Her breathing quickens.
I watch her pupils blow wide in fright as the fear creeps in despite her attempts to hide it.
"This is your fault," she says. "Whatever you did, this is because of you."
"Yes," I agree. "And now you're caught in it."
She shoves against my chest with both hands, but I barely move.
So she tries again, harder, and when that fails, she swings her fist at my face.
I catch her wrist before she connects and pin it against the wall above her head.
"Stop," I say calmly, though I want to shout.
Never in my life has anyone treated me this way and lived.
"Let me go."
"Not until you calm down."
We stay frozen like that, her chest heaving.
Her eyes shine with tears she refuses to shed.
And finally, I release her wrist and step back, putting space between us.
"You'll stay here until I figure out who sent you and what they want," I say. "You and Sofia will be protected. Nobody will harm either of you."
"I don't trust you."
"Do you think I care?" I glare at her and move toward the door.
One of my guards stands in the hallway when I open it and step out.
"Bring food for both of them. Make sure the child has whatever she needs. And take her to be with the girl. No one in or out. Got it?"
He nods and walks away while I turn back to Angelica.
She hasn't moved from her position against the wall.
"Why did you save me that night?" she asks timidly.
She's shaking a little, probably frightened by me, but maybe that’s a good thing.
It'll keep her too scared to do anything stupid.
"Because I wanted to," I tell her, but the truth is, she reminded me of my past, and that familiarity drew me in like a moth to a flame.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
I close the door and lock it from the outside.
Then I walk back to my den and call Silvio, my doctor.
He answers immediately.
