Chapter 6When tony walked in, Vicky stood and lunched into it. "Mr. Powers, finally. Samantha just woke from another nightmare. She kept crying in her sleep, begging someone to stop."

Vicky shot Amore a sharp look in mid-sentence.

Tony sat by the bed, eyes on Samantha's bandaged face. "How are you feeling?"

Samantha's eyes were red, brimming with tears. "Tony, I'm just scared," she sobbed. "Vicky overreacted and insisted on telling you. I'm sorry for bothering you. Amore, I'm sorry you had to come too."

"Sam, why are you apologizing to her?" Vicky cut in. "She did this to your face! She's jealous and cruel. What about your gigs? How are you supposed to pay the breach fees?"

"I'll have Bob handle it," Tony said, his eyes soft on Samantha. "Don't cry. The doctor said it's not deep. If you follow the treatment, it won't leave a scar."

Samantha nodded, but the tears kept falling. She wiped them quickly, looking embarrassed. "I couldn't help it. Am I being silly and weak?"

"No." He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her tears. When he saw that the gauze was soaked through, he carefully peeled it away.

Her face was swollen and raw, covered in ointment. The sight was jarring.

Tony tended to the wound with care.

She winced, and he saw her lashes were still wet.

"Does it hurt?"

"No," she said, her eyes shining. "Not when you're here."

Tony moved even more gently, his eyes full of softness and pity.

Amore stood off to the side, watching them. She'd never seen this side of him.

He did know how to be gentle. He just saved it for Samantha.

She'd only ever been a stand-in for her sister, but now it looked like she was enough to shake amore's feelings for tony.

Amore saw no reason to stay and turned to leave.

"Wait," Samantha said in a shaky voice. "Amore, are you leaving? I'll talk to Tony, okay? I'll tell him know you were just upset. You didn't mean to hurt me."

Tony looked at Amore, his tone flat. "Apologize to samantha."

Samantha kept the act going. "No, it's okay."

Amore had heard enough. "Call the police."

She looked Samantha dead in the eye. "Didn't you say I cut your face? Go ahead, call the police. Maybe once I'm in jail, I will be kicked out of the powers resident. That's what you want, right?"

The bluntness threw Samantha off, and her smile faltered. "Amore, come on. We're like family. No need to blow this up."

"Save it. You're not my family." Amore turned to Tony. "Looks like we're done here. I'm out."

She walked out with her head high, feeling sure of herself.

Samantha gritted her teeth, but when she saw Tony's cold stare, her heart skipped a beat. She dropped her gaze, her voice soft. "Tony, I'm sorry. I just panicked and hit my face by accident. Vicky freaked out and called you. Amore wouldn't pull the same tricks she used on my sister..."

"Enough," Tony said, cutting her off.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault..." Her voice cracked, eyes full of guilt.

"Stop apologizing," he snapped. Her helpless act only made him more irritated.

In his mind, her face wasn't meant for tears or pleading; it was meant for something alive, bright, even defiant.

Samantha a flinched and turned a little pale.

Tony blinked, finally realizing the woman in front of him wasn't Katarina.

"Don't worry. Amore won't touch you again." He pulled a bank card from his coat pocket and pressed it into her hand. "Take it. Buy something nice. Might help you relax."

Samantha cracked a smile. "Okay. I'll show you once I pick something."

Tony's expression softened. "Get some rest. I gotta go."

She nodded and said sweetly, "Drive safe."

As soon as the door shut behind him, Samantha grabbed her phone and slammed it to the floor. "Bitch! Amore is such a bitch!"