CHAPTER 48: It's fate...

Ricco
I'm already standing in the driveway when the car pulls up. When I see Celeste get out and smile, my heart finally releases the clench that it has been in since they drove away. She runs to me and hugs me tight, just as she always has. Relief floods my body seeing with my own eyes that she's okay. Anthony gets out with a sling on his arm. "Well, well, Celeste tells me you're getting slow, Anthony."
"I was just trying to make sure she had something to do after we got back to the hotel. Didn't want her to be bored."
"Hahah, I'm sure you did." I release Celeste and shake the guys' hands. We retreat into the house. "You guys want anything?"
"I would love some coffee, Daddy."
"Coffee, it is. What about you, guys?"
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Torelli. I was about to go in and make us all some lunch. We haven't eaten much."
"Randol, I will not argue with getting to finally eat your cooking." I slap him on the back as he plods to the kitchen.
"Daddy, can I actually get my coffee in a to - go cup? I want to take a shower before lunch."
"Sure, sweetheart." I grab a travel mug and fill it with the coffee I made a few minutes ago. "Here you go."
"Thanks, Daddy. I'll be back soon. Save me some food."
"Well, she seems normal. I guess everything was okay." The guys all look at one another, but no one says anything. "What did I miss?"
Anthony rubs the back of his neck before looking at me. "If it wasn't for Randol, we would have all been crawling out of a pile of rubble, and having to account for a lot of dead humans."
"Um, okay, I'm going to need way more details."
"When that bullet hit me in the arm, Celeste lost it. Remember when Ajax told you about what happened when Randol got hurt? Well, I got to see it firsthand. She picked up and choked fifteen guards at once. She almost rattled the house down to its frame while doing it. Randol had to step in and temper her before she killed them."
Temper her? Arianna. "Well, Randol, you're the one."
"Huh? What one?"
"Sirens are very powerful. They are wildly protective if they let themselves care about someone. There are not many people who can, as Anthony has always put it, be a siren's temperance. I was always able to pull Arianna back from her enraged state. Their side of light and love can push through their darkness. Nothing else can. If she goes into a rage that bad, and there is no one around to pull her back from it, it won't stop until the target of her rage is destroyed."
"Oh. So no pressure then? It's basically my job to catch a hurricane with a butterfly net for the rest of my life?"
"Yep, basically."
"It may make me sound like a psychopath, but I wouldn't give the job to anyone else for anything in the world."
"That, sir, is why I said you're the one." His smile shows how much he loves her. "Well, what's on the menu?"
"Mr. Torelli, I need man food. How are bacon cheddar burgers for you?"
"That sounds amazing. Need any help?"
"Nope, I'm good. Just sit back and relax." He starts making lunch, and his hands look like lightning. I just drink my coffee and talk with Anthony and Yamaguchi. After about fifteen more minutes we bring the burgers to the table. About thirty seconds later, in walks Celeste.
"Do you have food radar or something, Celeste?"
"No, Daddy, but if you find one, buy an extra for me." She eyes the burger like it's her last meal. She must be hungry. She used a lot of energy last night. "This smells so good."
"Thank you, Princess." Everyone starts eating, and various moans, groans, and hums can be heard.
"While I've got you all here, I want to let you know I've called a meeting for tomorrow morning. I just want you to brief everyone on the mission you went on so that we can get back to council business for the rest of the retreat."
"Um, Daddy, I actually wanted to talk to you about that. I was wondering if Randol and I could leave tomorrow afternoon."
"Why?"
"Well, you know I'm moving to New York, and I want us to go look at some places there before I have to get back to work in Chicago. I honestly just need a rest too."
"I bet. You've had a busy time since we got here. I'm sure the council will be fine with it. At least stay for the meeting tomorrow and then you can leave. I'll get tickets for you guys after we eat."
"We want to go straight to New York from here. Is that okay?"
"That's fine, sweetheart. Do you need me to take some of your luggage back to your place for you?"
"That would be a huge help, actually."
"All right, I'll send the itineraries to your e - mails. I'm not doing anything until I finish this burger, though." I can see Randol blush from across table. Talented and humble. More and more like me all the time.
The next day, Celeste, Anthony, Yamaguchi, and Randol debrief the council and heirs. They give the rundown and make sure all questions are answered. Not surprisingly, Celeste had used her time after lunch to make an information packet to hand out to everyone. Once the meeting is over, though, she and Randol have to get going to catch their plane. As I wave them off, it finally sinks in how much my life is changing. I knew this day would come, but now that it has, I feel strangely calm.