FROM SHADOWS TO LOVE

Antonio"s POV.

A smile escaped from my lips the moment Silvia knocked at the door. I didn't need anyone to tell me she was the one since she had called earlier to inform me about her visit. It always made me feel better to see the one lady my heart had chosen despite all the obstacles. Even though my mother would never welcome any Don Winfold family member as one of us.

The moment I saw her, I wrapped my hands around her in excitement,

"I miss you so much, Silvia," I said with sincerity.

"I miss you more babe," she chuckled as I carried her in my arms into the apartment.

"I love you so much, Silvia," I said and tried to kiss her but she shrugged.

"How could you have kept that from me?” Silvia asked and I scoffed.

Our love had been the both of us secret since it was never going to be acceptable by either of our families who were once best friends but were now complete Rivals.

"Your reaction right now is the exact reason I never told you, to avoid making you worry,” I said remorsefully and Silvia turned in her seat to look at me.

"I have a plan babe and I'm working... "

“Yeah, I will never hear the end of that, will I? The same words have been hearing for years," Silvia said, and I flashed her a sweet smile.

"Sylvia, I wanted to tell you all about your brother's threat but I didn't want to bother you," I said and she frowned.

Bobby Winfold, Don Winfold's first son and Sylvia's only brother, detested me greatly for no apparent reason. If anyone would permit my affair with Sylvia, it would never be him. He sent one of his men to warn me about staying far from his sister or risk losing my life.

"Bother me? The only reason he spared your life was because of Don Pablo and he will keep coming until you put him in his place," She said.

"How do I possibly do that?"

"Your mom, my family hates her so much and I can tell my brother is afraid of her with how he spoke about their ordeal in the past but quickly changes topic when I try to press further," She said and I laughed.

"My mom? How would your brother be scared of a harmless woman? She worked for the Don even before I was born and nothing more, your brother has heavily armed men," I said defensively and Sylvia frowned.

"There's a lot we both don't know yet about our families and I wonder what they are protecting us from," Sylvia was right. A lot about the past had been locked away but the fragment kept haunting us.

“You must have been exhausted,” I said wanting to change the topic since I noticed the room had become too tense.

"Yeah,"

“I should go set the table for dinner,” I said, and Silvia frowned and held me back.

"Babe, are you not attracted to me?" She questioned innocently and I raised a brow.

"You know I do. I love everything about you,"

"Then what's stopping us from Having sex?" She asked in an unfamiliar voice and I swallowed hard.

"Silvia, I wouldn't want to hurt you and you know the consequences.... "

"Damn the consequences, babe, my family has no right over me. I want you. I am ready to give you my body and virginity," She said holding me against herself and I smiled.

"Babe, let's have dinner," I said in a husky voice and she frowned and pushed me away.

For a year now, Silvia and I had been having a secret affair. We became friends after meeting at a beach party, and the more we grew close, the more we knew we were in love. Silvia's family had bluntly refused to be together the moment they found out who my Mother was. Our families were sworn enemies and no matter of plea would change my mother's mind. Even when I asked for the reason she hated the Winfolds so much, my mom had always found a way to change the topic.

"I've missed this," I said when I raised my head from my meal and saw Silvia devouring her food.

"Missed what? The meal or watching me eat?" Sylvia asked, and I nodded.

"Both. I miss everything about us," I said before taking another spoon from his rice and curry stew.

"You have no idea how lonely it felt after you left," Sylvia said, and I nodded.

“I'm sorry babe, well, I’m here now,” I said and She rolled her eyes.

"For how long?" Sylvia asked dryly, and I shrugged.

"Well, what matters is that I’m here right now, With you,” I said and she nodded.

"I don't just want right now, I want forever in your arms," Sylvia said.