With an audible growl, he clenches his hands into fists, including the one around the knife. I’m not making this easy for him, but fuck, I need him to get through this. He whirls around, his arms outstretched in frustration. I stare in horror, as he doesn’t realize I’m so close, but there’s nothing I can do to stop the knife he’s holding from sliding right into me. I grunt from the fiery pain, the shock of it, and I lift my hands to his wrist as I tumble back.
He follows me, and for a moment, I think he’s going to stab me again, as the anger in his eyes is still so vivid. But suddenly, he stares down in horror as I fall back against the bed, my hands slipping from him. I can feel the rivulets of blood, and the waves of pain that are overwhelming me.
“Fuck,” he whispers as he lets go, and I whimper, wanting the connection, even if it’s only his hands on the knife. He rustles around for something, but I close my eyes, my focus stolen as more agony chases me. “Doc! Get up here! Benjamin’s room…It’s…bad. Fuck. You have to save him….You think I don’t know that?! Just get up here!”
I blink, my eyes watering, and I lift my hand weakly, catching Tennant’s attention. He drops the phone, grasping my hand tightly. “Topolino, hold on. Please. I…need you. You can’t go. I’m…fuck, I’m sorry. Just stay with me.”
“Love you,” I murmur as things become blurry, blackness eating at the edges of my vision. “No…matter…what.”
“Stop that. You will live. You can’t leave me, Topolino. I…I won’t survive it.” I can’t see him anymore, but the thick words from him tear at me.
I want to reassure him that of course I’ll live. My very heart beats for him, but coldness is seeping inside me, and I don’t want to lie. Taking a rattling breath, I push out the last words I can manage. “Always. Yours. Al?—”
I try more, but that inky blackness finally wins, and I can only hope that he knows, no matter what, that I love him. I’d forgive him anything, even my own death. Please, if there’s a god, watch over my Nocciola, especially if I can’t…
Iusher my Tease toward the medical wing, thankful to be away from the oppressive silence with Tennant. Being stuck in a car with him…not a good time. I’m thankful Benjamin was waiting to take him, because that’s a man who should not be alone right now. Wherever his head is…it’s not in the right space. Hopefully, Benjamin has finally figured his shit out and can be there for Tennant. We need him if we’re going to get Lio and Roman back. I do not have time to deal with another person breaking down…
“He didn’t even bitch about only taking one car,” Marcus whispers to me in wonder.
Grunting, I shrug a shoulder, needing to put the Amato psychopath out of my mind. We have enough shit to deal with. Like seeing our Carter. It’s been an itch beneath my skin, this need to be by his side, and I swear I don’t take a full breath untilI lay my eyes on him. Having him and Marcus in the same spot relieves some of the pressure building inside me.
“You’re back,” Carter greets us with a relieved smile, even as pain lingers around his eyes. If only I could take it from him…
Moving closer, I cup his cheek and lay my forehead against his. “Of course, Love. We came as soon as we could.”
I move back slightly, but Carter catches my hand, holding it to his cheek. The look he gives me… It’s as if I’ve wrapped up all the joy in the world and laid it at his feet. I hold open my other hand for my Tease, and he grasps it quickly. It doesn’t surprise me when he takes Carter’s other hand and I draw in a deep breath. All three of us connected. Maybe only by willing hands, but it’s a start. It gives me hope…hope that our hearts can also connect.
Carter’s eyes are shiny as he stares at me, and then Marcus. He swallows before saying, “Did it go well?”
I stroke his cheek, knowing what he’s really asking. “There was no trouble. We didn’t see Cristian, although both of us had conversations with Allesandro.”
“He…has changed,” Marcus whispers, pain slashing across his face. My poor Tease…the man he idolized for so long… It’s hard watching men topple from pedestals, especially when they’ve done it to themselves.
Carter immediately pulls back and I struggle not to grab his hand, forcing him to stay connected to me—to us. Instead, he watches us warily. “Changed…”
“He is a very broken man,” I say softly. “He doesn’t want to even carry his name, much less the moniker of Il Padrone. But if it’s our loyalty you’re worrying about, you don’t need to. We are yours.”
“I am so thankful for that.”
The simple acknowledgment that we’re his seems to act as a balm to him and he exhales slowly, tension bleeding out of him.I exchange a quick glance with Marcus, and read the unspoken words that shimmer between us. It’s time someone says it. And as Tease’s Dom…that responsibility falls to me.
Clearing my throat, I force myself to meet it head on. “I feel as if we’re dancing around what’s right in front of us. So, I’ll be blunt. Carter…I’m not sure we can pinpoint when things changed for us, but you’re worth too much to us not to take the risk. You’ve become as integral to our happiness as each other. We are loyal to you as our Boss, but we’ve also fallen deeply in love with you. Your bravery to push on, and your skill at being a father, they both draw us in. While we’ll happily accept whatever you want to give us, please know, we want more—we want it all.”
I lapse into silence as Marcus joins in. “We love you. You’re…everything. We promise to follow you, to cherish you, and to lift you up when you don’t think you can go further. We want to share our lives with you, and vice versa. Our son would be your son as well. And we would be honored to watch over Roman in return. We would love the honor of claiming him as ours, and we will get him back. But it truly is up to you.”
“And you don’t have to answer right now. We know you’re going through a lot. Maybe this wasn’t the best time to tell you, but we couldn’t let any more time pass without letting you know how much you mean to us. That we see a future with you. One where you help us to raise Cole, you share the joys and sorrows of the days, and…we’d like to have more children with you. You’re such an amazing father. We truly want it all.”
I force myself to stop, knowing I’m too close to babbling. Hell, I’m probably already there. Our Love’s eyes are so wide, and I find it hard to breathe. I don’t know which way he’ll go. Hell, this is a lot for anyone to take in, yet I can’t help but hope that he’ll choose us.
My heart cracks as two tears roll down Carter’s face, and I slump against the bed. We put it out there, and it’s his decision,but fuck, we really did hope he’d see us. That he’d want us. But maybe we’re too much, too soon.
I go to withdraw, but he grabs my wrist, refusing to let me leave. He opens his other hand, glances at Marcus, and silently demands my Tease’s hand. Once again, we’re physically connected, a circle that can’t be broken, if he’ll accept us.
Drawing a shaky breath, Carter responds, “I…I don’t know how it happened either. I feel guilty having just left Cristian, only to find love straight away. Because I do. I love both of you. And Cole. I would be honored to be his father, and I do trust you with Roman. But I can’t answer you fully. I need my son here. I need his approval of you both. But, I want to be with you.”
I smile, squeezing both his and Tease’s hands. “Love, I would expect nothing less from you. You are the best father, and we love you for it.”
“Does this mean no kisses?” Marcus pouts and Carter laughs, even as he grimaces. It’s the first time I’ve heard him so free.
