The look on Jesse's face was indecipherable, and that worried Blade enough. She was always too expressive, even in simple gestures. Seeing her so dejected ended him, it was as if his heart had broken into a thousand pieces. He wanted to hold her and never let go again. Now she was part of him, half of his soul, of his heart. And if she did not forgive him, worse, if she did not want to hear what he had to say? He even tried to follow Julius's advice and wait for the dust to come down a little, but he could not, had to see "with his own eyes" that his angel as well.

- What are you doing here? - Jesse's tone came out loud, angry.

- I needed to see you. For the first time in her life, Blade felt like crying. He never imagined that rejection hurt so much more than any pain he'd felt before. But he held it, swallowing hard.

- Go away from here! - Jesse screamed, breaking out of him, pounding his chest non-stop, telling him to leave. - Get out of here, now! She repeated, repeatedly hurting him.

-Is that what you want? That I leave you because if it is so this is the last time you'll see me. -Blade held Jesse's hands, pinning her. Her heart was beating so fast, her adrenaline pumping the blood.

-If it's to keep you safe, yes, I'll give you up! - If you continue here, someone can recognize you, my love, and hurt you because of the reward.

Blade's eyes filled with tears, she believed in his innocence without even needing to hear a word of what he had to say in his defense. Faced with this, he held her as tightly as he could.

-So you do not believe the lies they're telling me about, about me killing your father? - he asked, afraid of her thinking straight and sending him off, for good.

-We made a pact, remember? Without lies, secrets, and fears, we'll be together, whatever happens. I will believe you!

She could demand a thousand explanations and still do not believe him after she heard, there were several reasons for this. But his girl was not like that. That was not the kind of Jesse Carter. Thank God, he thought.

-I was so afraid that you would not believe me, that you would break our covenant. - Jesse did not wait any longer, took her mouth to show that it would never happen.

-Now I beg you, leave before anyone sees you. - She tried to push him away, but Blade did not move an inch.

-I'm not going anywhere without you, we're not going to part any more. Sorry to have left you behind, it will not happen again. I'll take you everywhere, in my arms if I have to.

Blade's eyes were intense, two sapphires shining from the tears he was holding. The wind slowly swayed the trees in the cemetery, causing a long, scary whistle. Jesse's hair fell over his face, and he took them gently away.

- Ah! Blade, I love you so much! - She fell into his arms crying non-stop. That was his way of saying he loved her. Maldonado lifted her in his arms and walked with his angel, who was still crying with his face hidden in his chest.

-I'll take care of you, angel! - He whispered, placing a kiss on the rebellious curls. And he took her home, his home.

- I got news, Blade! It took me a while, but I was able to find the exact location of the family home of the accursed Matteo in Puerto Rico. -Li stopped talking as soon as he saw Jesse crouched beside his partner holding his hands with his head down.

The Chinese hair´s was all messy and dark circles around his eyes, he had spent the night working hard to find the address of the Castelli family.

-If I said I'm sorry about what happened to your father, I'd be lying, Jesse. But, yes, for you, who is too good to love someone like him and suffer for his death. Li held her hand and hugged her in a sympathetic gesture.

-Did you know we're going to be uncles, Blade? - Bobbi came into the living room, not content with joy but restrained him as soon as he saw Jesse. He said nothing to her then hugged her.

- How are you dear? she kissed the young man's face.

-My condolences, Jesse, I'm so sorry! - And what they're talking about Blade, that's a lie! My brother would never do anything to hurt you, just like all of us, he loves you, at a different way of course, not even compare ... -Bobbi would continue talking if Blade did not interrupt him, totally embarrassed.

- Bobbi's here! - Jesse understands that you're sorry, leave her alone, boy. She already told me the news that we are going to be uncles soon I hope your brother will soon recover from the "car accident" to hear the news. -That was the excuse they gave Bobbi about what happened to Stephen. They needed to spare him as much as they could.

- We are all happy with the news, now go study for your graduate. We have to solve a problem of big people and do not go to sleep too late because tomorrow Sara comes early to pick you up to visit Estevão. She'll take care of you while we're gone, I hope she behaves. - Julius looked worried, scratching his head thoughtfully.

-I do not need anyone to take care of me, damn it! - I'm a grown man, trained lawyer. I know you're going after those who are trying to incriminate Blade and I want to help. The young man was clenching his fists. Bobbi was a sweetheart until they played with one of the brothers.

- Thanks God that Stephen is not here to hear you say that ugly word, that you take a slap in the mouth?- One more and I wash it with soap, now go to your room and do not leave until one of your brother´s orders - Li shouted with his younger brother, holding himself so that he did not slap his ass.

