Our Forced Love

𝓔𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷

Aurora

I was sitting on the floor of the bathroom, trying to contain my tears. I shouldn't have eavesdropped. Mama has always gotten on me for eavesdropping. The door to the room opens. Footsteps grow louder and soon, there were knocks on the door.

"Aurora? Open the door." Antonio called softly.

I shake my head. "N-No." I said back, trying my best to sound tough. How does he expect me to act? He KILLS people. And it doesn't sound like this was only one time. It sounds like he's done this plenty times before.

"Aurora." He called once more. His voice sounding harsh. "Open the door."

"No!" I yelled. "Y-You're going to hurt me."

"Baby, I would never hurt you." His voice turned soft. "Come on, just open the door, alright? Guido's here. We just want to talk." With tears rolling down my face, I stood up and unlocked the bathroom door. I don't know why I'm crying right now. I opened the door as I was wiping my tears. "Come here, please." Antonio held his arms out.

I wanted so bad to just resist the urge to walk into his arms. He's a murderer. My body failed me and I walked slowly towards him. His arms wrapped around my body, embracing me. "You're a murderer..." I whispered, still trying to grasp what I had heard.

"No, Aurora, it isn't like that." Guido interjected. "Antonio has a business, it's his job to not only protect his business, but the people he works with and now you." He explained. "He doesn't just hurt people for the sake of doing it like some other people do. The people we have had to get rid of, there was a valid reason for all of it."

"But they had families. Some of them were probably fathers. How does that rest easy on your conscience?" I asked in disbelief.

"Most of those men weren't even thinking about their families." Antonio said. His finger slowly goes under my chin and he brings my head up. "I have to protect mine. If only you knew the amount of times I or Guido has gotten shot at and almost killed. I may be a murderer, but everything I do is to protect my family."

I nodded my head, still trying to understand. Antonio leans down and presses his lips to mine. Shit. He knows how to trap me under his spell. He moves his lips slowly against mine. This didn't pull me from my thoughts. I didn't know what to think. He pulled away slowly.

"Does my parents know? About what you do?" I asked him.

He nodded. "They do. That's part of why they weren't so hesitant to let you marry me. You see, your father, when we were young, he started gambling bad. He got into it with some folks, who turned out to be my enemies. They were after you. Your dad owed them big loads of money that he just couldn't pay. He reached out to my father. They were good friends back when they were in high school. He almost became my father's right hand but he had met your mother and he wanted to keep her safe. You marrying me was an order of protection over you. I took over for the Organization when I was 17. Me doing this, is all for you. Let me protect you, okay?"

I heard what he was saying. I couldn't believe that my Dad had a gambling issue, and I assume that if it wasn't for Antonio, I probably would've never known. I couldn't say much. I just nodded my head. Now that I know this information, I already know that it will be difficult for me to continue living normally. I don't want to have the feeling that someone is out for me. I want to live like a normal person, and not have to worry. And hopefully I don't. Hopefully after today, I can let it go and continue living regularly.

"I understand." I said, looking up at him. "Just please, be safe. The both of you." I gestured to Guido. "I couldn't bear if something had happened to the two of you."