Raging Love Ch. 06

Travis sighed and was about to curse when suddenly, he froze. His heart stopped beating and he held his breath, his eyes widening. At first, he thought he was dreaming but it was all true. Antonio was coming towards him with a stern face, staring right at him. Shit! Travis felt a shiver run down his spine when he eventually breathed.

Antonio was dressed in a beautiful blue designer's suit with the jacket unbuttoned, a black shirt inside and blue shoes. His hair was gelled to perfection. Travis quickly turned his back to Antonio, slightly closing his eyes.

Of all people that had to be at the company, it had to be Antonio Gonzalez. Travis was a bit upset because that day, he had planned on seeing Antonio. He just kept on praying in his heart that Antonio would just pass by without talking to him. He would just go to his car without even talking to him. But his prayers weren't answered.

"What are you doing here?" Antonio asked, looking at the boy that had his back to him. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

Travis glanced at Antonio, wearing a confident look. "What I am doing here is none of your business. What of you? What are you still doing here? Shouldn't be home with your family?"

Antonio laughed, getting a bit closer. "What I am doing here is none of your business too. This company belongs to me, the floor you're standing on belongs to me and even the air that you breathe belongs to me."

Travis rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"By the way, your 48 hours are up. Where is my grandmother? I told you I need her back at my house and..."

"And I already told you that I wasn't gonna bring her back until she was completely healed." He said harshly, folding his arms on his chest. "I never break my promises. Granny is fine and you don't have to worry about her."

"She is..." Antonio tried to yell but he stopped mid-way. "...she is my grandmother and you don't have any relationship with her. I wasn't joking when I told you to bring her home."

Travis laughed. "I wasn't joking too, Mr. Gonzalez. Your grandmother is old enough to know what she wants. I didn't force her to follow me. She came with me on her own will. It's not my fault that she likes me more than her grandson. And please, if you're done with your threats, you can leave. I don't know why you're even here."

Antonio laughed. "Why are you asking? Are you my mother or my husband? It is my company, my money and I can do whatever I want."

Travis shook his head in mockingly. "Who would even want to be your husband? Now I know why your grandmother doesn't want to stay with you. Only God knows the number of people that have left because of your stupid ego. And I wouldn't really blame them."

Though Travis said it under his breath, Antonio got it loud and clear. Those last words hit his heart, making it pound violently in his chest. His facial expression changed to something else... his hands clenched into fists... his breaths turned to harsh breaths and his body trembled. Anger swept him off his feet and he groaned furiously, pushing a vessel that was near him. It broke to pieces, making a terrible noise.

Travis on the other hand was caught off guard when he heard that noise. He looked in Antonio's direction and saw him coming towards him with anger all over him. He looked like he was in a fight or something.

Before Travis even said a word, Antonio gripped his arms and pinned him to the wall, getting closer to him. Travis' heart began racing as fear took him by surprise. He was really confused because he had no idea what he had said to Antonio to cause that reaction.

"What are you doing?" Travis trembled, trying to let himself loose. But Antonio was just too powerful. "Let me go!"

"What did you say?" Antonio groaned, looking at the boy's face. "Is it my fault that I was cheated on? How dare you!"

Travis was shocked. He didn't remember ever saying that to Antonio that night.

"So according to your theory, I deserved being hurt and cheated on?"

Travis was looking in Antonio's eyes and what he saw in them scared him big time. He didn't even remember Antonio scaring him like that since he returned. He was trying to let himself loose but the guy was just too powerful.

"Do you know that we're alone here, huh?" Travis tried to move but Antonio just tightened his grip. "Do you know I can hurt you and nobody can do anything about it?"

"Ant..."

"What do you think, huh?" Antonio laughed manically, scaring Travis even more. "Do you think I was joking with you the other day? I told you I am a very bad guy. My heart is made of stone and I don't have any feelings. Don't mess with me because you'll just be surprised what I can do to you. I can hurt you right now."

Travis' heart was beating so fast that he felt like he was gonna have a heart attack.

"And what about you? You think you have a perfect life?" He chuckled bitterly. "Or maybe everyone's right about you. You're following me around because you're a whore!"

