Stefan laughed—sharp and broken. "This is so fucked up. I came here trying to prove myself to a father who doesn't value me. Got caught by a man who wants me for all the wrong reasons. And now I find out my father's betraying everything he taught us to believe in, and I'm trapped here for my own protection whether I want to be or not."
"I'm sorry."
"Are you?" He pulled back to look at me. "Because you're getting what you want. Me. Locked in this room. Dependenton you for safety. Unable to leave even if you opened the door because going home means walking into a death sentence."
He wasn't wrong.
"I didn't plan this," I said. "I didn't know about Giuseppe's cooperation when I decided to keep you."
"But it's convenient, isn't it? Now you have a real reason. Can justify it to your partners. Can tell yourself you're doing this to protect me instead of just because you want to."
"I am doing this to protect you."
"And because you want to." His eyes held mine. "Be honest, Matteo. Even if my father wasn't cooperating with the FBI, even if I wasn't in danger, would you let me go?"
I wanted to lie. Wanted to tell him I'd release him the moment it was safe. That this was temporary. That I wasn't completely consumed by possessiveness and obsession and the need to keep him close.
"No," I admitted. "I wouldn't let you go. Not now. Not after last night. Maybe not ever."
Stefan stared at me. Then, impossibly, he laughed.
"At least you're honest about being completely insane."
"I never claimed to be sane."
"No. You didn't." He leaned his forehead against mine. "I should hate you for this. For keeping me here. For making me want you. For telling me my father's a traitor and my life is in danger and I can't leave even if I wanted to."
"But you don't hate me."
"I should." His breath was warm against my lips. "But I don't. I really, really don't."
I kissed him. Tried to pour everything I couldn't say into the physical connection. All the apologies and promises and desperate need to keep him safe.
When we broke apart, Stefan's eyes were wet.
"What happens now?" he whispered.
"Now I keep you safe. Whatever it takes. From Giuseppe. From the other families. From the FBI. From everyone." I cupped his face with both hands. "You're mine, Stefan. And I protect what's mine."
"Even from myself?"
"Especially from yourself."
He kissed me again. Desperate. Seeking comfort in the only thing that made sense anymore.
We ended up back in bed. Not for sex—though I wanted him with an intensity that should have scared me. Just to hold each other. To pretend for a few more hours that the outside world didn't exist.
Stefan fell asleep eventually, exhausted from emotional whiplash. I watched him breathe and plotted.
Giuseppe Romano was trying to destroy us. Fine. I'd been looking for an excuse to go to war with him anyway. But I'd do it my way. Carefully. Strategically. Making sure Stefan stayed safe no matter what happened.
The other families would come after Giuseppe once word got out about his cooperation. I'd make sure they knew Stefan wasn't involved. Wasn't complicit. Was as much a victim of Giuseppe's choices as anyone else.
And I'd keep him here. Safe. Protected. Mine.
Even if that made me a monster.
Even if Stefan came to hate me for it eventually.
