Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
One could say Daniel stripped himself bare before Angelica. He didn’t omit any event that shaped and made him the man that he is today. And he had to admit that he felt better like a load has been taken off his chest. When he was done, he watched and waited for her to blame and judge him as the others do. He was not stupid enough to think that Angelica would take his side. Daniel knew deep down that he was evil and didn’t deny it.
Perhaps, that was why he liked Angelica, she was not scared of him and would tell him the truth straight in his face. Not that he wanted her to sugarcoat the truth in the first place. Also, she’s the first woman that he is comfortable with, enough to spill his secrets – he wasn’t even this relaxed with Natalie. Daniel didn’t even notice it but Pamela was sound asleep in his arms, instead of Angelica, he bored her out.
“Wow,” Angelica breathed after Daniel was done. It wasn’t funny but it felt like she just watched a high-grossing movie out of a movie cinema that still had her reeling. It was a lot to take in.
“You’re definitely dark and twisted,” Angelica said and Daniel was not surprised by the response. He waited patiently knowing there was more to come.
“Also, I think all of this stems from your control issues.”
“Control issue?” Daniel said, surprised.
Angelica answered, “You’re so overly focused on controlling situations around you. People who struggle with the need to be in control often fear being at the mercy of others, and this fear may stem from traumatic events that left them feeling helpless and vulnerable. I think your issues started from childhood, your anxiety and determination to impress your grandfather and prove to your father that you’re better than him and not make the same mistake you thought he made. “
She continued, “Your father’s choice to be far from the underworld doesn’t make him weak and less of a man. And I think that’s your problem. You invoke respect through fear, but that’s wrong. Admiration and respect are not bought nor forced, it’s earned. And strength doesn’t equate to cruelty, ruthlessness, or apathy. Emotions are actually what makes humanity interesting. Because of your anxieties and worries, you made others follow your rules and that led to the fall between you and Natalie.
“And you’re obviously not over that habit because your controlling behavior now meddles in the lives of your son, Lukas. You’re trying to remain in charge of all the decision-making in his life because you fear he would abandon you too. I’m afraid, Daniel, but you’re the bad guy here. Sure, others might have contributed to your reaction, but everything that happened so far is your choice and I am afraid that they would come back to haunt you.” Angelica concluded
“So you’re not going to be my woman?” Daniel might have looked a little hurt. He even made an effort, you know.
“I believe in second chances, Daniel,” Angelica said and his eyes lit up at once, “However, I need to know what I’m getting into and if there’s an exit route. I said I’m going to date you, not be your woman yet.”
“But I already told you everything you need to know about me.”
“You’re a psychopath, Daniel.”
“Ouch.”
Angelica went on even though she just called him a psychopath, “Just like electricity devices come with operational booklets and warning, your story was just to know your triggers and be cautious. You can consider our future dates as a beta test or trial, those would determine if I’m going through the flames of hell with you or not. ” She leaned closer, “Or do you think that it was going to be easy?”
“Of course not, you’re not an easy woman.” Daniel lied through his teeth. He thought with this date, he would get her to agree to be his woman. Who knew there were more dates to come where she would try to unravel him?
It was tough. Tougher than he thought. The anticipation was nice but he didn’t like the unknown and this was all a probability. She said it herself, this was all a test. Who knew dating women now was a trial of the gods?
“So are you up for this or do you want to give up chasing me now?” Angelica gave him an option and if she were, to be honest, she wanted him to give up on her now. She was way over her head with this one. Everything changed after hearing his story.
“Of course not!” Daniel refused to give her up, “I would go through the dates.” He was not a quitter.
Holy Mother Of All Handsome Males
“So you run a daycare?” Daniel inquired as he walked her home. It was a thirty-minute trip back to her place and Angelica thought it a brilliant idea to trek and get to know each other more. Only this time she wasn’t the one doing the questioning but Daniel.
She let out a nervous chuckle, saying, “It’s kind of hilarious but I think of it more as a Night care in the sense that we take care of the kids till evening. These days there is a growing number of single mothers and fathers and some of them are so busy with their careers or work overtime that they don’t have the time to pick up their children till late at night. So we are there to help them with that problem, not that children are problems, you know. ” Angelica playfully nudged him on the shoulder hoping that he got the joke.
Sadly, Daniel didn’t get the joke, but he did notice that she was touchy-feely. Not that he was complaining. To him, children like Pamela – even though she was annoyingly cute – would always be a problem until they turned out to be productive. He never signed up for diaper duties.
