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THE TOWNHOUSE
Gabi was pulling the ribbon off the package when the doorbell rang. She thought about finishing her task, but tossed the box on the table and opted to answer the door. "Maria! What are you doing here?" Maria walked in with a broad smile. "I’m taking you shopping...get your purse." Gabi obediently retrieved her purse from the table. "Let’s go." "What’s the occasion?" Gabi asked with a laugh. "Your anniversary...you need to buy a new dress." Maria herded her to the door. "But Maria, I have a new dress," she protested. "I am under strict instructions from my brother to take you out and help you find a new dress." Maria smiled at Gabi. "He’s got some big plans for you." "What, what?" Gabi pleaded with her. "Tell me, tell me." Maria put her finger to her lips and turned the key. "No, you have to tell me, I can’t wait." Maria laughed at Gabi’s insistence. "No, Antonio would shoot me if he found out I told you. Come on and stop begging." Maria closed the door behind them. Ricardo’s half opened present sat on the table. Antonio rushed through the door. "Gabi?" he called out instinctively before he remembered that he asked Maria to take her shopping. Antonio threw himself down on the couch. He had been all over town looking for Ricardo. The station, the loft…he even drove by Carmen’s shop. Ricardo was nowhere to be found. Antonio felt such anger and hatred for his brother right now he was almost glad he hadn’t found him. In this frenzied state, he would have been unable to control his rage. Ricardo hadn’t forced him to kiss Heather…Antonio made that decision on his own. But the very idea that Ricardo would set him up by paying Heather and rigging a video camera just to try and take Gabi away from him made him sick to his stomach. He was getting charged up again when his eyes fell to the half-opened gift on the table. He recognized the chicken scratch as Ricardo’s. Antonio yanked the present off the table and read the card. "Antonio and Gabi, Happy Anniversary – be sure and open it together. I know you’ll love it. Ricardo." Antonio couldn’t believe his nerve. He started to set it back down when his curiosity got the better of him. He ripped open the paper and felt his entire body stiffen when he saw the gift. It was a beautiful crystal frame that was inscribed. "Happy Anniversary, may your love live forever." The frame contained a copy of the still frame of Antonio and Heather in the hotel room. Antonio stood from the couch and hurled the frame against the wall letting out a loud yell. The crystal smashed into a thousand pieces at the base of the fireplace. Antonio’s last nerve was raw. He picked up the photo from the floor and threw it into the fireplace. He lit a match and dropped it onto the picture. He watched it burn making sure it was completely ash before he turned and headed for the door, the crystal pieces cracking under his shoes. The door slammed behind him. THE LOFT Ricardo was lying on the bed fantasizing about his walk on the beach with Gabi. They stopped near the pier and he backed her up against a pillar. She was calling out his name as he kissed her neck passionately. She reached down and unzipped his zipper as he lifted up her skirt. He was rising her up and wrapping her legs around his waist…. The front door to the loft flew open bringing Ricardo back to reality. He sat up quickly to find a maniacal Antonio standing at the door. Ricardo lay back on his elbows. "Hey, T," he said casually. "What’s up?" Ricardo knew that one of two things had happened. Either Gabi saw the photo he left in the mail or they had opened his anniversary gift. "I can’t believe that you are my brother," Antonio began angrily. Ricardo took a deep breath. "I don’t even know what to say to you." "Your welcome, T. I’m glad you liked the frame," Ricardo smirked. "So, what did Gabi think about the photo?" Antonio glared at him in disgust. "I know everything Ricardo. Heather came to see me today." "Heather?" Ricardo laughed. "Did you keep your hands off her this time? Too bad I didn’t have the camera set up." Ricardo snapped his fingers. Antonio wanted to take him by the neck and strangle him. Ricardo stood from the bed as Antonio moved closer. "What do you expect me to say, Ricardo? Here, take my wife?" Antonio was inches away from his brother as they stared each other down. "When will you understand…she doesn’t love you." "She will," Ricardo retorted. "She won’t," Antonio seethed. "Never!" Ricardo felt his anger rising and Antonio could sense it. "What do you want to do Ricardo? Hit me? Because she’s my wife and not yours?" Antonio was taunting him. "Go ahead…hit me. I can take it." Antonio had always backed down from Ricardo as a kid, but he had had enough of this insanity and he was taking this one to