“We’re okay,” he whispers. “Daddy and Sir will find us. They won’t let us stay kidnapped for long.”
I work on taking deep, slow breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. I squeeze his hands. “Yeah…”
Neither one of us voices that it took weeks to find Cristian and Allesandro when they were kidnapped, and that’s when they were using a third party. Lio and I were taken by the top of the food chain. Anything could happen before a rescue can occur.
“We’ll get through this,” Lio says fiercely, though I can see the worry on my friend’s face. “Together.”
“Together,” I repeat. Thankful that, even though things are bleak and shit right now, I have him.
I can do this.My heart is still racing, and the memories of my first kidnapping are still there, hovering, waiting for me to let my guard down so they can throw me back into that nightmare. But unlike back then, I’m not alone.
I can do this. For Lio, if nothing else.
Idash to the bathroom, curling over the toilet as I lose what’s left of my stomach contents. Fuck! Hot tears of rage and fear drip down my face as I shakily stand. Flushing the toilet, I make it to the sink and fumble for a toothbrush. Fucking hell.
Once my nerves settle, I slump against the sink, wondering where everything went wrong. Every inch of me screams at the world for its unfairness. Lio…Roman… Both have been stolen from us. I swallow repeatedly, trying to stop the nausea from creeping up once more.
Tennant and Keegan are both at the Martelli mansion being worked on, while I’m here trying to fit the pieces of myself back together.Words. Words crash into me. Ones said in a fit of anger, between Tennant and me, thanks to the fear of losing him and of not being enough. Or the threat to stab my best friend.
And then there are the words that weren’t said. My fear of Lio being with his old Master. My stubborn, stupid inability to show that emotion. I’m trying to be the Second my friend deserves, but he was stolen without me telling him I love him, and that I’d support him, even if I curse Allesandro to the fiery pits of Hell.
I scrub at my face, wishing there was a way to rid myself of these sickening feelings of guilt, terror, and pain. Taking slow, deep breaths, I wait until my emotions no longer choke me before I step out of the restroom. Hesitating for a moment, I’m unsure what to do now. I desperately need direction, and with that in mind, I head to find the one person who can give it to me.
The door is closed, and I’m not sure the best way to handle it. It’s never fully closed. Still, I refuse to let it stand in my way, so I knock on it briskly. I decide that if he doesn’t answer, I’ll open it anyway. Thankfully, I’m not left to take that chance when a voice snaps out, allowing me to proceed. Swallowing, I carefully open the door and slip inside, hesitating over whether to leave it open or not.
“What do you want?” Leandro sneers at me, but doesn’t pause whatever he’s doing.
My eyes land on Hollis’s empty desk, and I shake my head. “Never mind.”
I turn around, intent on trying to find Hollis, or fucking anyone, when Leandro’s cold voice halts me. “Did I say you could leave yet?”
Turning around, I glare at him. “No, but since I’m not in the habit of taking orders from you, I have no desire to start. I’m looking for Hollis. Or Jude.”
“Not going to risk any of the Martellis? Do you think any Amato will take it easier on you after the amount of fuck ups you’ve had?” Leandro’s hands still on the keyboard as he examines me and clearly finds me lacking.
I purse my lips, and don’t look away from his challenging stare. “I think you have things confused.”
Leandro snorts, swiping at the air in front of him. “Not at all. You fucked up with Lio, have treated him like he’s nothing, and then you dare to hurt Tennant as well. Now you’re sniveling and trying to find someone to keep you busy because you feel guilty, don’t you? You want to be distracted, so you can tell yourself that you’ve done something useful instead of alienating everyone.”
My insides quake with terror as burning hatred crashes through me—whether at Leandro or myself, I’m not sure. Coldly, I lift my chin, and state, “I have no desire to talk to you about things you don’t understand. I do, however, need to do my job as Lio’s Second, which means finding him.”
“Perhaps he wouldn’t have been kidnapped if you were focused on the threats our family faced, instead of a pity party about whether Tennant loved you, considering everything he’s given you, or that Lio, who happens to care far too much for you, would in some way hurt you.”
“That’s—”
“Enough, Leandro.” Hollis’s scratchy voice cuts in, and I jolt, surprised I missed him coming in while I exchanged words with his stepson. Which…fuck. It’s not going to endear me to Hollis, and I already have an uphill battle with this.
Leandro doesn’t deign to reply. Instead, he turns his attention back to the computer, and whatever secrets he’s set to uncover. I’m bereft for a moment, but I shake it off, before turning to fully face Hollis. He’s holding a cup of coffee, but is pale, and his eyes barely seem to be tracking. Immediately, I rush over to him, plucking the coffee from his hand and setting it down on Leandro’s desk, ignoring his squawk of outrage.
“What are you doing?” Hollis demands as I gently push him out of the office.
Huffing, I shake my head. “You’re overworking yourself again. And if Tennant isn’t around to manage it, and your Pup isn’t here to help either, then I will. You must not have eaten anything since we found out, and I know you haven’t been sleeping, even before this happened. If you expect me to let you wear yourself out, you have another thing coming. I will not upset Tennant and Lio that way.”
“So you do care for them. I wondered.” Hollis’s voice slurs, but I’m able to pick the words out.
I bite my tongue, not engaging in the conversation that I’m sure needs to happen. It can wait. What can’t wait is Hollis taking a small break. I trust Leandro can run things for a bit, as he’s made it clear he has things handled.
“I thought you’d at least be over there waiting for Tennant.”
