Before I knew it, the tension snapped. I push Anthony away and cover my mouth then stumble towards the room I assume to be the bathroom. Once reaching the toilet, I threw up inside the bowl creating a revolting green mush.
Calming the swirling storm inside my stomach, I inhale and exhale rigorously before turning my face towards Anthony who stands at the doorway. I place a shaky finger in the air. "Can you punish me another day? I think I'm going to pass out," I said, before passing out onto the hard tile floor.
When I wake up, I'm in my own bedroom. My eyes dart around the room, feeling the hammering inside my head. The smell of the alcohol last night is intoxicating. My throat feels parch, desperate for liquid. I grunt, realizing it's Anthony's room. Glancing over, there's a large body resting beside me.
I sit straight, with the intention of quietly crawling out of the room. Unfortunately, a specific man did not allow me to even step a toe on the floor. "Lay down," he commanded.
I comply, understanding my place.
"There are two pills and water on the nightstand. Drink it."
I comply.
I look back to see Anthony's head resting on his bicep, electric blues gazing at me. "You are extra obedient today."
I smile.
Of course, I'm obedient; I understand my position - my deadly position.
"Feeling better?" He asks after the long awkward silence filled with weird stares.
I nod, running my fingers through my long dark hair and allowing it to fall back on my shoulder. "I was wrong," I mumble.
"You cheated on me," he said without any restraint.
But, the person I made out with is you!
Now that I'm sober, I should've known better. Anthony's bodyguard was with Lily and me the whole night, so if I were to make out with a stranger, they would've stopped me and broken the stranger's arm or ended his family line. Anthony doesn't seem like a man who would want to lose face, by allowing his woman to dance around other men.
My eyes narrow, "You planned this."
The edge of his lips twirled upward "And so what if I did?" he didn't even bother hiding his intention as he sat up allowing the sheets to fall down his muscles.
He lifts his arms and stretched them, causing each sculpted area to motion wondrously. "In the end, I'm not the unfaithful one in this relationship."
I close my eyes and cover it with my hands, not knowing how to respond. "I'm sorry," I muffle, "I'll never drink again."
He chuckles and the bed creaks. I spread my fingers to see Anthony heading toward the restroom. "I never said you couldn't drink mio cuore," he said as the sink water ran.
I walk towards the bathroom to see Anthony preparing for the day. "I can?" I question, wondering why he would allow me after what I did last night. The horrible part is that I can't even remember half of it.
"I don't own your life, and you should live as you please," he states before wiping the water off his face.
I look down, feeling even more horrible than earlier.
Anthony stands in front of me, lifting my face with a finger. Unconsciously, I went on my toes to get closer to him. "Although, I would appreciate it if you keep your husband in mind before taking such actions like that again."
Quickly, I nod, relieved that Anthony would let me go. Honestly, I thought he was going to beat me up or something. "Definitely. I will always think of you before doing anything," I jump joyfully with the thought of living another day before rushing towards the exit.
"However-"
Oh, no! I stop reaching for the doorknob and look back to see his devious smirk. "However?" I squeak out.
He walks towards me, "I still need to give you a punishment for doing such a thing."
I frown and nod, "Okay."
"You're going to stay in here instead of Lily's bedroom."
My brows crinkle, "That's all?"
"Would you like more?"
Quickly, I shake my head. "I'll gather my stuff and be in here," I state, brushing off the thought of actually staying in the same room as Anthony.
"You can leave," he said, taking a step back and began walking towards the closet.
I slipped out the door and threw two fists in the air. "Got away with it!"
The maids walk towards me and tilt their heads. "Mrs.Maranzano," one of them said while the other seemed to block me.
"Yes?"
She lifts a pack of neatly folded clothes. "Please, go back into the bedroom and change into these."
I glance down to see myself in my underwear with only a white unbuttoned shirt to cover me up. Quickly, I grab the clothes and throw myself back in the bedroom. Anthony laughs as I rush to the restroom.
The clothes scattered all over the ground. It wasn't the fact that I was half-naked, causing the maids to be embarrassed, but the fact that there were red marks all over my body - some even looked like bruises because they turned purple.
I squat on the ground and cover my face to hold in the scream that somehow surfaces. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid Anthony!" On the outside, it sounds like I'm shouting at Anthony, but I'm actually calling myself stupid.
