Page 37 of Stolen Compliance

I laugh, low and dark. “You really are the perfect little bunny, aren’t you?”

“Don’t,” he spits. “That’s not my name.”

“Oh, but it fits you so well.” I let my fingers drag along his hand as it rests on the seat next to his leg before pulling back. “Dominic may be Second, but he doesn’t run things. The hierarchy between us is…murky, but I want to make up for being a dick to you the last few weeks. I was…hurt and humiliated. I’m dealing with it better now.”

His shock is palatable, but before he can say anything else, we arrive at the processing warehouse, and our conversation is essentially over as we have to get back to work and deal with the girl curled up in the back.

But…hopefully the seeds I planted take root. Whether that’s what Dominic meant or not…well, fuck him. He has his way, I have mine. And he’s going to have to deal with it.

His. Yeah, sure. I’ll believe that when pigs fly.

My mind is a tumble of fuckery. Pride from stepping in with that fucker who dared try to take advantage of Teo. Fury over the bitterness Teo carries. And most of all, an unwelcome desire to get close to him. The same magnetism that I feel toward Dominic.

Loyalty. I promised it to Il Padrone. I’ve already fucked up more than once with him. To do it now? Especially with stakes this high? I can’t. I can’t let those who are encouraging evil live.

But…what if they’re trapped? The same way Il Padrone lured Lio into his web. Not that Allesandro would ever sink to Sergio’s level. I shake my head, unable to process it all. It doesn’t matter, anyway.

I’ve been given a chance to claim this for me. To be equal to Allesandro. My best friend. My first love. My everything for so long.

And now Teo and Dominic… No. Enough.

“What are you thinking, bunny?” Teo whispers, startling me.

My lips twist at the stupid nickname. But this time I don’t bother to defend myself. It’s too pointless.

Sighing, I toss out some misdirection, even though it has a grain of truth in it. “I’m thinking of the East Coast. It’s difficult to be separated for so long. I’m protective of Il Padrone. But I trained my temporary replacement, and I know I’m doing what Il Padrone wishes.”

Teo shakes his head. “I would have expected a Second to be more like Dominic. Strong, dominant. And yet, you seem completely submissive to your Boss.”

“Don’t mistake the relationship I have with Il Padrone for weakness,” I state coldly, letting my experience flow through me instead of hiding it. Teo’s eyebrow raises at it, but he doesn’t say anything. “I’m not quite the bunny you both believe I am.”

“Perhaps…” Teo trails off as his phone pings. With a scowl, he texts back before looking at me directly. “It appears we’re being summoned. We’re rerouting for home to check in with the Boss. The merchandise will be taken care of for us.”

I nod as we lapse into silence. Truthfully, as much as I hate seeing Sergio, I’d rather avoid another instance of inspecting the merchandise. As is, I have to avoid rubbing my chest when my heart wrenches at the thought of Rita…and the boy who reminded me far too much of Lio.

It doesn’t take nearly long enough before we’re in front of Sergio. I notice the way Teo straightens before entering Sergio’s domain. The fact he’s in his throne room does not seem like an auspicious beginning. Fuck.

I glance worriedly at Teo, whose face is now a blank mask. Still, there isn’t anything I can do to fix it. Hell, at this point, all I can do is hope I don’t fuck us even more. It’s not just Teo’s ass that’ll be on the line but mine, too.

Standing straight, I keep close to Teo. I’m not sure why. Perhaps because his father is an asshole. It’s not like I have any actual power here, but fuck if I can stand to see him bullied. There’s no words as Sergio stares at us, studying us as if he can tell our secrets with merely a glance. Considering I’ve infiltrated so much of his network already, I know it’s not true. And yet…

The sound of footsteps behind me is like an itch between my shoulder blades. I want to turn, to see who it is, not liking having anyone at my back. But it’s a lose-lose situation. There’s a snake in front of me, ready to strike. He may be a Boss, but fuck if he’s earned any respect from me—and I doubt he has from his son.

Still, when it’s Dominic who passes us, the uncomfortable sensation lessens. It doesn’t disappear, because I know Dominic is perfectly able to kill me without a second thought, but he’s at least a known quantity.

From the corner of my eye, I notice how Teo stiffens when Dominic stands at a parade rest next to the Boss. Like he’s a favorite fucking pet. No, maybe it’s better to say he’s a fucking robot, just waiting on his orders.

Fuck. I hope I was never like that. Never so completely blind. I mean, shit, I know I did things I disagreed with, but from the way Dominic’s face is completely blank, I’m positive he’d kill his own family without blinking an eye if that’s what this fucking asshole masquerading as a Boss demands.

“Well,” Sergio finally states, breaking the brittle tension. “It seems we have a situation. But I’m at a loss. Luca is the one who caught it instead of my son. On one hand, that should be rewarded. However, he also spoke out of turn. Remind me, Dominic, how do we feel about guests overstepping?”

“We hate it, Boss. It shows a weakness. One that shouldn’t exist.” Dominic’s cool voice ignites an ember of fury in me. Still, I choke it back, waiting for this farce of a meeting to be over.

Sergio nods smugly. “Exactly. And, Dominic, what would you say that Luca caught the issue instead of Teo?”

“Unacceptable. I’ve trained Teo. That should never happen.” The coolness disappears as some heat makes it into Dominic’s speech. The first emotional reaction, and from the way Teo flinches, it’s not a good sign.

Sergio crosses his legs, staring at us from his throne. None of us say a word as he weighs his options. Although fuck knows, he already has something intended. He may be an asshole, but he’s a Boss for a fucking reason.