"I know you were listening. There is nothing between us. Mackenzie and I."
Silence
"Is it about my new position in life?" Inching closer
"Should I worry?" Lowering my eyes as my chest tightened with fear.
"No. Except for the angry ladies. I was once a sought after bachelor in New York, but now...." Our eyes meet. He chews on his bottom lip.
"But now, you are heir to an empire of blood and death." Wishing I could hide my terror.
"No one will hurt you. I promise you that. This is not something I have wanted, but at the same time I can't be ungrateful. He did take me in when no one else wanted me. Put a roof over my head, clothes on my back."
I raised my eyebrows.
"When my father died, he left a mountain of debts that needed to be repaid. After clearly all I was left with nothing. I was almost homeless until Mr Salvador step in. Taking me as his own."
"He had no children at the time and treated me as his very own son."
The intensity of his gaze was searing. It felt as if his whole focus was on me. As if he was asking me to understand. To accept all of this.
"Did you know, that he and his wife were amongst the fifty immigrants cramped on a small boat bound for America. The land flowing of milk and honey."