Page 45 of Angelo

"But, just because I like you," Mariposa warned, "does not give you the right to poke your nose into my personal shit. My life is none of your concern.”

“I want to help you, Mari, if you let me. But if you don’t want me to meddle, I won’t overstep. I can take you home right now. Just say the word, and I'll never bother you again. Let me know what you want to do.”

This seemed to give Mariposa pause. “P-Please do not take me home. Not yet.”

“Then I’ll ask one more time,” Elyse murmured, “is there anything else you want to tell me?”

Mariposa gave an anxious nod. "Before I say anything, I want to renegotiate.”

Their eyes met. Tension sparked as the women looked at each other like two rivals trying to become friends.

“Are you referring to our agreement?”

“Yes.”

“What are your new terms?”

"In addition to providing a position in yourcoscafor my,ah, services, I want protection."

"From who?" Elyse inquired even though she already sensed where this conversation was headed.

"My father."

Her gaze swept over to Mariposa's injured cheek once more. "Was he the one who hit you?"

"No," Mariposa answered with an acrid bite in her voice, "he never lays a hand on me. The bastard orders his men to do it for him."

Elyse's heart went out to the girl even while a trickle of uncertainty coursed through her. "Fuck them all."

In an unexpected burst of vulnerability, Mariposa added in low, broken tones, "You have no idea whatPapàis like when he gets angry. I cannot live with him anymore. You must help me, or he will break me.For good."

Could this be a trap? Had Mariposa been sent by Aberto to break down her walls?Dios, she hoped not. Elyse despised herself for doubting the younger woman's pain, but, knowing what Aberto was capable of, it felt foolish to lower her defenses.

Elyse wished to protect Mariposa, but she was also wary of getting played by the De Leóns. The dilemma between picking the risky, righteous choice versus the safe, selfish one railed within. Could she afford to be an angel in a world ofdevils?

Elyse forced herself to remain undecided for the time being. More facts were needed. Desperate for the truth, she turned to Mariposa. "I want to help you.Believe me, I do. But I can’t help questioning your motives. Why are you askingmefor protection instead of someone you’ve known longer and trust more?"

The dark-eyed girl smiled at her, but there was no light in her eyes. "Beggars cannot be choosers. Would you believe me if I said that no one in my life cares whether I live or die?”

Mierda. Her heart broke again for Mariposa, but she steeled herself against the pull of emotions. In a firm, gentle voice, Elyse requested, “Give me a reason to believe you.”

Mariposa’s brow pinched shrewdly. "Earlier, I told you about Enrico's death as a sign of good faith, and I can share more about what my brothers plan to do at Vincenzo's funeral. But only after you agree to protect me."

It seemed the girl had come prepared to build bridges. Elyse’s compassion battled with her fears.Could a De León be trusted?

Awkwardly, Mariposa cleared her throat. “Let me show you something.”

As their vehicle rolled through the streets of Palermo, Elyse watched as Mariposa's fingers moved to the collar of her linen shirt dress. She started to undo the line of buttons down the front.

“Oh,Dios…”

Elyse’s gasp prompted Luca and Monte's gazes to flit toward the rearview mirror. Mariposa shrugged out of her dress. The two men's eyes grew wide. They shuffled in the front, coughing awkwardly, as they caught sight of the pretty young woman wearing nothing but her bra and underwear. Without being prompted, Luca muttered a quick apology and pressed the button to put the privacy shield in place.

Once her initial shock passed, Elyse soon realized why Mariposa had chosen to remove her clothing. Her eyes drifted over Mariposa's exposed flesh. In the girl's state of undress, it was easy to see the many cuts and bruises that defaced her body. Most of them appeared to be new. Some of them were old. One of the older scars looked distressingly like a burn mark. Her heart clenched with horror at what Mariposa had revealed to her.

"How long has this been going on?" Elyse asked carefully.

Mariposa winced as though the question stung her. "It is hard to say. My father's temper tends to run hot and cold. It happened sometimes when Imisbehaved as a child. Then, my father backed off when I got older and boys became interested in fucking me. He didn’t want them to see the ugliness that went on in our home."

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