He walked closer to her. “You look exhausted. I think by now you've stopped crying, it's draining you.” He placed the cake on the table beside her bed and cut a large portion onto a plate. “Your maidservants made this for you specially hoping you would eat. Come on, take a bite.” Angela ignored him. “I hate being ignored.” He scoffed. What a jerk! He thinks I can actually eat because he told me so? Angela thought to herself. “I have been really kind to you… but you don't like it, it seems. You want me to force it?” He grinned at her. “Kind?” Angela laughed and looked at him in tears. “If this is kindness, then the devil would be an angel. You are not kind; you are a manipulator. It's not your nature to be kind! You… you took my virginity, it wasn't enough you raped me, then locked me in this house… and you are talking about kindness (laughs again). Be a little bit kind and kill me already!” She yelled out in tears. “You asked me to take your virginity.” Antonio sneered. “No, I did not!” “You did… Please be my first man… don't leave me, who said those words?” “That's because I thought you were Damon! Who in their right mind would want you to be their first man? You took my virginity with a fake identity!” Angela snapped, snapping her fingers and digging into her hair in frustration. “A lot… I have been with a lot of virgins… you are not special, and it's not my fault you mistook me for Damon. We are not even alike.” “Why didn't you ignore me then?” Antonio laughed. “Ignore you? You should've seen your face in the mirror. No man can ignore that… you have forgotten so soon the contract we made. You will open your legs anytime; it doesn't matter whose identity I used. I can fuck you anyway. Now enough with your rants, you need food for your energy.” He snapped. Angela shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I hate you… I hate you so much… because of you, my family is far away from me… my teaching career is over… I deceived an old woman and even lashed out at her like she is in the wrong! My whole life and existence have turned upside down. You came to wreck me, using me as some toy! I hate you! I hate you so much I could die… kill me already! What are you waiting for?” Antonio grabbed her hair, staring close to her face with his eyes wide and vicious, ignoring the stream of tears pouring out of her red eyes. “Now listen very carefully, no one speaks to me in that manner, not even the mafias. I wrecked you? Do you know what your little bitch self had done to me? You are the manipulator here! I have been out of my mind recently, and it's all your fault… you keep occupying every single place in my head” (he tightened his grip)… “I can get rid of you anytime, and trust me, no one in this city and country would suspect me, and your body will not be found. We made a contract… I saved your ass many times, you ungrateful slut. Now let me warn you, you better not push me to the wall! Drive me crazy one more time, you will be forgotten, your little nieces will be my toys as soon as they are of age.” He released her. Angela fell on the bed, crying silently. How can she escape this man? Now is not a time to be stubborn; she needs to have a plan and play it out well. He is a secret mafia boss; he would do just as he said, and nobody will find out. “Eat!” The command came loud and rough. She looked up with her wet blurry vision and saw him offering a piece of cake on a spoon. Slowly, she leaned in and ate from the spoon. Antonio looked back at the plate of cake, his cheeks stained with awkwardness and embarrassment. He cut out another piece and gave it to her. She didn't take it. “Eat!” He grabbed her cheeks, but Angela slapped his hands off her face. The plate and cake dropped on the floor, some particles messing up his face and his outfit. Antonio raised his hand to smack her hard on the face, then he paused, surprising himself. “Fuck!” Angela was shielding herself with her hands, waiting for his hit. Unlikely, Antonio stood up on his feet, his hands tucked into his pockets where he could squeeze them angrily as he wanted. “Your assistant will be back with good food recommended by the dietician again. Make sure you eat.” He said tightly and left the room. As soon as he was gone, Angela burst into tears, hitting the pillow angrily.
****
The next morning, Antonio was working out in Montero's private gym house. The gym was a different beast entirely. It was a pristine, well-appointed space, with high ceilings and luxurious details. The walls were covered in mirrors, and the floors were padded with soft mats. There was a full range of exercise equipment, from treadmills to weight machines. The gym itself was one large, open room, with punching bags hanging from the ceiling and heavy weights lining the walls. In the center of the room was a large mat, where Antonio often practiced his martial arts. The space was clean and bright. Alex, Antonio's stepbrother and Damon's younger sibling, was there too. He stood by the weightlifting area, his arms crossed over his chest. He had a bewildered expression on his face as he looked at Antonio with a curious gaze. He had been in a turbo mood, fighting the sandbags as if it was a person he wanted to kill. He knew that Antonio had great strength, but this strength in front of him was deadly. The sandbags he caused leaking were about two; he moved to the other. He felt his feet cold, so he stopped weightlifting and watched his mate with interest. Antonio's eyes blazed as he faced the sandbag, his fists clenched at his sides. His rage built up inside him, and he struck out at the bag with all his might. The impact sent a jolt of pain up his arm, but he didn't stop. He kept punching, over and over, his fists flying in a fury of motion. Sweat poured down his face, and his breathing was ragged. But he couldn't stop. He needed to let out the rage and frustration that had been building up inside of him. With each hit, he imagined he was striking at the forces that surrounded his heavy heart. He imagined he was hitting the sudden weakness that had ravaged his body, the thoughts of Angela that had kept him up at night. “I hate you… I could die!” Angela's words came ringing in his head. He struck out at the sandbag as if it were the very source of all his frustration, trying to beat it out of his mind. Why should he care about what that bitch thinks of him? He punched until his arms ached, his body was drenched in sweat, and he was left gasping for breath, but still, he felt the rage burning inside him, refusing to be quenched. Antonio sank to the ground, his head hanging low between his thighs. He felt drained, both physically and emotionally. He closed his eyes, trying to find some measure of peace. But the anger still simmered within him, refusing to let go. Antonio went ahead and lay down on one of the padded mats, allowing himself to just breathe for a moment. The ache in his arms and legs was intense, but it was nothing compared to the relief he felt around his chest. He closed his eyes, breathing heavily. After a few minutes, he got up from the mat and walked over to the fridge in the corner of the gym. He grabbed a bottle of water, feeling the cold, refreshing liquid slide down his throat. Alex thought it was time to approach him.