“I’ve forgotten nothing! This should have worked out. I can have both Cristian and my Boys.”
“I see nothing will get through to you.” My uncle stands and frowns at me. “Perhaps I may leave you with a question.”
“I have more questions than answers at this point. I don’t need anymore.” He huffs at my sulky tone, but it’s the fucking truth.
“Your aunt… Ask yourself this. What if I treated her the way you treated Emilio?” He pauses to let that sink in. “And then, what if I took up with another woman…one who showed no loyalty to her husband or child? What would you do?”
With that, he turns and slowly makes his way out of the gym. I stand still, staring yet unseeing my surroundings, as I work through his questions. And when I have my answer, I fall forward onto my knees.
Fuck. I would have killed him… There would have been nothing left, not even fucking ashes. So why the fuck did that give me the right to take from Emilio, from my Boys, what isn’t mine? To repay their loyalty like this… Is he right about Cristian?
More questions. And the only answer that comes to me is one word: Death.
“You good here?” I ask Leandro.
“Yeah, fine. All the cameras are online, and H is finishing up with the security to prevent any backhacking from those dickheads Il Padrone hired to try to keep us out of his systems.”
I snort. “Yeah, he should have just saved himself the money, and us the extra five minutes.”
“Five? More like two for me. You’re getting slow in your old age, Hol.”
“Don’t call me Hol,” I say absently, double checking that all of my automations are up and running. Pushing my chair back from the desk, I lock my computer. I doubt I have to worry about anyone messing with my shit, but habits are hard to break. “Call me if you need anything, I’ll be back soon; I’m going to check on Roman and then Ten.”
“Tennant is currently wiping the floor with whoever is stupid enough to let him,” he says.
I hum in agreement. “All the more reason to drag him away.”
“Have fun.”
I huff at the bland tone Leandro uses. He doesn’t bother looking away from his screen as I pass, stopping to give Boston a pet before leaving the office.
Dropping by the medical suite, I find Jude with Roman.
“How are you doing?” I ask, after greeting him with a kiss.
Roman shrugs. “Bored out of my fucking mind. Ten and Joel, along with Carter, Marcus, and Keegan, did most of the heavy-lifting for the soldiers, and making sure all three Families have decent amounts of help. Ten was talking about having Joel and Enzo do tests for those in training, in order to speed up their advancement.”
Great.I’m sure Tennant justlovesthat. He’s picky as it is when it comes to the level of training and years spent in any one rotation.
“I’m going to go check on him. He…hasn’t been doing well since speaking with Cristian.”
Roman’s expression darkens. “I’m still not happy Dr. Ranlen didn’t let me be upstairs with you.”
I run a hand through his messy dark hair. “I know, but she was right. It’s not good for your ribs, they’re still too fucked up to risk moving you too much. He’s…dealing. It’ll take time, but we’re all here for him.”
“Another reason to be pissed at Dad, fucking Tennant up.”
“He loves you,” Jude tells him. “No matter what Cristian has said or done recently, he loves you. Take it from someone who didn’t have unconditional love from a parent; he may be a fuck up, but his love for you is there, even if it’s gotten lost under whatever is going on with him.”
Doubt crosses the boy’s face, and I hate that he is having to face the fact that his father isn’t infallible.
Like Jude, I learned a long time ago about the betrayal that comes when the person who was supposed to love you unconditionally fails to do so. Seeing Roman also face that is… It makes me wish I had stabbed Cristian on our way out, or allowed Benjamin to.
“Have you been in to see Ignacio?”
Roman rolls his eyes. “Not yet.” He looks up at me, batting his eyelashes. “Wanna take me?”
I sigh. “Will you behave?”
