AntonioWith her in my arms, I made my way toward the ensuite bathroom. She was warm in my hold, her face pressed against my chest and her eyelids were resting against her flushed cheeks. She hasn’t looked more beautiful than she looked at this moment, so subservient like a pretty little pet but I knew fire burned inside her. It was just on a low simmer because of what we had done. It feels like my own fire dulls her and it was a good thing as otherwise we would both still be fighting for power until the sun rose high up in the sky. I liked how she was so fûcking stubborn and even though it takes her time, she gives in to my demands.I pulled the glass door open to the shower, it was big enough for four people if needed and there was a bench adjacent to the wall. I settled her there before I fiddled with the knobs to set the temperature and stood in front of her so as not to have her drenched in the cold blast of water that would come out at first. I hadn’t ever considered such small

Erica This breakfast was a new experience for me as both Ephraim and Antonio made small talk with me like they wanted to really know me. When I thanked Ephraim for the clothes and especially for the scarf, he told me it was Antonio who wanted this color. When I glanced at him in surprise, Antonio looked at me with dark eyes as he said, “Don’t ever lie to me, especially about the things you love. Ask for it and I’ll give it to you.” I opened my mouth but he placed a finger on my lips as he said, “Within boundaries, little devil. Don't push them.” And still I was warm from his earlier words, how so easily he said that he’d give me anything if I asked for it. And it wasn’t just that, Antonio hadn’t stopped touching me once since we sat down. Even when he was eating, his hand remained on my thigh. Going up and down in a maddening rhythm, making me squirm in my seat. And now as we finished our food, he turned to me and removed a napkin from his pocket then proceeded to wipe my mouth for

Erica“Can we keep him? Take him with us?”For a long minute he didn’t say anything as he kept staring at the dog. And then, I watched him change in front of my eyes.I remembered the time when I had realised what was happening to me. What was being done to me. When my nightmares had turned into reality and when I had seen myself in the mirror after that horrible night. I remembered how I had looked. Just the way Antonio looked right now. Lost and broken. And fûcking angry. So angry, the rage was a palpable being between us. Instincts told me to step back but I was frozen and then... I didn’t know how it happened. Just as carefully as Antonio took the dog from me with as much force he slammed me against the wall. His face was red and his eyes were dark like the night sky without moon and the stars. “Don’t touch them. Don’t fucking touch them.” His voice wasn’t cold or heated how it normally gets when he wants to subdue me. But it was shaking, filled with emotions that I knew too well

Erica“Where. Were. You?”He stepped back from me and replied coolly, “It’s none of your fûcking business.”I slapped him. I didn’t stop to think. I should have. But I was too furious to consider my actions, to think twice. I was hurting. Fûck. My chest ached like he had just slammed a fist there. And I didn’t even regret it a moment later when my cheek burned from his palm as he reciprocated in the same way.We stood there, glaring at each other. At last, he said, “I told you again and again, not to cross this line with me.”“I hate you.”He remained silent and looked at me like I was crazy. But my chest burned with something close to betrayal. I shouldn’t be surprised after the way he had been with the women at the party the other night but I had believed him when he had said that he only wanted me. But now seeing the red lipstick mark on his shirt, I was fûcking furious and felt cheated. And stupid. Maybe I was crazy, even as I fought the feelings, some might’ve slipped through the

Erica I scrambled off the bed as Antonio left the room. My whole body was warm and prepared for him but now cold washed over me as the door clicked shut. Suddenly, the night outside seemed dangerously dark and foreboding as I walked to the windows and looked out. The ground below was scattered with lights but the trees remained dark and unmoving. Except when I looked long enough, I swear I could see a red laser beam just like the one I had seen trained on Antonio when he was ready to kill Jeremiah Sokolov. I didn’t realise but I tensed as my mind went back to Antonio going downstairs. I turned from the window and I knew he had told me to stay here locked inside but I remembered what Mario had said would happen if Antonio got hurt. I refused to admit that I was really worried about him as I went to the closet and pulled on a pair of jeans I had discarded earlier. Just as I grabbed the doorknob another gunshot sounded making me flinch and despite knowing the best I sent up a prayer abo