Vive Loco Amante
Authors Note: Out of the five projects I've got running, this one is by far my favorite plot as it completely forces both Margo and Antonio to face each other. It originally started as a companion to go along with a fiction that is currently undergoing a complete overhaul because this one took a life of it's own and I really wanted them to match up.
Summery: When an escaped El Macho suddenly throws a bound and gagged Margo into his rooms, Antonio has no choice but to accept watchdog duty and take charge of her captivity. She is angry, sharp, verbally abusive, and so uniquely wonderful when her barriers were down that distracting her from her glacial demeanor is almost addictive.
All Standard Disclaimers Apply.
Antonio Prres carefully looked through his large wardrobe the solid racks holding strong against the weight of his numerous shirts thanks in major part to the support pieces that kept it from falling. It was difficult to choose what he should wear that day as his father had promised a special surprise, which could mean anything from an exotic gift to a festive party.
Obviously, a graphic shirt would have to be involved as it was a signature look he'd continued to have even after he graduated high school and accepted the diploma he and everyone else around him knew came more from his father's wallet than his own hard work. Not that there was anything wrong with that, many of his friends had their parents do the same and not one of them seemed to have any difficulty throwing the fact aside to party with him in Monte Carlo.
Now that had been a party.
He dressed quickly, dressing up his simple shirt and jeans with a faded leather jacket, the many brass studs going down the folded lapel pushing him into a pair of black leather boots and matching studded fedora that he sat jauntily at an angle over first his left, and than his right eye. The large angled mirrors positioned to his left showed his outfit fully and he spun around to it with a large grin before winking at himself in approval, not that he'd been worried. Antonio Perez had a style the majority of his friends and acquaintances tried and failed to accomplish for themselves mainly because he'd ignored his father's wishes and instead had hired only the best physical trainers to hone into his 'perfect body'.
He was nothing the prime specimen of what any young man his age would want to be and he had absolutely no issues with flaunting the fact at any given moment. The many times some ignorant photography agent had attempted to pull him aside and offered him their cards was proof of it, and as tokens for each occasion he'd accepted each card to the point that he'd had to clear out the entire top of his dresser drawers just to keep them. He would eventually have to stop if he didn't want to empty out a second drawer and the thought had him smirking proudly to himself as he turned and left the room.
The bedroom was smaller than he wanted, but he couldn't help but enjoy looking at the high tech gadgets within that controlled everything from the warmth of the floor to the LCD screen that made up his ceiling. At the moment the screen was a swirl of bright neon that vibrated with each pulse of the tall speakers attached to it from behind the wall that played his morning play list from his mp3 player as clearly as if the band had turned invisible and set themselves up inside his room.
Not pausing to appreciate his luxury, he stopped by the speakers only long enough to free his music player before leaving the bedroom and stepping into his personal haven. The thirty by fifty foot room had been split into two areas by use of hardwood and plush red and gold striped carpeting. One area, dedicated to his life's motto 'Live like you're dying', was dedicated to his passion for music and dance, a large bar sitting off to one side providing just enough room for the dance floor and six small tables that separated it from a small stage on the other.
On the other side of the room, a great deal smaller than his bar area, was where he finally stopped before falling comfortably onto the overstuffed red sofa sitting before a wide fireplace, smoothly reclining across the velvet cushions before slipping his music player into a small hidden dock within the arm. It took only a few seconds before his song began where he'd stopped it in his room before spilling out through the long sleek speakers that had been strategically placed for optimal sound flow.
Then again, everything was strategically placed by the interior designers and professional installers that had feuded for days before the final outcome had been realized after they'd finally given up and knocked a wall out to provide the room needed for everything. It cut into his game room, but the end result had been worth it.
The only real complaint that he had about his wonderful lounge was that his stage was a trifle too small, not that anything could really be done without expanding it over the dance floor. It had been a difficult decision to make, however a gracious host could not dishonor himself by crushing his visitors into a space so small it was more awkward than enticing. To make up for the lack of presentation, he'd installed several colorful lights overhead and no less than four fog machines under the wood designed to escape from between the ivy inspired carvings so that it could billow out across the floor.
