She shifts her weight and moves the child behind her body with an instinct that confirms my suspicion.
"Who sent you here?" I ask, stepping closer.
I see the panic flit across her face. She's still bound and she's ready to defy me.
"I don't know," she says. "Men grabbed us in Naples this morning. They didn't tell us anything."
"What did they say?"
"That debt’s come due. That someone wanted to send a message." Her voice rises with each word. "Now uncuff me and let us leave. We don't belong here."
I ignore her demand and gesture toward Rico.
"Take the child upstairs to the guest room. Second door on the left. Give her water and food. Send Marta to care for her for the time being, please."
Angelica moves before Rico can take a step.
She pivots and drives her foot into Enzo's knee hard enough to make him stumble backward.
He recovers quickly and grabs her arm, but she twists against his grip and bares her teeth at him.
"Don't touch her," she shouts. "Don't you dare touch my daughter."
The guards move forward, but I raise one hand and they stop.
I step in and grab Angelica's arm myself, pulling her away from Enzo with enough force to make her gasp.
She tries to jerk free, but I tighten my hold.
"Enough," I say.
My voice cuts through the chaos and her defensive posture, making her wilt.
"Your daughter is safe. My people will take her upstairs and feed her. You and I need to talk."
"I'm not leaving her."
"Yes, you are."
I drag her toward the hallway that leads to the guest wing.
She fights every step, digging her heels into the floor and pulling against me.
The child starts crying behind us, and normally, a child's cries don’t move me, but this time, I feel something in my chest turn.
Marta appears from somewhere and approaches the girl with her hands out and her voice gentle.
The child hesitates, then lets Marta guide her away.
I pull Angelica into the nearest guest room and shut the door.
She spins on me immediately, fury written across every inch of her face.
"Let me go," she demands vehemently before I can even get a word in.
I have no intention of keeping her bound, but her hostility toward me will stop or she'll learn why my men fear me.
I release her arm and growl, "Stand still," as I pull my knife from my pocket and drop to my knees behind her.