“So what made you choose that? You once had a prospering career and with Benjamin’s help, he would have catapulted you in a position of power, not this….” Daniel trailed off, realizing that he was looking down on the occupation that she chose.
From the hurt that flashed across her eyes, Daniel knew that he just fucked up. Wonderful, he has just blown off his chances of making her his woman. What lady in her right mind would want a man who belittles her career? If only he had sealed his mouth and kept his opinion to himself. Perhaps she was right, he was just too dark and twisted.
Angelica said to him, “Who said that I wanted power? I just want a comfortable life with my loved ones.” She stood straighter, saying with a fire in her eyes, “You asked why I choose that occupation instead of something greater?”
There was anger now in her voice and something told Daniel deep down that he poked the hornet’s nest. Whatever made Angelica run a daycare was personal.
“After I practically sold my daughter to Benjamin’s wife, I felt dead inside. There was nothing that I could do to wash away the guilt from my conscience and the realization that I don’t have a future with my own child. So I decided to seek penance that way, taking care of other’s children when I couldn’t nurture mine. It’s a punishment, not redemption.” with those words said in between angry tears, Angelica turned and strode away.
Daniel swallowed as he watched Angelica leave. What should he do in this situation? Of course, the answer was clear, ignore her angry ass forever, and problems solved. That has been his way of dealing with problems aka emotions, turning a deaf ear to everything.
…..
But then he swore to win this woman over. And perhaps she was his penance. His punishment. A beautiful punishment. And so Daniel found his feet walking towards her even before his brain could function properly.
“Angelica,” He called her.
She ignored him.
“Angelica!” He called a little louder this time, his walks doubling, nearly jogging after her. Heavens, she would be the death of him.
“Angelica!”
He called once more and perhaps, it might be the fear of drawing attention, Angelica stopped and turned to him with a glare. What does he want now? She was not going easy on him.
Sadly, in Daniel’s haste to get to her, he didn’t look at the store beside him and he halted in his steps, letting out a loud gasp as he felt a sudden coldness seep into his bones. It so happened that a store owner had been cleaning up to lock up for the night and thinking that the coast was clear, poured the water only for it to land on Daniel. And the water was by no means clean.
“Oh no!” Angelica gasped, lifting a trembling hand to her mouth and the color draining from her face. Who just signed her death certificate?
Daniel was so frozen by the shock that it took him minutes to comprehend what just happened. He glanced down at his white shirt specifically chosen by Haz which should have attracted Angelica to him now looking a different color. He was never taking dating advice again from a kid.
He then finally looked at the perpetrator of the crime, a woman who was still holding the bucket, the object used to carry out her crime, her feet stuck to the ground from the shock. She could have sworn that she didn’t see anyone coming until it was too late.
It must be the murderous look in Daniel’s eyes because the woman fell to her knees and began to apologize, crying for mercy. She didn’t splash the water on him on purpose. God, he looked so scary.
With a sigh, Daniel eased the expression on his face. He lifted his hand and rubbed his throbbing temple with his eyes closed. If he killed everyone who committed even a little crime against him, then he would have been on the wanted list already. He executes his move perfectly so like a viper, he likes when his opponent expects it.
When he opened his eyes, Angelica was in front of him, looking at his ruined clothes with a sad look in her eyes that made his heart miss a beat. Strange, was she sorry for his clothes and yet didn’t spare him a look when he was willing to apologize for his mistake? Women were so weird.
“Come on, we should get you dried up.” She tugged on his arm, intending to pull her along but Daniel didn’t make a move.
“I’ll do that at home and my car is around the corner.” Although his ride was not in sight, Daniel knew that Haz was somewhere watching over them. That was how it worked.
“And risk you catching a cold!” She scolded with her fiery eyes, “You are not getting any younger, Daniel!”
Without another word, she tugged him along and he didn’t protest. Just like Mary and the little lamb, Daniel followed after her obediently until they were in the comfort of her cozy home.
“Bathroom is that way!” She directed him, “You should have a bath while I make you hot cocoa.” Angelica paused to ask, “Do you take cocoa or the blood of your victims?”
Daniel laughed, a deep rumble in his chest that somehow sent chills running down her spine. However, Angelica was able to control her reaction to him. She was not a teenager that experiences silly butterflies in her stomach. That was all in the past.
“Do you know you have a dark sense of humor? And no, I drink cocoa just fine,” Daniel had a grin on his face that made him look human. Like he was just an average human that doesn’t murder people who get in the way of what he wants.