Antonio
I look around the sterile interview room, with its clinical white walls and sparse furniture, and note the tape recorder set up on the small table in front of me. I sit, lean back in my chair and let out a frustrated sigh. This isn’t the first time I have been in one of these rooms, and if truth be told, it won’t be the last. I close my eyes and try not to focus on the piece of shit cop who had his hands all over my woman. I can still hear her screams, it makes my blood boil. Sure, I could have taken them both out, but doing that would have led to more shit. So, I let them cuff me. Taking another look around, I note a camera in the corner near the ceiling. A red light blinks on and off. Fuckers. I turn my attention toward the door when it opens, and see the two fuckers who cuffed me enter the room. I stare down the piece off shit who manhandled my girl. I smirk when he looks away. Fucking pussy.
“Mr Grasso, do you know why you are here?" The cazzo who cuffed me slides a folder across the table. I don’t answer, I'm telling them nothing. I’m no fucking rat, and I don’t like cops.
Shaking his head when I don’t say anything, he sits in front of me and opens the folder.
The piece of shit, who touched my woman takes the other seat in front of me. “It would be in your best interest if you confess now, and would save wasting anymore time.”
I lean forward and rest my hands on the table, take a quick look down at the opened folder and notice a bruised and bloody face. What the fuck? I keep my emotions and expression in check, and focus on the dickhead who cuffed me. I still don't say a word.
“Okay, let’s play it your way then," Dickhead one says. “You're under arrest for the assault on one Ashley Jane Alexander, stand up and place your hands behind your back.”
I stand without arguing, and keep my mouth shut, but all the while my thoughts are going a hundred miles an hour. Who the fuck is Ashley Jane Alexander?
The realization hits me hard, Kitten’s fucking sister. Fuck. They cuff me and lead me from the room, but I know Dom and my lawyer will be here soon.
I hope to fuck Katherine is okay and she's still with Brooklyn. When she hears what the fuck is going on, I know she is going to blame herself. The black cloud which hangs over her, is going to try and suck her back into its clutches, and I won’t be there to fucking stop it. Brooklyn needs to make sure my woman is okay.
Dickhead two speaks low so only I hear, “your girl felt good in my arms. She's got some fight in her, that one. Hmm, love me a feisty girl in bed."
I stop dead in my tracks before he can say another word, I snap the cuffs in half and pin him to the wall by the throat. I speak calmly, deathly low, so only he can hear, and let him know, he just signed his death warrant. “You go anywhere near my girl again, so much as breathe on her, and I will have you begging me to end your life." I cluck my tongue. "No, sorry. Too late. You're going to pay with your life, remember that the next time you close your eyes, fucker."
I’m pulled from the asshole, and take great pleasure in watching him drop to the floor, holding his neck, gasping for breath.
Katherine
It’s been ten days since I've been allowed to see Antonio, and every day I think about the blade. I crave the stinging sensation, but resist the dark thoughts. I need to be strong, and not succumb to the darkness trying to pull me under. I need to prove to Antonio, I have this shit sorted, and under control.
The first night was the hardest, going home to an empty house. Walking into my bedroom, laying on the bed where his scent lingered. I had to summon every ounce of strength I had, to not walk into the bathroom and end it all right then. I fought to prevent the darkness from consuming me. Fighting the urges, I grabbed my diary, and reread what I had written a few hours before.
After reading, instead of doing what I normally would, allowing the darkness to win, I packed a bag and headed back to Brooklyn and Dominic’s. I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive this without their help, so I have been staying with them.
So, ten days later I'm walking into the visitor's area of the prison to visit my man. I can’t believe the lengths I had to go to, the hoops I had to jump through, to get in here. My bag was taken away and X-rayed while I walked through a metal detector, I was then subjected to an eye scan. Having Sergio, my new bodyguard, and Dominic with me, didn’t help make things easier. But, I wouldn’t have changed anything, and I needed them here with me for support.
No-one has told me why Antonio is still here, and he refuses to talk to me on the phone. He told Dominic, he wants to speak to me in person. God, I hope that’s true. I am terrified he's not speaking to me because he's had second thoughts and doesn't want me.
