21. Kyan
Chapter 21
Kyan
Kyan, along with Benjamin and Reece, was lying on Matteo’s big bed. Along with their stuffies and a big tray of hazelnut cookies, the three Little friends were happily talking and slowly falling into Little Space as their chilled out tea party went along.
‘I wish my Daddy was here,’ Kyan said, picking Gambit up and helping him to munch on his chunky cookie. ‘But he’s got to go and do some business.’
‘Business?’ Benjamin asked, holding his sippy cup of milk in both hands and taking a couple of gulps. ‘Are we allowed to ask what kind of business?’
Kyan paused. He knew that he most certainly was not allowed to say what kind of business Matteo was getting up to. In fact, Kyan was very quickly realizing that pretty much every aspect of Matteo’s life was off limits to anyone outside of his world. It felt like Kyan had been invited inside a secret club, and while that was fun it meant that he might sometimes feel bad about not being able to share the details with his friends.
‘I… ummm … it’s just silly boring stuff,’ Kyan said, trying to sound as casual as he could before changing the subject. ‘His business partner Faustino is going to let us watch three movies and stay up past midnight.’
‘Yay!’ Reece said, waving his stuffie above his head. ‘Faustino seems…’
‘Go on?’ Kyan enquired, sensing that Reece might just have taken a shine to Matteo’s cousin. ‘It’s okay if you think he’s handsome.’
With that, the three Littles giggled as Reece reached for a big fluffy pillow and immediately covered his blushing face with it. Kyan didn’t need to hear an actual response from Reece – his actions told him all he needed to know!
‘Reece has a crush! Reece has a crush!’ Benjamin squealed with delight. ‘I don’t blame you either. Faustino is smoking hot!’
The Little BFFs continued to laugh and giggle in delight. The three of them were all dressed nice and snugly in their favorite rompers with button flaps on the bottom and nice and thick material to keep them warm. All in all, it was a perfectly wholesome scene that made Kyan feel somewhat like his life was back to normal, even if it was only for that moment.
‘Come on, let’s do something silly,’ Reece said, a look of mischief in his face. ‘I say we play a practical joke on Faustino!’
‘Tell me more,’ Benjamin said, bouncing up and down on the bed before sitting crossed legged and listening intently.
‘Guys, we should be careful,’ Kyan added, a note of caution in his voice. ‘I’ve already had my butt warmed today. I’m not sure if-’
‘ Nawww , don’t be a scaredy cat!’ Reece said, an excitable look in his eyes that Kyan suspected might get them all in trouble. ‘Faustino is here to supervise our fun, not be a strict Daddy. We can do whatever we want!’
Kyan rolled his eyes and smiled.
‘I guess so…’ Kyan answered.
And before Kyan had any chance to protest further, he found himself getting off the bed and sneaking out of the bedroom on tiptoes along with Benjamin and Reece.
The three friends crept down the hallway and then made their way down the flight of stairs until they were at a point where they could just about see Faustino as he stood in the kitchen with an espresso in one hand and a cookie in the other…
‘He’s eating our snack supplies!’ Benjamin hissed, clearly unimpressed.
‘What a total stinker!’ Reece said, now more determined than ever to play a prank on their personal security guard. ‘He’s got to pay the price. No one steals from the three Little amigos.’
‘I have to admit, I didn’t expect to see Faustino tucking into our treats,’ Kyan said, still unsure but now at least seeing some motivation for playing a joke on Matteo’s associate. ‘But nothing too crazy, okay?’
Reece simply nodded – but Kyan could tell that his words had gone in one ear and out the other. Reece seemed primed to exact his revenge, and nothing was going to get in his way…
‘Watch this,’ Reece whispered, sneaking down the stairs and creeping around the perimeter of the lobby until he was able to slide behind the heavy curtain that hung in front of the front door at nighttime.
Kyan could see what Reece was going to attempt and didn’t think it was a good idea. But it was too late now, and Reece would have to live with the consequences.
This could end badly.
I should say something.
Faustino’s really not going to want to be surprised like this…
And it wasn’t long before Kyan’s suspicions were proven to be correct either. Reece found a spare umbrella behind the curtain and raised it up against the thick material as if it was a machine gun…
‘Bang! Bang! You’re dead!’ Reece hollered. ‘Cookie thieves get taken out!’
