The De Luca Heir

3: Caught in the act

She looked up, her eyes widening in shock before narrowing in irritation. The man beside her raised an eyebrow, glancing between them.

“Anthony? What are you doing here?” Catherine asked, her tone sharp.

Anthony ignored her question, his gaze fixed on her. “Is this your grandma’s house? Or is this where you needed to be so badly?”

Catherine’s face flushed, but she quickly regained her composure. “It’s not what it looks like. This is just... a friend.”

The man smirked, clearly unfazed. “Friend, huh? Cath, why don’t you just tell him the truth?”

“What truth is he talking about, babe?” Anthony’s fists clenched, his knuckles turning white.

The betrayal he felt was unlike anything he’d experienced before. “Catherine... why?”

She rolled her eyes, her annoyance now evident. “Oh, come on, Anthony. Don’t make a scene. We were never going to work out. You’re... you’re just not what I need.”

Anthony’s heart shattered, but this time, anger burned through the pain. “You could’ve told me that instead of stringing me along. Instead of using me.”

Catherine shrugged, unfazed by his words. “Maybe. But you let me, didn’t you?”

His heart race faster. He looked at the guy... He’s tall, fit, strong, handsome, smells so rich, and a guy Catherine or any women can be proud of to be with.

“So, he’s the grandma you were telling me, huh?” Anthony smirked.

Catherine and the guy were both shocked.

“What the f*ck did you just say?!” the guy punched him, making him to fall to ground.

Anthony didn’t care and didn’t even feel hurt about it.

“Felix, stop. Anthony, can you just go home?! Why are you always embarrassing me?!” she shouted at him.

He felt like a dagger stabbed on his heart. So, all this time, Jake was right. He was blinded by his love for her. Anthony stood up and wiped the blood coming out of his nose.

“Jake was right all along. Why was I so stupid? Catherine, you were just using me for the entire time. You were just using me and taking my money!” he scoffed angrily.

“Don’t you ever talk to her like that. Catherine would never date someone like you. Look at you! You’re not just ugly, but also poor.” Felix said, and his friends started laughing.

He became a laughingstock inside the bar. With that, he angrily punched Felix hitting his right eye.

“Yes! I am poor, but I don’t have the attitude you have!” he shouted at Felix.

But before Felix hit him back, Jake arrived with two bouncers. They split them up.

“You and I are not yet done, asshole. Remember this night. I will make sure to ruin you.” Felix gritted his teeth angrily.

Catherine walked with Felix, leaving Anthony with Jake. The bouncers looked at them.

“Just go home and don’t come back. Felix is our VIP here.” they said.

Jake and Anthony decided to leave. Jake sent him home with his motorcycle. The night air hit him like a slap, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a flicker of clarity. He deserved better—and it was time he started acting like it.

“Damn it! Damn this life!” He kicked the trash can at the entrance of the building he stays.

“Careful, kid. You will hurt yourself.” A guy from the dark corner said.

Anthony couldn’t see his face, but based on his voice, he knew he had met him already but he didn’t know where.

“Who are you?” he asked.

The guy just chuckled and left without saying anything. Out of anger, Anthony went up to his small apartment to clean the blood on his face and to treat it as well.

Anthony stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror, the fluorescent light flickering above him. The bruise on his cheekbone was already darkening, and his split lip throbbed with each heartbeat. He leaned against the sink, gripping its edges as his mind replayed the events of the night—the betrayal, the humiliation, the fight.

His phone buzzed on the counter, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen. It was a message from an unknown number:

"You think tonight was bad? You don’t know what you’ve just started. Watch your back."

Anthony’s stomach dropped. The words sent a chill down his spine, and he immediately thought of Felix’s parting threat. Could this be him?

Before he could decide whether to ignore it or call Jake, there was a loud knock on his door. He froze, his pulse quickening. The knock came again, louder and more urgent.

“Who is it?” he called out, his voice trembling slightly.

No response.

He approached the door cautiously, peering through the peephole. The hallway was dimly lit, but he could make out a figure standing just out of sight.

“Anthony, open up.” came Jake’s familiar voice.

Relieved, Anthony unlocked the door and swung it open. But Jake’s expression wasn’t reassuring. His face was pale, his jaw tight.

“What’s wrong?” Anthony asked, his heart sinking further.

Jake stepped inside, glancing nervously over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him. “We’ve got a problem. A big one.”

“What do you mean?”