𝕯𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝕶𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙

𝕹𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖒𝖆𝖗𝖊

I kept to myself since that breakdown and the kiss. I convinced myself he only did it to shut me up because I was rambling. I haven't seen Anthony since that day however Derek tells me he is just working out on one of the other floors of the building.

The entire family has been all quiet, nothing but meetings daily. I even heard Mr. Rivers speaking Italian during a call. We were working on the friendship, it was going well but then that kiss had to fuck it up.

The fitness clothes I decided to wear should hint to everyone that I want to know where the gym is.  I am done with the avoiding, I left my room only to see that it was only Thea, 2 bodyguards, and me.

I walk over to Thea who is drawing a picture of Hades. It brought a smile to my face. "Hi Thea, where is everyone?"

She looked at me with a sweet grin. "Uncle and Derek went to the doctor with Auntie."

Makes sense. "Where's Anthony, sweetie?" Thea continued to color the picture, which is very well drawn for a 4-year-old.

"He's on the 3rd-floor gym." Bingo. "Thank you." I strolled over to the elevator only for one of the bodyguards to stop me. "You can't leave."  I glared at him and crossed my arms.

"I suggest you get out of my way before you end up like Jeremiah." He immediately backed away and allowed me to enter the elevator, pressing the 3rd-floor button.

Jeremiah was a guy at the mansion that wouldn't leave me the hell alone. I ended up dislocating his jaw with a right hook. I leaned against the metal railing just as my phone vibrated in my back pocket. 

I pulled it out and answered the call. "What the fuck are you doing out the penthouse?"

"Hello Maxwell, I assure you I am only going to the gym. I can't drive remember?"

He spoke to someone, my guess is his son. "Just behave yourself. I am preoccupied at the moment." I hummed in agreement before hanging up the phone.

The elevator dinged and came to a stop, once the doors opened I stepped out of it immediately seeing Anthony lifting weights. His expression is angry, how original. "So you rather be doing this than talking to your friend?"

I made sure to say the last word louder. He put the 45-pound iron weight down as well as popped some of the tense muscles in his body.

"Not like we have anything to do anyway." The slight disappointment in my chest formed a knot in its place.

"Seriously? That's your response. If you want me to pretend it never happened then I will but come on we just started getting along! You know why I am really here, no more secrets." 

"Says the chick who couldn't even tell me the problem and instead started rambling." He snapped at me when saying what he did.

"I knew that was why you kissed me." I walked over to him however he held a hand up for me to stop.

"I never said that. I did what I felt like doing at the time, it means nothing now so get over yourself." I watched as he got closer to the point our chests were touching.

"What did your parents do to you, answer that question then we can start trying to be friends again. You owe me that at least."

My heart dropped to my stomach. "Anthony, I don't owe you a goddamn thing and I can't tell you something like that. It's personal to a whole different level."

He sat down on a bench nearby while crossing his arms. "My uncle was my best friend growing up. He was like a 2nd father when mine was never around. Quinn was his wife, she was sweet and helpful too. They both helped me out when I was being bullied in elementary school by people like Condé, I was called Ant cause I was so small compared to everyone else, weak. I didn't want anyone at home to know because I feared what would happen."

I took a seat beside him as I listened. 

"But we got into some trouble with another mafia, Quinn and Miller were in New Orleans at the time."

His eyes were watering just the tiniest bit but not because of sadness, no he was angry. "Their car was bombed while they were on their way to the airport. They died instantly and that's when we lost them, Thea lost her parents that day as I lost hope for a normal life between this bullshit."

Anthony wiped his hand over his face quickly recollecting himself. He stood up, ignoring me, and went over to the only exit. "Wait!"

Anthony stopped. "I-I can't explain what happened to me..but I can show you." He turned around, facing me. My hands started to shake as I lifted my shirt up slowly. "Is this some kind of jok-"

His jaw clenched as he saw my misery, my ugliness, my forever reminder of pain. "I know, they are the worse thing about my body."

Anthony was practically in front of me in a matter of seconds. His hands gently held my sides, causing me to shiver since they were cold. 

"Don't. They are a part of you if you like it or not. Just know that if the people that did this to you come near you again, I will torture them for years or until I feel like they deserve to die at your hands. They weren't parents however they sure as hell were monsters and that's coming from me of all people." 

He hugged me tightly as I began to break down again, telling him everything. I felt calmer and positive, and I had Anthony, the jackass himbo that use to hate me to thank.