the finish. "I’ll hurt you, T." Ricardo smiled wickedly. "You know I will." "Take your best shot, Ricardo." Antonio stood tall. "I’ll fight for her, I’m never giving her up...not to you, not to anyone." Ricardo took a hold of Antonio’s shoulders but didn’t hit him. "Your plan didn’t work, Ricardo. I opened the gift, I took in the mail. I must say, you had me with the videotape…I really thought Heather was behind it. I should have known it was you all along." "I didn’t make you put your hands on her," Ricardo challenged him. "You did that all on your own. I guess Gabi just isn’t enough for you, huh?" Antonio pushed Ricardo’s hands off his shoulders. "She’s enough for me, T, and I will have her back." "You’ll have to kill me first," Antonio said daringly. "If that’s how you want it," Ricardo answered as he took the first swing. Ricardo hit Antonio in the nose. Antonio leaned forward and slammed Ricardo in the chest with his shoulder. Ricardo stumbled backwards and they hit the floor. They rolled around for dominance as Ricardo landed a strong punch in Antonio’s gut. Ricardo jumped to his feet with his fists drawn while Antonio struggled to stand. Antonio managed to pull himself up and caught his breath quickly. They challenged each other for a few seconds when Antonio jabbed Ricardo in the jaw. Ricardo returned with an uppercut to Antonio’s chin. As Antonio’s head flew back, Ricardo took the opportunity to ram him backwards into the kitchen table. The table buckled underneath them as they crashed down on top of it. Antonio let out a loud moan as his back hit the floor. Ricardo was on top of him landing punches into his stomach. Antonio summoned his strength and kneed Ricardo in the groin throwing him off of him. Ricardo doubled over as he rolled to the side. Antonio rolled the other way and pushed himself up off the floor. "That’s all you’ve got Ricardo," he ridiculed. "You can do better than that." Ricardo let out a roar as he pulled himself off the floor. Antonio egged him towards him and took a swing at his face. He got him in the nose and Ricardo leaned forward. Antonio took Ricardo under his arm and tightened it around his neck. Ricardo jabbed Antonio in the stomach three times but Antonio never loosened his hold. In a desperate attempt to free himself, Ricardo punched Antonio in the crotch. A crippling pain ripped through Antonio as his arm rolled off Ricardo’s body and he fell forward onto the floor. He curled up face down as Ricardo moved off to the desk. Antonio tried to keep his pain hidden but it was impossible. He coughed loudly as his entire body reeled from the blow. After a few seconds, he managed to raise his head to find Ricardo standing over him with his gun drawn, pointed directly at his head. "How did you say this would have to end?" Ricardo whispered as he wiped the blood from his nose. THE MALL Gabi sat down on the hard bench as she pulled up her foot and massaged her ankle. "Are we almost done?" she whined. "Almost," Maria smiled. "We have one more stop to make." She motioned in the direction of Victoria’s Secret. "Yeah, right," Gabi huffed as she rubbed her belly. "I don’t think they have anything in my size." Maria leaned over in a whisper. "The only thing I can tell you is that you won’t be spending the night at home." Gabi smiled. "So, were going to go in there and find something very sexy for you to wear. Don’t worry, it won’t be on for long." Gabi leaned against Maria’s shoulder as they giggled relentlessly. Gabi was so glad she had become so close with Maria. It had always been so hard for her to make friends. "Thank you, Maria," Gabi said sincerely. "Thank you for making my brother so happy," Maria smiled. "He really, really loves you." Gabi shook her head softly. "He would do anything for you, you know that, don’t you?" Gabi smiled. "Alright, enough mushy stuff…let’s get to the sexy stuff." Gabi laughed as Maria grabbed her hand and pulled her up. They headed into the store. THE TOWNHOUSE Gabi rushed to the front door juggling her packages. She was anxious to get upstairs and put away her purchases before Antonio made it home. She wanted them to be a surprise on their anniversary. She flipped on the light in the living room with a gasp as she saw the crystal smashed in front of the fireplace. Gabi bent down quickly and began gathering the pieces. "What the heck?" she mumbled. She looked up to the table to find the wrapping paper and ribbon torn to shreds. She knelt down on the floor with confusion as she carefully scooped the glass into her hand. She knew that Antonio had to have been the one to smash the gift…but why? She stood and carried the remains to the trash. Suddenly, Gabi had a very odd feeling wash over her. Something was wrong, but she didn’t know what.
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