His Exclusive Stripper: You Are Mine, Don

My head hung low throughout his tirade, too ashamed and scared to meet his gaze. My mind was a whirlwind of guilt and fear. How had I misjudged everything so badly?

But when I finally looked up, I saw something that I never thought I would see in Antonio’s eyes-tears. He was crying. The powerful, intimidating mafia boss who commanded fear and respect was crying because of me.

Antonio’s shoulders shook slightly as he struggled to keep his composure. “You mean more to me than anything, Evelyn,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I did everything I could to bring you back, and it kills me to see you in pain. I know . I know I wasn’t quick to finding you but I promise I tried” He said as he cried and he banged the table.

The sight of his vulnerability shattered something inside me. The anger and fear I felt were replaced by a profound sadness. I realized that beneath his tough exterior, Antonio was just a man who had fallen deeply for me. The weight of his emotions, his actions, and his words pressed down on me.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “Antonio,” I said softly, my voice trembling. “I don’t know if you can forgive me . I’m sorry I didn’t believe you and Jacob but believed Reina instead. I now understand now that you did try to save me. I’m so sorry” I said as tears began falling from my eyes

Antonio nodded slowly, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. “You need to rest by tomorrow you’d be fit to be taken to your room but you’d still be under medication and care.

The room was silent again, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. I lay back on the bed, my body exhausted from the emotional upheaval. Antonio stood there for a moment longer, his eyes filled with a mixture of what I couldn’t explain before turning to leave the room.

As the door closed behind him, I let out a shaky breath. My mind was a tumult of thoughts and emotions, but one thing was clear: my life had been irrevocably changed, and the path ahead was uncertain. Yet, in that uncertainty, there was a glimmer of something new-a chance to rebuild, to heal, and perhaps, be with the man I love, Antonio.

The next day I woke up, feeling significantly better. I discovered that I had already been moved to my room, the familiar surroundings offering a comforting sense of normalcy. “I miss the smell of this place,” I muttered, taking in the scent of the fresh linens and the faint aroma of lavender from the diffuser on my bedside table.

As I settled back against the pillows, there was a knock on the door. I smiled, thinking I knew who it was. “Come in,” I said, excitedly but calmly. However, it wasn’t who I expected. Instead, a woman dressed in a nurse’s uniform stepped in.

“Good morning, ma’am. I am Nurse Trina. I work in this mansion as one of the nurses. I am your personal nurse, assigned to take care of you, ensure you take your medication properly, feed you, and bathe you. That’s the order from Boss Antonio,” Nurse Trina said with a warm smile.

I tried to process everything she said. Antonio thinks I need all this? I haven’t fully recovered, but I’m not a baby. Just as I was about to respond, Jacob walked in.

“Hey Evelyn, close your mouth before a housefly enters. Why do you look so shocked?” Jacob teased.

“Heyyyyy!” I whined, throwing a pillow at him. He dodged it skillfully, and Nurse Trina stood there, laughing at our antics.

“I see you’ve met your personal nurse. The boss asked her to treat you like a baby,” Jacob teased again, winking.

“Where is Antonio? I want to see him. I thought he’d come here,” I asked curiously, feeling a pang of disappointment.

“Em… You can’t right now. The boss wants to be alone,” Jacob said, his tone gentle but firm.

This actually got to me. I think Antonio is angry at me because I didn’t believe him at first. I sighed sadly.

“Well, the reason I came here is to give you this,” Jacob said, handing a brand new phone to me.

“Wow, this is so expensive,” I muttered, staring at the sleek device in my palms.

“It’s from Boss Antonio. Guess what? I saved some numbers there. You should check them out,” Jacob said with a grin.

I immediately went to the contact list and checked the saved numbers: Debbie’s, Jacob’s, and Antonio’s. “Awwn,” I muttered, feeling a warm glow in my chest.

“This was thoughtful. Hmm, I see you’ve grown really close to my friend Debbie. I’m suspecting you both,” I teased, noting the way Jacob’s face lit up at the mention of Debbie.

“Get better quickly. Debbie and I have a surprise for you,” he said, flashing a broad smile.

“Hmm, is that what I’m thinking? Tell me now, please,” I begged, my curiosity piqued.

“I have to go now. Get better quickly… Nurse, take care of her,” he said before making a swift exit.

After Jacob left, Nurse Trina helped me brush my teeth. Then, she bathed me herself. It was so embarrassing; I felt like a child. After that, she fed me a nutritious breakfast and gave me my medication. Before she left, she handed me her number in case I needed anything before she returned.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

With a moment to myself, I lay back and stared at the ceiling, my mind swirling with thoughts. Why did Antonio want to be alone? Was he really angry with me? As I pondered this, I couldn’t help but smile at Jacob’s and Debbie’s antics. Whatever surprise they had in store, I was sure it would be interesting.

I picked up the new phone, admiring its sleek design, and decided to send a quick message to Antonio. “Thank you for the phone. I hope to see you soon,” I typed, hesitating for a moment before hitting send.

I spent the rest of the morning exploring the features of the new phone, listening to music, and trying to distract myself from my swirling thoughts. Despite the awkwardness, Nurse Trina’s care was impeccable, and I felt a sense of gratitude for the support system I had around me.

As the day wore on, I couldn’t help but think of Antonio. I had been waiting for his message but nothing came in. It sure looked like he was really angry at me. At this point I was hating myself.

The day wore on, and I found myself constantly looked after by Nurse Trina. She was attentive and meticulous, ensuring I had everything I needed and even anticipating my requests before I voiced them. Despite her impeccable care, my thoughts remain tangled up with Antonio. The guilt gnawed at me; I didn’t want to lose him, and I knew I was the cause of the rift between us.

In an effort to distract myself, I chatted with Debbie, but our conversation was cut short when Jacob arrived at her house. Alone once more, I found my thoughts drifting back to Antonio. The evening deepened into night, yet I still heard nothing from him. Nurse Trina came in one last time to tend to me, then left me alone with my thoughts and growing restlessness.

Unable to bear the silence and separation any longer, I decided to go to Antonio’s room. I slipped on my flip-flops, steeling myself for whatever awaited me. As I reached his door, I noticed it was slightly ajar. Pushing it open gently, I walked inside. The room was dimly lit, and Antonio was sitting in a chair, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He didn’t look at me, but his voice broke the silence.

“What are you doing here? You should be in your room,” he said in a hoarse, commanding tone that sent a shiver down my spine. It was his mafia voice, the one that could make anyone tremble, but I was determined.

“I’m sorry for not believing you. I’m really sorry, Antonio,” I said, my voice full of remorse. If only he could see how much my heart was aching.

The room fell into a heavy silence, and for a few minutes, it seemed like he might not respond at all. But then he spoke, his voice filled with pain. “You hurt me, Eve. You broke me.”

“I know, and I’m so sorry. Please forgive me,” I replied, tears streaming down my face. I felt so helpless, so desperate for his forgiveness.

“I saved you. I did everything possible, but you still hurt me. You might not trust me entirely, but you should trust me a little bit. I was sincere,” Antonio said, and then, to my shock, he broke down, crying like a baby. This strong, imposing man was in pieces because of me.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, baby,” I muttered, moving closer to him, my heart breaking at the sight of his tears.

“Say it again. Please, say it again. Call me that again, please,” Antonio pleaded, his hands cupping my face as he searched my eyes.

“Baby, I’m sorry,” I whispered, and Antonio’s face lit up with a grin. This side of him, the vulnerable, tender side, was so different from the intimidating mafia boss. Antonio Bernoti, in this moment, was just a man in need of love and reassurance. Like that, his lips met with mine.