Holding my Boy close to me, I turn with him in my arms, leaning against the wall. He doesn’t protest, or try to stand on his own two feet, even though he’s the Boss. Knowing he trusts me this much…that he’s secure enough to be the Boss he needs to be while leaning on me…it’s a heady fucking feeling.
The wholeDaddything might still be new, but I will be here in whatever capacity he needs me to be.
“Shall I get Doc?” Hollis asks. “I have all his and Dr. Ranlen’s reports, but it may be better hearing it from him.”
“Please,” Carter says.
Hollis inclines his head and leaves the room for a moment, returning with the doctor. It hasn’t been long since we last saw each other, but he looks as if he’s aged five years in that time.
“Thank you for seeing me,” Doc says, uncertainty in his voice, which is hard to hear as the arrogant shit is never uncertain.
“What’s your professional opinion on Allesandro?” Emilio asks, moving out of my arms to stand tall in front of Doc.
“Dr. Ranlen and I are in agreement on his treatment. We’ve started him on medication for his mental health, as after he came around from his time with Luca, he was in an extremely depressive and dissociative state. He is more alert now, but still doesn’t interact unless someone reaches out to him first.” Doc hesitates, but lets out a heavy breath and says, “We’ve had him on suicide watch this entire time, as he seems to be…waiting to die. In my professional opinion? He needs help, therapy… I know a few great therapists who would be willing to give the extensive care he needs to help shift through the trauma he’s suffered.
“Though I’m not so sure putting him down wouldn’t be a kindness, that is not my decision. I, along with my staff, and Dr. Ranlen, will help in any way we can, should the Council decide to let him live. He has a long road ahead of him, but he is not alone in that journey.”
“Thank you, Doc.” Emilio’s voice doesn’t waver.
Doc gives a short bow, none of his sass or flair showing through, which is a testament to how dire the situation is.
When Doc is gone, Lio turns to his fellow Council members. “Should we discuss?”
“Wait,” I say.
Stepping forward, I move to stand level with Lio. “Luca got to plead his case for Allesandro, it is only fair I say something for Cristian.”
“Ten…” Roman says.
I shake my head. “I need to do this, Little Prince.”
Hollis drags his hand along my side as he moves back to his seat. Emilio gives me a lingering look before going to sit next to Roman. The boys grasp each other’s hands, and I’m happy to see Carter reach for Keegan.
“Hearing Allesandro’s story…it reminded me too much of Cristian’s. I’m sure you all know his parents died when he waseleven. We suspect it was his uncle. Sergio Amato…was not a nice man. I suspect that had my father—Sergio’s most trusted guard and confidant—not gifted me to Cris, his uncle would have killed him eventually. He came close more than a few times.”
“I don't have to like you in order to want to see your abuser bleed.”Eleven-year-old Tennant was…as brave as he was stupid. But he meant what he said, and that promise has carried us all this time.
“There are some things I can’t tell you, that we agreed not to speak about. They have to do with my hospitalization, and what led up to it, but…know that Allesandro’s history isn’t too dissimilar to Cristian’s own. He was abused and beaten down to nothing by his uncle. Told that to care was to be weak, and that the only thing he ever did right was have an heir. We killed Sergio before he realized that Roman was more than Cristian securing the Amato Family’s next generation.
“Your father does love you, Roman. I know that for certain. He always wanted a family. He just…didn’t know how to have one, not after growing up the way we did. We only ever had each other, and we protected one another from his uncle. Without Cristian, I would have never gotten out once Sergio had me thrown in the hospital. After all, I was a danger to myself and others.” I look at Carter. “He saved you when he shouldn’t have. Not after learning your true family history. I didn’t agree with his decisions, but…that was him, once again, fighting against his uncle’s teachings. He never would have been able to kill you, not after loving you the way he did. And I truly believe he did love you.”
“Just not the right way,” Carter says softly.
“No,” I agree. “Not the right way.”
“I didn’t come out of that encounter unscathed.” Carter gestures to his scarred face. “But I forgave him for that a longtime ago. What I can’t forgive this time is the way he tried to destroy me.”
“And you shouldn't. He was out of line. Anyone who spends time in your company knows how much you love your son. I still don’t understand how he was able to say those things to you without breaking, knowing that being a better parent than what we had meant the world to him.”
Shaking my head, I meet the eyes of all three Council members. “I’m not going to beg for his life. Cristian brought this on himself. I have a feeling he knows exactly what he did. I saw him after Roman let him live, after he told Cris that he wanted him to see the consequences of his actions. He truly does regret the way things went down, but he also knows he can’t change the past. That is something he and I have in common. So…I don’t know if he can fully be redeemed, not like Allesandro.”
“Thank you, Ten.” Roman’s voice barely carries to me. He looks at the floor, and Lio releases his hand to wrap an arm around Roman, holding his friend close.
“Cristian didn’t have to let me live,” Carter says softly. “I can see Allesandro’s side because of that. Luca was right, under my father’s rule, under normal Amato rules…I wouldn’t have lived, neither would Marcus nor Luca. For that…I can see where Allesandro truly loved his Boys. Cristian spared my life because he loved me, but sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“I want my Master,” Emilio whispers. “I get that he might not want to be my Master…but we’re supposed to be better than them. We’re supposed to bring a new rule to the Families. But… that doesn’t excuse the way he hurt me, either.”
Roman looks between his friend and his father. “You’ve both been hurt by them. Yes, Cristian broke my trust. I don’t know if he can ever gain that back, but…they physically and mentally hurt the two of you. Can you live with knowing they did that?”