-I'm not going anywhere, and I'm going to sleep anytime I want, everyone my age stays up late. - He folded his arms in rebellion.

-You're not everyone, brat! - And you're going to your room now, and if Iin five minutes from now and you not be sleeping, you're going to get caught for the first time in your life. -Blade was taxpayer and pitiful of Bobbi if he stubborn with him.

-But I'm not sleepy, Blade! - Bobbi whined.

-Your problem's four minutes now. And when Stephen wakes up, he'll hear of it. Do we have a deal? -Blade knew how to be evil when he wanted to.

- Yes, sir! And so the young man went to the bedroom, muttering.

-You were not going to hit him for real, were you? – Julius asked his eyebrow arched.

-No, but let him go to sleep and think so. Blade did not want to be a father, but he would be one of the good ones. -That thought made Jesse smile, the first of the day.

- When are we going to Puerto Rico? Because I'm not your little sister, you can´t forbid me from anything. -Jesse was speaking very seriously and everyone knew that especially Maldonado.

 -You're not fucking going anywhere, you will keep your mother and your little sister quiet at home. - Blade tried not to raise his voice, but it was too late, when he saw it, he was already screaming. -Let's not play house if that's what you're thinking, we want revenge, kill as many of them as possible. – Break even with no shred of honor. His eyes flashed with anger.

-You promised you would not leave me behind anymore, that you would take me wherever you went. - She blinked several times not to cry, Blade knew that nothing he said would change her mind.

- Great! If you go it's your problem we leave at five in the morning.

He scowled, stepping hard toward his room, but not before he passed Bobbi's to see if he was asleep. The poor boy was.

- Are you mad at me? - Jesse asked, leaning against the doorway.

Blade was lying on the bed with his back to it, remained in the same position, silent. Realizing that there would be no answer from him, she lay beside him, hugging his waist.

-Let not go to sleep fighting today. I need you to hold me and tell me everything's going to be okay because we'll work it out together, - she whispered into his ear, and he turned his body to face her and hugged her, resting Jesse's head on his chest.

-It's going to be okay because we're going to solve the problems together. - He let out a long sigh, in fact he wanted to ask her not to go.

- Perfect! But take that sour off your face so I will think you're saying this just to please me.

In fact, he was and made no point in hiding it. Jesse shifted in his arms, feeling them tighten around his body.

-And I am, - he said flatly. He was not going to pretend to be okay with it if he was not.

-Why do not you want me not to go with you? - As much as my father did not do it, I want to help get the man who killed him so cowardly. He deserved to have been arrested and tried for everything he did. Jesse just wanted him to understand his side, to trust her.

- Because I'm fucking scared! I can´t take it if something happens to you, this is too much for me. He released her, sitting on the bed so that Jesse could not see his face. -It's enough of what happened to Stephen, he's lying in that cold hospital bed because of me. I would give anything to be in his place, my life if I had to. And there's Bobbi, Sara's smart, but what if she does be able protecting my boy? Everyone who is important to me is taking a risk, Li and Julius tomorrow will risk their lives fighting in a war that is not theirs is mine. -Her voice faltered when she realized that Blade for the first time in her life was really crying. Jesse noticed that it was he who needed a hug, to hear that everything would be all right because they were together.

-Do not cry, my love, I love you so much. It's going to be all right, I'm here with you. - She hugged him back tightly, filling him with kisses.

- Please, do not go! Stay with Sara and Bobbi, waiting for me, -she pleaded, her face filled with tears.

-I will not leave you now or ever! - She held the face of the man she loved in her hands, looking deep into her eyes.

- We do not know what we are going to find in Puerto Rico, we will be entering a nest of snakes. Besides, I did not want you to see me in action, it can be pretty scary. You're going to see the monster I am, and you're going to be afraid of me. Even Blade's crying was discreet, silent.

-I'm probably going to fall more and more in love with my hero in action. Jesse rested her head on his broad back, and felt his warm tears slide down her. I saw you in action when you saved me from being raped at the bar by those horrible men and it was at that moment that I fell in love with you. - Her soft voice soothed him with fear, it always calmed down.

-I'm not a hero Jesse get it out of your head. I was not born to be a good person, so do not expect too much from me. - He stroked her hands, which met with each other with fingers intertwined around his chest.

-My birthday is almost a month from now, over Christmas. My dad never liked that date because of that. He did not let us having parties and humiliated me more than usual, finding reasons to punish me. That's why I felt bad whenever that date drew near, afraid of the wickedness it would do to me. It is horrible to say so, but I feel relieved to know that from now on I will live in peace. Relieved, because my mother is free to be happy alongside someone who truly deserves her, and my sister will not have to be perfect all the time to please the family, to please him. Relieved to realize that I do not have to follow in his footsteps and finally dedicate myself to my dream of being a photographer and doing it around the world. Since I was a teenager I am saving money for this and I would be very happy if after this mess end, you would come with me on this journey. - Jesse cried compulsively.

