"From what?"
"From you. From this." She gestures around the kitchen.
"From a life where she would grow up surrounded by violence and fear. I gave her a normal childhood. A safe childhood."
"And how safe is she now?" I ask.
I don’t even have to spell it out, because I see in her eyes that she knows I'm right.
So right, she can't even form an argument. "I'm going to prove she's mine," I say. "I've already arranged for a DNA test. My doctor will have the results in a few days."
Her head snaps back toward me. "No. You can't do that without my permission."
"I don't need your permission. I already have the sample."
"What are you talking about?"
"The silverware from dinner. Sofia ate off it. That's all I needed."
Her face goes pale.
She stares at me like I just slapped her.
"You had no right."
"I had every right. She's my daughter."
"She's my daughter," Angelica says, slamming her fist against her chest. "She's mine, and you can't just take her from me."
"I'm not taking her from you. I'm keeping both of you safe."
"By locking us in a room? By posting guards outside the door?"
"It's the only option right now."
She shakes her head.
Tears shine in her eyes, but she doesn't let them fall.
"Please. Just let us go. Sofia is happier without you. She's safer without you. We don't need you in our lives."
"My enemies know about her," I tell her bluntly.
"They know she exists. They know she's connected to me. If I let you walk out of here, they will find you again. And next time, they won't just drop you off at my door. They'll torture you for information. They'll kill you both when they're done. Is that what you want?"
She doesn't answer.
Her hands shake at her sides.
"I'm not the villain here," I say. "I'm trying to keep you alive. Both of you."
"You're the reason we're in danger in the first place."
"Yes," I agree. "And that's why I'm going to fix it."
She stares at me for a long moment.
Then she turns and walks out of the kitchen without another word.
