"He's my yesterday, my today, my tomorrow, and my forevermore," -Santiago Luzardi

~

Stuck on You: Kapitel Dreiundzwanzig

~Santiago André Luzardi~

I hated that my mind consumed thoughts of nothing but Anthony Bradley Thorpe.

Ever since the moment he came into my life, he had never left my mind. I wasn't too sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

I missed him from the moment I had to leave.

I was sure that everyone around me knew it. I found no reason to shave my beard. Why? Who was going to be touching it? I found no reason to smile or laugh. Why? No one here could make me laugh the way that Anthony does. I found no reason to roll over and smile. Why? Because I wasn't beside my baby. I found no reason to stop snapping at people who made even the slightest mistake. Why? Clearly, I was under the mindset that if I wasn't happy, no one was going to be happy. I knew it wasn't their fault that my life turned out to be this way, but no one understood a man in love. I found no reason to make up my bed nor sleep in it. Why? My baby was nowhere near me and if he wasn't in my arms, I could not sleep. 

I had gotten so used to the heat of his body, feeling his warm arms around me as he snuggled close to me, his head under my chin. I had gotten used to the dimples in his smile whenever he beamed up at me, giggling at a dumb joke that I made. I had gotten so fucking used to the way his eyes used to twinkle whenever he was genuinely happy. 

I had gotten used to him. 

It was so hard for me to try and get over him when my father threatened my mother's and my own life if I didn't do what he said. It was no bargain until it became a devastating one when he casually stated that he would kill Anthony if I didn't take over the syndicate. It took me a while to get over everything, the pain that the bastard caused me, the scars he left me. It was eight long years away from my baby, and the only thing that kept me going was the fact that I would soon be able to return to him. I thought about the fact that one day we would be able to have our own house together. It wouldn't be my bed, or my bathroom, or my kitchen. It'd be our bed, our bathroom, and our kitchen. Our home. Everything that I had was his. 

Just knowing that I finally got to see him again was enough to make my heart flutter. Just knowing that he laid in my bed for the first time in forever was enough to make me happy. Just knowing that he gave birth to the most beautiful girl I had ever seen was enough to make me smile madly. I wonder what my men would think if they saw me sitting here, grinning to myself as I thought. What would they think of someone who was supposed to a badass, ruthless and downright menacing syndicate leader? 

They would probably laugh their asses off. 

If they did, they had no idea how fucking awesome being in love was. They had no idea how strongly love could cultivate over the course of eight years: a long ass time. They had no idea scary it was to know that my baby was out in that world, roaming freely when anyone could come and attack him. They had no idea how scary it was to know that I can't protect him at every given moment. They had no idea how little self-preservation I had when I heard that something was wrong with Anthony. They would never know how I was willing to throw everything to the side and rush to him. They never would know how angry Anthony makes me sometimes, but even so, I was still there by his side.

They never would know.

"Anthony..." I trailed off as I leaned back in my swivel chair, looking up at the ceiling of my office. It had been a few hours since I had dropped him off at his penthouse, but I was missing him like crazy. I wanted to pull him into my arms and relish in his scent. He made me feel things that I had never felt before. During these eight years without him, it was hard and it was tough, but I never did lose sight of the prize. I never laid down with anyone that wasn't him. I was loyal down to the bone and no one was going to change that.

"Pate, get that stupid look off of your face right now," Milo demanded as soon as he busted through my office door, Terrence in tow. They looked fearful and panicked and I stood, wondering what had happened. "What is it?" I asked, walking from around my desk. "Did Lorenzo forget to seal his deal?" I folded my arms, rolling my eyes. "Of course he did," Milo shook his head slowly, moving in closer to me. "That's not it," He said quietly and I could feel my heart rate starting to pick up. Why were they looking at me like that?

"Santiago," Terrence took a deep breath, which put me on alarm. He never breathed so deeply unless it was something desperately serious. "I was texting Brad a while ago and he never texted me back." Milo said and I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering when they had gotten so close. "And?" I motioned for them to go on. Anthony was always out and about, doing things he had no business doing. "Ten minutes ago, I called him but there was no answer. I called his house and there was no answer. So finally, I checked the camera that patrols his front door. Boss, the door was wide open," Milo confessed, his eyes dripping in agony and that's when I felt it.

The crushing fear consuming my heart, making it harder for me to breathe.

"Milo and I went over there. Sanders, the guy who normally guards the door, was in the corner out cold," I blinked back and forth, making sure I heard things right. This just wasn't some nightmare. "His phone was on the floor and it was evident that something was dragged." Terrence looked from me to Milo, wondering why I was so silent. My world was crashing down around me and there was nothing that I could do. 

