“I don’t need you! I’m fine on my own!” He shouted at you, making you roll your eyes angrily.

Tom had always had a short temper, something that the mob thrived on, but you, his girlfriend and right-hand woman, hated it. He loved to remind you that you were replaceable, someone who could pack your things up tomorrow morning and he wouldn’t even bat an eye. And you resented him for it, even if you knew he were lying through your teeth.

He was stressed out, that much was clear. But for him to take out his stress on you, like he always did, was completely unfair. And you were sick of it. So, you did what the two of you always did best, screamed at each other until your throats were sore.

It wasn’t healthy, but then, nothing you’d done in the years since joining the mob to be with Tom had been healthy. You screamed things you didn’t mean, and he retorted by calling you names he normally never would. For a moment you began to realize just how toxic your relationship really was. But, of course, you knew that it was a poor time to bring that up. Even still, as the thought crossed your mind, you fell silent, tears pricking at your eyes and slipping down your cheeks. Tom, who was in the middle of a rant, paused, eyes frantically searching your face.

“Wha- wait why are you crying?” He asked quietly, reaching his hand up to wipe some tears off your cheeks before you batted his hand away with a scowl.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” You hiccuped through your tears. “I’ll take care of everything. I always do.”

He grimaced, running a hand down his face. It was his move when he realized that he’d taken it too far and made a mistake. It was showing you that he was making progress. He took a few deep breaths, calming himself before he gently tangled his fingers with yours.

“Baby...what can I do? How can I fix this?”

“For starters, you can learn to talk to me. I know you get stressed out, and I know that you think you have to keep me out of the business but, you can’t take on all of this alone. If you don’t learn how to let me in after all the times that I’ve proven to you that you can trust me, then I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”

“I know...” He whispered, hanging his head in shame and pulling you closer to him. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I’ll do better. I promise you.”

You sighed, knowing you couldn’t stay angry at him long. He wasn’t perfect. Hell, he wasn’t even close, but he was yours. And as long as he was willing to work things out with you, you’d always be right by his side. The Bonnie to his Clyde.

No more requests, please.