I had woken up half way through a doctor examination. Antonio and the doctor had been discussing my state when I let out a groan of pain, notifying them that I was now awake. Overall, the skin on my back was shredded to pieces but would begin to heal within the next few weeks. Although, I would be left with even more scars. My ankles were both obviously broken and would take six weeks to heal, but even once the casts were removed the doctor recommended that I stayed in bed rest for an extra two weeks and only moved them slightly in order to regain there mobility in a safe way. The knife wounds on my arms had been wrapped in gauze after having had stitches. Those were to be taken out in about a week or two, depending on how fast I healed.

It seemed as though the two had already gone through my treatment plan while I was unconscious because the doctor simply handed Antonio some medication before leaving the room.

Even after I heard the door close I stayed quite. I had to lie on my stomach due to my back but my whole body hurt. I couldn't imagine moving because I was in so much pain.

Antonio didn't seem to know what to do. I could sense him just watching me from the side of the bed in silence before he finally came and sat on the bed beside me.

"Don't worry. I will get you the best scar treatments there are to offer. Creams, ointments, I can even pay for the best plastic surgeons if that's what it takes."

I didn't care about the scarring. I was so used to having a battered body anyway from my time with Ryan. In fact, part of me hoped that maybe seeing my body this way would make Antonio leave me alone. Maybe he'd be repulsed by me and no longer would want anything to do with me. Wishful thinking, I know.

His hand suddenly came to my head where he stroked my hair. The initial action made me flinch and he froze for a second before carrying on. Part of me actually liked it. He was so gentle and it was quite soothing. I soon found my breathing slowing and eyes closing due to the relaxation it caused me.

It had been two weeks since I first woke after the incident. My stitches in my arms had all been removed, revealing the now scabbed lines, nothing but ghost like shadows of what had been there before them. My ankles were still incased and I was enabled to walk. Therefore Antonio had ordered Linda, the maid, to come and help me in the bathroom and wash whenever I needed to. She also bought me food and my medication. A television had been installed too so that I could at least be entertained to some extent. I know that sounds marvelous, to be lounging in bed and doing nothing for weeks on end, but trust me when I say the novelty soon wears off. My back was not yet completely healed, so I still was on pain medication, but at least now I was able to lie on it without causing too much discomfort.

I rarely saw Antonio now. I knew that he still slept in the bed with me because the sheets were always crinkled on his side when I woke and I could smell his scent lingering around me, indicating he still came into the room. He just didn't really speak to me. I was mostly glad of that though. At least he wasn't hurting me or touching me in any way. But it also annoyed me because he seemingly didn't want me but if that was the case, then why keep me? He could have set me free or even killed me. Yet I was still cooped up in his room despite his apparent loss of interest in me.

I glanced over at the clock. 09.37. I knew that that was pretty early. But it wasn't like I had anything better to do than lie down and try to fall asleep. I was still having nightmares. Now some were even about Antonio, not just Ryan. I didn't really like sleeping anymore, it was never an escape because I would just end up running into more demons. However it was better to fall asleep early because then at least I could avoid Antonio. I wasn't exactly sure of what time he came to bed but it certainly wasn't on my agenda to find out.

I started to wake up. Even once I knew that I was completely up, I stayed still and kept my eyes clothes. I didn't want to wake up yet. Last night I had woken with a nightmare to find the other side of the bed still empty so I just rolled over and went back to sleep. Now I planned on making up for that interruption by enjoying this relaxation for as long as possible. But then I heard a voice.

"Alice I know your awake."

I noticeably tensed and opened my eyes. I hadn't even expected Antonio to be here. Then I shifted my gaze to his side. Another man stood there. He was quite a big man, I could tell he was ripped with muscles. He had a shaved head and tattoos all over his body. He stood next to Antonio, yet didn't seem to share his confidence. His whole stance was a bit shifty and he was obviously feeling awkward for some reason. He was holding a black bag in his right hand.

I went to sit up on the bed but my arms were secured to the head board with a pair of silver hand cuffs.

How did I not notice that before?

I tried pulling at them, trying to free myself. Nothing worked. The only thing that my attempt had done was cause the metal to cut into my skin slightly. Antonio gave a nod to the man, who came and sat on the bed next to me while pulling things out of his bag.

A tattoo gun.

"What? A-Antonio....what are you doing?"

No answer. I started to work against my restrains again.

"NO! Let me go NOW!"

From the corner of my eye I could see the man filling the gun with ink but my focus stayed on Antonio, who looked at me with an amused expression.

The man suddenly bought his hands towards me but I was now thrashing around like a crazed animal. I couldn't move completely away from him but at least I could shake around and make it harder for him to keep me still. He let out a huff in annoyance.

"I'm gunna need you to hold her down if you want this done right."

