Dangerous Desires

25

The next morning, the men sat around the breakfast table enjoying their food, Mark held Tenebroso in his arms, talking and laughing with the others. The baby cooed happily, seemingly enjoying the attention from his "Uncle." Arsenio sat quietly, occasionally chiming into the conversation but mostly just observing. His eyes kept darting to me, watching my interactions with Mark and the other men.

The conversation drifted from one topic to another, ranging from work to football to random musings. As the men bonded and joked around, Mark glanced over at me occasionally, silently gauging my mood and how I was holding up after the previous night's argument.

Mark noticed my lack of engagement and how I seemed detached from the conversation. He could see the lingering signs of exhaustion and stress on my face and he knew that the argument from last night was still weighing heavily on me. He gently rocked Tenebroso in his arms, trying to keep the baby entertained while keeping an eye on me.

The other men continued to chat and banter, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of tension in the room. But Mark, being the observant and protective person that he was, was acutely aware of my withdrawn demeanour.

As the breakfast progressed, Mark occasionally tried to include me in the conversation, asking a question or making a comment directed at me. But my responses were short and minimal, my mind elsewhere.

The other men noticed my lack of participation but didn't bring it up, probably sensing the unspoken tension in the room. The conversation continued but I stayed mostly silent, my gaze occasionally flickering towards Arsenio.

Arsenio seemed keenly aware of my detached state as well. His eyes darted towards me intermittently, watching my reactions and trying to gauge how much the argument had affected me. But he remained silent, not sure how to address the issue in front of the other men.

The breakfast continued, but the lighthearted mood from before had faded. The men's conversation seemed strained, and the occasional glances towards me and Arsenio hinted that everyone was aware something was off with the two of us.

Mark, still holding Tenebroso, tried to keep the conversation flowing, but the forced laughter and attempts at humour couldn't completely drown out the undercurrent of tension. He occasionally shot worried glances my way, silently worrying about how the situation with Arsenio was affecting me.

As the meal came to an end, the men started to rise from their seats, conversations still ongoing but with a palpable layer of awkwardness underneath. The air in the room was heavy with the unspoken tension between me and Arsenio.

Mark, sensing that I needed a break and some time away from the tense atmosphere, turned to me. "Hey, how about we take Tenebroso and get out of here for a bit? Get some fresh air and relaxation?"

As I stood up, Mark handed Tenebroso back to me. The baby was sleepy but seemed content in my arms. The other men bid me and Mark farewell, some exchanging knowing glances. Arsenio remained silent, his gaze following me as I prepared to leave.

As I left with Mark, there was a new man in the business. Only 18. He was a troublemaker as he spoke to Arsenio even though he knew he wasn't allowed to make first words "She's definitely cheating on you," the guy said.

Arsenio, still visibly on edge from the previous night's argument, slowly turned his gaze towards the new guy. He clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he took in the young man's words.
"Excuse me?" He asked, his voice taut with irritation.

The young man, seemingly oblivious to the danger he was stirring, continued with a smirk. "I mean, come on," he said, leaning in slightly. "She's always at the centre of attention, hanging out with other men... and you don't think something is going on?"

Arsenio's expression hardened, his hand clenching tightly into a fist. He could feel his anger rising, but he forced himself to remain somewhat composed in front of the others. "Watch your mouth," he warned through gritted teeth. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

The young man chuckled, clearly enjoying getting under Arsenio's skin. "Oh, I think I do," he responded, his tone casual yet taunting. "And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Everyone is talking about it, you know. They all think she's being unfaithful."

Arsenio's face turned red with rage, his knuckles almost white with how tightly he was clenching his fists. He wanted nothing more than to lash out at the young troublemaker but managed to hold himself back. "You're playing a dangerous game," he said, his voice low and threatening. "I suggest you quit while you're ahead."

The young man smirked, clearly not taking Arsenio's warnings seriously. "Or what?" he asked, taking a small step forward. "What are you gonna do about it?"

Arsenio's jaw tensed, his whole body taut with anger. He could feel his control slipping, the urge to punch the young man growing stronger with each word. But just as he was about to respond, a hand rested on his shoulder, restraining him. "Easy, Arsenio," a voice interjected.

Arsenio's gaze flicked over to the side, his eyes meeting those of one of the older mob members. He recognized the familiar voice and the firm grip on his shoulder. "Calm down," the older man said, his voice steady and authoritative. "The kid is just trying to get a rise out of you. Don't play into it."

Arsenio exhaled deeply, forcing himself to take a step back. He knew the older man was right; he couldn't let his anger get the best of him, especially not in front of the rest of the members. He took a moment to collect himself before replying. "He's just... provoking me," he managed to say through clenched teeth.

The older man nodded, understanding the struggle Arsenio was going through. "I know," he acknowledged. "But you can't let him get to you like that. You know how things are around here, how these kids test boundaries."