“What’s wrong?”
Nonno’s question is soft even as he slides into the seat opposite Marisol. It’s past closing, just, the place is empty and Marisol is still picking at the last of her plate of pasta, smaller and skinnier than usual. She looks haunted.
“There’s a… a shadow… a shadow figure… keeps following me… and I….”
Marisol’s voice breaks and Nonno covers her hand with his own gently.
“Let me check it out, go on home with Loli or Lina?”
Marisol nods timidly and Nonno smiles, kissing the girl’s cheek softly.
“Don’t worry kiddo, Nonno will take care of it.”
Marisol looks relieved, he realises, watching her leave with Solina Ramirez and Lolita Sanchez. The two women had always been quietly fond of the timid girl and he knew she would be safe. His work comes next, clearing her home of whatever spiteful fuck is screwing with the girl.
He finds them, of course, loitering under a light and chases them down, the man’s yells fall quickly silent and he grunts softly, sinking his boot into the dying man’s side before dragging him away and depositing him where he will never be found.
Marisol is back the next day, Lolita’s smile soft even as Solina serves the girl her meal, a smile and wink at Nonno making it clear the girl had been well cared for even as Solina drops the money into Donna’s till, paying for it from her own pocket. Marisol is still softly shy, still nervous but there’s an air of confidence that wasn’t there before, Nonno smiles to himself as he slips into the seat opposite Marisol.
“All sorted kiddo, you’ll be okay.”
Later, much later, he’d admit to Donna what he had done, surprised by Donna’s sharp smile and whispered ‘Good, little fucker’ even as he accepts yet again how lucky he is to have such a good love and such a happy life.