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The night I came back from Italy, James was waiting for me. He had that familiar smirk on his face, and as soon as he saw me, he pulled me into his arms. His embrace was suffocating, and I couldn't wait to pull away. That's when he said it—he owned me.I knew it was all just a bluff, but the fact that he had dared to say it made my blood boil.
I could have taken action and reported him to my father, but what good would that have done? James was probably the most eligible and trusted bachelor in my father's eyes. The thought of my father favoring him over me, his daughter, made me gag.
As I sat on the couch, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that came with James' most recent visit. He had barged into my apartment as if he owned it, ignoring my threat to never invade my personal space again. But he hadn’t seemed fazed by my words, and that was when I decided to be blunt with him.
"I don't want a Mafia type like you, James," I had said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear that was creeping up inside of me. "The mob life isn't my type."
But James had just laughed, bragging about how much money and power he had. He said that he could take care of me, that he could give me anything I wanted. I could see the greed in his eyes, and it made my skin crawl.
That's when I told him that I had a boyfriend, someone who was way better than him. Even without money, my boyfriend had a better sense of humanity. I watched as James smirked at me, and I knew that I couldn't stop him. He was up to something. I could feel it in my gut.
The first threat he had made to Anthony was way before Anthony and I had started spending time together, but I couldn't help but wonder if James had found out about us some other way. I hadn’t wanted to put Anthony in danger, but I knew that James was capable of anything. So, I had tried to be careful, keeping my guard up around him at all times.
As the night wore on, my thoughts kept circling back to Anthony. The next morning was when he was supposed to get his first assignment as a Mafia, and I knew there was no way he would be able to turn them down. He had a duty to fulfill.
But the idea of him being a part of that life made my heart ache. I couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt, of him being forced to do things that went against his morals. Anthony was a sweet, untainted, soft-spoken soul with a beautiful child and a happy home that I had once dreamt of joining. It all felt like a distant dream now, something that was impossible to reach.
But I refused to let them shatter it. I refused to let them take away the future that I had envisioned for myself. I knew that I had to act fast to find a way to keep him safe from the dangerous world that surrounded both of us.
As the dawn approached, I made a vow to myself. I would do whatever it took to protect Anthony, even if it meant putting myself in danger. I would stand by his side, no matter what challenges came our way.
My heart was pounding as I picked up the phone to call Anthony. I knew he had probably been going through inner battles and decisions all night now since meeting with my father, and I could hear the exhaustion in his voice as he answered.
"Laura," he said, his voice hoarse.
"Anthony, I need you to show up to work today as always. Don’t worry. I've got you covered, whatever it takes."
I could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on me. It was up to me now to protect Anthony, to make sure that he didn't get hurt. And I had to act fast before it was too late.
As soon as I ended the call with Anthony, I took a deep breath and dialed my dad’s number. I knew that he would be furious with me for getting involved in his business, but I had to take the chance.
As I waited for my dad to pick up, I could feel the tension building up inside me. It was only 6 a.m. I knew it was early, and his mood was so unpredictable. My heart was pounding in my chest as I heard my father's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hi, Dad," I greeted him, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Laura, what on Earth do you want? It's six in the morning. Do you not check the time?" he snapped back, his voice groggy and irritated.
"I'm sorry, Dad, but I urgently need to go see the investors I told you about," I replied, trying to keep my tone as respectful as possible.
"Okay, then go. Why do you need my permission?" he asked, still sounding annoyed.
"I need someone to drive me today. I need to be there by noon, and it's like a three-hour trip," I whined, feeling guilty about the early hour but knowing I had no choice. "Send that driver, Anthony," I added, trying to sound nonchalant.
"No," he said simply, and my heart sank.
"Why?" I asked hastily, feeling desperation creeping in.
"He has a job for today. Get someone else to take you," he replied, and I could hear the irritation in his voice.
"No, no, Dad. The guy always knows what to do. Others are too slow to learn. I have to tell them the same thing five times," I pleaded, trying to convince him.
"Look, I don't have time for this. It's too early in the morning," my father said, clearing his throat noisily.
"Dad, it's a huge deal. You know how cranky these investors are," I pressed further, feeling the stakes rising with every word.
"Okay, Laura. Take the guy. And don't call me for anything else," he said finally, and I could sense the resignation in his voice.
As he hung up, my heart swelled with relief and joy. I had expected this to be more difficult, but it was now very clear to me that it was James who was the one interested in doing harm to Anthony. If my father had been that interested, no amount of pleading on the phone would have made him change his plans. I quickly gathered my things and headed out the door.
