Angelica leans back in her seat and listens with a soft expression on her face.
I watch her more than I watch the choir.
The way the light catches in her dark hair.
The way she smiles when Sofia whispers something to her.
The way she looks relaxed for the first time in days.
It's like she's entranced in the beautiful performance and it makes her radiate beauty.
This is what I want to give her.
Moments like this where she can forget about the danger and enjoy something simple and normal with our daughter.
I hope she can see that I'm trying to be the man she wants me to be.
I'm not good at any of this, and it's like learning to ride a bike.
I keep failing, but when I do get it right, it feels magical.
Especially because I've never known these emotions before in my life.
Sitting here with Angelica and Sofia, I realize my father was wrong.
Caring about them doesn't make me weak.
It makes me fight harder to defend what I have because having something and losing it is worse than never having it at all.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out discreetly to check the screen. It's a text from Rico.
Rico 8:14 PM: One of Antonelli's men is outside. He followed us here.
I read the message twice and feel my jaw tighten.
Gerard is a flea on a camel's back that needs to be exterminated.
It seems no matter what I do, he's there to ruin it.
The pressure he's applying on me in every sphere of my life has to stop.
I look at Angelica and Sofia.
They're both watching the choir.
Neither of them notices my phone or the tension that runs through me.
I could stay here and pretend I didn't see the message—let Rico and Luca handle it while I sit here and enjoy the performance.
But it would be a risk.
If Gerard's man got into this building and past my men, the results could be disastrous.
I can't imagine letting Sofia see a shootout.
Angelica would leave me immediately.
I lean toward Angelica and speak quietly. "I need to use the restroom. I'll be back in a few minutes." I won’t just sit here while my men put that bastard in his place. I have to make sure for myself that it's done right.