This is the last time I'll listen to Lily.
Wait a second?
Where is Lily?
After I change clothes, I place the dirty ones in the corner of the bathroom fill with Anthony's clothes. I stare at it momentarily before walking out of the bedroom to find it empty. Allowing a breath of relief to escape, I head towards Lily's bedroom. Without a single knock - since I'm used to treating her place as my own - I open the room.
Two naked bodies were lying on the bed.
Before I knew it, I gently closed the door and headed towards the dining room for breakfast. The kids were sitting there while eating breakfast with Anthony and Francesco. "Where is Lily?" Kevin asked, running his tongue through the small gap in front of his mouth.
Usually, Lily would come downstairs with me for breakfast or dinner. I glance over at Anthony who fakes focus on the mashed potatoes lying in front of him. Francesco couldn't hold back a snorting sound but quickly stuffed a waffle inside his mouth. They know.
"She...is still resting" I reply calmly, then thank the friendly chef who places a plate and bowl in front of me. My eyes focus on the oatmeal filled with blueberries and bananas. There was also a bowl of chicken noodle soup with crackers on the side. The chef smiles while placing a cup of water in front of me. It's all food to help a hangover.
"She must have had a long night," Francesco chimed in.
I take a sip of the soup and clear my throat. "Where is Antonio?" I changed the subject.
"Countryside," Francesco replies.
"Countryside?"
He nods, "He went back to visit his mamma and moglie."
"Moglie?" my eyes strain, attempting to remember that word from the private classes. "Wife?"
Francesco nods, "Yes, I believe his wife is giving birth to their second child."
My eyes widen at the fact that a man who seems to be coldly detached from having not only a wife but a second child on the way. "What?" I found it unbelievable that he was married.
"Yeah, I was surprised when I found out he is married too." Francesco continues nodding.
The days continued passing, and I didn't press on the topic of finding Lily in bed with Pietro. I hate to admit it, but their relationship somehow seems to be sweeter after that. It isn't a secret that Pietro would sneak into Lily's bedroom when he thinks everyone is asleep. Since I'm not there anymore, it makes things easier for him. I'm quite certain that the whole bachelorette thing that Anthony approves is nothing but a trap for Lily and me.
I rest on one side of the bed reading a school textbook while Anthony leans on the other side, immersed in documents. Ever since I moved into Anthony's bedroom, he never did anything.
Anthony's routine seems a bit too simple. He would wake up in the morning to have breakfast with everyone. Then, he goes to work. Once in a while, he would come back to have dinner with everyone, but the majority of the time he would stay out and return late.
Of course, I don't have any complaints about anything except the mafia matter. It would be good if Anthony could somehow retire, but based on my minimal knowledge of the underworld - it's not easy to step out of the darkness. Other than that, everything about Anthony is nearly perfect. It feels like every move he makes is towards absolute perfection where he would calculate everything beforehand before moving. He is a gentleman in private and public. He doesn't force me to do anything I do not want to do. He adheres to my family and my ridiculous whims, but he understands where to draw a line.
I took another sneak peek at Anthony but got caught. "Yes?" he did not remove the papers in his hands.
"N-Nothing." I resume my attention on the book in front of me.
"Mio cuore," he calls for me.
Now it's my turn. "Yes?"
"Why did you not use the card I gave you?"
I bite my lower lip and flip the page despite not finishing it. Of course, I didn't use it. I can't use it. Anthony had already provided so much for my family and me. I don't want to take that for granted, especially if something happens in the future. It's difficult to pick yourself back up once you fall. It's even harder when you have already dropped once; after all, I was a child of a wealthy family.
Papers were shuffled to my side. "Go shopping tomorrow."
"I rather study," I stated. Even with my eyes on the book, my brain retained nothing.
"You will need it."
I look over at him, wondering why he is pressing this matter so much. "Why?"
"How can I show off my wife to the world while she is wearing clothes that cost less than the maid's outfit," he states.
I look down at the clothes that I brought from America.
My clothes cost less than his maids' clothes?
How the fuck?
Can I be your maid instead of your wife?
"Wait...Show off?"
"Get ready mio cuore; you are going with me to what Americans would call it - the Big Apple."