The collaborated effort of he and the design staff had managed to provide comfort, style, sophistication, and the cleaver ingenuity to turn the room from utterly boring to deliciously beguiling and had lured many women into his bed… Though, admittedly, it also made it more difficult to get them out once he was done with them and he continuously found himself bribing the house staff to get them out for him.
Truly, he had everything in life that he could ever want; so whatever his father was bringing would have to be extraordinary if he hoped to compete with what Antonio already had... Hopefully it was a deed to his own privet island; he'd wanted one ever since his friend Anthony had bragged over his own nearly six weeks before during a private beach party thrown by an associate of their fathers.
Four hours later and Antonio wasn't entirely sure what to do with the girl his father had easily pulled in spite of her struggle against the thick rope binding tied to her wrists. The older man's smile implied that the girl was important somehow, but try as Antonio did to recall why her furious brown eyes seemed so familiar, he could only shrug in defeat. "If you believe I have such troubles getting a woman's company in the evening that you have to bring one to me hand selected then I must admit to being somewhat disappointed in your faith in my skills."
The joke earned a rich laugh from the masked man and Antonio joined in without hesitation. His skills with the opposite sex easily overpowered even the legendary El Macho's, and such a thing was not easily accomplished by someone as young as himself. In fact, he sometimes liked to tease his father about it during the few times they sat together for meals which had inspired a small contest that he had won and earned himself a sparkling blue Harley Davison.
Eduardo wiped away a tear of mirth before tugging on the girl's ropes to drag her further into the room, "No, my son, I should not think such a thing even if your hair suddenly falls out and your gut falls below your waist." Antonio's flinch of horror caused another round of laughter to fill the room before he continued with a large wink of victory that did not go unnoticed by the younger man, "May I present to you an old flame from your past; Senorita Margo Gru."
Recollection had him snapping his eyes back at the girl whom he could only remember as the lanky awkward thing that had managed to capture his attention four years before just before his fifteenth Cinco da Mayo. "Is it really?" trying to see her better, he stepped closer to the snarling woman and tried to picture what she would look like under the large metallic muzzle-like mask that was no doubt designed to keep her from creating too much noise.
After a moment without success he finally chuckled again and shook his head, "I don't want this girl, father, I have plans this evening with a delightful little blonde I met outside of a bookshop down town." Not that he had joined her going into the building itself as the majority of everything inside was as boring as the girl would no doubt prove to be herself until he brought her home after taking her dancing. "Return her to wherever it is that you found her-"
"Since when would I bring Senorita Gru here for such a thing?" the blunt insult he heard in his father's voice cut him off where his words couldn't and he had to stop himself from fidgeting like a school boy. Honestly, as he rethought what he'd said he realized how he'd sounded and felt a little disgusted with himself for having even had the ability to think that way himself. "We need her in order to draw out her parents, but that does not mean that she is to be treated with any less respect than necessary."
"The men have already failed me twice in keeping her guarded and I can not afford her to escape and alert Gru or the AVL my intentions." In spite of his words, he grinned down at the angry girl before patting her head as if she were his favorite cat, "She is very cleaver and you have not done anything like this before, so you will need to keep a close eye on her until you know what to expect."
When the thick rope was pressed into his hands he took hold without question before blinking down at it with the slow realization what his father was trying to imply and jerking back to stare at him stupidly. There was no way he could even stretch his imagination far enough to picture himself watching over one of his father's hostages! "You certainly can not be serious, why is she actually he-re." his voice jerked at the end of his question when she suddenly tried to break free of his hold and discovered he was stronger than he looked.
The absolute shock in her eyes was the closest thing to an insult he'd ever had outside of her insane father's decision to freeze him solidly in ice. The reminder had him tightening his grip and narrowing his own brown eyes into her softer ones, "Be still while I am speaking to my father."
