Page 11

I wonder if anyone would notice if I just killed everyone on our list. It’d solve all our problems.

Instead of giving in to the impulse, though, I’m told I need to be present at a meeting with the Martellis. I don’t care about plans, or what we have to do in order to keep the police off our ass. Sinclair probably hopes I’ll listen to his warnings to lay low, especially since he had to be very careful to make it seem like I’m not too unstable to be out in the world, but rather, it’d be detrimental to my mental health to be locked away.

A delicate balance, where my previous history is both helpful and a hindrance. Maybe it’s time to finally take my kill. After all, that bastard Sergio paid off to have me locked up is retired now, no one will miss him digging around in their heads.

“We can’t keep them waiting,” Hollis says gently.

I bite back a harsh remark and follow him out of our bedroom, only to stop at the sight of Elias and Benji waiting for us.

“Why aren’t you with Roman?” I bark.

Benji ignores my tone and gives me a flat look. “Because he has two other guards who can take a shift. Whereas your only guard was arrested along with you, and is currently hating his life because he has to deal with Doc.”

If I had the capacity for anything else, aside from the burning need to take out everyone who had a hand in my brief incarceration, I’d probably feel bad for Joel for having to put up with Doc’s incessant worrying.

As it is, the only thing keeping me somewhat focused at the moment is Hollis’s hand on me.

“Let’s go, I know there are people who want to see you,” he urges gently.

I barely stop myself from sneering. I’m sure my lovers know being around people is the last thing I want right now, but we all still have jobs to do, because they didn’t manage to miraculously find Cristian and Il Padrone in the time I was gone.

Hollis leads the way downstairs, his strides sure and confident, and nothing like the broken mess I found in our bathroom less than an hour ago.

If we had time, I’d drag him away and not only put him back to rights—because as much as he acts like he’s fine, I know him better than that and can see the tension in every line of his body—but also to give my own tumultuous insides an outlet.

When this shit is over, I’m kidnapping him for two weeks and keeping him to myself. My Tesoro needs the stress relief as much as I do—maybe more.

Hollis barely knocks on Cristian’s office door before pushing it open, and it’d be amusing that he’s picking up my bad habits if the entire situation we’ve found ourselves in isn’t so distressing.

“Ten!” Roman’s sob as soon as I step into the room is my only warning before I end up with an armful of crying boy. I don’t hesitate to hold him close, soaking up the feel of him.

Boston, Leandro’s German Shepherd, whines and nudges my leg. I look down into her golden brown eyes and shake my head. “I got him. Stand down,” I order.

She ignores me and lifts her head, pressing her nose to Roman’s leg and letting out a woof . Blindly, he reaches down for her and gives her a pat, repeating my command, only then does she back off a bit.

Despite training her for Leandro’s protection, her empathetic nature means she's very in tune to Roman’s sometimes volatile emotions. I'd be annoyed with it if she hasn't shown she's capable of doing both jobs. That she's able to bring Roman comfort when he needs it, isn't something I can argue against.

“Don't ever fucking do that to me again,” he whispers.

“It wasn't like I planned it, Little Prince.”

He squeezes me tighter. “I already lost Dad… I can't lose you, too.”

“Cristian isn't dead, or gone forever,” I bite back, trying my best not to lose it on him. “He is just…taking a vacation. A rather inconvenient one.”

Roman pulls away, his teary green eyes boring into mine. “How can you joke about shit like this? We have zero fucking proof he or Il Padrone are alive. For all we know, the bastard doing this killed them on day one, and is slowly trying to tear us apart.”

I release him, letting him slide down my body to his feet, and then firmly push him away, though I keep my hands on him still. “We also have no proof of that. No bodies, no murder. We're keeping to that. If they wanted to hurt us, they would have sent them back in pieces. The radio silence while the police try to take us out is very telling. Don't let your emotions rule you. You're allowed to feel them, but they are not in charge here. Understand?”

His lower lip wobbles, but he sniffs and nods. “Understood.”

“Give him a fucking break,” Jude cuts in. “I get you're probably exhausted and pissed, but it hasn't exactly been a picnic here, either. So curb the asshole for a while longer.”

I release Roman and then turn to Jude. “Giving orders now, Little Lamb? Think you're a big, bad Second after a day without me?”

Jude steps right into my space, his pale green eyes are dark with a spark that gets under my skin and ignites the already simmering flame.

“This isn't the time for your shit, Tennant.”

Grabbing him by the throat, I press him into the wall. “I'm sorry to be an inconvenience to you, Agnellino.”

He presses his hands against my chest, but otherwise doesn't fight me, though there's anger in his eyes as they darken and his lip curls into a sneer.

“You want me to be an asset? To be a Second you can be proud of? Then set a better example.”

Digging my fingers into the skin of his neck, I lean in. Rather than saying another word, I let the harsh kiss I plant on his lips speak for me.

Jude doesn't give, his fingers curl into my shirt and his teeth catch on my lip, biting down on the thin flesh until it bleeds.

I don't stop kissing Jude until there's a knock at the office door. Pulling away from him, I remove my knife, holding it loosely in my grasp as Roman calls for whomever it is to enter.

Emilio and a harried-looking Benjamin enter the room. The second Benjamin's eyes meet mine, he takes a step toward me, only to hesitate.

“You're either out or in, Topolino,” I tell him in a bored tone. “I don't have time for this half-ass shit.”

Benjamin raises his chin and walks squarely up to me, his sea green eyes full of determination. What he is determined to get is a mystery to me. Especially since he's now had time to spend with Ignacio, and to think about what he's doing.

