I Tried

xiii

I had done what I was told. I laid in bed quietly only sitting upwards when food or my son was brought into the room. Maria was a godsend as she placed his blanket on the ground along with some of his toys so I could watch him play as she treated my lashes.

I knew I shouldn't enjoy any of this because it would soon come to an end any way but I couldn't help but smile at the memories I still held of waking up in my own bed in my apartment. Being able to take care of Jamie on my own.

I couldn't help but kick myself for thinking of even the possibility of running away again. I couldn't even remember how I was so brave. Now that I had Jamie I couldn't risk any wrong move against Antonio.

"Ma- mama." My eyes shot open. I looked at Jamie crawling towards the bed trying to reach me. I gasped trying to sit up pushing Maria's hands away from me. "Did he just-." I could only smile as I looked to Maria for confirmation and she had such a bright smile on her face.

"I may or may not have been been bribing him all week to get him to say mama first. But I kept praying he would only say it fully in front of you." I smiled laughing but stopped myself from hugging her due to how stiff I was.

"Oh my love." I reached down holding Jamie's cute adorable face in my hands. "Ma Ms." He mumbled once again and I just giggled watching his smile grow when he saw how excited I was. "You're your mamas little boy."

"What a shame." I gasped my smile quickly fading. I sat up looking past Maria who was frozen not wanting to face the horrible man. "Well have to nip that in the bud before my father hears." He smirked seeing my sore and bruised body hidden under the comforter.

He walked closer his loud steps getting slower and slower before he stoped right in front of the bed. "You can go now Maria." "Yes master." She said quickly before grabbing Jamie and his things and basically sprinting out of the room.

"You must be excited." I looked down not wanting to make him angry. "It's alright mio amore. You are his mother." I looked up surprised by the soft and kind version of his voice. "It's alright to be excited that mama was his first word." He nodded with somewhat of a smile.

I tried to smile in return which he seemed to enjoy. "I was glad to hear that you did what I had instructed of you while I was gone." I didn't say anything as I looked down and picked at my own nails.

"The party was a success according to my father. Many families are calling and announcing their loyalty to me and my son. It's rather exciting." He spoke as he began to take of his suit coat and tie. "Don't you think Veronica?" His eyes shot to me.

I didn't know what to say so I nodded with a soft fake smile. But my head quickly shot into my lap as he began to roll up his sleeves and unbutton his top buttons of his white shirt. "I would reward you."

I clenched my eyes in fear as he climbed onto the bed kissing my cheek and over my face. I fought my instincts so hard to not flinch away from his advances because I did not want another punishment so soon.

"But." The kissing came to an abrupt stop. "I know how sore you must be. So that will have to wait." He sat back and watched me with a proud smile. "Il mio possesso più prezioso." He said with pride before he stood up and walked to the bathroom.

I heard the water running and after a few minutes of waiting to see if he was going to grab me and him not coming out I laid back down with a relieved sigh. But while I was stressed of what was to come I couldn't help but doze off with a smile on my face. "Thank you Jamie."

~~~

I woke to a large hand rubbing up and down my neck. "I have to show you something piccolo topo." I woke up slowly feeling Antonio laying behind me. "Come now. Don't you want to see why I had to be away from you and my son." I opened my eyes just to see a small black box.

"Give me your hand." He whispered softly. And I reluctantly pulled my left arm out from under the blanket. He gently took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto my finger before pulling it to his lips and kissing it.

He let go of my hand and grabbed my chin making me look at him. "Now mio amore, if this ring ever leaves your fucking finger ever again I will nail them into it myself." He spoke through gritted teeth watching my eyes.

He chuckled seeing the fear in my face before he shoved my face away and rolled over before going to sleep himself. I laid there silently crying as this ring was just another reminder of the fact that I could never get away from him.

~~~

"Oh yes yes!" A young naive girl screamed jumping into Antonio's arms as he was kneeled down in front of her. Everyone at the restaurant cheered for them as a waiter popped a champagne bottle behind them. "You'll be mine forever." A younger Antonio whispered into her ear as he kissed her neck gently.

But little did she know the effect those words would have on her.