Taking the tip, Antonio came towards my shaking form from the other side of the room. My legs were now restrained by Antonio's which dangled over my thighs, his weight locking my lower half in place. His arms pushed down on my shoulders, carefully staying away from the newly healing cuts on the rest of my upper arms. He slipped my top strap down my shoulder so the tattooist had a clearer target.

The man began to speak to him again, completely ignoring the fact I was struggling to get free.

"The clavicle is a particularly boney area and therefore sensitive area, so this will hurt her....a lot. Your gunna have to keep her down."

I barley had time to process what that meant before the sharp pain of the tattoo gun's needles stabbed into the skin of my collarbone.

"Ahhhhh!"

I let out a cry and arched my back trying to get free. This only caused Antonio to push me down harder. The sudden pressure on my body combined with the fear of what the actual tattoo was going to be and the pain it caused was starting to ignite a panic attack.

My breathing instantly grew heavy and I was letting out chocked sobs. My vision was going a bit funny and the dreaded sound of the buzzing became more amplified. A wave of dizziness washed over me, all the while my chest still heaving from my hyperventilating.

"Alice."

I had not noticed the way Antonio had bent forward, forearm pressing against my chest so his other hand come take hold of my chin. I looked back into his eyes.

"Breath Alice."

He began to take in deep breaths, me following his actions until my breathing had returned back to a normal, steady pace.

"Good Girl."

I let out more sobs, the pain and fear still very much present. My cry were now even louder than the noise being made by the tattoo gun itself. I looked at Antonio in his eyes once again, shaking my head at him.

"Please. Pleaseeee."

I was begging him to stop it, for him to release me and stop the pain. My plea kept getting cut off though due to the cries that would leave my lips.

"Shh, shhh..."

He only hushed me while stroking my hair tenderly. I closed my eyes and pushed my head back into the pillow, excepting my fate.

It wasn't that I hated tattoos. I had nothing against them and would have gotten one, if Ryan had ever allowed it. I thought they were a beautiful way to express one's feelings, dreams and creativity. It was up to you if you wanted one. Your decision how big or small, how colorful and where it would be. That was my issue. Antonio had made this decision, not me. He was effectively branding me, like an animal. He was slowly stripping me of all my humanity - my rights, freedom and was dictating my entire life in general.

The next few minutes went by in a blurry haze. My mind almost left my body whilst I just cried to myself quietly. I didn't even realize that the tattooist had even left before I was being pulled into Antonio's lap. He was now sat against the head board and my trembling body was propped up against him.

He was gently applying some kind of jelly like cream to the new tattoo before placing a bandage over it. I had tried to look down so that I could maybe get a glimpse of what had permanently been stamped onto my body but it was too high up on my chest for me to see it from this angle. I needed a mirror. My tears were now drying on my face, Antonio was quick to wipe them away in a delicate manor while lightly kissing my neck. As if comforting me now would make up for everything else he had done, but still, we stayed like this for a while.

"Do you want to see it?"

He suddenly asked, pulling away from leaving trails of hickeys along my neck.

Did I want to see it? I knew that I would hate whatever it was but then again, I also was well aware of the fact that if I didn't look at it then I'd be anxious all night. At least if I got the reveal over and done with I could start excepting the new addition to my body and then try to move on. So I cautiously nodded my head. Antonio understood the small gesture and pulled out his phone.

I still couldn't stand on my own because of my broken ankles so figured he would just take a picture and show me because it was easier. He knew I was too exhausted to move. It's surprising how much energy pain actually drains from you.

He stood up and shifted me so I was comfy with pillows behind my back, supporting my lethargic body. He then moved around to get a better angle of my collarbone and slipped my nightgown strap off of my shoulder so he could remove the bandage. I hissed slightly as his fingers made light contact with the sore skin. This caused him to quickly pull away and take the photo before turning the screen around to face me.

I hesitantly looked down at the screen, still feeling Antonio's burning gaze following my every move.

There, on my collarbone, was the tattoo.

Antonio Marino

His name. His full name was written in black cursive letters across the bone. I knew that he put it there so others could see it. It was an area of my body that would be easy to display without showing to much skin and was the perfect way for him to remind myself and others, who I belonged to. He had stamped his name onto my body flaunting his ownership of me. It was small enough to be able to cover but noticeable enough for it's presumably intended purpose.

I raised my head up so that I could make eye contact with him. I could feel tears wanting to well up in my eyes but I desperately kept them back, determined to seem strong in front of him for the first time.

"I hate you."

My voice was calm. For the first time it held no weakness to it and was firm. I wanted it to show that I one hundred percent meant what I said.

For a moment I saw a look of hurt flash before his eyes, but it quickly disappeared as he briskly stood up and left the room, slamming the door on his way out.