“Shh, don’t cry, my baby. You’re safe.”
She stands and scoffs, pushing her father away when he stands and tries to hug her again.
“I’m safe? It’s not about that, Father. It’s about you marrying me off to a man who hired someone to kill me. I did this for you.” She slowly moves backward toward my desk. This is my cue. I rise then, coming to stand in front of her when she reaches my desk.
“Princess, I know this is my fault. I didn’t know things were that bad between you two.” Arabella stays standing behind me, and I eye her father’s every move. When he doesn’t stop coming closer, I intervene.
“You can stop there and speak. Clearly, she doesn’t want you near her,” I tell him.
“That is my daughter. I can do whatever I like, DeLuca. I suggest you watch yourself.”
“Wrong. You neglected to see how mistreated and unhappy she was for long enough, and now there is a target on her head. I’ll make sure she isn’t put into harm’s way—including by you—ever again.”
“I didn’t know! I would never let anyone hurt my little girl!” he hollers, the veins in his neck and forehead showing.
This has her grasping onto me in fear. She needs me. Arabella needs to feel protected for once, and I'm the only man who can provide that to her now.
“Whether that’s true or not is a moot point. Now, we need to figure out how to end him and make sure my piccolina is safe from here on out. So what do you plan to do, Daddy dearest?” I challenge him.
His eyes widen. “Your piccolina? You are not going to have my daughter at the end of this, DeLuca. If you think you will, you have never been more wrong about anything in your life.”
“Marcello, if you think I will ever trust you with her care again, then it’s you who has never been more wrong.”
“Why don’t you let her decide for herself?” he spits.
“Always. In my hands, Arabella will always get a say. Too bad she didn’t have that before me.” Those words hurt him. Because I’m not wrong. If she would have had a say from the beginning, she wouldn’t be in danger now. I step aside, moving to stand behind her. I press her back to my front and place a possessive, protective hand on her hip.
“Princess, is this what you want? Do you want to stay here with him, or come home with me? You will be safe with me, my baby. I promise.”
And just like that, I’m on the edge of my damn seat, because there’s a chance she’ll go with him. And even though I swore I would never let her leave, I may just have to let her go.
15
Arabella
“Princess, is this what you want? Do you want to stay here with him, or come home with me? You will be safe with me, my baby. I promise,” my father declares, and the room just seems to keep spinning, making me feel more out of sorts than ever.
But truth be told, I’m angry with my father. DeLuca is right. I never had a say, and he never would have listened anyhow. No matter how much he loves me or I love him, I don’t have a voice in his world, and until he realizes that, I don’t feel safe with him.
I draw strength from the powerful man behind me. The stranger I’ve barely gotten to know that has somehow become my protector. DeLuca is the safe place I’ve never had before.
“I’m staying with him, Father. I won’t leave him.” I didn’t plan to say those words, but they just come out. It’s how I feel. Connected, protected, safe, and loyal to my captor. I want to kiss his feet, beg him to keep me from all the men in my life before him. I owe him my life.
“Arabella. I…” My father pauses, looking to DeLuca, then to me before straightening and closing his suit jacket. “You’re right to stay here. I will make sure to handle Ferro, and when you’re safe, I’ll let you make a choice. I won’t silence you again, my baby.”
My heart aches a bit for my father. Sure, his intentions were never for me to be married to a monster, but he never even gave me the chance to tell him or protest. He may love me, but he needs to learn that I’m my own person, and I don’t deserve to be treated like property any longer.
When he turns to leave us, I stop him. “Daddy.” I peer at DeLuca over my shoulder and give him a reassuring look. When he releases his grip on my hip, I step forward to meet my father. Cupping his face, I tell him, “I do love you. Please know that.” A single tear rolls down my face as I kiss his cheek. His sad eyes meet mine, and I know this is killing him.