I frowned, my eyes clashing with his.
I never really gave much thought to my name, but I supposed it made sense that my mom was the one who gave it to me.
He smiled a little. “When we found out she was expecting, we had a hard time coming up with the name. A name is a very important thing to give to a child, she would tell me. It’s the very first thing we would give to you.”
His eyes took on a glassy quality as he spoke, getting lost in thought.
He swallowed. “I didn’t think too much about that. I was trying to find ways for us to escape Agnello’s grasp. I needed to protect my family. But I didn’t know how to do it on the run. I had been giving away intel on Agnello for years, hoping to build connections, to earn money, just for the day I could take you and your mother away from that fucking Hell.”
I flinched when his voice raised slightly.
He pulled back, as if he realized he was talking to me and not one of his soldiers.
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said.
I wouldn’t exactly say I was scared, but I didn’t know how to react to that statement, so I didn’t do anything.
He closed his eyes briefly, and I stared at him in fascination.
He seemed almost like he was in pain … because he thought he had scared me?
I didn’t know.
I swallowed, but suddenly, there was a small lump forming, and I didn’t know why.
“I came too late for your mom. It’s a weight I will carry for the rest of my life. But I won’t ever let anything happen to you.”
I didn’t think that was up to him.
I looked off to the side.
He didn’t say anything.
Then, “It means pure.”
I looked back at him, my brows pulling together in a small frown.
“Your name,” he clarified. “It means pure.”
Pure, like …virgin?
It took everything to keep from showing my reaction on my face. What was up with everyone being so goddamn obsessed about that?
I must not have hidden my reaction very well because Francisco’s eyes widened, and he shook his head. “Not like that,tesoro. Your mother lived in a very dark world. She wanted you to be the shining light in it. She wanted to signify the goodness that a child brings.Pure.To keep you from the darkness of your life with the bastardo Agnello.”
I blinked, turning away from him.
I didn’t know why I felt like crying then, but I did, and I didn’t want him to see.
How fucking ironic was that? My mom named me ‘pure’ to keep me from the darkness that was Angelo Agnello, while the man himself exploited my chastity as a means for him to gain more power.
“Your mother loved you very much.”
I already knew that. I didn’t need him to tell me. I shook my head.
“Just like I love you.”
My eyes jumped up to meet his.