The silent barrage of insults that she managed to transmit with the simple sneer of her eyes was both amazing and somewhat intimidating. It was almost as if she could send her thoughts into his head with only the meeting of their eyes and the longer he held the connection the more uncomfortable it made him feel. He half wanted to apologize for aggravating her and half wanted to just run for his bedroom and lock the door until his father took her away.
A powerful slap between his shoulder blades forced both his eyes and breath away and by the time he managed to suck in a painful gasp of air he realized that his father had been speaking. Not only was he speaking, but he was turning away as if he really did intend to leave him with the girl and, unfortunately for her, he had also managed to forget his hold of her rope and only remembered by the sharp jerk that came an instant before the sound of a body being slammed harshly against a solid wood floor brought him to an abrupt halt.
Antonio had already spun around to gape at the girl while she struggled to get back up without the use of her arms and only the partial use the ankle cuffs provided her legs. It was the first time he'd ever physically caused harm to a woman and, try as he did, the knowledge that it had been an accident didn't ease the guilt whatsoever. It wasn't until an abrupt slap against the back of his head that he was able to do much else other than stare at the struggling girl.
"I said that you are to make sure that she doesn't escape, but that does not mean that you may treat her with any less respect that you would give to any other lady!" Eduardo snapped, stepping around him to help the girl to her feet before cupping his hands over her muzzle to inspect what he could of her face.
"It was an accident! As if I would intentionally harm-´ before he could finish he choked off to stared at the older man with a combination of disbelief and horror, "You mean, you are serious?" Watching as Eduardo finally decided that the girl was well enough for him to leave, he gave her another fond pat that she tried to move out of the way of and was almost out of the door before he had a chance to form an argument.
"Do not be so worried, it is but a small task in a much grander plan for now; but should you do this well you will advance quickly to carry on in my footsteps after I have retired." His unintentional abuse of the woman escaped his father's mind to allow what Antonio knew was of himself donning El Macho's mask had the younger man staring at him flatly. "Don't look so upset, you will want this for yourself soon enough; I promise you that. I have every confidence in this!"
One argument after another vied for his use, each one better than the last, but before he could grasp even one to use he found himself standing alone in his lounge… Or, rather, not alone; but not with any company he wanted to keep and, this time, there was no maid to escort her from the property. In fact, she was his responsibility and the thought immediately made him want to lock her in a bathroom and forget she even existed; which he might have done if not for the smearing of blood that managed to leak from under the mask.
Not knowing what else to do, he dropped the rope his father had given him and wiped the feeling of it from his palms down the front of his jeans, "I'm going to assume you dislike being lead around on a leash, right?"
No trace of laughter gleamed in the silently accusing eyes, not that he expected any in the first place, but it didn't stop him from grinning himself before reaching for her arm to lead her towards a tall bar chair. The muzzle itself stumped him and he had to step back to stare at the six straps that seemingly offered no way of freeing the wearer, but without removing it there was no way for him to actually look for the injury.
After a few seconds of trying to pull the straps apart without success, he gave up and instead walked around her so that she could see him, "I'm going to remove your mask. Wait here while I find a knife." He had no idea why he told her any of it as there was no way she could respond with the mask in place and no where for her to go in the time it would take him to hunt down a knife.
Not bothering to worry about something so trivial, he quickly found a pairing knife usually used to carve off pieces of fruit skin to use as garnishments in drinks before returning behind her. It was sharp, and he was confident that it would at least break into the cloth-like straps enough to allow him to tear through what wouldn't cut, but he was just as confident that a single wrong move would cut through her scalp as well. A chance made better as she didn't seem to trust him out of her sight, "Be still! I do not wish to injure you if I can avid it!"
