“That fucker hurt Lio!” I hiss. “Or did you forget? I didn’t realize you suddenly had a soft spot for rapists, Hol!”
Thecrackof his hand against my skin is loud. It’s the point of the knife against my abdomen that throws me, though. I know for a fucking fact he’s not allowed to carry a weapon right now, not until Doc can trust him again.
“Don’t youeverfucking speak to me like that again, Tennant,” Hollis says quietly. “I love Emilio as much as I love all of you. I will die for that Boy. If we’re able to glean some information that could help him…I’ll gladly take it. With or without you.”
Slamming my mouth against his, I swallow down his moan, hoping he can feel the apology in my touch. I don’t stop kissing Hollis until I feel the knife pull away from me, though I’m not ignorant enough to believe I’m out of danger. Hollis may not be as trained as I am, but I don’t doubt he wouldn’t put up one hell of a fight if I push him too far. My Tesoro isn’t one to ever be underestimated.
“Let’s go see what that asshole has to say about our Boy,” Hollis says.
“Okay. But if he says one wrong word, I’m going to need my knife back so I can cut his tongue out.”
Hollis laughs. “You have another.”
“That’s not the point, Hol. You’re not supposed to be armed.”
“Too fucking bad.” He gently pushes me away and slips out from between the door and me, heading down to Allesandro’s room, my pilfered knife still in his hand.
I smile and shake my head, following behind him. The door is partially open, but Hollis gives it a courtesy knock before walking in.
I’m surprised to see Dr. Ranlen in the room with Allesandro, which makes the fire burning in me grow a little hotter. I know she isn’t my biggest fan—not that I actually care, but I also know she’s Emilio’s friend. If she’s here, either she knows what Allesandro is going to say and is on board, or she wants to make sure Hol and I don’t kill the bastard—probably both.
Her being present doesn’t make me feel good inside. Hollis must realize that as he looks at me and gives the tiniest shake of his head. Rolling my eyes at him, I shut the door and lean against it, arms crossed over my chest, feet crossed at the ankles, going for disinterested. I’m not a mimic like Leandro, but I’ve spent years pretending all the same.
“Thank you for coming,” Allesandro says.
He’s sitting up in bed, and though he looks better than he did, he’s not the large, imposing man he was before. Even when he and Cristian first came home from being kidnapped, he was…more.
It seems he’s serious about no longer being “Il Padrone”.
“Did we have a choice?” Hollis asks.
“Of course, you did. There’s always a choice. I’m glad you chose to hear me out. I never would have put you in this positionif it wasn’t important. But…Lio’s well-being is in question here, and whether you believe me or not, I willalwaystake that seriously.”
“Right,” Hol says slowly. “Like you did when you broke his trust.”
Allesandro sucks in a breath, but if he has a response, Hollis doesn’t let him voice it. “I was raped, you know. For years. I was used, played with, I was broken down to a shell of the person I was. This,” he gestures to himself. “I built who I am today from scratch. I wasn’t much younger than Roman and Emilio when I was able to get out. I look at them, at my son, and I wonder how I ever survived. Because while they’re all strong, all capable…it’s hard for me to imagine being that age again and surviving the pain I went through.”
Hollis sucks in a breath, and I want so badly to go to him, but I know he needs to get this out. Besides, he’d probably stab me if I tried to comfort him now.
“Emilio trusted you, and you didn’t just break that trust, you obliterated it. I was betrayed by people I trusted, too. First, my father, who sold me, and then someone I considered a sibling, who told my demon how to find me.” Hollis grins, and it's a twisted thing that gets my blood pumping. “I couldn’t kill my father, but I did destroy his life as soon as I could. And I happily killed V the moment I got the chance. It’s not the same for Emilio, though. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to kill you. His mind is full of demons, but you’re not one of them.”
My hands hurt from how hard I’m squeezing my fists together. I hate hearing the pain in Hollis’s voice when he talks about his past, and how much fucking sense he’s making about Lio.
“I love Emilio. I love Roman, Jude, and Ten, too. And I can’t imagine ever hurting them like you hurt Lio.” The hardness inHollis’s tone shouldn’t be so fucking hot, but I love seeing him in charge like this. If only the circumstances were different.
“I know,” Allesandro replies. “I hurt Lio, and there’s nothing that will make you trust me again—fuck if I’ll ever truly trust myself either. But…I hope your feelings for him will allow you to hear me out. I know you love him, and knowing him as I do…I know he loves you, too.”
“I’m to believe you suddenly changed your mind about that?” Hollis tilts his head, watching Allesandro intently.
“I want Emilio to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted…even if it’s not with me.”
Something akin to heartbreak crosses Allesandro’s face. It's there and gone so fast, I almost want to pretend I didn’t see it.
“I've already told him what you are to Lio,” Dr. Ranlen speaks up. “He knows the importance you have in his life. I believe him when he says he only wants Lio happy. You may not know this, but I’ve seen how much those two care about each other. Even when they try to pretend they’re not completely besotted, it’s clear when you’re in the same room as them. Yes, Allesandro crossed all the lines, I’ll be the first to say that, Lio is my friend, after all. But you can trust in the feelings they have for each other.”
“As if that’s something we want to hear,” I grouse.
Dr. Ranlen shrugs delicately. “It’s the truth, whether you want to hear it or not.”
