“All the same, I know it is Hollis and Roman leading this charge. Tennant…he has always been loyal to me. Always. That was not something I ever had to question.”
“And then he met Benjamin.” Regret and sorrow crosses Allesandro’s face for a moment. “I should have killed him when I had the chance.”
I don’t say anything because his Family is not my place. Though I agree, he should have. By his rules, Benjamin broke them all, and he did it in a way that irrevocably destroyed everyone around him.
There’s nothing I can say though, even if this is the second time he’s chosen to spare someone who deserves to die… Though the first is currently still in this house, so maybe that gives Luca a pass. Or at least proves he’s learned something about loyalty in his banishment. The same can’t be said for Ten’stopolino.
Before anything else can be discussed, the desk phone rings and Allesandro picks it up quickly, his features subtly changing from the regretful, abandoned Master, to the hardened Head of Family.
His words are terse, and with each one, my concern grows. When he slams the phone back down, I worry for a moment that it didn’t survive the rough handling, before turning my attention back to more important matters.
“What happened?”
“It seems things are worse than we believed. The few still loyal to me were supposed to pick up a shipment tonight; as I explained, that is Marcus’s purview. We anticipated he would try to do something shady on Emilio’s behalf, so I had the shipment moved up.”
I nod, remembering we put all of this into motion days ago, when we first discovered they were poaching from our ranks.
“Well, it seems my War has decided to use all I taught him against me.”
“They didn’t…”
Fire lights his blue eyes. “Oh, but they did. They not only stole my men and my Boys, but my biggest suppliers as well.”
I tap my fingers on the arm of my chair. “What are the odds you’ve lost your allegiance with the west side gang?”
He grimaces. “High. Ignacio is the one with the contact, why?”
“Because I might not have weapons to sell to Petrov, but I have his nephew, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that he values family as much as I do—maybe more considering he sent Soren away for his own safety.”
“You’d leverage him? What about Doc? He’s still loyal.”
I shake my head. “Doc isn’t here for me. At best, he’s here to make sure Luca stays alive; he’s arrogant enough to see it as a personal failing should he die. No, Doc has always done whatever he wanted, ever since I met him. He’s contrary enough to not want to follow anyone else, and ruthless in his own right that, should he deem either of us a danger, he won’t hesitate to put us down.” I keep my gaze locked on his, choosing my words carefully, knowing that if Doc ever discovers what I’m about to do, my blood will be the next to stain his scalpel. “If we need to, we can use the trips and Soren against him and Petrov. I will not leverage Petrov, so much as remind him he trusted me enough with his nephew’s well-being. As for Doc…he’ll do anything to protect his Daddy.”
“As a good Boy should. Very well, we have that in our back pockets should we need it.”
“I’ll caution you, Padrone. Showing your hand too early will alienate him, and it won’t end well for you. I understand Doc isn’t…everyone’s cup of tea, but unless he makes an overture that shows where his true loyalties lie, do not go head-to-head with him.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.”
I watch my friend…my love, as stress mars his features, and his eyes seem duller than before with nothing to focus on.
Standing, I walk around the desk, sinking to my knees as he turns his chair to watch me.
“What are you doing?”
I set my hands on his thighs. “What does it look like?”
“You don’t have to do this, Sweetheart.”
“You need it. I need it. So much has happened recently…when was the last time you took a minute for yourself?”
He hesitates, and I see that pain once again, the deep-seated one that tells me he’s missing his favorite Boy. Well…I may not be a replacement for Emilio, but… I don’t think I’m so bad.
“Let me. Please?” I pray he doesn't hear the tremor in my voice, as I haven't touched anyone since meeting Carter… But I need something, anything, to make the acid dissipate…
He fists my hair and I swallow back a moan, my cock thickening. “You want this?”
I grin. “I can be your equal just as easily from my knees…or do you think less of me in this position?”
