Tio's Protection

“You know that your tio loves you, right?” he asked “Yes, Uncle Frankie. Forever and ever.” She giggled. “Yes, mi chica. Siempre y Siempre.” He pulled the breastplate down to protect his body, then climbed on top of her and pinned her arms back. “Close your eyes.” She did as he instructed, shutting her eyes tight. She tried her best to relax her body, listening to his breathing and mapping out his next move in her mind as she had done a million times before. “Relax, mi chica.” Keeping her eyes shut, she completely relaxed her body. “Good. Are you ready?” He asked. She nodded her head yes. “Go.” He ordered. She opened her eyes and started moving her arms and legs simultaneously, squirming to get from underneath him. He held her tight. She managed to squeeze her leg from underneath him and kneed him in the groin. He immediately let go of her arms and she used her elbow to hit him in the stomach. She went to gouge out his eyes, but the protective gear stopped her. “Twenty seconds. Not bad.” Uncle Frankie stood and hugged a beaming Alex. “But I know that you can knee harder than that. If you are ever attacked, you are to show no mercy, chica. None!” “Si, tio,” she said. “But you will always protect me, right, Uncle Frankie?” He knelt and looked his eight-year-old niece in the eyes. She looked so much like her mother. After a moment of sadness, he answered her. “Yes, my heart. But if I am not around, I need you to promise me that you will remember everything that we have worked on. Every drill, every defensive move, everything!” “But Uncle Frank-” “Promise. Promesa!” he yelled. “Promesa,” she answered. “I love you, my heart.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too, Uncle Frankie.” She held his hand as they walked down the hall of the mansion that sat in the middle of the sprawling 15-acre estate.