Her Safety

Chapter Two

"I-I-I," I stared at him with my mouth agape. "No!" I rushed past him and opened the front door in dismissal, "Get out. Now."

"Angelina we can talk about this. Don't be rash, okay?" He smirked at me before tightening his scarf around his neck. A cool gust of air sent shivers down my skin. I frowned, thinking back to a week prior when our heat had been turned off due to the increasing debt we owed the company. "I can take care of you and that includes your family, as well."

I stuck my chin up proudly, "I don't need to depend on others for the sake of a paycheck. Especially a stalker who follows a woman home and forces himself into her house!" I crossed my arms and turned around after his eyes flashed with anger then faded to amusement.

"You did invite me in," He stood tall behind me, teasing me. "Just trust me though, will you? I am a man of my word. And I give you my word that I will do whatever it takes to make you mine."

"What makes you so sure you'll get me?" I scoffed, putting some distance between us as I became nervous by the close proximity.

"Oh Nina," He chuckled lowly and I felt my body shiver with need. "I always get what I want." He closed the distance between us but I struggled to see his face as he was located directly behind me. His arms snaked around my waist and I froze. His touch seemed to spark a fire in me and I found it hard to ignore. I could feel his breathing on my face and I delighted in his warm, husky scent. It somehow seemed to intoxicate me.

I snapped out of the trance, "What are you—"

"Goodnight Nina. I'll see you soon." He came to stand directly in front of me, and picked up my shaky hands and kissed each one without breaking eye contact. I felt, once more, weak in the knees. I tried hiding my flush. My heart betrayed me as I felt it thump frantically in my chest and my warm body accompanied the odd emotions.

He gently shut the door behind him and I watched him closely. It wasn't until he was nearly inside of his car when I saw something glisten at his side. I squinted in effort to look closer. It shone against the moonlight and it only took me a slight moment to realize it was a gun tucked at his waist. My gasp caught in my throat as his dangerous aura finally wrapped around me tight. Oddly enough, I found no fear in me of him.

"Nina?" My ma's tired voice interrupted me.

"Yeah ma?" I entered the kitchen, still in a daze.

"Are you going to explain?" She set some tea and sugar in front of me and I let it slide down my throat and warm me in a different way than DeAngelo did.

"It's not what you think ma," I began to wave the topic away but a thought struck my mind. "Say ma?"

She nodded

"But, what do you think about him?" I mumbled, looking down at my tea. I barely heard a gasp leave her lips but it was unmistakably a gasp. I looked up at her. Strangely, her eyes sparkled.

"Nina, you know if you're serious about this man I will support you no matter what. I just wish to know about your life. How did you meet him anyhow?" She forced a smile, but the glisten in her eyes failed to cease. I knew ma had been waiting a long time for me to fall in love. After all, it is only traditional for Italian women to marry young. Ma blamed herself so much for the delay of me finding a husband, despite how young I was. I always assured her there would be a time for me to date.

She would always come into my bedroom late at night and take me outside, crying, "If only I made some sacrifices for you guys, maybe you would get to have a life, have friends, date. I'm sorry, principessa."

I never blamed her. I don't think I could ever blame my ma for anything, even if she'd done me wrong. All my life, all I knew was how to be a truly strong and genuine person. If anything, I would fall to my knees and kiss her feet for everything she'd done for me.

"Ma, you do realize that if anything ever got serious between me and a man, everything would change." I squeezed her hands.

"Baby, as long as you are happy."

I couldn't help but frown. Was I actually entertaining the thought?

"Ma, listen... Say things do get more serious. Do you-Do you think you would be okay with me supporting you? You know, financially?" I asked, fearful of her response. My mother, although not always obvious, had a deep-set pride. It took enough out of her to allow me to work for and to support the family, never mind her illness.

"Angelina Talia," She stood up, leaning the palms of her hands rest against the table. "You know I will find a way to take care of this family."

"But ma, if I get married to someone who is well off, he probably wouldn't even notice if I did send you money!" I argued relentlessly, pushing my limits with her. Ma's eyes blazed an angry, fiery red.

"I will NOT allow you to steal from your man in order to support me! You hear me, child? You are twenty-two! When I was your age I was nearly pregnant with you! You cannot jeopardize what you have, especially if this man is wealthy. I want the best and only the best for you." She snatched my empty glass of tea and set it harshly in the sink.

"Oh yeah? So I'm not allowed to support my mother and her six children? If I marry DeAngelo I will have a fortune, mama. Please let me do this for you." I nearly dropped to my knees. My eyes shifted over and over again to the old fabric that covered her. Her eyes were deep and sunken. I felt desperate to make things better for her, for my family.

"All my life, Nini, all of my life I have worked for what I have until I met," She paused to look at the ceiling. My heart clenched as soon as I saw tears cloud her eyes. "Until I met your papa. He did everything for us! He was a good, honest hard worker. Just like you principessa. I will get back on these feet of mine."

"I admire you so much ma." I pulled her into me and hugged her with all my might, hoping some of her strength would rub off on me.

"Now go get washed up for bed." She gently shoved me out of the kitchen like she always did. It didn't matter to her if I were five or twenty-five, I was still going to be bossed around like a child.

I trudged up the stairs wearily and kicked my jeans off. I watched them hit the floor and heard my wallet tumble out of them. I went to grab it, since I hadn't checked it when Angelo gave it back to me. Everything was normal and nothing seemed missing. All I really had were a couple of ten dollar bills, my i.d. and a couple of credit and debit cards. Then I wondered how he had found my wallet, since he had left before me. I never saw him bend down to pick something up.

I thought back to DeAngelo's words. Then I also thought back to the gun at his side. I had to question his motives, his ideas, or just him completely. After all, I'd only just met the man. I wouldn't trust him so easily. I promised myself that. If anything, I was going to get to the bottom of it.

Later that night, I found myself tossing and turning. DeAngelo hadn't left my mind since the moment I laid my eyes on him. I couldn't help but ask, "Why me? What makes him want me?"