Dangerous Desires

62

Mark's frown deepened as he heard my raspy voice. He knew I was probably just trying to downplay the discomfort, but he could tell something was off. "You're sure?" he pressed, his hand rubbing gentle circles on my back. "You don't sound so good."

"I think me and Tenebroso just need to be at home, in the warmth," I replied quietly.

Mark nodded understandingly. "You're right," he said softly, the concern still evident in his eyes. "You both need some rest and warmth." He looked around the room, his gaze briefly falling on Antonio before returning to me. "Maybe we should cut this meeting short," he suggested his voice barely above a whisper.

Antonio, who had been silently observing this exchange, gave a curt nod. "Yeah, might be a good idea," he grumbled, his voice a little gruffer than usual. The other men in the room seemed relieved at the prospect of ending the meeting early and started to gather their things.

Mark stayed by my side as the room slowly emptied. He watched as Antonio lingered a moment longer, his eyes flicking between me and Tenebroso before he too rose from his seat. He paused for a moment, his gaze resting on me. There was a flicker of something in his eyes, a hint of emotion that he quickly buried deep. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me and Mark alone.

"It feels like the conversation about me being his daughter never happened," I said quietly.

Mark wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. "Yeah, doesn't exactly seem like he's dealing with it well," he muttered, his voice tinged with worry.

He leaned in, his voice soft and reassuring. "But that's for him to figure out. You just focus on getting better, okay? You and Tenebroso need to rest and get back to full health."

He gently guided me towards the stroller, where Tenebroso was still fast asleep. "Let's get you both home," he said, his voice firm yet gentle.

Antonio stood near the doorway, watching as me and Mark left the room. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, a thousand thoughts and emotions swirling behind his eyes, but he said nothing.  Once I was out of the room, he leaned against the wall, his brows furrowing in a deep frown. He didn't move for a few moments, just stood there, lost in his quiet contemplation.

The rest of the men had already left, leaving the hall eerily silent. Antonio's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. He was known for being a tough, unshakeable leader, but the news about me had rattled him more than he cared to show.

"It's not fair... treats me like I'm nothing," I said quietly.

Mark let out a soft sigh, his arm still around my shoulders. He could hear the hurt and frustration in my voice, and he knew I had every right to feel that way. "I know," he murmured, gently guiding me down the hall. "He's... dealing with it in his way, but that doesn't excuse his behaviour."

During the hours at home, Mark remained by my side. He tended to me and Tenebroso, making sure we both were comfortable and had everything we needed. He moved silently around the house, his worry for me clear on his face. He had prepared soup, laid out blankets, and made sure there was plenty of water and medicine nearby.

As Tenebroso snuggled against me, seeking warmth and comfort, Mark tucked both of us in. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently brushing against my forehead, checking my temperature. He frowned slightly, feeling the heat against his palm. "You're still a little warm, love," he murmured, his voice filled with concern. "You need to get more rest and drink plenty of fluids."

Mark spent the rest of the day tending to me and Tenebroso, bringing me more soups and ensuring we were both comfortable. He kept the lights dim and moved as quietly as possible, understanding that rest was the best medicine for both of us.

As Mark was gently tending to Tenebroso, there was a knock on the door. Antonio's voice came through, deep and distinctive. "It's me," he called out. "Can I come in?" 

Mark froze, looking at the door with a mixture of surprise and concern. He quickly recovered and called out, "Yeah, come in."

Antonio entered quietly, his gaze moving immediately to me and Tenebroso. He stayed near the doorway, a cautious distance between him and the bed. There was an awkward silence as he seemed to gather his thoughts, unsure of how to approach the situation.

"How are they?" Antonio asked, his voice a bit gruff but with a noticeable tinge of concern. He nodded towards me and Tenebroso, his eyes showing genuine worry, contrary to the tough exterior he tried to uphold.

Mark looked over at Antonio, a mixture of surprise and understanding in his gaze. He had seen the softer side of Antonio many times before, and he knew that the gruff exterior was just a facade. "They seem to be resting comfortably," he replied, his voice soft. "They just need some time to recover."

Antonio nodded, his eyes flickering briefly between me and Tenebroso. He shifted his weight, looking a little awkward. He didn't seem to know what to do with himself in this situation, clearly uncomfortable with the emotional aspect of it.

"Good," he muttered. "That's good." There was a pause, and then he added, "You need anything?" It was clear he was genuinely offering help, despite his initial discomfort.

Mark's surprise deepened at Antonio's offer, but he managed to nod, his expression grateful. "Yeah, if you wouldn't mind," he said gratefully. "Can you grab some water for Indira? And maybe another blanket for Tenebroso, he keeps kicking his off."

"Sure thing," Antonio grunted, his voice a bit less gruff than usual. He moved over to where Mark pointed, grabbing a bottle of water and an additional blanket. He handed them to Mark, his movements efficient and precise.