Chapter 35 Don't You Ever Try To Get Tough With Me

When Antonio led me out of the fitting room by the hand, we returned to the main area of the store where I had changed into a new outfit. This only increased Nadia and her friend Kelly’s envy of my taste, and I could even see a hint of reluctance in their eyes. Kelly had clearly been crying, and I had no idea what kind of punishment her boss would impose on her next.

Meanwhile, Nadia was furiously making a phone call, likely negotiating with her wealthy father for the last time. But all of that no longer concerned me. I believed Antonio would handle these matters; he wouldn’t let them complicate his life more than necessary. The trouble I had caused today was already enough for this mafia boss.

Frank respectfully escorted me out of the mall, and Dante drove the car around. Frank personally opened the car door for Antonio. Antonio, ever the gentleman, shielded my head with his hand as I got into the car. Perhaps it was my imagination, but after I settled in, it seemed like Frank’s gaze toward me grew more devoted and earnest, even earning a warning from Antonio.

“What are you looking at?”

“Uh…” Frank’s expression turned sullen as he stepped back.

Antonio let out an annoyed grunt, closed the car door forcefully, and walked with Frank to a quiet corner to talk. Antonio was angry again, his unpredictable moods were distressing to me, though Dante and Matteo seemed unaffected.

I sighed softly and was about to ask Professor Dom about some buyer details on my phone when it suddenly vibrated. It was my mom! I tensed up, clutching the phone, unsure whether to answer. I didn’t want Antonio to know about my mom’s existence, but I wanted to hear her voice; she must be worried.

“Aren’t you going to answer your phone?” Matteo mumbled through a mouthful of candy, his voice muffled, “Your phone keeps lighting up.”

“I…” I hesitated for just a second, my body reacting more honestly than my words—I pushed open the car door, “I need to take this call.”

“Don’t go too far,” Matteo didn’t stop me.

Relieved, I jumped out of the car and ran a bit further away. The phone had rang for so long without an answer that it had hung up once already, but my mom quickly called again.

“Mom!”

“Sienna, dear, you finally answered.” My mom’s voice floated through the speaker, filled with urgency, “You hadn’t been answering, I was so worried, baby.”

“I’m sorry, mom.” To keep her from sensing my predicament, I lied again, “My phone had some issues, I just got it fixed.”

“A broken phone should just be thrown away, dear. When you get to Philadelphia, mom will buy you a new one.” I couldn’t see my mom, but I imagined her expression was very gentle, “Have you arrived in Philadelphia, Sienna? Val misses you terribly, she can’t wait to see her big sister. She remembers the days you spent riding ponies together.”

“I miss Valentina too, I’ll visit her as soon as I can.” My thoughts drifted back to childhood as mom described it. Valentina was truly a delightful little girl; every memory of her warmed my heart.

But when my gaze shifted back to Antonio, I wore a vigilance that even I hadn’t noticed, keeping the existence of my mom and Valentina a secret, a secret I had always protected.

Antonio had finished his conversation, his searching gaze finding me as he walked toward me. I panicked, needing to hang up before Antonio reached me.

“Are all the guests in Philadelphia?” Have you seen dad, mom?

“Yes.” My mom’s reply tightened my chest. Did she know about my situation? My mind was foggy, not quite catching what else she was saying, only that she wanted to introduce me to some new friend.

I didn’t want to meet any new friends; I just wanted to escape from here, from Antonio. I mumbled a response, and as mom excitedly finished her speech, I nervously spoke up, “Mom, dad he…”

A breeze brought Antonio’s scent to me, and I abruptly looked up, finding him very close. Mom was still asking about dad on the phone, I couldn’t muster a reply, “I’ll call you later.” I hurriedly hung up.

Antonio raised an eyebrow, brushing back my scattered hair behind my ear, “Who was that on the phone? What are you afraid of?”

I guiltily hid my phone behind me, his gentle gesture making me feel even more terrified, remembering his interrogations the other night. I avoided his gaze, “It was nothing.”

Antonio scoffed, “You’ve been naughty again, Sienna.”

The alarm of ‘absolute obedience’ rang in my mind, I quickly explained, “No, really, it was nothing.” I didn’t last long under Antonio’s scrutinizing lookbefore admitting defeat, “It was a relative of mine, she’s having her engagement party soon, but I haven’t been able to attend. She was just worried about me.”

“Why the panic?”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Obey,” Antonio always warned me.

His warning frustrated me, but I couldn’t resist, “They’re just ordinary people.”

“Oh.” Antonio lifted my chin, “You’re afraid I'll hurt them.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but as Antonio’s look turned icy and threatening, “You better think carefully before you answer me.”

I bit my lip, hard enough to draw blood, “Yes, I…” I took a deep breath, pleading in my tone, “My dad’s debts are my responsibility, that was the deal from the beginning. Please, don’t involve anyone else, they’re really just ordinary people.”

“Baby, you all belong to me, and please don’t hurt yourself,” Antonio’s hands forcefully pried my lips apart, angered by my self-inflicted injury.

It was the first time Antonio called me “baby,” but unlike the tenderness and love with which my mother used it, Antonio’s tone was more mocking and humiliating.

“As long as you obey, I won’t trouble anyone. I’m the most faithful mobster there is. Of course, I hope you are too, because you can’t afford the cost of breaking a deal.”

Antonio’s breath was hot and ticklish against my ear, making me shiver. I didn’t think he was joking. He always carried a gun, and a single bullet could end a loved one’s life.

“Don’t worry, I…I'll try to learn.”

“Good girl.” Antonio patted my head and brought me back to the car.

Antonio took a newly purchased ointment from Dante, and as he pinned me down in the back seat, he growled, “Don’t move!”

His fingertips brushed over my lips, stinging the wound I had bitten into. His application of the ointment was rough yet gentle, but when his fingers moved to a bruise on my arm—a result of a scuffle with Nadia—his strength suddenly increased.

“It hurts!”

Antonio’s mood turned volatile, “The pain will remind you, Sienna. You belong to me, and you must not let anyone else leave marks on you. Forget your recklessness, you need to learn to show weakness to me. Understand?”