That was it for Travis. He didn't know what that word did to him. He furiously released his hand and smacked Antonio across the face really hard, breathing like a warrior. Tears had already formed in his eyes and his pain came back to haunt him.

Antonio on the hand got madder when he felt that terrible pain on his face. He looked at Travis angrily, his fists clenching. He started going near the boy with the intention of hurting him. Travis pushed Antonio really hard and ran out of the building, leaving Antonio touching his hurting cheek.

Travis rubbed his face as he ran away. He needed to get out of there at all costs. He couldn't stay a single second with Antonio because he couldn't stand him. He hated him for what had just happened.

Travis got out of the company premises and started walking slowly on the road, hoping to catch a taxi or anything to take him home. He was really desperate. He was walking slowly, looking all around. It was really cold and quiet. He was really surprised because cars and people were supposed to be moving. There were cars that were parked randomly, abandoned by their owners. He could see fire in bins nearby and he got a bit scared. But he knew that he had to go home somehow.

Travis had just walked just a bit when all of a sudden, he heard a loud sound nearby right before he heard shouting. His heart nearly missed a beat when he saw some men coming from a corner with weapons. He got really scared.

"Beat anyone you see!" Travis heard one of them shout. "No one will escape us."

Travis felt his heart give a violent pound in his chest. The men were heading his way but it looks like they didn't see him. His body began trembling and he started taking steps backwards. He was praying in his heart not to be harmed. He had never been that scared. He knew that it was only gonna be a matter of time before the men saw him and started chasing him. He was done.

Suddenly, someone gripped Travis from behind just as the men started running towards where he was. He was about to scream but his mouth was covered too. He was quickly taken behind a parked car where he found himself seated between whoever had gripped him's thighs. Travis was really scared and he was panting. His heart was racing and he knew from the noises near that the men had reached him. But since he was behind a car, the men quickly passed without seeing him. But he was still not out of danger. He needed to escape from the person that had him. He tried to move but...

"Don't worry!" A voice said softly. "I am here. I won't let anything happen to you."

Travis slowly moved his head and just looked in the handsome face of his ex-husband, Antonio. The guy was staring into his eyes and he didn't look angry anymore. He was rather looking at Travis with concern. Travis stopped panting and just got stuck staring into Antonio's eyes. The man had saved his life.

Antonio slowly moved his hand from Travis' mouth, still staring at him. He had followed him because he knew what was going on in the city. He didn't want anything bad to happen to Travis.

"I... I..." He stuttered, taking a deep breath. "...there's a riot in the city and I am here all night. I will not let anything happen to you."

Travis didn't even realize he was crying until he felt the wetness on his face. He slowly rubbed his tears, wondering why Antonio had saved his life. He was the last person Travis was expecting to do that for him. But now he was surprised.

"It's not safe here. Let's go back to the company."

Travis nodded softly and got up slowly. The both of them went back to the company and Travis was able to feel a bit safe. But things seemed really awkward between him and Antonio. They'd been arguing each time they met but this time, Travis was speechless. He didn't know what to say to Antonio.

"The situation outside is really bad." Antonio muttered, running his fingers through his hair. "We should stay until the situation becomes normal."

Travis nodded softly, feeling a bit shy to look at Antonio now. The man didn't look angry. He was just calm and caring. Travis was surprised. He wanted to say something but...

"Oh my God, you're hurt!" He gasped, shakily pointing to Antonio's bloody hand.

Antonio quickly looked at his hand and that was when he felt the pain. Something had cut his hand and he was bleeding. It was a bit deep. Maybe a glass when they had been hiding from the mob outside.

"Oh shit!" He cursed, holding his hand carefully. "How did this happen? Shit!"

Travis took a deep breath, getting closer. "We need to treat it before it gets infected."

"No... I..."

"No!" Travis said softly. "It also needs to be bandaged. You're bleeding. There has to be a first head box somewhere around here." He was scanning the whole place, trying to spot one.

"I have one in my office."

"Great!" Travis said abruptly. "Let's go there."

Antonio nodded softly and the both of them went upstairs to Antonio's floor. As soon as they got out of the elevator, there was a power cut, making the whole place to be really dark. Antonio quickly switched on his phone torchlight and then both of them went to his office. It was really dark and Travis was a bit scared.