Instead of calming her, his words only made her struggle more and her voice grew in volume until a slight muffled sound managed to break out even from the expensive mask designed to keep it in. Whatever she was screaming, which was no doubt about him hold a knife so closely to her head, came hand in hand with her fighting to jerk herself away from him until he finally gave up and threw his hands into the air. "Then what is it you want? To stay like this your entire stay here?" Wouldn't that just make his company feel comfortable when they came by?
As if she was waiting for the knife to turn away from her, she pushed her legs out and forced her stool to spin her towards him before jerking her chin down several times, her eyes looking down as far as they could go. "I cannot understand whatever it is you are trying to tell me." He slammed the tiny knife onto the bar and crossed his arms to glower at her when something around her neck caught the light and gleamed briefly. His eyes quickly looked for the source and, for the first time that he could remember, he actually felt every bit the fool, "You are wearing a key around your neck?"
Her shoulders sagged, her head bobbing up and down in answer before stilling to allow him to cautiously remove the string holding the key in place. Turning her back around, he inspected the straps closely until a small hole caught his notice from the side of the main strap. A hole that the small key fit perfectly within and, when turned, unlatched the straps holding it in place until it finally fell and he heard her take in a large swallow of air.
"Gru is the best consolatory member that the AVL has to offer and Lucy is the top field agent in the world. I don't know what you and your idiot daddy have planned, but it's not going to take my parents more than three days to get here and take all of you into custody!"
Not knowing what AVL was supposed to mean, he instead focused on the memory of the interfering man resurfacing enough so that he had to wiggle his toes to remind himself that they'd all managed to be saved before frost bite had claimed them. If Gru had froze him for abandoning his daughter on their date then who knew what the fat man would do for holding her hostage within his personal rooms styled to fit his every passion.
However, he did know what his father would do if he freed her, and it quickly morphed the somewhat frightened expression on his face into one that he could confidently say was, at the very least, bland indifference. "The chances of your father discovering our location is not as good as you seem to believe. My father has remained under the radar here for nearly three entire years after escaping from wherever it was that your family had him locked away to. I doubt anyone even has the faintest inkling which country we're even in."
Not that they had ever left America to begin with. In fact, not that he would tell her so, they were just a mile short of Canada with so many tunnels that they could smuggle themselves across the boarder that even Antonio didn't know the exact number. "I suggest that you relax and try not to worry about it, if you behave yourself you might even enjoy your stay here-"
"You can't be serious." She struggled against the ropes holding her arms in place before spinning herself around again and glaring at him, "Are you just going to leave me tied up like this? My arms fell asleep hours ago and if I don't move them soon they might become permanently damaged! You're smart enough to know that, right?"
The insult stung and he glared at her, opening his mouth to snap one at her in return only to have her sudden giggle and the roll of her eyes beat him to the punch, "Oh, right, I almost forgot who you were." Shaking her head in mocking amusement, she took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "Just untie me so my arms don't fall off; okay, tall, dark, and pretty?"
Another first in his life that he new had never happened before… The girl had actually managed to turn a compliment into an insult before hurling it at him in such a sarcastically nasty way that he found himself furious, but had already picked the knife back up to do as she wanted before he knew he'd moved. When she nodded her approval and stood up once he'd finished he slammed the knife back down and watched as she reached for one of the small straw stirrers he kept on the bar before bending to force it into the cuffs around her ankles.
She'd already picked both before he could tell her that a straw alone wouldn't be enough to get herself free of his father's stolen technology. When she finished, she tossed the straw aside and straightened to sharp beige blazer she wore, forcing the majority of wrinkles in the suede fabric out I a single tug that caused the simple teal skirt that flowed around her knees to sway from the motion. "Now, allow me to inform you on how this will actually pan out before you get any idiotic notion that your father's 'plan'," she stressed the word, hands coming up to her shoulder level to pantomime quotation marks before they came back down to her waist, "will result in anything other than failure."
