Dangerous Desires

47

Arsenio's eyes flicked over to me for a brief moment, a flicker of annoyance in them at my words. But he still kept his cool, his charming smile returning. "Is that a threat?" He asked, his voice lilting slightly. "You really think you can scare me off?"

"You know the blonde girl, the homewrecker?" I asked him.

Arsenio's eyebrow raised at my question, surprise and curiosity mixing in his eyes. "What about her?" He asked, his tone casual but cautious. 

"She is dead,".

For a brief moment, surprise flashed across Arsenio's expression. But just as quickly, he schooled his features back into his usual nonchalance. He chuckled softly, the sound not quite reaching his eyes. "And you're responsible for that, I take it?"He asked a hint of mockery in his voice.

"Thanks to Antonio," I replied.

Antonio's grip on Arsenio's collar didn't waver, but a small, satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. Arsenio's gaze flickered over to Antonio, a mixture of annoyance and surprise in his eyes. "You really took out the competition, huh?" He said, trying to make light of the situation.

"Antonio kill him but leave here with him. I don't want my baby's room to be ruined,".

Antonio, still holding onto Arsenio's collar, looked over at me, his expression stoic as always. "Got it," he said, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. Arsenio, realizing he was outnumbered and overpowered, bristled at the sight of Antonio but didn't resist further. He knew when to cut his losses.

Antonio gave Arsenio a rough shove, pushing him towards the doorway. "Let's take a little walk," he grunted, his hand firmly on the back of Arsenio's neck. Arsenio's expression still held a hint of defiance, but he didn't protest, knowing there was no point. He allowed himself to be led out of the nursery, casting one last look at me and Tenebroso before disappearing into the hallway.

After they left, Tenobroso reached up towards Mark, his tiny arms outstretched. Mark, his body still bristling with adrenaline and anger, reached down and scooped Tenebroso up into his arms, holding him close against his chest. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Tenebroso's head, taking a moment to reassure himself that the baby was okay.

He looked over at me, his expression still stern but his gaze softening as he took in my obvious fear and trepidation. "Are you alright?" He asked, his voice gentle as he moved closer to me.

"He really scared me..." I tried not to get upset

Mark wrapped his free arm around my shoulders, pulling me close against his side. "I know," he murmured, his voice filled with understanding. He tightened his arm around me, his grip firm but comforting. "But he's gone now, and you're safe. And I'll make sure he never comes back."

He pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, rubbing gentle circles on my back with his hand. "I won't let anyone hurt you, or Tenebroso," he said, his voice filled with determination. "You're my family now, and I'll protect you with everything I have."

He glanced down at Tenebroso, who was snuggled comfortably in his arms. Tenebroso yawned, his small body relaxing as he started to drift off again. Mark smiled, his expression softening further as he looked at the baby. "And this little guy too," he added, his voice filled with affection.

He continued to hold us both close, wrapping us both in the shelter of his arms. "You're safe now," he repeated, his voice a low, protective murmur. "I've got you."

The next morning, the men filed into the conference room, their expressions ranging from inquisitive to serious. They took their seats at the large table, some casting curious glances my way where I stood near the doorway with Tenebroso. Antonio stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed over his chest. He waited until everyone was settled before he began to speak.

Mark stood against the wall near the back of the room, his eyes flickering towards me and Tenebroso. His expression was serious as he waited for Antonio to speak.

Antonio cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the room. "I brought everyone in here for an important reason," he said, his voice authoritative. The men around the table quieted immediately, all focused on Antonio. 

"As you know, there was a security breach last night," Antonio continued, his eyes hardening slightly. "Arsenio managed to get into the estate and make his way to the nursery." Murmurs of surprise and irritation rippled through the men at this news. They cast worried glances towards me and Tenebroso, their protective instincts immediately kicking in.

"Fortunately, we managed to deal with the situation before any harm was done," Antonio reassured them. "But it's clear that our security measures need to be tightened and improved."

"Is Arsenio dead?" One of the men asked.

Antonio nodded, his expression grim. "Yes," he replied bluntly. "We dealt with him. He's not a threat to us anymore." The men around the table looked relieved at this news, some even letting out small sighs. But there were still frowns and looks of concern as they took in the seriousness of the situation.

Antonio noticed my reaction and his gaze softened slightly as he saw the relief on my face. He knew this incident had shaken me more than the others, and he silently vowed to ensure my safety at all costs.

"Moving forward, we'll be increasing the security presence on the estate," Antonio announced his voice firm. "There will be more guards patrolling the grounds, and we'll be installing additional security measures in the nursery and other sensitive areas."

"We can't afford to have another breach like this one," he continued, his gaze sweeping over the men at the table. "I want everyone to be vigilant and on high alert. We can't let our guard down for a moment."

The men around the table nodded solemnly, their expressions serious and determined. They knew the gravity of the situation and were ready to do whatever it took to protect the estate and the people within it.