“What or who are you to him, then?” Lazzaro’s voice was shaky and his head started to spin as he tried to figure the answer out. Hoping at the same time it wasn’t the one that came to his mind. “His personal assistant, his butler, what…”
“His baby-making machine, that is what I am!” Romjin almost yelled the words. “He gave me these pills that enabled my body to carry a child, then raped me day in and day out, and sold me to others, too. When the baby is born, he’ll sell it to a rich, barren couple. Then it will start all over again.” The fragile boy stopped, drained of energy and emotions. “I want to die, so this thing inside me would die, too.”
“But…but I thought you wanted us to have children this way, and you to be the one who carries them.” Lazzaro stuttered in shock. “Or did you just say that so I'd get you out of there, take you with me, and now, that I didn’t do it fast enough, you are showing your true colors?”
“I still want to raise a family with you.” Tears were pooling in Romjin’s eyes, threatening to spill. “But not like that. I could never love this child; every time I’d look at it, I’d remember how it was put in my womb.”
“I… I’m sorry.” Lazzaro ran a hand over his face, sighing tiredly. “I don’t know how to help you, but I know a lot of people who can. One of the things I recently found out is that the Italian branch of my family is part of the Mafia.” He inhaled sharply. “I’ll talk to my cousin Martino, he has this other cousin from his mother’s side who is a strategist of sorts and also knows their Laws.”
“The long-haired guy who invited us into his office…he seems like a nice guy.” A weak smile played on Romjin’s lips when he said the words. “I felt at ease in his presence, and I thought he could help me, too.”
Lazzaro nodded in approval; indeed, Brian, the librarian, was the one who helped him the most, in more than one way,since he came to The Base. He was a wise, generous man, who had the respect and support of the people running the place. The lunch break wasn’t over yet, so they could talk to him without being interrupted by the school kids, teachers, and other adults who came to borrow or return books.
Jamie, the assistant librarian, came back from their lunch break, and when Lazzaro told them he and his friend wanted to talk to Brian, they volunteered to take care of things until they were finished. Thanking the nice person, the young cage fighter gestured to the corridor that led to the office, and Romjin followed him, his stomach tightening in a knot.
Lazzaro knocked at the door, and, from the other side of it, Brian invited him in. Seeing Romjin, the librarian wrapped him in a warm, understanding-filled gaze, and listened to his story with great attention. Then, the man speed-dialed a number and, when whoever was at the other end of the line answered the call, he offered them a condensed version of Romjin’s story.
Lazzaro frowned and started to listen intently, trying to figure out who Brian’s conversation partner was. Eventually, he recognized the voice, turned to his boyfriend and, a triumphant expression on his face, gave him two thumbs up. Your problems are over, he mouthed, eyes shining with hope.
Indeed, a few minutes later, a man in his early thirties, with pitch-black hair and dark-blue, piercing eyes, stepped into the office and was introduced by Brian to Romjin as Elias Bloom, The Base’s boss. In a deep, pleasant, warm voice, the one whoran the place assured the young man that the nightmare he was living in was over.
The young man, emotionally and physically exhausted as he was, nodded mechanically, without really believing the man’s words. However, about an hour later, when all his things were moved in the tiny dorm he didn’t share with anyone else, Romjin started to hope that, maybe, things will finally get better.
CHAPTER 8
“I can't tell you what your choice should be.I wouldn't want my choice taken from me.” Brian spoke in a warm voice, taking the boy’s hands in his. “I can tell you what your options are if you don’t know them. What matters the most is what you want.
“Can I get rid of it?” Romjin asked in a shaky voice. “As I already told Lazzaro, I want a child, but not now. And not like that.”
“If that's what you want, I'll help in any way I can.” Brian’s heart bled for the youth, but he was going to stay true to his word and support his decision. “I can call Doc and go with you and talk to him.”
“With all due respect, sir, but you don't have a say in this.” Romjin’s voice sounded broken and defeated. “If my owner wants the creature, I must obey.”
“Owner?” Brian was the embodiment of confusion. “What owner? That pile of shit has no right over you anymore. It’s over.”
“Not that one, the other.” Romjin whispered, lowering his gaze. “The man who bought me from him, Don Luca Rinaldi. He's Mafia, you don't cross these people.”
“He isn't your owner.” Brian breathed a sigh of relief. “You are free to choose. I'm Mafia, too, and Luca is one of my closestfriends. We are like brothers. I promise he won't hurt you. On the contrary, he'll protect you like I will.”
Not letting Romjin’s hands go, Brian told him about Baldassare’s clever plan to free him once and for all. Although Elias and Ardan used their authority as The Base’s the facto boss and founder to keep the young man separated from his so-called owner, it was only a temporary solution, on the duration of the cage fighting competition.
Baldassare came up with the idea of an Old-World Mafia’s prominent member pretending to be interested in buying Romjin. The prospective owner had to be filthy rich and have a stern appearance, the type of cold-hearted, calculated bastard who didn’t do things from the goodness of his heart. From the outside, Luca fit the profile to perfection, so he was chosen.
Romjin listened to Brian’s explanation without interrupting him. When the librarian stopped talking, the young man hugged him tight and started to thank him, the words of gratitude mixed with sobs. He cried a river, the tears running from his eyes and soaking into the other man’s shirt, carrying with them all the fear, bitterness, humiliation, and the other negative emotions that clawed at his heart.
Two months had passed since that scene. Thanks to Luca’s and Liam’s teachings, but also his natural talents, Lazzaro won the cage fighting competition. With that victory under his belt, he could stay in New York City and make a name in that world, but Martino, backed up by Baldassare, Luca, and Brian, advised him to go to Sicily, learn from Nuzzo everything about whatbeing a mafioso involved, and take care of the Sforza family business from the island.
All the commotion with the cage fighting tournament and Romjin’s situation had Martino, Luca, Brian, and, even if indirectly, Bart too, tensed like bowstrings just before releasing the arrows. The men unanimously agreed they needed to do something to get rid of that tension, otherwise they would soon explode.
Martino suggested a candlelight dinner, and his idea was greeted with enthusiasm by the other three. Donna Marisa, who they asked for help, was more than happy to cook for the special occasion, and she chose to prepare her famous steak with vegetables and mushroom sauce on the side, to the four men’s great delight.
They ate, softly moaning in appreciation, then cleaned the table and loaded the dishwasher before moving to the porch to let the food digest. Brian and Bart sat on the chaise-lounges, with Luca and Martino between their legs, backs resting against their chests. The four sat quietly and enjoyed the view, with the men who were sitting down rubbing soft circles on their partners’ chests and shoulders.
It was so relaxing and mellow that all the worries Luca and Martino had over the last two months faded away. The men could have stayed there forever, it felt that good. They were connecting, even if they weren’t speaking. It was so comfortable, that, with the last trace of tension leaving their bodies, they almost drifted off.
Bart’s hand moved down over Martino’s stomach and dipped into the redhead’s boxer briefs. The younger man got the message and knew it was playtime. Shaking the sleep off him, he stood and hid a small grin as he took the hand his partner was graciously offering and headed inside, not before wishing his husband and the librarian a good night and telling them to have fun.
“Let’s go into the playroom.” Brian’s voice was low and grave, the sound making Luca’s whole body tingle, his breath caught in his throat. The Dom chuckled at his sub’s reaction. “Breathe, pet.” He accompanied his words with a grin, and the other one flushed in embarrassment.
