Fucking shit.
Fuck feelings.
Fuck complicated relationships.
Fuck anything and anyone that aren't the people I would bleed for, die for,livefor.
Screw this.Throwing back the thin blanket over my lap, I swing my legs over the bed just as the door to my room opens.
Looking into Cristian's dark eyes, I narrow my own. “What the fuck do you want?”
“Glad to see you're fine,” he snarks back. “Tell me what's being done to find my son.”
At this point, I'm going to break a fucking tooth with how hard I’m clenching my teeth. “None of your business. In case youdidn't notice, Cris, you are no longer the Boss—mine or anyone's—which means, you don't need to know.”
“That's my son, Tennant!” he shouts.
Cold apathy washes over whatever fucking breakdown I was in the middle of, so at least there's that.Fucking feelings.
“Roman isn't yours, Cris. He's mine. He has been since he was nineteen.”
“You've done a hell of a job protecting him,” he hisses. “He's been injured more times than I can count in the last three years.”
“Do not make this my fault…” I say lowly. “I do not care what you think you're entitled to, but you and your boyfriend are not in charge.”
He slips his hands into his pockets and takes a step forward. “Neither are you. You were my Second, but we both know you and Roman never worked well together. So, maybe I don't have power over the Family, but I still outrank you…”
I hum. “But you don't outrank Keegan.” I grin at him. “He'sCarter’sSecond. Which means, as part of the Council’s inner circle, I take my orders fromhim. So, if you want to know something? Go ask him.”
Cristian's onyx eyes burn with pain at the mention of his ex, and the man who loves Carter now. That should at least keep him busy enough that he leaves me the fuck alone. I don't have the capacity to deal with him right now. Roman might be his son—and even that's debatable, considering how Roman currently feels about him—but Roman ismine. Mine and Hollis's. That means more than anything else, than any claim someone tries to stamp on both him and Emilio.
“Are you intentionally trying to piss me off, Ten? Now? With Roman and Emilio missing. That’s not the smartest choice.”
“Get the fuck out of my room, Cris. Or don’t. I’d love to see Dr. Ranlen kick you out because you’re ‘upsetting’ her patient.”
“I’m trying to help find my son!” he seethes.
“I am not the one who can give you the answers you want. I have already told you who can, though. So, get the fuck out. Injured or not, I will cut you down. I broke you once, Cris, and I don’t have a problem doing it again. As you so kindly reminded me, my lovers are missing—I don’t have time for your bullshit. Soplease, piss me off more.”
He seems to finally understand that I’m not going to give him anything, because he leaves as uneventfully as he appeared. I almost hope he goes and asks Keegan for answers… I’d love to see Mayhem knock him down a peg or two.
With an irritated huff, I get back in bed, knowing as much as I want to be out there, I can’t. I meant what I told Cristian. I follow the orders of the Council, and right now, the last thing Carter and Jude, and even Hollis, need is me forcibly sidelined because I went against doctor’s orders.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to be shut out, though. I’ll give the doctors tonight, but tomorrow? Tomorrow, I’m going to remind every single fucking person who tries to stand in my way just who and what I am.
Cecily Dowing fucked up. She stole from the monster, and now? She’s in its crosshairs…
My stomach churns as I clench my hands into fists. If I had an outlet right now, I’d gladly fucking destroy it. Two Bosses. Two-thirds of the Council. The son of the man who has stolen my heart… Gone. On my watch. What. The. Fuck.
Grinding my teeth, I stare at the phone propped up on the fucking hospital bed, which, of course, I’m in. As if enough hasn’t gone wrong. Thankfully, the gunshot was barely anything. At least, in my opinion. I’ve had far worse, and it’s not going to affect my dominant hand.
My sister, of course, has a differing opinion. In this case, I’m not worried about pulling on the big brother role with her. Normally, I defer to her expertise, but in this case? Fuck that. I have more than enough on my plate.
I huff at the knock on the door. It’s either another guard Tennant is forcing on me, since the asshole has decided to become more protective than a lion defending his pride, or it's my sister coming to lecture me more, which…pass. Trying to push my anger down, but failing, I snap, “Enter.”
It’s not either of the people I expected. Fuck. I think it’s far worse…
Il Padrone—or, I guess, Allesandro, as we’ve been warned to call him—cautiously walks inside, his hands collapsed in front of him. My left eye twitches, as my emotional control is shot, and in walks the man who made life both a misery and amazing. Fuck. I’m not ready for this shit.
