My Mafia Guardian Angel

Chapter 5

Echo took in a deep but shaky breath. How could she explain her situation? How much should she tell him? Can she trust this man?

Antony stance was imposing. He was so very intimidating and seemed to take up so much space in the room. Echo sighed, resigned to at least give him a high level of what he wanted.

"Please sit," she indicated to the couch. His body seemed to dwarf the furniture. Echo began to pace. "Ok, so obviously, I have told you that I am running from my soon to be ex-husband. While I am not ready to tell you my real identity, I will say, the man I was married to was not a good man. I was sold to him by my father for some reason or other. I never questioned it. I was never allowed to. The man I was married to did not want me. He had many other mistresses. When he was with them, my life was easy. When he was with me, he enjoyed my pain. Eventually, I came pregnant with my daughter. I had watched him kill others. He made sure I knew that he could torture others. It was as if he wanted me to know how much worse it could be.

The day I decided to leave, I had overheard him talking to someone. He was planning on selling my daughter to some sicko. When she turned 13, she was going to be a child bride! 13 is way too young to lose ones innocence. Any monster that could afford the prices he was talking about, I do not want to think about how much older he would be.

So, we ran with the clothes on our backs. I had enough cash on me to be able to buy a few bus tickets. We made sure to take many routes to attempt to confuse anyone who may try to find us. I really do hope we were able to shake anyone, but -"

Echo's voice trailed off. Antony waited for her to continue. When she seemed lost in her thoughts, he stood.

"Echo," he lifted her chin to look at him. "You hope you were able to shake anyone, but -"

"I couldn't shake a feeling that we were being watched while at the laundromat." Echo's voice was quiet and shook slightly. She could not understand why she was opening to this man.

Antony stared at Echo for a while. He looked around the room as if in thought. Echo began to feel ill at ease, uncertain why the man was so silent. She was beginning to worry about potentially having spoken too much. Antony strode to the door, opened it, and murmured to the man standing outside of the door and then shut the door again.

"Tomorrow, we will have someone here to bring a washer and dryer so you will not need to walk to the laundromat. If you were being watched, you would no longer need to leave. I believe that is the only time you need to leave the house, correct?" Echo nodded.

"Good, so to summarize, your ex wants to sell the girl to the s*x trade essentially. This is why you ran." Antony thought to himself, this is why you dont trust anyone.

Echo could only nod. Antony nodded in return. "I will leave a guard for you at all times. If your ex finds you, they will dispatch him."

Echo's face grew worried, "Oh Mr. Mariano, I can't - "

He cut her off, "Now, Echo, you can, and you will. I had decided to allow you to stay in my apartment. I saw something in you that I recognized. I have seen the look in your eyes. We will ensure you and your child stay safe."

Echo's eyes filled with tears. He nodded his head and turned. He felt his need to leave the room before he said anything, gave away a weakness to this sprite of a woman.

Manny jumped slightly to the door, slamming open. With long strides, Antony left the apartment before turning back to Echo. "Thank you for your trust." Antony turned again and made his way back down the stairs. Echo felt as if a tornado had left her apartment with Antony's departure. Where his presence had filled the room and stiffled her with his presence, his absence was surprisingly cold.

Echo shook her head at the strange encounter before shutting the door, locking it behind her. She made her way to the bathroom to begin preparing for bed. Brushing her hair and teeth, before taking her robe back off and hanging it up. She grabbed a glass of water and worked her way to the couch, shutting lights off as she went. She turned the tv on before laying on the couch and let her mind wonder before she finally fell asleep.

True to his word, some men arrived to install a washer and dryer in her bathroom. Not only that, Antony had a dishwasher delivered. The men installed the machines quickly before leaving without saying a word. As they left, Antony arrived at the door. Knocking softly on the open door, he stepped into the threshhold.

"I am pleased to see my men are already finished with the project. Is everything to your liking?"

She studied the tall man in front of her. "Yes, this was very kind and completely unnecessary, Mr. Mariano."

He waved his hand, "No employee of mine needs to feel threatened."

Her eyebrows raised, and it was obvious she did not believe his excuse. His smirk told her he knew the excuse was lame. "Why are you really helping me?" Echo put her hands on her hips.

Antony ran his hands through his hair, "I have no idea, but you are bringing out a protective side of me. You intregue me. I want to know more about you. I want to smell you. I want to taste you. I want to have you."

Echo stepped back, and Antony stepped forward. Her eyes went wide with his words. "You do not want me," Echo's voice was shaky.

Antony leaned down to eye level to Echo, "Why would I not want you?" His gravely voice held promise, and maybe something dark.

Echo tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "You do not need my troubles on your door step."

Antony snorted, "Your troubles do not worry me, darling."

"Mommy?" A timid voice broke the tension. Both Echo and Antony looked over and found the small child looking at them both. Echo used her daughter to duck away from Antony to assist the child in whatever it was she needed. Antony watched them walk away. "Well, I will see you again, Echo."