The Unexpected Lover

Chapter 11: Anthony

I paced back and forth in my study, hands clasped behind my back, eyes cast down at the mahogany floor without really seeing it. My mind was elsewhere, churning over the fact that Romeo was still out there, evading me. I'd thought that prison would have kept him out of my life for good. Out of sight, out of mind. But then came that call, the one that set me off, reigniting flames I'd kept carefully banked.

Fear? No. I don't fear anyone, least of all Romeo. This wasn't about fear. It was about principle. I had spent years building this life, solidifying my reputation, stitching my name into the underworld fabric, and ensuring no one could outmaneuver me. I'd fought my way up, clawing and tearing through anyone who stood in my way. And now Romeo, a ghost from a past I had silenced, threatened it all.

I poured myself a glass of whiskey, savoring the burn of it as I took a long, deliberate sip. I held the glass up, watching the liquid swirl, catching my own reflection in it. A fine reflection. A king, surrounded by fools.

"Look at you, Anthony," I muttered, smirking. "King of your castle, master of your fate."

A soft knock broke the stillness, and I didn't need to turn around. I felt her presence, Elara, as calm and collected as ever, but I could tell there was caution in her voice as she spoke.

"Sir," she said. "I've arranged a meeting with Mr. Castillo. He'll be here in an hour."

I nodded, hardly hearing her. I hired people for the details. My mind was elsewhere, on that night, on the knife I'd held against my brother's skin, the terror in his eyes as I carved that "A" into him.

I had to give it to him, Romeo was tough. Most men would have broken, but not him. He took it, all of it, without even a whimper. I might have respected that, had it been anyone else. But not Romeo. No, with him, it only fueled my hatred. He was a loose end, a liability, a constant reminder of the one person who had ever mattered to me.

"Angel." I barely whispered her name, but it felt like a curse.

How long had it been since I'd last seen her? Since I'd last held her close? Romeo would never know the truth. He could never understand what she meant to me. What she would always mean to me.

My jaw clenched as the familiar anger simmered to life. Angel had been mine, my first love, the only one who ever made me feel anything close to real. But then Romeo had come along, with his charm and his damn hero complex, sweeping her out from under me. He didn't know the sacrifices I'd made, the promises I'd broken to keep her safe. He didn't know the choices I had to live with every day.

"My brother," I murmured, barely able to contain the disgust in my voice. "Always did love to play the hero."

My grip tightened on the glass, the whiskey cold against my fingers. Angel had probably never realized just how deep the wedge was that she had driven between us. She'd always been the light, and me? In her eyes, I'd always been the shadow. But that was about to change.

This time, I'd make her understand.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. A message flashed on the screen, just one word: "Yes."

I smiled, knowing it would be from Dino or Paulie, updating me on Romeo's "status." For now, he was still on the run, dancing just beyond my reach. I placed the glass down carefully, my fingers tapping against the desk as I considered my next move.

Half an hour later, I was seated across from Castillo, an ally who'd proven his loyalty over the years. Castillo was wiry and perceptive, with eyes that missed nothing.

"So, this business with Romeo," he started, his voice calm but carrying an edge. "You sure it's worth the risk? The last thing we need is a loose cannon."

"Romeo is no threat," I replied smoothly. "He's a distraction, a personal matter. As far as anyone else is concerned, he doesn't exist."

Castillo studied me for a long moment, but I didn't break the gaze. Eventually, he gave a slow nod.

"Fine. I trust you know what you're doing, Anthony. But I'll tell you this, if he turns up breathing again, it could complicate things. People have a way of looking twice when there's blood in the water."

I allowed a cold, humorless smile. "If Romeo shows up again, I'll be waiting."

Once Castillo was gone, a strange calm washed over me. I turned back to the window, looking out over the city as dusk settled in. For all my hatred, there was a part of me, a part buried deep, that almost anticipated facing him. To watch the light fade from his eyes.

Because this was a game. And I always played to win.

That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind spun with memories, memories I'd tried to bury. I remembered the sound of Angel's laughter, the way her eyes sparkled, the way her touch melted my armor. She had seen a part of me no one else ever had, a part of me I'd locked away after she left. That was before Romeo.

His betrayal had cut deeper than any knife. She'd fallen for his smile, his charm, his hero complex. And just like that, she'd turned her back on me. It shattered me in ways I'd never admit. I hated him with an intensity that burned every time I thought about it. He had stolen her, taking with him my one chance at a life outside the shadows.

If she only knew the truth, I thought, clenching my fists. If she only understood the choices I'd made to keep her safe. She'd once called me a monster, her words echoing even now. "I don't even know who you are anymore," she'd said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I'd laughed then, pretending it didn't matter. But here, in the quiet of my room, I felt the hollow ache her words had left.

A soft knock broke the silence, and Elara entered with a document in hand.

"Sir, there's something you might want to see," she said cautiously.

I took the folder, flipping it open. Surveillance photos, each one with Romeo looking over his shoulder, tense and wary. He had finally picked up on the little welcome I'd left him. I chuckled.

"Elara, do you think people are born with the ability to betray?" I asked, keeping my gaze on the photos.

She raised an eyebrow, but her voice was steady. "I think betrayal is a choice, sir. But some people are more willing to make it than others."

I nodded, absently. Romeo had made his choice. Now he'd face the consequences. This wasn't just about Angel anymore. It was about power, about principle. About teaching Romeo a lesson he'd never forget.

"Good answer," I murmured, setting the folder aside. I met her gaze, a rare smile creeping onto my face. "I want you to follow up with Castillo. Tell him to ensure there are no loose ends when this... game concludes."

Elara inclined her head, slipping out of the room as silently as she'd come, and I watched her go.

Later, as I lay awake in the dark, I turned over the night's events in my mind. Romeo was out there, slipping through the shadows, but my men were closing in. And once I had him cornered, I'd confront him, not in anger, but with the cold control he had never been able to match.

I'd end this madness, this feud that had poisoned my life. And when it was done, maybe I'd finally be free.

At least, that's what I told myself as I lay there, waiting, the darkness pressing in around me.