“Breathe, Baby Boy,” I urge, keeping a firm grip on Emilio’s face, as I lift it to mine.
“I’m going to get Doc,” Hollis whispers beside me, just as Emilio takes a shaky breath.
I relax a little, even as the Boy’s eyes fill with tears and he tries to gasp for air. “Not yet,” I tell Hol. To Lio, I hold him a little tighter. “You’re okay, Baby Boy. It’s okay. Just breathe. Daddy’s got you.”
He gasps and shakes. “Is… It’s true, isn’t it? Master…he’s on suicide watch?”
I grimace, but nod. “He has been, yeah. Since he came around, after Luca had finished with him. Doc’s here. He can give his report, Hol has all the files. We promised to tell you everything you wanted to know.”
“Did I do this?” he asks quietly.
“No, Baby,” Hollis says firmly. “No. You didn’t do this. You heard Luca, he might have helped strip Allesandro of his protections, but he was broken down long before you, or any of the Boys, could have done something to him. His mental health is not your fault.Ever.Just like mine isn’t anyone’s responsibility or fault.” Hollis gently nudges me to the side so he can take the Boy into his arms. “You have done nothing except what you had to do, Baby. Whatever’s been going on, whatever happens next, it’s not your responsibility.”
“It is, though. I’m part of the Council, and we have to make the decision…”
“But you’re not alone.” Roman speaks up from across the room. “Whatever decision we come to, it’s not solely on your shoulders.”
Devastated emerald green eyes look up at Hollis and I, and he asks, “Is it true? Did he…does he really love me? Is that why he proposed? Not…not because he wanted to unite the Families?”
“Only he can really answer that, Baby Boy,” I tell him softly, brushing some tears from his cheeks. “But I know what I saw when they first returned. I heard how he stayed by your side while you were in your coma, how he struggled with accepting Hollis in your life…”
Lio sobs. “Oh God… He…he was right to call me a whore…”
“No,” I tell him firmly. Grabbing him by the shoulders, I squeeze them hard, uncaring if I leave bruises behind. “No.” I gentle my tone a little. “You’re a whore for Hol because he is your Owner and he wants you to be. You are not a whore because you took what you needed, what Allesandro taught you to want and need. He showed you how to use your pleasure and pain, so you simply did what you were trained to.”
“I wasn’t supposed to fall in love!” Emilio tries to pull away, but I don’t let him. The last thing the boy needs is to feel alone right now.
“Neither was I,” Hollis says softly. “I wasn’t supposed to love you, but I do. You have become vital to me, Emilio. Siete parte del mio universo e senza di voi, sarei distrutto. What we have isn’t wrong. Does it feel wrong to you? Now that you know he loves you, truly loves you, does that cheapen what you and I have?”
Emilio doesn’t answer for a long moment, and I am glad for that, as it means he’s thinking things over, not allowing himself to get swept up by his first instinct. “No,” he finally replies. “You are…my Angel. You’re my Owner, the only thing holding me together, but…”
“No buts, Pup,” Hollis tells him firmly. “You told Luca you weren’t giving me or Daddy up, and the same is true for us. We will not give you up. You are ours, full-stop. Allesandro can have you. I know you want your Master back…and I am prepared to help you get that, but he cannot keep you to himself, because you belong to us as well now.”
“I don’t know if he can accept me being with anyone else…” Lio says softly.
“That’s a bridge we’ll cross when we get there.”Ifwe get there.
None of us wants to acknowledge that the Council still needs to make their decision.
“I love you,” Lio whispers. “I love him, too. It’s been so hard… So fucking hard feeling as if I’m without a piece of me. I don’t know what to do.”
“You have us, Little Monster,” I tell him softly. “You’re not alone. Hol and I are here for you, Roman is too. Benjamin and Jude, and our entire family, will be here to help you. You don’t have to do this alone.”
He sniffs. “Daddy…”
“I’m here, Baby Boy.” Gathering him in my arms, I hold him tightly. “I’m here.”
Emilio clings to me, sobbing into my shirt, his tears soaking through the fabric and sticking it to my skin—not that I give a shit. After a long while, he pulls away and lifts his chin.
Leaning down, I press a soft kiss to his mouth. “I got you, Baby Boy.”
He nods. “We need to finish this.”
“Take as long as you need,” I urge.
He shakes his head. “Dragging it out will only make it harder. I…he always gave us mercy after a punishment, the slate was wiped clean. I need to do the same.”
“Okay.” I swipe more tears from his cheeks and kiss him again.