"Okay, just stay here. I think there has to be some candles somewhere. I'll go and get them."

Antonio turned to leave but got frozen when he felt Travis' hand hold his tightly. He wondered why Travis had done that and slowly turned but what he saw shocked him. Travis' mouth was shaking a bit and the boy seemed really scared. He glanced at his hand and Travis quickly withdrew.

"Sorry." He muttered. "Actually, I am very scared of darkness. Please, do not leave me alone in this room."

Antonio had never seen that side of Travis before. Seeing him so quiet and so humble reminded him so much of Travis and the night they'd spent together. That had been the first time he had made love to him. But somehow, instead of being mad, Antonio felt a warmth slowly developing inside of him. He stared at the boy's face, wondering how somehow could be so beautiful.

"The candles are probably here somewhere. We'll look for them together."

Antonio nodded without even smiling. He didn't know what to say. The two started searching for the candles, hoping that power was gonna be restored. That had never happened before at Antonio's company.

They found the candles in Antonio's bathroom together with the first aid kit. They lit the candles and put them on the table. They then went to Antonio's small office living room and they both sat on the same couch. Travis opened the first aid kit and started his work.

First he took Antonio's hand carefully, examining the wound. It wasn't really that bad and at least it had stopped bleeding. He took some cotton wool and made it wet with methylated spirit and then started cleaning the wound carefully. Antonio winced, trying to pull his hand but Travis started blowing on the hand carefully.

Antonio's heart immediately started racing when he saw what Travis was doing. He got stuck staring at the boy and he didn't even realize that a smile had popped up on his face. The way Travis was carefully taking care of his wound, blowing it like he was handling a child and the look on his face, Antonio couldn't help but smile to himself. He was hypnotized... he couldn't feel the pain anymore. What he felt was a peace unlike he had ever felt before. The way Travis was holding his hand, Antonio felt like he was being connected to a cable of electricity.

He was getting lost staring at the boy and his heart beat rhythmically and images of his past started forming in his mind.

***

6 years ago

*

"Ouch!" Antonio screamed, pulling his hand away from Praveen's. "Are you trying to kill me before this wound kills me?"

"Will you stop acting like a kid?" Praveen laughed, shaking his head. "If you don't let me treat it, that thing will give you so much pain. It might get infected."

"I think you touching it has made it infected already. I don't even know why I came to you for this." Antonio rolled his eyes, hiding his hand. "You're probably gonna torture my poor hand."

Praveen shook his head, folding his arms. "Fine! Why don't you take that to your boyfriend, Bruce or your sister? Or better still, Eduardo can treat it."

Praveen folded his arms and looked away. He looked a bit angry and Antonio could see that. Antonio sighed, stretching his hand slowly. "Here! You can do it."

Praveen looked at Antonio and then chuckled. "What made you change your mind? I thought you didn't want me to touch you?"

Antonio sighed gloomily. "I am sorry."

Praveen was more than shocked when Antonio apologized to him. He hadn't expected that from him. The guy was always teasing him or insulting him so he was really surprised. He smiled softly and then took the first aid kit and started treating his husband with such care. Whenever Antonio showed any form of pain, he blew on the hand and apologized.

He was being gentle, careful and loving. Antonio couldn't help but stare. This was the person that he hated a lot, the same person that he had vowed to make suffer. He was the one that was taking care of him right at that moment. Nobody cared for him the way that Praveen did. Antonio's feelings towards the boy were confusing him. Was he truly after his money.

"Hey!" Antonio heard Praveen's voice, getting him out of his thoughts. "It's done. See, it didn't even take that long and it didn't hurt either." He got up. "You can now go."

He tried to leave but Antonio gripped his hand and pulled him back. Both of them found themselves staring at each other, getting lost in each other's eyes. Antonio's hand shakily moved up and caressed Praveen's cheek. Praveen slightly closed his eyes, feeling his heart race.

"Thank you so much!" Antonio said in a horny voice.

Praveen opened his eyes, biting his lip. He was acting scared. "You don't have to thank me. It's my duty. You're my husband."

