23

Victoria's POV

Today I was feeling littler than usual. I didn't know why, but I wanted to be held and cuddle with someone so bad. Basically, I didn't want to be alone. Maybe it was because of the weather, as it was finally getting warmer, and that put me in a good mood.

On the other hand... the brothers probably weren't feeling the same. Well, it was hard to tell, since they barely left their offices, and when they got out, they were too busy to even stay some minutes.

Of course, Jeff left me some coloring books and colors, and Marcus gave me Daisy, but I didn't want any of that. I wanted them.

I decided to go to daddy's office, where I could hear him pretty angry talking on the phone. The door was slightly opened, so I just entered. If I hadn't been feeling little, I wouldn't even think of it, seeing how distressed he was. But I wanted to be with him, or at least to get him to pay attention to me.

"Daddy" I whispered.

He was frowning, and seemed really stern at that moment. He looked like that every time he got angry at something work related, so I always tried not to talk to him too much when he was working. But this time, his face relaxed as soon as he saw me. He said "call you later" through gritted teeth before hanging up and putting his phone on his pocket.

"Hey, baby. What's wrong?"

"I'm bored, daddy. Can we cuddle, pleease?"

He sighed and thought about it for a moment. I couldn't complain if he said no, because we had been spending time together a lot these past days, and today he seemed busy like his brothers.

"I'm sorry, princess. Daddy has a lot to do today. But I promise you we can cuddle later as long as you want, deal?"

I wanted to pout, but it wasn't his fault. I could see he felt guilty about it, but I understood he had things to deal with.

In the end, I went to the only available (and, by that, I mean he seemed less busy than the others) person in the mansion: Marcus. I couldn't really get to cuddle with him often, but we did get along pretty well. He was the one I played with the most, so maybe it was a good idea.

I knocked his door a few times, he coming out seconds after. Marcus smiled a little before picking me up, making me giggle at the sudden action.

"Hey, baby. What did you need?"

"I'm bored" I repeated, "and everyone's busy... and daddy's also working"

"Oh no, can't have my princess feeling sad, can I?"

I giggled again at him, to which he smiled. I loved when he was in a good mood, he would always tell jokes and try to make me smile, and now it was being pretty easy, but I couldn't help it.

I smelled his perfume, I mean, he wore it even when he wasn't going to meet anyone, but I loved it. I hid my face in his shoulder and he started stroking my hair.

"Are you busy?" I asked.

"Nothing too important right now, I was kind of checking some codes, but I also need a break. Want to go outside and play with the doggies?"

I quickly nodded, actually liking the idea. It had been a while since I last played with them, since daddy and the brothers were still insecure about it, so they tried not to let me be around them too often. But they wouldn't hurt me.

Marcus took me downstairs, grabbed a jacket for me, and took me outside where both of the dogs came rushing to us. A guy was about to say something (apparently he was the new trainer), but Marcus raised his hand and signaled him it was okay, so he left us be, pretty confused at the dogs' interaction right now.

The both happily barked and jumped around me.

"Easy, boys" Marcus said in a stern voice. Even if he knew it was okay, they were still pretty big and intimidant, and, well, were trained as part of this mafia, so it was an understatement. I also had seen them being violent before, different to how they were with me.

I petted their heads and they loved it. Alain started licking my face, making me giggle, and Hades laid down next to me. Marcus chuckled, and damn it was difficult to make him or his brothers smile. Come to think of it, they only did when I was around.

He gave me a ball I had bought to play with the dogs and we started playing, running with them. Marcus was hesitant to play, probably because he didn't want his shirt to get dirty, but eventually he gave in and started playing with me.

And that's basically how we spent about an hour. I threw the ball and Marcus caught it (not as interested as I was, but I appreciated the intention) while Hades and Alain ran with us.

"I think we should go inside, it's getting late" Marcus said, msassaging his shoulders.

"Five more minutes?" I asked, he sighed and I knew he would say no.

Before he could answer, I started running away from him while laughing. I didn't really get to spend the day outside, so I wasn't going to give in too easily. Plus, I liked being with him.

He then started chasing me and laughing with me, and everything was fine... until I fell and scratched my knee. But like, it was a big wound and it was bleeding pretty much. It wouldn't have been too important if I had fallen on the grass, but this part was concrete and it hurt like hell.

None of us reacted until I suddenly started sobbing out of pain and shock. Marcus quickly picked me up and started boucing me on his arms while he rubbed my back, hoping I would calm down, but my leg really hurt, even if I had been out of my little space.

"Hey, it's okay, gorgeous. Shh, nothing happened, yeah? Let's go inside and tell your daddy"

He kept mumbling sweet nothings to my ear but I couldn't stop crying. It hurt a lot, I felt embarrassed and now I had to interrupt daddy's work over my stubbornness.

"I-it hurts"

"I know, baby. Look, we're almost there, your daddy will make you feel all better"

I had never seen him this panicked, not even with work. In other circumstances, I would had laugh, but now I just wanted the pain to go away and had some sleep.

Marcus didn't knock, instead, he simply entered Ross' office. He was checking some papers when he saw me and abruptly stood up, rushing to me and picking me up. He copied Maerus actions, rubbing my back and laying my head on his shoulder.

"What did you do?"

"Are you serious? She was running and fell, she scratched her knee. It seems pretty bad, though" we were all heading to the bathroom at this point, "it'll be fine with some alcohol and cream"

Ross didn't answer, instead, he sat me on the bath and Marcus handed him the rubbing alcohol, pouring some in a cotton ball.

"Hey, princess, can you tell daddy what did you do today?"

"I-I played w-with the doggies-" I whimpered, feeling my knee burn at the liquid, but continued talking "and colored a lot"

"That's great, and did you have fun?"

"Uh-huh"

"That's great princess, and look, we're almost finished"

Again, Marcus handed him some anesthetic cream and Ross applied it gently to my knee, making me feel instantly relieved.

I stopped sobbing minutes ago, but I was still crying and sniffling over it. I heard Marcus sigh and Ross picked me up, continuing rubbing circles on my back. He got out of the bathroom, leaving his brother behind (and who still seemed pretty tensed) and praised me until I calmed down.

I was having a headache over crying too much. Plus, I was hungry and hadn't get to cuddle with Ross all day. I admit, even though we were often together, I would always miss him, and need to be with him.

"Good job, princess. I'm so proud of you" he said, going to the kitchen.

We saw Jeff talking to some men on the living room but didn't mind, honestly. Thankfully, they couldn't see us, and if they had, none of them mentioned it.

"You were such a brave girl, weren't you? I think you deserve this"

Ross then gave me a cookie he took from the jar, surprising me as I thought I was still punished from what he said two days ago, but I gently took it and smiled at the taste. He let out a sigh of relief, bouncing me to make me feel better.