Blade never thought about having children, that's a fact. He did not want to pass his bad blood on him, but if he was a normal man and lucky like Major Carter was to have a nice family like his, he would have spent every minute with them. Jesse was such a good person that he felt guilty for being free of his father's evil deeds and his oppression. That was what he loved most about her, the ability to give love to the undeserving.

-Is that an invitation, young lady? - He pulled her onto his lap, holding her as if he were a baby.

- A demand! - said, Jesse.

Maldonado looked down and saw those dark eyes filled with tears looking at him so intensely and thought he could no longer live without them around if he wanted to.

-I'm going wherever you go. - He sealed his words with a passionate kiss.

-Why do not you have tattoos on your back?-It's been a while since Jesse wanted to ask.

-I did not find any one that caught my attention. - He shrugged contemptuously. - Each one represents a sad moment in my life, a pain. That was the first one I did, on my mother's birthday. I miss my father, but hers is a wound that will never close. - Blade pointed to the image in the arm rising to the shoulder, it was of a woman smiling spontaneously.

-She was so beautiful, she looks like you. - she caressed the tattoo, thinking about how he'd gone through so many bad moments of pain. After all, his body was seventy percent tattooed.

-I thought I would never meet someone as sweet as her, but then you came... - He smoothed Jesse's lips, making her flush with his revelation.

-If it depends on me, your body will not get any more tattoos, I'll spend the rest of my days to make you happy. - Blade smiled happily at this for her to believe in his innocence, to love him.

-Me too! - he replied, drowning her hair, meaning he loved her. The timing was perfect, but he just could not, he was not ready yet.

-I'm still mad at you for going to my father's funeral behind me, what went through your head, Blade? There's a picture of you running around when I saw you there I was so afraid someone would recognize you.

The thug grumbled, hated when someone caught his eye, even though he was wrong.

-And I'm angry that you've been holding the whole ceremony with a guy, I did not like the way he touched you. -He closed his face at the same moment, wiping away his tears. The emotional Blade had barely arrived and was gone.

- It's Hugo, my partner, and friend. One of the few people treats me as a person has a huge heart and a bigger brain. Sometimes his intelligence scares me he's always one step ahead of everyone in the FBI department.

Blade did not like the way Jesse talked about this guy, with admiration and affection. When the person is too perfect, it is because he conceals something very wrong. But she did not say anything she was going to say it was his.

-I do not like that - Hugo -and for his sake, I hope to never see him again by laying hands on you. - He looked at her, menacingly. -It will not be good for you, either, if you authorize him or any other man to touch you, it belongs to me now. - And in what is mine, no one touches. -It was straightforward, with no possibility of agreement.

-You mean we're dating? - She asked hopefully.

-Call as you wish, as long as you do not let any other men touch you, - he said gruffly, his usual mood.

-I promise that as long as I live, no other man will touch my body but you. -Jesse felt the muscles in his arms relax around her.

-I make your words mine, there will be no other in my life. -It came out more like an oath than a promise, and Blade did not go back with his word. Once said, it was forever.

- Not even Sara? I know you've had something and it's still very strong between the two of you. A wave of insecurity washed over Jesse, something evident in his expression.

-I've never slept with Sara, nor do I want to.- I saw her being beaten by her boyfriend on the street she told me afterward that this happened frequently. She was eight months pregnant at the time when I was already on top of him with my fists full of blood of the bastard. I took her to the hospital if the ba-I've never slept with Sara, nor do I want to. I saw her being beaten by her boyfriend on by had survived today she would be ten. This time I feel obliged to protect her, not to let anyone hurt her. I think this is what people call friendship I've never felt any kind of sexual desire for her, -he explained, to see if Jesse could understand.

-I'm sorry about the baby, and I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. - Jesse was not a mother and standing next to Blade he knew he probably would never be. But he sensed her pain when the doctor announced that his son had been born dead. Now he admired her for being able to move on with a smile on his face.

- OK! Now try to get some sleep. We need to get up early we have to get Matteo Castelli by surprise. -He pulled the sheet over and covered her, placing a kiss on her face.

-Or you will hit me? - She snapped.

-A good spanking would do you good, investigator, you've been very stubborn. - They settled under the sheet in the position of a shell. Blade's face rested on the curve of Jesse's neck, and his arms held tightly around her waist.

-But I know you love me anyway, - Jesse said sleepily.

-More than you know, angel, - Blade answered with no sign of sleep, a pity she had not heard, had fallen asleep.