I looked down from the ground, gritting my teeth. I was going to keep my cool despite the fear I held. "...do we have any idea who did it?" They shook their head simultaneously and I was itching to shoot someone's head off. I was itching to storm my way through, killing anyone and everyone. Rage was slowly creeping up my arms and I could feel myself turning hot. I took several deep breaths to try to tell myself that everything was going to be okay.

No, the fuck it wasn't!

"Scheiße!" I cursed loudly, slamming my hand on my desk. It hurt but it was nothing compared to how my heart felt. Someone had taken my Anthony and I was going to fucking find out who. "But we did find this," Milo held a file folder and I grabbed it from him. "It was under his couch, probably meant to be hidden away." I clicked my tongue, opening it. Out fell three little cards. I furrowed my brow, picking one of them up. "By then, I will have decided to kill you? Mom?" Then it dawned like a bitch on me. 

"Round up 10 men," I grunted out and they nodded without hesitation. "We're going to kill this bitch." I smirked wickedly, motioning for them to lead the way to the cars. Whoever this woman was, she messed with the wrong man in love. 

I made sure to grab some guns, knives already in my shoes as ten of my men were waiting for us at the entrance. We all were bloodthirsty and nothing was going to stop me nor get in my way. Time was money and my baby's life was on the line. I couldn't freak out like I did when my mother got abducted. I had to stay calm and rational despite all feeling. "First things first," I bellowed out, clenching my fists. "As you all should know, I was informed that my partner Anthony has been kidnapped by some unknown woman. She most like used accessible ways to coerce him," I grunted as they all nodded. "First, we are going to find out more about this woman as she is the one we need to look out for. Then once we have that," I chuckled devilishly as I held up my gun, licking my teeth.

"We're going to make her regret laying her hands on him."

They saluted me with a, "Yes, Pate!" before running out to the trucks. "First destination, 590 Beckman Court!" I threw on my shades as one of my men helped me into the truck. I couldn't stop the anxiety from consuming me. Was my baby okay? Was he hurt? Was I too late? Thank god that I had those shades on, because I couldn't have anyone see me on the verge of crying. 

"No need to look so sad, Santiago," Terrence whispered in my ear and I bit my lip, slowly nodding. "Brad's a fighter, understand?" I nodded once again, smiling softly. It was true. Anthony was a fighter. I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the window, praying that everything was going to be okay. I never imagined a life without him and I was not going to start. I let out a deep sigh after 10 minutes, the car coming to a stop. "Men, stay here," I commanded and they nodded. The back doors to the truck opened up and I stepped down, the familiar house of a long time ago, greeting me.

Without no further questions, I zoomed my ass to the door. Time was money. I knocked vehemently, not sure of how to ask this. "Oh! Papa!" The door opened and I was faced with the joy of my life. "Come on in!" Ivory opened the door wider and I stepped in, placing a kiss on her forehead. I couldn't burden her with this. She already worried too much about her dad. "Is your grandfather in?" I asked.

"He is and he would like to know what you're doing here," A gruff voice from the right of me came and I snapped my head to it, seeing a look of animosity on his face. "I need to talk to you, Noah." I said it in such a crisp tone, that it was clear what I was here for. "...Ivory, can you go into your room? I need to talk to your father for a minute." She nodded, waving me as she ran down the hall to her room. Noah stared for a bit before flashing his green eyes at me. "Someone has taken Anthony." I came straight out with it, wasting no time at all. He blinked heavily before his eyes widened.

"W-What? Huh?" He spluttered, his face turning red from fear. "I know, but we have major things to look at right now." He bit his lip, his eyes watering as he took a seat across from me. "I need to know the name of the woman you married, his mother," I beseeched, motioning for him to think. "She's the one who has Anthony right now," He looked down at the ground, eyes furrowed as he suddenly had an epiphany. "That's why he asked me when she was getting out..." He trailed off and I nodded, though it had nothing to do with me. Fear was threatening to take over my soul as I stood in his living room, pacing. 

I didn't quite remember her name.

I met her. I used to see her all the time whenever I went to hang out with Anthony. She made us lunch and dinner, but I never remembered her name.

"Genevieve," Noah sighed after a long time, running a hand through his hair as tears filled his eyes. He looked so distraught and I bet that he felt the same way, but right now was not the time. "Genevieve Thorpe."

