Vincent

Rain was falling lightly on the streets of New York, and the night was filled with car exhaust and the sounds of distant whistles.
In a narrow alley between two old buildings, Vincent walked calmly, surrounded by several men dressed in black who followed him silently, while his hands were inside his black coat and his gaze was as cold as ever.
At the age of twenty… he was one of the youngest Mafia men everyone feared.
He knows no mercy, and he doesn't care about anyone. Or so he always convinced himself.
But as he passed by a rusty garbage container… he heard a faint sound of crying.
to stop.
He turned his head slowly and saw a little girl sitting on the ground.
Her clothes were soaked with rain, her hair was stuck to her face, and her red eyes were painfully tired.
She was holding in her arms… a small baby wrapped in an old blanket.
Vincent frowned, while his men exchanged silent glances behind him.
He said in a low voice:
— “What are you doing here?”
The child quickly raised her head, as if she were afraid he would expel her.
She hugged the child tighter and said in a trembling voice:
— “Please… don’t take it from me.”
Silence reigned for a few seconds as he gazed at her.
He was used to seeing people crying, begging, and even sometimes dying… but the sight of her was strange to him.
A ten-year-old girl tries to soothe a baby as if she were its mother.
He bent down until he was at her level.
— “Where are your parents?”
Her lips trembled.
— “My mother died yesterday…”
His features froze for a moment.
— “And your father?”
She lowered her eyes to the ground.
— “He said we were a burden… then he left.”
The baby started crying even louder, so she quickly shook him gently, even though her hands were trembling from the cold and hunger.
She whispered in a broken voice:
— “This is my brother… he is four months old… I don’t know how to calm him down.”
Vincent felt a strange heaviness in his chest.
A feeling he had always hated.
Compassion.
He hesitantly reached out his hand towards the child.
But the child immediately backed away and hugged the baby to her chest.

• "no!"
  Her gaze was painfully fierce.
  A little girl… but she is ready to face the whole world in order to protect it.
  For the first time in years… a slight smile appeared on Vincent’s lips.
  He took off his black coat and placed it over her and the child, while his men stood behind him in silence and astonishment.
  Then he turned around, lighting a cigarette, and said coldly:
  — “Get up.”
  The child blinked fearfully.
• "To where…?"
  He turned halfway around, then said:
  — “From today… no one will leave you in the street.”
  She got up hesitantly and ran after him carrying her little brother, while his men silently made way for her, and the rain gradually subsided above them.