And Antonio smiled brightly and then burst into laughter. He let go of the boy's hand, getting up from the bed. "You should have seen your face. Of course, I was just joking with you."

Then he left laughing.

***

Present day

*

Antonio was smiling like an idiot while staring into the beautiful boy's face. He didn't even realize that he was done with what he had been doing. He kept on scanning Travis' face all the way to those lips that looked kissable and inviting... the smooth skin that was inviting him to touch it and those eyes, those beautiful eyes that were hypnotizing. Wait, did he even know what he was thinking?

Travis moved his face up only to stare into Antonio's gorgeous smiling face. He was shocked because he had never seen Antonio smile ever since he came back. He wondered what was on his mind. Bur there was something about that smile that gave him some peace.

Travis heart took him right to Sean. Antonio's eyes and his beautiful hair, little Sean had inherited all that from him. Even the way he acted sometimes, it reminded him of Antonio. Travis couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Sean had been born when he was still with Antonio. Would things have been alright? Shit! He shook his head to bring himself back to reality.

"It's done!" Travis said softly.

"W-what?" Antonio stammered, coming back to reality. "You're done!"

He quickly looked at his hand and it was perfectly bandaged and he didn't even feel any pain. He looked and found Travis staring into his face like he wanted to kiss him, or so he thought. His heart was already racing and he chuckled softly, shaking his head slowly.

"Why are you looking at me that way?"

Travis looked away, his mouth shaking. It was like he was out of words to say to Antonio. "It's just that I have never seen you this way before. Whenever we meet, you're always upset but today..." He chuckled softly. "...I have seen you with a genuine smile. I have never seen a person like you."

Antonio laughed, getting up from the chair. "And you won't find one either." He took off his jacket and threw it on the couch opposite to the one that they had been seated on. "I will sleep over there and you sleep here. We're safe for the night."

Travis nodded and gave a sigh of relief. Somehow, being with Antonio gave him some sense of security. He wasn't afraid of anything. He watched as Antonio lay carefully on the couch, staring right into the ceiling like he was searching for something. He found himself smiling a bit.

"I fail to understand you." He said softly, taking a deep breath. "Whenever you meet me, you threaten to hurt me and cause me pain. But today, just when I thought I was gonna be hurt by those men, you came at the right time and saved my life. I am not trying to be ungrateful but why did you save me today? You were the last person I was expecting to do that for me. You confuse me now, I mean... what do you wish?"

Antonio covered his eyes with his hand, taking a sigh. "I wish to sleep." He said in a deep manly voice without even opening his eyes. "I am very tired and I want to sleep peacefully for some time. Please, sleep!"

Travis nodded and then lay on the couch. But even though he was sleeping there, he still had his eyes on Antonio. There were a lot of questions going in his head and he honestly didn't know where he was gonna get the answers from.

'Almighty, what are you saying to me?' He thought, still staring at Antonio. 'What are you trying to tell me? Just when I thought things could only get worse between Antonio and I, you sent him to save me. Thank you so much, almighty."

He stayed there for quite some time just looking at Antonio. And when he heard him snoring softly, he smiled brightly and he didn't even realize he was. He kept on staring at Antonio until he was soon taken by sleep.

***

Travis slowly opened his eyes when he felt a warmth on his face. Instead of his cozy bed and a warm kiss from his son, he realized that he was sleeping on the couch with the rays of the sun on his face. Shit! That was when it hit him. He hadn't gone home the previous night due a riot.

He slowly rose from the couch, stretching his arms. As he did, he noticed Antonio sleeping peacefully on the couch with his arms folded. He looked really comfortable and peaceful. Even his facial expression was just okay, He didn't seem mad or bitter or resentful but just seemed like his normal self. Travis smiled softly when Antonio's head moved a bit.

He rose from the chair, still stretching. He glanced at the window and saw that the sun was out. All he was hoping for was that the riot had ended and he could rush home to see his precious son before he went to school. He was also sure that Vanessa was very worried.

Travis wore his coat carefully and picked up his phone from the table. He was ready to go. He started heading towards the door but something stopped him, his coat had got entangled into something. Travis slowly turned but got the shock of his life. Instead of what he had thought, Antonio had gripped a part of his coat really hard, shocking him.