She turns me slowly, forcing me to face her as she cups my jaw in her hands. "These scars are a part of you, and I wouldn't change them because they prove that you are strong, a survivor. Every one of them are a testament to what you have endured and overcome. And to me, they are beautiful.”

"There's no need to lie.”

"It's not a lie, and you know it." She tightens her grip on me. "Stop projecting your own insecurities onto everyone else. People aren't afraid of you because of these scars, Santi. They are afraid of you because you stomp around like a fire breathing demon who will burn anyone who dares to look at him."

"It's... all I know," I confess, regretting the words as soon as they fall from my lips.

"No, it isn't." A small smile curves her lips as if she's recalling something. "I have seen your softness. You are capable of letting your guard down. Eva has seen it. Antonia too. I just think you are terrified of giving it away so freely, in case anyone gets the wrong idea about you. That you are actually good and decent inside."

"Well, that would be the wrong idea," I murmur.

“Give me an inch,” she says. "I'm not asking for leaps and bounds. All I'm asking for is that you try to trust me, like you asked me to do."

“Trust you like I did today, when you went to your father with one motivation in mind?”

“I wouldn’t have to sneak around if you’d just talk to me,” she retorts. “And I did want to see my father. It wasn’t just to interrogate him.”

"I suppose you want me to trust your word that your father wasn't involved too?" I ask. "That's what this is all about."

"Partially, yes. I know him, and I know when he's being truthful. I'm asking you to trust my intuition on this. At least until you have solid evidence to otherwise condemn him, and not just your own suspicions."

“How do you know I don’t already?”

“You would have brought it to The Tribunal if you had, surely.”

I have to give her that. She has a good point, but I wouldn’t have brought it forward because this justice will be doled out myself.

"You are too close to the situation to be unbiased," I tell her. "What you're asking me is to give up my revenge."

"I'm asking you to give my father time to prove his innocence. Now that everything is out on the table, we can all work toward the same goal together. Let me help you. As your wife and your partner."

I stare down into her eyes and swallow. She isn't in a position to barter for her father's life, but right now, I can't seem to tell her no.

"I will... consider it."