Dangerous Desires

41

The next day, Antonio could hear the sound of Tenebroso's crying from the other room and it immediately set him on edge. He knew that the little boy only cried when he wanted his father's attention. With a sigh, he pushed himself up from the couch and made his way over to the nursery.

As he entered the room, he saw Tenebroso standing in his crib, tears streaming down his face as he continued to wail. "Hey, little guy," Antonio said gently, his voice quiet as he approached the crib. He reached down and picked up the crying child, cradling him in his arms. "What's all the fuss about, huh?" He asked, trying to soothe the boy with soft pats.

Tenebroso continued to cry, his small fists clenching and unclenching as he clung to Antonio. He was clearly upset and in need of comfort, and Antonio could only guess that Arsenio wasn't doing much to help.

"Your Dad's being a real piece of work, huh?" Antonio muttered under his breath, his expression darkening as he said the words. He rocked the crying child gently, trying to calm him down. "It's alright, buddy. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Antonio clenched his jaw as the woman entered the nursery, her scantily-clad form filling him with disgust. To see her so brazenly stroll into the room where an infant was crying was infuriating, and it took all his willpower to keep his temper in check. "What the hell are you doing in here?" He growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"I'm Arsenio's girlfriend, that is my child," the woman said. 

Antonio almost laughed out loud at her words, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Like hell, he's your child," he retorted, his voice sharp and filled with anger. "He's my family's child, not yours."

The woman sneered at Antonio's words, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Don't you dare tell me what to do," she snapped back, her voice laced with entitlement. "I'm the one sleeping with the father, so that means the kid is mine too."

Antonio's temper flared, his grip on Tenebroso tightening slightly as he struggled to control his anger. The audacity of this woman to try and claim ownership of the child was outrageous, and he was having none of it. "You're delusional," he said coldly, his voice laced with disdain. "You have no right to claim this child as yours just because you're sleeping with his father."

The woman opened her mouth to retort, but before she could say anything, a familiar, cocky voice rang out from behind them. "What's going on here?" Arsenio stood in the doorway, his eyes flicking between Antonio and the half-naked woman in the room.

Antonio shot a venomous glare at Arsenio, his disgust for him only growing. "Your girlfriend here is under the mistaken impression that Tenebroso belongs to her," he said gruffly, still holding the crying child close.

Arsenio's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he looked at the woman in the room. "What? She thinks what?" He asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. The woman huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I said that's my child," she repeated firmly, her eyes narrowing defiantly.

Antonio couldn't hold back a scoff of disbelief. "Your child? Really?" He said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Since when did sleeping with someone automatically make you their child's mother?"

The woman opened her mouth to argue, but Arsenio cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Babe, that's not how it works," he said coolly, his gaze fixed on Antonio and the crying child in his arms. Antonio could practically feel the woman seething with anger, her frustration palpable in the air.

"He has been crying for his father and you are in there doing things with her, Indira trusted you to be a father to Tenebroso and here is you going off being with other women," Antonio snapped.

Arsenio's bravado faltered for a moment, a flicker of guilt crossing his face as he heard Antonio's words. He knew he had messed up, but he wasn't about to admit it. "I was otherwise occupied," he said defensively, his voice taking on a cocky tone. "I didn't hear him, okay? I'm allowed to have some fun."

Antonio bristled at Arsenio's dismissive attitude, his anger flaring up again. "You're not 'occupied', you're just being a selfish, irresponsible idiot," he growled. "Tenebroso needs you, and you're too busy gallivanting around with your flavour of the week to notice."

"Oh, so you think you know better, huh?" Arsenio shot back, his temper rising to match Antonio's. "You think you know what's best for my kid? Well, news flash, you don't. I'm his father, and I'll do as I please."

Antonio's jaw clenched, his grip on Tenebroso tightening instinctively. Arsenio's entitled arrogance was getting to him. "Being a father means more than just being biologically related," he said, his voice deadly calm. 

"It means being there for your child, protecting them, and doing whatever it takes to give them the best life possible. And right now, you're failing miserably at that job."

Arsenio rolled his eyes, clearly irritated at Antonio's words. "Please, I'm doing just fine as a father," he said, his voice dripping with bravado. "The kid's fed, clothed, and has a roof over his head. What more could he possibly need?"

Antonio's eyes narrowed in disbelief as he listened to Arsenio's words. "Are you serious right now?" He snapped, his voice rising in anger. "Is that what you think being a father is all about? Providing the bare minimum? You're supposed to be there for him emotionally, support him, and show him love and affection. And instead, you're off screwing some random woman while your kid is crying for you in the next room!"

Arsenio's jaw clenched as he heard Antonio's scathing indictment. He knew he was in the wrong, but his pride refused to let him admit it. "Oh, please," he said, his voice still cocky. "You think I don't love my son? I love him more than anything, okay? I just have needs, too."