She's gone from hating being in the same room with me to caring for my wounds when I come home from doing business.
I can only wonder what's going on inside her head.
"You're going to get yourself killed," she says quietly.
"I'm being careful."
"This doesn't look careful. This looks like you got into a fight."
"I did. But I won."
She looks up at me but her green eyes are filled with concern and frustration.
"What if Sofia had seen you come in like this? What if she saw the blood and got scared?"
There's the lecture I knew was coming. I grit my teeth and bear it because she's right.
I'd never want my little girl asking me whose blood is on my hands.
"I would've cleaned up first."
"That's not the point. The point is that you're bringing violence somewhere she could see it. You're putting her in danger just by keeping us here."
"I know."
Angelica pauses and holds my hand while her eyes go wide.
"You know?"
"Yes. I know it's dangerous. I know I'm putting you both at risk. But I'm working to end this and eliminate the threats so you and Sofia can be safe."
Her countenance changes, becoming more sympathetic and compassionate.
For a moment she works in silence, using the tissue to remove the rest of the blood.
I'm not sure what to say, though my brain is scrambling to think of something when she asks me, "Why do you even care?"
"Because you're my family," I tell her, and it's the truest statement I've ever spoken.
"We're not your family, Dante. You just feel the need to protect us."
"You're both," I say. "You're people I'm protecting because you're my family."
She sets the tissue to the side but her head stays down.
I can tell she's struggling with the idea of being my family for all the reasons I've heard her give me previously, but none of those things negate the fact that Sofia is mine by blood.
And I want Angelica to be mine too.
"I should go," she mumbles, standing, but I rise at the same time and capture her waist with an arm.
"I meant what I said, Angelica. I won't let you or our daughter be hurt." I pinch her chin, making her look up at me. "And I want you here, even if you think it's safe to return home. You belong in this house."
Her eyes seem to glass over as I lean down and brush my lips over hers.
"And something tells me you're not taking no for an answer?" she whispers against my mouth.
"I'm not a man to give up when I know I can have what I want."