“Are you happy to see me, Baby Mouse?”

He exhales sharply and his eyes become glassy with unshed tears. “Yes.”

Grabbing him roughly, one hand in his hair, the other around his waist, I tug him closer. Bending his head back, I trace my gaze down his slender throat to the vivid claiming mark there.

Unable to help myself, I lean down and bite him again. Enjoying the way he moans and arches into me.

The taste of his blood is sweet, and if we didn't have a shitstorm waiting for us, I'd show him just how feral I can be. Because permanently marking this boy sounds better and better the longer he stands in front of me.

Pulling away, I plant one more hard kiss to his beautiful mouth before letting him go, evading his grabbing hands, and moving to take up my customary spot between the door and Cristian—Roman’s—desk.

“Is this everyone?” I ask mildly.

“Yes,” Roman replies. “Jude has an idea we need to run by the rest of you before we can implement it. The inclusion of the Martellis is both a courtesy and because Jude made me aware you have your own plans in place.”

Emilio nods as he takes a seat across from Roman—who sits on the desk rather than behind it. “We do.”

Jude moves to stand near Roman and I tilt my head. “No interpreter?”

“I can manage. Everyone aside from Emilio can sign. I don't believe we'll have to worry about things getting out of hand, will we?”

“I think we can have a civilized conversation,” Roman agrees.

I snort but everyone ignores me, though I do get a look from Hollis as he takes a seat in his corner. He makes sure to move the chair to the corner of the desk so he can be seen.

“Why don't you go first, Jude?” Roman turns his attention to him.

“We need help,” Jude says simply. “Even with our combined forces, we're still stretched thin. If Ten and Joel getting arrested was any indication, it's obvious we cannot afford to continue as we are. Not if we want to find Il Padrone and Cristian, and keep the Families running. So, I proposed we reach out to Petrov. He runs the Bratva, and has been our closest ally for as long as I can remember.” He grimaces but says, “My family always used to gripe about that—back when the De Lucas were a separate entity to the Amatos.

“Not only that, we have his nephew. If anything, dealing with the fallout from Soren’s father trying to kill Doc showed us how much Ivan cares for Soren—even if he couldn't show it while Nicolai was alive. It was Soren who suggested it, but it's not a bad idea in my opinion.”

“Nor mine,” Roman says. “I don't want to let others know we're vulnerable, and some of the Russians disagree with us simply because Dad is married to Carter, but I trust Ivan and David. They can be useful in such a way that doesn't directly say anything is wrong here . Moreso, it can be used as a distraction to allow us to move on those we need to; maybe we'll fucking get somewhere, finally.”

Emilio dips his head after a minute of contemplation. “Benjamin suggested something similar. Though you are our only close ally, we have contracts with both a gang to the west of our territory, and the Cartel we do business with.”

Benjamin speaks up. “Marcus and Ignacio agreed with me when I brought the idea to them. Ignacio has a contact in the gang that he's reaching out to. Nothing is set in stone, just a feeler, and Lio was getting ready to make contact with the Cartel when we got your call.”

Roman leans back on his hands. Dressed in a dark-green dress shirt and black pleated skirt with ribbons, and feet clad in low heeled dress boots, legs crossed at the ankles, he looks like an innocent college student rather than a mafia Boss—exactly what he was trained to present as.

A fissure of pride at seeing him use what he was taught breaks through the need to do something, though it's fleeting.

“Ten?” Roman looks to me. “Thoughts?”

I shrug. “I am not acting as Second. I believe the idea has merit—at least as far as the Russians go—but it is not my decision, is it?”

“Don't do that,” Hollis snaps, impatience in his tone. “Your opinion is valued because you have the most experience here. You know how these things work. Do not let your anger and your need for revenge get the better of you. Work with us and we will take them down together.”

I show my teeth, though I doubt the look can be anything close to a smile. “I’d rather burn them all to the ground and be done with it.”

“And when you're taken into custody without bail? Where will that leave us?” Jude asks coldly.

“I hope you would be breaking me out, Agnellino.”

“More like leave you there to rot with your piss-poor attitude.”

“Enough.” Roman sits up and glares at me. “I need you with me, Ten. Can I still trust you?”

“I'll do my job, and will leave a bloody trail in my wake, but yes, you have my support, and can count on me.”

He doesn't look like he believes me, but, same as his father, decides to let me stay anyway. One day that decision will get him or Cristian killed.

“Good. Now, if it were you, what would you do?”

“Contact Petrov. I wouldn't suggest spelling out our problem, but I'm sure he'll come to his own conclusions since it's you asking and not Cris.

“The gang is a good idea as well. I wouldn't trust the Cartel with a ten-foot pole; that'd be like telling Oliveria and his Boss of our situation, and the Brazilians wouldn't hesitate to capitalize on it. However, that is not my call. Only you are aware of that situation and what is best for your Family, Emilio.”

A small, respectful look crosses both his and Benjamin's faces, as if they're happy I'm acknowledging they are capable of their own decisions.

That's one chip too many in my crumbling walls. I don't believe I've been that much of an asshole—just about Benjamin's poor education and training.

“Are we done here?”

Roman hesitates before finally nodding. “We can continue without you; if I need your input, you'll answer your phone?”

“Of course.”

“Then go, but don't do anything rash, please. We just got you back.”

“I'll think about it.”

Roman sighs and Hollis starts to protest but… I'm done. So utterly fucking done.

Without looking back, I leave the office.