I glance around and notice other inmates sitting with their visitors at round metal tables with matching stools, both are attached to the floor.
Dom places his hand on my shoulder, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Moments later, Antonio appears from a side door, he's dressed in a white jumpsuit, hands cuffed at the front, guards by his side. His head is lowered, eyes on the floor. I know the moment he senses I'm here, his head snaps up and his eyes lock on mine. My heart squeezes in my chest with the look of longing and fierce possession he is directing at me. A surreal energy surrounds us, time stops, no-one else is here, no noise. The connection is broken when a guard steps in front of him, blocking him from view. Blocking him from approaching.
I turn toward Dom, confused. I silently beg the powers that be, not to take him away before we can speak.
Dom steps closer and whispers, "you have to be seated before the guards will allow the visit." He nods to indicate a table in the far corner and I hurry toward it.
Sergio holds out a chair, I sit and brush the tears from my cheeks. I need him to see I’m doing okay, he needs to know I’m staying strong. For us.
Dom and Sergio take a seat beside me leaving a stool between me and Sergio. I gaze at Antonio as he approaches. When he reaches us, he leans over, grabs the back of my neck and slams his mouth down on mine. I'm in absolute shock, and freeze, because I was warned, we are not allowed to touch each other. Fuck 'em. After a moment I relax and let his taste consume me. Fuck, I have missed him more than I ever thought possible.
I lift my hands and rake my nails down the side of his face, I feel the shiver which causes his body to tremble.
I hear shouting in the distance, but I don't take any notice. Every thought, every worry, every bit of love I possess, pours from me into that one kiss. Easing back, he rests his forehead against mine. I caress his face with my fingertips, the tingle of warmth spreads through me and I gaze into his eyes.
“Kitten, fuck, I have missed you, baby."
“I've missed you too, so much. I need you to come home.”
He sits next to me, grasps my hand and squeezes. I relax into his side, loving the feeling of being near him again.
Antonio shakes hands with Dom and then Sergio.
“Brother," Dom says. "You almost caused a fucking riot in here with that show.”
“Fuck ’em. They'll get over it. Everyone here knows who I am, and now they know not to lay eyes on my woman”
“Si," Dom nods, chuckling.
I lean my head on his shoulder, close my eyes and breathe him in. They are speaking in Italian, I don't bother listening. Instead, I bask in the vibration of his deep voice as it moves through my cheek, and wraps around my heart. Every so often, I feel his lips press against my forehead in a soft kiss, and when I sigh, he squeezes my hand. For the first time since he was arrested, I feel content, relaxed, safe.
“Kitten," Antonio nudges me.
“Mmmm.”
“Kitten, wake up.”
I snap my eyes open, fuck I must have dozed off. I haven't slept much with Antonio not by my side.
“I’m sorry." I wipe my hand across my mouth just in case I have drooled all over the place.
I feel Antonio’s lips on my forehead again. “Did you hear what I said?”
I shake my head, I have no fucking idea.
“I will be home sometime next week. My lawyer was finally able to set a court date to arrange bail. When I’m home, we'll talk about everything then, si?"
When I sit back, I look into his eyes see the worry as he subconsciously rubs the scars on my wrist. I need to reassure him, I’m okay.
“I’m fine, I promise. Please, don’t worry about me. I’m staying with Brooklyn and Dominic, and if I need to go out anywhere, Sergio is with me."
He growls with displeasure, his eyes narrow. He's not happy about Sergio being with me, but there is nothing he can do about it right now.
I lean forward and plant a kiss on his lips. “I’m fine, do what you need to, so we can be together." I feel some of the tension leave his body.
“I love you, Kitten, so fucking much.”
“I love you too, Stud and I'll be there when you come home.”
He shakes Dom and Sergio’s hands again, says something in Italian, leans into me, kisses me gently before whispering into my ear, “when you're struggling, close your eyes and feel me inside your heart. I will always be there."
I close my eyes as his lips graze mine again. I let his words burrow deep inside me.
When I open my eyes, he’s gone and my tears begin flowing. I can do this. I have to be fine. Just a couple more days and we'll be together again.
The words play on a loop, as once again, I am forced to walk away and leave my world behind.