‘What the hell!’ Faustino bellowed, clearly shocked by the sudden noise and immediately making a beeline toward the front door. ‘Come out from there, right this damned second!’
Kyan and Benjamin immediately huddled together on the stairs. It was clear from Faustino’s voice that he wasn’t fooling around. It might have been an innocent and admittedly silly prank on Reece’s part, but it was more than evident from Faustino’s reaction that he wasn’t into it one little bit.
‘Hey! Get off me!’ Reece protested as Faustino whipped the curtain back and took him by the arm. ‘It’s not my fault you can’t take a joke! And you shouldn’t have stolen from our snack supplies either.’
‘Come with me,’ Faustino said, marching Reece into the living room. ‘And I’m going to need a safeword right this second.’
Kyan and Benjamin gasped.
‘And you two better get back to your bedroom and play quietly,’ Faustino barked. ‘There’s a time and a place for everything. And this just isn’t it. Kyan, you know what Matteo instructed.’
‘Yes, Faustino,’ Kyan said. ‘We’re sorry.’
‘Well I’m not!’ Reece said, stomping his foot on the floor. ‘I’ll give you my safeword but never in a billion years will I need to use it. Pah !’
With that Kyan and Benjamin nervously turned and scurried back up the stairs with one another. If Faustino was anything like Matteo, then Kyan knew that Reece was going to get his bottom warmed up more than he might have anticipated. But Kyan had no interest in sticking around to find out. Faustino had an edge to him, and it didn’t seem beyond the realm of fantasy that he might end up spanking all three of them if he deemed it necessary.
‘Back to my room, now!’ Kyan said, taking Benjamin by the hand and scurrying up the stairs and back into Matteo’s grand master bedroom.
‘ Phew . That was crazy,’ Benjamin said, a big grin on his face as he flopped onto the bed. ‘Is it me, or was Reece trying to get spanked?’
Kyan burst out laughing before covering his mouth, still a little nervous that Faustino might storm up the stairs and dish out more discipline.
‘I think… maybe,’ Kyan said, composing himself. ‘Well… probably definitely .’
There was a moment between Kyan and Benjamin where it was clear that Benjamin had something on his mind. And Kyan could take a good guess at what it was…
‘Matteo, Faustino, and Michael are dangerous men,’ Kyan said. ‘It’s true. I know it’s probably obvious in some ways. It’s pointless denying it. And I don’t want to lie to you and Reece. You’re both my best friends, it’s only fair that you know.’
Benjamin smiled and gave Kyan a big hug as they sat crossed legged on the bed.
‘It’s okay, we both are so happy for you,’ Benjamin said, his voice full of sincerity. ‘And I’ve seen enough things in this city to know what you mean about Matteo and the other Fendi men. Ever heard of a little thing called Reddit?’
Kyan smiled. He should have anticipated that both Benjamin and Reece would have at least Googled Matteo. It was pretty much an open secret that the entire Fendi family were involved in crime on some level or another. Kyan was simply happy that neither Benjamin or Reece had an issue with it – or at least Reece didn’t before Faustino took him away for what was most likely going to end in a very stingy butt.
‘So…’ Benjamin said. ‘I know you can’t tell me the whole story. But how long do you think you’re going to be stuck here? Although, I have to say, it’s not a bad place to be stuck in.’
‘I don’t know,’ Kyan said, trying his best to smile. ‘I think that’s what my Daddy is away doing now. Hopefully when he comes home, he’ll have some good news.’
‘He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?’ Benjamin asked, putting his hand on Kyan’s knee. ‘I can tell. Do you think he might be… the one?’
Kyan felt his cheeks flush red. He had thought about it on more than one occasion but to actually speak it out loud was something else. Still, in the company of Benjamin it felt like it would be good to vocalize it and see how it sounded.
‘Okay, deep breath,’ Kyan said, summoning the courage to utter the words. ‘Yup. I think Matteo could be my Forever Daddy. What am I saying? I want him to be my Forever Daddy so, so bad it hurts!’
With that, Kyan and Benjamin embraced and then rolled onto their back and kicked their legs up in the air excitedly. It felt like such a relief for Kyan to admit his feelings for Matteo out loud and to someone else.
All Kyan could hope for now was that Matteo would be home soon, and more importantly than that, home safe…