11. Roman
O h. Shit.
Of all the things I planned for this meeting, all the moving parts I organized and reorganized… And I let something as stupid as this slip by me…
Il Padrone flicks his gaze between Benjamin and Ignacio, his scowl deepening when he pauses at the hand Ignacio sets on me. It’s not the simple, harmless touch of a friend, or family member. His hand rests heavily on my lower back—the intimate touch of a lover.
Dad’s black eyes are soul-sucking, and I am terrified to look at him, knowing that once I do, he’ll be able to read everything.
I’ve gotten better at hiding my feelings, but like with Ten, I’ve never been able to hide from the man who raised me.
They taught me all the tricks of the trade.
There’s not a thought of mine that they can’t read, no matter how hard I try.
The Bosses wait us out, their patience far greater than mine. I don’t want to be the one to break first, but I know Dad well, he won’t say a damn word until he thinks I’m ready to open up.
I don’t know Il Padrone very well at all, but I know enough to be sure that this sitting in silence thing is not good.
“P—” Ignacio starts, but I hold up a hand.
Between the three of us, I am the one with the most authority.
The one who must lead by example. “Ignacio and I have…connected,” I say slowly.
“It’s new for both of us, and it’s been a bit slow, but we’re seeing where it’s going.
It wasn’t planned, and I know it’s not what you want for me, but he’s helped keep me sane. ”
Swallowing, I try my best to keep my tone even and smooth, not showing an inch of the nerves running through me. “Hollis, Jude, and Ten…they’re all okay with this. Ignacio isn’t part of what the four of us have, and I like it that way. It’s different, he’s different. I feel…good when I’m with him.”
Il Padrone says, “I didn’t know the two of you were looking to open your relationship to someone else.” He once again looks between Ignacio and Benjamin.
“We didn’t,” Ignacio replies. “What I have with Roman, it does not include Benjamin.” My lover takes a breath and squares his shoulders.
He drops his hand away from me, and I mourn the loss of his touch, but I understand.
“Padrone, Benjamin and I…we decided to end our engagement and part ways as friends.”
The seconds stretching between those words and Il Padrone’s reaction are the longest of my fucking life.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice your missing rings?” he asks in a cool tone. “Thought I would be too busy to notice such a significant detail was missing from you both? Or that I would be too worried over my own love to miss your not so subtle signals to your new one?”
Ignacio takes a few steps forward, stopping directly in front of his Boss, and goes to his knees.
I have to bite my tongue in order to hold in my gasp. Benjamin takes a step closer to me, and the support is helpful, though I fight not to shrink back at Dad and Il Padrone’s assessing gazes.
“Forgive me, Padrone,” Ignacio says. “But I love him.”
I do gasp this time, a lump forming in my throat. It is far too early for such words, but hearing them come from Ignacio, as he kneels in front of his Boss—his Master —is more than I ever thought I would want.
“Love,” Il Padrone scoffs. “I gave you special permission to marry Benjamin, and yet you’re repaying me by breaking it off with him? And I’m supposed to believe you love Roman. I’m not sure you know what those words mean, Chaos.”
Ignacio offers his hands out to Il Padrone and says, “Forgive me. I understand I went about this the wrong way, but I do love him. I made mistakes with Benjamin. I discovered I am not all he needs to be happy, nor is he all of what I need.
“I do still love him, in a way. I will always love him. But that love has changed. This is different. What I feel for Roman is love. I know what I promised before, and I do not regret it, just like I cannot regret falling for someone else. Punish me, I’ve earned it, but leave Roman out of this.”
Tears spill down my cheeks at Ignacio’s emotional words. I didn’t expect any of this, but… “I love him, too.”
“Roman,” Dad chides.
“It’s true! We didn’t mean for any of this to happen, but we only had each other.
The Amatos and Martellis…we were all that was left, so we made do.
And…I fell in love with a Martelli. Unplanned, and maybe unwanted by you and Allesandro, but it happened, and I am not going to apologize for that.
The Martellis have their way, I understand that, and respect it.
” Swallowing, I meet the intense blue gaze of Il Padrone, hoping he can see the truth of my words in my own tear-filled eyes.
“And I will accept whatever I have to, in order to be with one of the men I love.
Because I do know what real love is. I've been lucky enough to experience it several times over, and I will do anything to keep it.”
Il Padrone doesn’t answer me, instead he turns to Benjamin. “And you? Have you gone and not only disrespected my generous consideration, but fallen for someone else as well?”
I can practically feel the nerves rolling off Benjamin, and I close the scant few inches between us, taking his hand. Lio isn’t here, but he is both Benjamin’s best friend and mine, and so I will do whatever I can to support those he cares about—despite Benjamin still being unsure of me.
“Yes,” Benjamin tells his Boss, his voice a little shaky but clear. “Tennant and I are in a relationship.” He squeezes my hand as he says, “We fell in love first. If you’re to blame or punish anyone, it should be me. I am the one who broke things off with Ignacio.”
He lets go of my hand and drops to his knees. Offering himself up to Il Padrone’s mercy.