“You…you are actually going to give him a chance? It’s bad enough that he’s being allowed to live, but letting him be part of our families, in any shape or form…it’s wrong,” Antonio spits the words out, trembling from the force of his emotions.
I run my hand down my face, unsure how to handle him. This level of volatility…fuck. I expected it, but I had hoped to have more time. Preferably, after Allesandro has proved himself.
“What’s going on here?”
Antonio jumps at the question. Jude’s voice isn’t loud, and I note that while Antonio drops his head, it’s only for the quickest second before he raises it again to face his Dom. Pulling himself together, he carefully modulates his voice as he relays that I’m choosing to take Allesandro with me.
Jude’s lips press together, and it appears he has the same reservations as my friend, but he turns toward me, asking, “And Keegan is allowing this?”
“Yes, Sir.” I curse not knowing how to sign, but hopefully, I’m respectful enough that he overlooks my poor manners. Fucking hell. No wonder Lio was trying to arrange lessons for everyone before he was kidnapped. Jude’s sheer presence demands respect, and it feels…wrong not to communicate with him through signing, even if he’s wearing his hearing aids.
“Very well.” Jude moves in front of Antonio, reaching out to clasp his shoulder. The grip looks slightly painful, but it seems to work to his advantage because Antonio takes a shuddering breath, relaxing into him. “You will let Marcus do what his Dom has instructed. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to respect it. Keegan is Carter’s Voice. An instruction from himis the same as an instruction from me or Benjamin. Do you understand?”
Antonio’s nose wrinkles at Benjamin’s name, piquing my interest, but he grudgingly nods. Jude’s gaze flicks over to me with a clear dismissal, and I don’t hesitate to take it. I’m almost gleeful when I step out of the house, because fuck, that was intense. Of course, I have a feeling that may be the easiest part…
Getting into my SUV, I head out and hope that Allesandro meant what he said, because I need him to prove himself. I can’t shelter him from any consequences if he does fuck up, and I’m not even sure his psyche could handle fucking up at this point. He emanated such a sense of being lost that I can understand Keegan’s concern over whether he’d be an appropriate back up. Still, I have to try.
Thankfully, the drive isn’t long, and I leave the vehicle outside the front door. I barely glance at the guards, other than to recognize they belong to the Amatos.
Stepping inside the mansion, I have to take a moment to breathe because I suddenly realize…the Martellis are truly no more. The Master of the Family has no desire to lead, and, in fact, cannot. Instead, the Council is managing everything. The little bit we left Allesandro with is gone, and the pain hits me hard.
Fuck. The destruction, the carnage, the loss…everything is almost too much. I force myself to press on, to remember the objectives in front of me, but I know I’ll come back to this.
I wonder if Allesandro has realized that while he may have been allowed to live, he’s essentially had all of his power taken away. Then again, from what I saw, he didn’t want the power anyway. Makes me question what Cristian must be going through…
I quickly make it to the medical wing and head directly to Dr. Ranlen. She’s busy scribbling in charts, but her attention soonshifts to me. With a snarl, she demands, “What now? I’ve already had to sacrifice some people back to the O’Connel house because Benjamin is an idiot. I’ve got two men here that I’m responsible for, and if you’ve come to take more resources, or add yet even more responsibilities, I’m not going to care that you’re my brother’s love.”
Okay, so it turns out, Antonio isn’t the scariest person I’m going to face. Wonderful… Giving her my most hopeful smile, I say, “Actually, I’ve come to help. I’m going to take Allesandro with me to do some spying, so that’ll only leave you with one person to deal with until we get back.”
Dr. Ranlen stares at me as if I’ve told a joke and she’s waiting for the punchline. My hopeful smile becomes strained, but there’s not much I can do about it. She pushes the charts out of her way, one falling onto the floor as she stands up, putting her hands on her now empty desk, which I’m thankful is between the two of us.
“He is still getting used to him medication regime. Hell, he’s not even off suicide watch! And you want to take him and waltz into danger? At what point does your brain actually engage and do that thing called thinking?!”
Yep. Fuck. Worse than Antonio. I attempt to blink innocently, but from her glower, I completely fail. Gambling on her love for Lio, I cajole, “Sarah, favorite sister-in-law, best doctor in the world, he needs to be given a chance, and this is a step forward. Not only to find Lio and Roman, but in fulfilling Lio’s hope that Allesandro heals. Don’t you want that? Isn’t it a good thing he showed interest in finding Lio? This is the perfect opportunity. I’ll watch him the entire time, I promise.”
She pinches the bridge of her nose, grumbling several curse words I’m going to pretend she doesn’t know, before sinking back into her chair. Still glaring at me, she shakes her head in resignation. “Fine. But I want it understood that you are takingfull responsibility for him. And you’d better bring him back safe and sound. He is my patient. Doc did not keep him alive only for me to lose him. Got it?”
Convinced she’s thoroughly terrified me—and she has—she starts to pick up the charts again. I duck around her, knowing any help I offered wouldn’t go over well, and try not to rush toward Allesandro’s room. I do slightly, but only to get the hell away from Dr. Ranlen before she changes her mind. As scary as Keegan can be, his sister has him beat.
I knock on Allesandro’s door, barely waiting for him to respond before entering. He looks…better? Maybe? Honestly, it’s too hard for me to tell. Still, at least, he’s somewhat dressed.
With a winsome smile, I ask brightly, “Feel up to doing some spying? We have a lead on the guy who set up the Amatos. We may be able to get info from him. I’m being sent in to relieve the twins, and thought you may like to come along.”
For the first time, I see the echoes of my former Master in his now pale blue eyes. They seem to visibly sharpen as a slow, savage grin overtakes his face. My heart hammers as he opens his mouth. It’s only one word, but I’ve never felt a word echo so very much, the promise and anticipation curling around it.
“Absolutely.”
Well, fuck. Keegan may be right. Keeping Allesandro in line may be a tad more work than I expected. I may have bitten off more than I can chew this time…
Being drugged can go to hell.Fucking Doc is going to see the wrong side of my blade.I’ve been sedated enough times over the years to know how it feels, so the next time he hands me anything and says,“Take it or I'll force you,”I’m going to punch him before carefully inspecting each pill.
Groaning at the stiffness in my muscles, I carefully sit up. Reaching for my glasses, I try not to flinch at the room I'm in. I vaguely remember being urged into the bed after my restless sleep with Jude. That's when they drugged me.
I understand giving Antonio and the twins their room back, they may be Jude’s, but I doubt they want to deal with the mess that is me.
“Easy,” Doc says. “You have a lot running through your system right now. Go slow.”
I scowl at him from where he sits in a chair, comfortable as can be, looking as if he doesn't have a care in the world, despite the unruly state of his brown hair and dark circles under his eyes.
