "Mommy, is he the daddy who went away to keep people safe?"
Claire choked on a breath, closing her eyes as the emotional weight of six years collapsed onto her chest. She opened her eyes, looking at Dante’s desperate, pleading face. He looked like a man standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for her to either save him or push him into the abyss.
"Yes, baby," Claire whispered, her voice thick with tears. "He's... he's your daddy."
Mia turned back to Dante. She didn't cry, nor did she scream. Instead, she reached out her small, warm hand and gently touched the wet scar on Dante’s cheek.
Dante closed his eyes, leaning into her soft touch, letting out a shattered, broken sob that shook his entire frame. He raised a trembling hand, barely touching her tiny fingers, terrified that if he held her too tightly, she might vanish like a dream.
"I'm sorry," Dante wept quietly, his forehead dropping to rest against her tiny shoulder. "I am so, so sorry I wasn't here..."
"It's okay," Mia said softly, patting his back with her little hand, just like Claire did for her when she was sad. "Mommy said you had a big job to do. But you're here now."
Outside, the rain began to fall harder, drumming against the roof.
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Suddenly, Dante’s body went limp. The strain, the blood loss, and the sheer emotional overload finally caught up with him. He collapsed forward onto the floor, unconscious.
"Dante!" Claire screamed, springing forward.
