Tony laid Angel down gently.
Clothed with only a white dress shirt and covered with red silk sheets.
It was now close to three in the morning.
'He's light for someone so tall.. maybe too light. Has he gotten thinner?'
How could that be?
'Are these assholes not treating you right?'
His jaw clenched.
Then he stared at Angel's sleeping profile.
'He's so beautiful. Too beautiful.'
Something tightened in his chest as he stared at him with wonder.
He sat down on the bed and held Angel's hands.
He lifted it up and kissed it.
Smelled it.
Felt his warm hand against his cheek.
He wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed beside him—wrap him up in his arms and stay there.
Or better yet, make love to him until morning.
But he wasn't that cruel.
Not when Angel was sleeping this soundly.
'No. I'm actually a cruel bastard. But I found out.. that when it comes to Angel….'
He fucking cared.
Too much.
Even he himself was surprised by the protective instinct that comes out naturally.
He breathed in.
Angel's vanilla scent was so calming.
'And it's better if he's awake,' he continued thinking.
So Tony could watch those beautiful violet eyes cry in ecstasy.
'But I have work to do.'
Promises he has to keep.
He grinned, remembering how many times he'd pulled Angel from heaven tonight.
Or was it morning?
His body didn't really want to leave.
Everything felt heavy.
'Shit.'
He stood up and buttoned up his dress shirt.
Three buttons are missing.
Then he smiled and remembered how he 'attacked' Angel after he disposed of some pests.
He glanced around the new hotel room.
Earlier, he was already in the control room.
But decided to raid the staff key box instead.
Dumped almost everything into the trash beneath a soggy mess of coffee grounds.
Except for the keys of room 808—Angel's room—that he swiped.
Then keys to room 810 where he hides Angel now—who he lifted while sleeping.
And one more key—all were pocketed—all for different rooms in the same hallway.
'Why bother booking a room when you can just borrow?'
Heh.
He would never let the Luchese Don lay another single finger on Angel.
'Then what should I do once morning comes?'
He couldn't exactly walk out of a Luchese-owned hotel with a stolen Angel in his arms.
Not without starting a one man war in a mafia infested hotel.
He might have to ask the Don of Santa De Leones for a fucking favor.
He didn't want to.
But..
Tony looked back at Angel one more time.
"For you," he whispered, "I think I'm willing to swallow my pride."
He moved to the door.
Hand on the knob.
Then he heard it—
A soft mumble from the bed.
"I can't anymore.. please.. have mercy.."
Tony froze.
And for a second he thought Angel was awake.
But he followed it with unintelligible murmurs.
His breath hitched.
Did not dare to look back.
Afraid that he won't be able to walk away.
He can feel himself getting hard again.
'Shit.'
**
Tony locked the door behind him with a quiet click.
Then without missing a beat, he strolled down the hallway—three doors back.
Near the elevator.
Room 802.
He slid the key into the keyhole and opened it casually like he owned the whole damn place.
Inside, chaos was neatly tied down.
Four burly men—in suits.
The pests.
Bound tight.
Two were dumped on the bed in a tangle of limbs and gagged fury.
One was tied to the hotel chair.
And one was writhing like an upturned beetle on the carpet.
"Oh? Are you trying to go somewhere?" Tony asked the awake man on the floor.
In a pure American voice.
Mocking.
Remembering how this one in the restroom earlier said, 'American'.
Then looked at Tony with disgust in his vomiting act.
Zip ties.
Duct tapes.
Neck ties.
A hotel robe belt.
A curtain ribbon.
Short ropes.
And someone's socks were used creatively—in their mouths.
'Smell fouled too,' he grimaced.
Some are courtesy of Tony and his earlier visit to the storage room near the grand room.
Angel's guards.
Or jailers.
Or what was left of them.
Tony shut the door behind him.
"Are you the only one awake yet?" he said brightly.
As if this was brunch and not a hostage situation.
He clapped his hands once.
Cheerfully.
"I should wake them, right? It's not fucking nice that you are the only one to get to have some fun."
Then Tony kicked the shin of the one that's tied to the chair.
The man groaned.
"Rise and shine sleeping shitty beauty."
Then the man's eyes widened, realizing his situation.
From pain, confusion then anger.
But Tony only looked at him.
"Great! Now the other two.."
He proceeded to jump on the bed, and stepped on the two on their legs.
"Now, you are snow fucking white," his shoe pointed to the first one that opened their eyes, "..and the other one was the prince fucking charming. Did you guys have a nice nap?"
Tony was grinning from ear to ear.
Then his eyes went at the one on the floor.
"Oh! I didn't give you a name yet, did I? Now now, don't huff and puff.. I'll give you a nice one.."
He proceeded to think, one hand on his waist, while his other one massaged his temple while bowing his head a little.
"You'll be one of the dwarves."
Then he gave a face with a eureka expression.
"Now, can I get your fucking attention please?"
He jumped down on the bed.
"Hello guys, I'm the American from earlier. Remember me? The drunkard earlier.. " he reminded them.
"It's not so nice to meet you." then he grinned.
"I see you guys are so lively like worms. Now, I don't have much time left to play with you but, who here is my size and does not have body odor? Hm?"
The prince charming on the bed with a broad chest grunted angrily through the duct tape on his mouth.
He wriggled like he wanted to kill Tony with his eyes.
Tony pointed at him.
"You? Yeah. You look like a medium large. Do you sweat in polyester?"
More muffled growls.
Tony crouched beside him.
Smirking.
"I'll take that as a yes."
He reached out and peeled back the tape—not gently.
Together with a smelly wet sock that stuck to the duct tape.
The man spat curses immediately.
Saliva splattered.
Voice was hoarse.
"You're fucking dead. You know that?! When the Don finds out—"
Tony held up a finger.
"Shh."
He leaned in a little closer.
"Let me guess, you're loyal to the Luchese family. You're gonna make me pay. Maybe flay me alive, balls first, yeah?"
The guy growled but went quiet.
Tony's face tightened—then cracked into an annoying grin.
"Ding-ding we've got a strong contender here, guys!"
He happily looked at the other three.
The man's face twisted.
Tried to lunge but only managed to shake the bed frame.
Tony rose.
But not before shoving the pungent socks inside the prince charming's mouth and sticking back the duct tape.
He stretched his back.
"Hah."
Rolled his shoulders and rotated his neck.
"Well. I wanted to play more but time was ticking. And I've got someone waiting for me."
He also has footage to get.
A Don to distract.
And an 'Angel' to steal.
"And frankly, I'm not in the mood for something nasty."
He looked over the four men.
Then nodded at the one he named 'dwarf'.
"You. Quiet. Still has socks. You win."
Tony bent down.
Grabbed the man under the arms and started dragging him into the bathroom.
As the door shut, he called over his shoulder.
"Don't worry guys. I'll leave your dignity folded up on the towel rack."
**