“It’s good. Everyone is where they need to be. If the Bosses need to be taken out, we’ll all be just fine.”
I flinch. “Can you…not? Please? He’s still my dad. As pissed as I am with him…as heartbroken as I am, I still love him. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to trust him again, but…he raised me, and helped turn me into the Boss I am.”
“You’re a better Boss than he will ever be,” Leandro says fiercely. His navy eyes flashing with irritation, telling me he really means what he’s saying. “You, Carter, and Lio will work together, and everyone else will fall into place the way they need to. Don’t let your insecurities get the better of you. You’re better than you believe. Better than Cristian ever believed you could be. I will fucking shoot you if I hear you doubting yourself.”
Snorting a laugh, I gasp at the flash of pain. “You’re a dick.”
“Yes, but I am a correct one, so deal with it.”
I shake my head incredulously, wondering if he really believes that, or is just telling me what I want to hear. From the shut down expression on his face, I can almost believe it’s true…
“Thank you.”
He scoffs. “Don’t be annoying. If you want to emote over someone, go ask one of your other friends.”
“I only have two.”
He smirks. “Pretty sure you have three now.”
The reminder that Benjamin fucking claimed me is slightly disturbing. I still don’t know how to feel about that. On one hand, I’m glad he saw something in me that needed protecting, but on the other…I’m worried he’ll resent me for it.
Thankfully, one of the staff members Teodoro Martelli gave us comes in with dinner, so I don’t have to think about it any longer.
Eating with my right hand is a pain in the ass, but it’s better than thinking about confusing things…
Iwait impatiently outside of Luca’s room. Running my fingers through my hair, I wish we could just get this over with, but Doc refused to let me in there until he had checked Luca over. At least, there’s the sound of movement here. It’s so fucking quiet in the house with all of the Boys gone. Even waking up without Midas was a struggle. Although, it’s not like I actually slept much.
Doc comes out of the room and his cold eyes study me. “Don’t upset him. I will be keeping an eye on his vitals, and I won't hesitate to kick you out if you do. He needs to rest. Don’t fuck this up.”
The “as well” is silent but loud. I incline my head slightly, the only acknowledgment I’m willing to give him. I’m still pissed he let my Boys leave, regardless of how fucking innocent he pretends to be. I don’t bother knocking, I just stroll in, and for amoment, the role reversal throws me into the past. Shaking my head, I focus on the fact it’s Luca in that fucking bed and not me.
“What happened?” I sit next to him, leaning on my forearms. His gaze roams my face. What he’s looking for, I’m not sure. He doesn’t seem to find it, though.
Clearing his throat, he nervously twists his hands in the bedding. “I fucked up. I received a text saying there was an emergency, and to get to the airport. I rushed over here, and pretty much as soon as I stepped off the plane, I got kidnapped. They spent the whole time trying to get information on the Family, and when I refused…well, let’s just say they got to relieve any anger issues they had.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you call before coming?” I stare at him, flabbergasted that he just fucking assumed it was one of us.
With a sarcastic laugh, he shakes his head. “Because I always come when it’s you. Fuck knows why, but I do. I thought that it was Hollis who messaged me, and I wasn’t going to call him back after he stabbed me.”
I rub at my temples, as the headache I’ve had since I got up increases in intensity. “Fuck. Alright, well, we need to figure out who is behind this. I’m glad you’re home. I’ll definitely need your leadership skills.”
“Uh…” Luca winces as he tries to reposition himself in the bed. “I’m…not staying. Not permanently.”
“What do you mean?” I drop my hands and squeeze them into fists.
Taking a deep breath, he looks at me. “I came back to help you. That’s it. This…isn’t my home anymore.”
Scowling, I glare at him. “This is your home. I said that before you left. No matter what, this is your place. You will always be my Boy, and I need you here.”
“This is not my place. Not anymore. When I left… I know you were giving me an opportunity, but honestly? It didn’t reallyfeel that way. But it genuinely was the best thing you could have done. I… Well, I found my place—and my people.
“I came back because I believed I owed it to you, to make sure you were safe. But you’re no longer my Master. However, I’m at the point now where I can give you actual friendship. You have Lio and the other Boys. I know they have your back. And I have a new life.” He doesn’t flinch as he meets me heads on, even as fatigue shows in his eyes. “And speaking of the other Boys. I know they were pissed last time, but I expected Lio to still be your shadow.”
Grinding my teeth, I roll my shoulders back, hoping to relieve some of this unending tension.Fuck. This cannot be happening.I snap out, “They’re not fucking here. They left. All of them.”
Luca blinks at me, and I struggle to sit still under his weighty stare. “What happened? Lio would never leave you. Not willingly.”
“Well, he did. He walked right out the door, after having Cristian and me drugged, and he took the rest of them with him. So he can play at being the Boss of the O’Connel Family.”
