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“Shh, don’t cry, my baby You’re safe”

She stands and scoffs, pushing her father ahen he stands and tries to hug her again

“I’ me off to a man who hired someone to kill me I did this for you” She slowly moves backward towardto stand in front of her when she reaches my desk

“Princess, I know this is s were that bad between you two” Arabella stays standing behind me, and I eye her father’s everycloser, I intervene

“You can stop there and speak Clearly, she doesn’t want you near her,” I tell him

“That is est you watch yourself”

“Wrong You neglected to see how h, and now there is a target on her head I’llby you—ever again”

“I didn’t knoould never let anyone hurt irl!” 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 ure 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 hter at the end of this, DeLuca If you think you will, you have never beenin your life”

“Marcello, if you think I will ever trust you with her care again, then it’s you who has never been ”

“Why don’t you let her decide for herself?” he spits