Nothing said daddy issues more than an unhealthy relationship. Or so Saoirse had told me the last time we talked. This was shortly after I admitted Anton had hit me during an argument about working late at the bar.
"A few measly hours is not enough. I'm sick of you spending all your nights in this shit-hole. When you're not working, you just want to sleep. I’m fucking sick of it."
"Anton, please…" His expression tightened when I pulled away to serve the woman with the phone. Before I could return to our pointless conversation, four men took her place, flirting loudly while ordering their drinks.
"Hey, sexy, are you free tomorrow?" The cutest of the four leaned over the bar with a sexy smirk.
"Sorry, no. My boyfriend's sat right there." Under different circumstances, I might have flirted back. Instead, I forced a smile and pointed to Anton, who glared at the men and then me. Anyone would think I encouraged guys to chat me up, but I never did. It was just part of the job. Lily got hit on as much as me, if not more.
The cute guy sighed in disappointment, but after some side-eye in Anton’s direction, didn't push it.
By the time I returned to Anton, his cruel lips had flattened into a thin line.
"See? That's exactly why you can't work here any longer! I won't stand for my girlfriend encouraging other men to flirt with her. It's bad for my reputation."
As the mayor's son, Anton had a public profile, which meant he appeared in the press from time to time.
"Like I said, I need the money," I reminded him again, doing my best to maintain a calm facade. Relying on Thea to support me wasn't an option, even though she regularly offered to send me money.
The main reason I'd come to Italy for a few months was to be independent. Which meant no longer living off my sister. I didn't want Thea's protection, and she needed to stop treating me like a kid.
"And like I keep telling you, I can support you." Anton sighed as if I was the most ungrateful girlfriend ever. "You know I'm happy to take care of my sweet girl."
Part of me wondered whether he was right. Perhaps I was an ungrateful bitch. If I said yes and quit my job, I'd have more time to relax. More time to sleep. And I wouldn't have to worry about money.
And yet… something stopped me.
The small voice in my head reminded me how mercurial Anton's mood swings could be, and if I moved in with him, I'd have no respite from his rage. No means of escaping if it all went to shit.
Did I really want to end up in another prison?
The thought of anyone locking me up again steeled my resolve. Perhaps Anton wasn't as bad as my father, but they shared many traits. Saoirse was right. I needed to end this farce of a relationship and leave. Move to another city. Or catch a flight to Koh Samui and join the girls I'd met when I first arrived here.
"No, Anton. I don't want to live with you. I like my studio apartment." It was tiny and overlooked a filthy alleyway, where the local cat population yowled all night long, but it was mine.
He opened his mouth to argue, but I grabbed some dirty glasses and moved down the bar to avoid the drama. Lily smiled sympathetically and then left to clear tables as the final few patrons finished their drinks.
Anton sat seething on his bar stool, stabbing away at his phone while I washed glasses and cleaned up. I had hoped he might get the message and leave, but apparently not.
The longer he sat there, scowling at me, the more my anxiety spiked. Why didn't he listen?
"Look, I think we need a break from one another," I blurted when I couldn't stand the atmosphere between us any longer.
He shook his head, dismissing my suggestion.
"No. You're not leaving me."
"Are you OK to lock up?" Lily appeared at my side, her gaze flitting between me and Anton. "I can stay if you like?"
I would have liked some backup, but Lily had started her shift earlier than me.
"No, it's fine." I pasted a weak smile on my face. "I'm nearly done."
"OK, if you're sure?" She didn't seem convinced. Hardly surprising given the animosity emanating from Anton, who looked half a second away from exploding.
"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow evening."
"Cool." She flashed a lukewarm grin at me, grabbed her bag from the back room, and left, leaving me alone with Anton.