I pressed the button to my ear, opening my watch. "Milo, see if you can get a current address on Genevieve Thorpe." I clenched my fists as Noah wiped his eyes. "If it's going to be somewhere," He whispered. "It's going to be my old house." And with that, I was out of his house. Adrenaline was coursing through my bones and I was itching for my baby. "We've found an address. Only fifteen minutes away," Milo confirmed and I jumped back into the back of the truck, motioning for them to stop on it. I didn't care how many laws I broke to get to Southeast Manhattan. I was going to get to Anthony one way or another.

Damn it, why didn't I make him stay with me today?

Why did I listen to him and tell him yes?

Fuck, it was my fault!

I could feel my eyes beginning to water. I could feel my stomach tightening as we neared closer, swirling thoughts eating at my brain. I wasn't too sure of what to think, but I was trying so hard to tell myself to have faith.

Have faith in what though?

I looked down at my gun, thinking of all the memories that I shared with Anthony. He have given me so much to remember and this couldn't be it for us.

I wouldn't let it be.

"Boss, we're here," One of my men, Zion, nodded to me and I nodded back. Normally, I wouldn't be out on the scenes with men like this, but Anthony deserved his knight in shining armor. After all, he did defeat my only demon. The car came to a slow stop and the back doors were opened once again. I exchanged looks of finality with my men, knowing that we had one woman to kill and no one else. We were to make sure Anthony got out safely. I stepped out, full of aura of bloodlust radiating from me as my neck popped, releasing all tension.

We were a foot away's from a white two-story house with no cars in the driveway. It seemed like a normal house that you passed by, noticing nothing off about it. It was that very reason that it made such a good location for something like this. There were seldom houses around, scattered at least 100 feet away. No one could really hear anything unless they were close like we were. 

It was go time.

I put up two fingers, one for each side of the house. I was going to take the front. She wouldn't think that I would be that bold. I crept up the stairs slowly, making sure that I was clear inside and outside. I pulled out my lockpicker and put it in the knob, slowly wiggling it as it opened with silence. My men panned out as soon as I entered the quiet house.

I gulped slowly, closing the door behind me as the silence began to get overwhelming. 

"You fucking bastard! I should've aborted you when I had the chance!"

I heard a voice coming up from the second level along with the ricochet of a slap and a loud cry. I gritted my teeth as anger washed over me, making eye contact with the men who entered from the back. I pointed upward as I ascended up the carpet stairs. I timed my steps perfectly so she wouldn't suspect a thing. 

"How fucking dare you give me that eye!? No respect for the person who raised you!"

Then there was another slap.

My fingers were trembling to pull the trigger as I inched closer and closer, relying on my ears to tell me which direction the voice was coming from. It sounded nasally and full of hatred. I heard whimpering and I let out a deep breath, the beast within me wanting to rip this woman apart. How fucking dare she lay a hand on the one thing that was most precious to me?

She was asking to have it.

Three of my men came up behind me and I motioned for them to slow down as I reached the top of the staircase. It was dark and eerie as the majority of the doors were closed. There was one in the middle of hall further down, opened with a crack. My gun was cocked and the adrenaline was rushing through me. I had no idea what to expect from this. I had no idea what I was going to see and that thought scared me.

"I wish you died in that garage! Because you, I lost so much!" 

I heard a loud wail as the sound of slapping bounced off of the walls. He was crying. Oh, Genevieve Thorpe was going to have her ass handed to her. I stepped faster, reaching the open door in seconds. I peeked into the crack, seeing a woman with her back to us. She was fairly tall with long brown hair in a ponytail. She was standing in front of a bloody Anthony, who cried and whimpered as his hands and legs were bound. His face was purple and swollen and he looked like he wanted to give up.

He could because I was here.

I wanted to torture her but hearing his screams, I had to end it quickly. I tightened the silencer on my gun and I held it up within the crack, finger on the trigger. I made sure it was on her head as I counted down, pulling it. There was no hesitation on my part. I heard the sound of fire crackling as a hole was embedded into the back of her head. Blood splattered all over the walls as a hollow screech came from her lips.

I pushed the door open slowly as Anthony started to scream, her blood oozing all over him. I ran into the room as her body fell over, eyes wide open. "I'm here!" I pulled the tape off of his mouth, kissing his sweet lips. One of my men cut his ties open and he fell, ignoring the men disposing of the corpse. He wailed, blubbering as he shook beneath me. "I was so scared! I really thought I was going to die!" He couldn't stop himself from crying and I could tell that he was in so much pain.

"You're okay, baby!" I pulled him into my arms, his cries hurting my ears. "I don't know why she hated me so much!" He wrapped himself tightly around me as if he was scared to leave my side again. Blood was getting on me but it didn't matter because I had the one thing I wanted in my arms.

"You're okay."