"My father-"
"As I previously mentioned, my parents are the best that the AVL has to offer and because of that the AVL allows them certain privileges. Those privileges include access to all satellite transmissions." Seemingly losing interesting in watching his face while she spoke, her eyes scornfully cast about his lounge with distain, "Second, they will override all active cameras around the scene of my abduction and follow the direction your father took me in using first the security cameras of nearby stores before switching to the highway cameras. There is no chance of you overriding their efforts unless your father already deactivated the cameras before I was taken; and since I was quick to press the panic button Gru gave me the hour after your father broke out of captivity, my guess is that they'll be here soon."
The sureness of her voice made him nervous his eyes darting towards the corridor door before coming back to see her take measured steps onto his dance floor. "Third, using the satellite transmissions they will receive in…" she paused and gave a quick glance at the black banded wristwatch she wore as her only accessory, she gave a derisive little laugh, "Three hours ago, give or take ten minutes."
The glossy nude colored pumps adorning her feet clicked and he couldn't help but watch them as she made her way onto the stage, the muscles in her calves flexing each step that mounted the stairs, "What in the world have you got going on here?" Pausing at the fifties inspired microphone, she reached out a delicately clear polished manicured nail and tapped against it with a scoff. "You couldn't honestly be such a child that this would have much use beyond a get together or two…" she trailed off again, her serious brown eyes landing on him before another laugh trickled out, "Right, of course. Sorry."
As she stepped of the stage he had the bizarre urge to hide the rest of the room away from her prying eyes before she could see anything else, "I do not recall you being so serious when we first met at the mall." Allowing the implication in his voice to say the rest for him, he curled his lips into a taunting smirk that would no doubt drive her mad.
"I don't recall you having met me anywhere, Antonio, so you wouldn't know how 'serious' I am." The blandness in her voice easily swatted away the inference of his own before she paused to study the pluch sitting area and tapped her chin. "Well, I suppose that if everything else in here must look like the idiots guide to decorating a bordello I shouldn't be too surprised to see such a vivid color of red and velvet furniture." Yet another barb against his intelligence made, she finally turned back to him, her hand resting lightly on the polished wooden trim of his sofa with a sarcastic smile he immediately wanted rid off. "Back to the previous subject, after my parents have already stolen into your home without your notice they will first arrest you and free me before recapturing your father. By this time tomorrow I will be safely back in my bedroom and you will be trying to decide how to best redecorate your cell while several large men try to decide on how best to redecorate your posterior."
The lack of subtlety in reference to him getting raped finally goaded Antonio into stiffening his back and glaring at her from across the large room. Before he'd even removed the technological gag that his father had secured around her head, probably to stop her from doing the same as she'd done to him, she had done nothing but belittle him with every other breath that she took. Even now her eyes were picking up where her words had left off, her perfectly sculpted brows arching in obvious wait for whatever comeback he thought up so she could fire off the three she'd already decided to use from the doubtlessly endless array she had in her mental arsenal.
"I'm so glad that you feel confident enough to tell me all of this, Senorita Gru." forcing himself to casually lift his cell phone so that he could scroll through until he reached his father's contact number, he glanced up to her still waiting face and grinned pleasantly, "I will make sure to inform my father of their commendable efforts to retrieve their rare arctic banshee."
Instead of striking a nerve as his comment would have normally done to any other woman that had ever attempted to cross him, it seemed to please her instead. Her tight lips curling into a satisfied feline grin that, for reasons he couldn't grasp, sickened him enough to quickly turn around so that he wouldn't have to see it. After only the first ring, his father picked up and jovially laughed off what Margo Gru had said, "We have already thought of this, nino, you have no reason to worry."
Authors Note: I hope everyone enjoyed Vive Loco Amante (Live Crazy Love) because I sure as heck worked my butt off on it! I hope I haven't set anyone off at the amount of detail I gave Antonio's clothes and rooms because I was trying to get across that he's an incredibly vapid and immature man.
Anyhow, if you like what you've read than please leave me a review telling me so that I can use as encouragement while writing the next chapter!
