I stare at him, worry filling me once more. “If Dad asked…would you meet with him?”
Carter lets out a big sigh and looks away, taking his time to answer, which only ratchets my fear and worry up more. “Yeah, I would. I have to hear him out. We’ve been together for almost a decade, Roman. I owe him?—”
“You owe him nothing,” I spit.
“Shh.” Carter sets a hand over mine. “I owe him the chance to talk. To explain if he’s gotten his head out of his ass, or to show me if he hasn’t. I owe him as a fellow Boss, because we may not like it, but we do have to show some decorum now. We are above them because of our actions, not because we’re better than they are. If we want to be taken seriously, want them to respect us and believe we mean what we say, then we need to act like it.
“Part of being a Boss means doing things you don’t like; you know this, Figlio. We will not stoop to their level, but we'll show up and play the part we were always meant to.”
I let out a shaky breath and look down at my blanket, instead of my dad’s all too knowing gaze. He’s right, of course. I learned a lot during my time as Boss when my father and Allesandro were gone. I learned the type of leader I am, while they are currently showing me what I don’t want to be. But…it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
My father went too far in his treatment of Carter. It’s one thing to insult me and my choices. I’m aware of my failings and weaknesses. But Carter? He’s done nothing but love us since the day he was thrown to the wolves by his own family. I will not let anyone think they can disrespect him, especially in front of me.
When you love someone, you don’t hurt them the way my father did Carter. Or how Allesandro hurt Lio.
Maybe this position makes me weak. My caring nature and the emotions I can’t always shut off means I’m easier to exploit. But I don’t care.
As long as I’m still breathing,no onewill get to hurt my dad or my friend.
“Okay. Just…be careful. And take a guard. I have a feeling Ten will want to go with Lio to meet Allesandro, but maybe take Marcus or Keegan? I know I can trust them to protect you.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” He tilts his head a little. “Is there something going on between Lio and Ten that I need to know about?”
I shrug. “From what I understand…they worked well together when they went to ‘interview’ those guys after the fire. Lio caught Tennant’s interest. I know they haven’t done anything yet, but…they both want to.”
He huffs a laugh and shakes his head. “You’re okay with this?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? Lio deserves someone who will love him and protect him, and help build him into the best version of himself. Hollis and Tennant can give him that. Plus, this means he has to stay close… He won’t leave me if he’s with my lovers, right?”
“Oh, Roman. Lio won’t ever leave you. He might be…more stoic than you, and awkward about affection, but I can see he cares about you. If this dynamic works for all of you, then that’s all that matters. So long as you’re happy and safe.”
“Yeah. I am happy. More than I’ve been in a long time, even with all this shit going on.”
“Then that’s all that matters, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to go check in with Marcus and Keegan, but I’m sure someone will be around soon to sit with you.”
I huff. “I’m perfectly capable of being on my own.” I get a raised brow at that. “Whatever. But can you blame me? It’s so boring being stuck here. Who knows when they’ll let me out again.”
“Listen to Dr. Ranlen, she knows what she’s doing. I’m sure once you’re a little more healed, and able to move around without wincing every few seconds, she’ll reevaluate the bedrest.”
I cringe, hoping he wouldn’t notice that sitting up this straight for so long has been killing me. “Yeah, okay. I’ll behave.”
He lets out a disbelieving laugh. “You do that. I’ll be back later with cookies.”
“Thank you.”
Carter presses one last kiss to my forehead, and I don’t even pretend that I don’t like the affection, it’s needed after the hell we’ve been through.
Sighing, I reach for my phone and call Hollis, hating that I can’t just go down to the office he and Leandro have set up.
“Are you okay, Amore?”
I smile at the concern in his voice, as some of my irritation from being left behind because I was crushed a little by a fucking chandelier eases. “I’m fine. Checking in to see if you have any news. We just finished with our meeting, and Lio didn’t quite believe me when I said Luca seems to have had a change of heart.”
“Ahhh.”Hollis chuckles.“If I didn’t hear it for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it either. Maybe I’ll invite him in to havea listen to the recordings. Though Doc is sending the trips here, so they can give a firsthand account of the new Luca.”
