[center This was bullshit.]


[center She shouldn't have to sit here and listen to this.]


[center And yet here Jemina Reed was, sitting before her father, anger rising inside of her, ready to burst out at any moment. She gripped the arm of the chair she sat in so hard her knuckles turned white. She understood where he was coming from; her protection was important, after all. However, she wouldn't [i need] protection if he wasn't involved with the mafia, to begin with.]


[center For fucks sake, her [i mother] would still be alive if it wasn't for his involvement.]


[center Instead, when he could be trying to find a way out, he was just offering to throw some stranger at her to protect her.]


[center It was bullshit.]


[center And yet, deep down, a part of her understood why he couldn't just give it up. He was in too deep. If he tried to leave, if he tried to pick up and move away, his partners would find him. They would torture her in front of him and then execute the two of them. It was a risk one took when they did this.]


[center [b "I don't agree with this,"] she said, gritting her teeth. [b "I am a twenty-six-year-old woman. I don't need protection, especially from one of your people.] She had spent too long trying to keep any ties to her father cut. If she started letting him dictate how she ran her life now, his enemies would surely put two and two together and she'd have to move again.]


[center [b "I will not turn around and rework my life because [i you] screwed up."] Her tone was cold and all she could do was glare holes into him. If looks could kill...]


[center A sigh escaped the man's lips. [b [i "I get it. You're angry, but all I'm doing is trying to keep you safe. If anything were to happen to you..."]] He shook his head. [b [i "I would never forgive myself."]]]


[center [b "And what about for mom? Have you forgiven yourself for that?"] She could see on his face how much those words stung. She could see the pain in his eyes. For a moment, guilt tore through her, but she didn't let it show. A perk of being a mafia boss's daughter.]


[center He pinched the bridge of his nose before running a hand through salt and pepper hair. Green eyes looked tired now. The wrinkles in the corners didn't help in the slightest. [b [i "No, I haven't,"]] he said a moment later. Mr. Reed would never forgive himself for what happened to his wife, either.]


[center Jemina stood, then, moving to the backside of the chair before she put her hands on the back. [b "And what about my dancing? I have a recital coming up soon. I can't just put that on hold."]]


[center [b [i "And you don't have to. You'll just have the extra protection."]]]


[center Silence filled the air. She had to weigh her options, and unfortunately, the protector option was winning. A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned her arms on the chair, resting her head in her hands. It was temporary. Surely it was temporary. [b "Alright. Fine. I'll accept it, but if this comes back to bite me in the ass, you [i will] be hearing about it."]]


[center A pit had formed in her stomach. What was she going to do with this new development?]