Chapter 6 Cielo
Cielo
There isn’t much that shocks me. I’ve seen far too much in my life for things to knock me off balance.
Today, however, I am shocked—and angry. I’ve given everything to Lorenzo—all my trust and loyalty—and yet he hasn’t afforded me the same courtesy.
Keeping such information from me, after I’ve shared everything with him, is a betrayal in my eyes. One I never thought possible from him.
I sat there as he tried to explain away his reasons for keeping me in the dark, but none of them suffice. I’ve stolen and taken beatings. I’ve killed for him. I’ve done it all because he is the closest thing I have to a father. But he isn’t my father, he’s Benjamin Moss’s.
He knows I’m angry. But that didn’t stop him from asking a favour of me, a favour I had zero inclination to take on.
But then he looked at me in that proud parent way and I wilted.
Lorenzo is my only family, and even though I am furious, I can’t deny him his request. It’s why I am here, outside Benjamin’s room, readying myself to go in and talk with him.
It doesn’t go to plan though because of course he’s plotting to run away and of course we exchange heated words.
There is something about the cardigan-clad man that both infuriates and excites me.
He looks so weak, but his streak of fire is never far from igniting.
I can see the fear in his eyes, even though he’s too proud to let it show elsewhere.
Well, I see his fear, and that is what I’ll use to keep him in line.
Lorenzo asked me to look after him. Keep him safe. Try to teach him to defend himself. It’s a laughable task because we both know Benjamin wants nothing to do with me or him. As he shouted at me seconds ago, he just wants to go home.
I wonder if he realises I’d love to go home, too. Back to Sicily, where none of this exists. I want to be in the villa looking out over our vineyard, taking care of important business, not babysitting a man who is going to do everything in his power to make my life hell.
I’ve told Benjamin to accept and adjust. That’s advice I need to take myself, because I know I won’t go against Lorenzo’s wishes.
I’ll do my job even though it will be taxing, and frankly, below me.
I guess the Don’s plan to step back and retire is also on hold.
I can’t watch his son twenty-four seven and run the business.
It’s a clusterfuck all around, in my opinion. One giant step back for me and him.
A part of me wishes I’d argued with him instead of sitting there silently.
I should have told him to look after the damn man himself.
It’s what he deserves. His actions have turned our world upside down—ripped the curtain back on a truth Benjamin clearly didn’t want to know. Me either, for that matter.
He stands with hands on hips, glaring at me. “What about my mums?”
“What about them?” I keep my tone level, hoping to seem unaffected by him. I’m pissed at myself that his existence even registers on my radar, let alone irks me.
“They’re in danger too. We need to get them…bring them here!”
“Not my problem.” God, I wish that were true.
But I can see what’s about to transpire.
Benjamin will throw a fit and the Don will cower to him.
Benjamin makes him weak. I can see it in his eyes.
He wants to be the father he never knew; the father he craved to be.
Now I know why he took me under his wing.
I was a cheap replacement for the son he had to give away.
“How can you be so cold?” he replies incredulously. “What if this were your family?”
I want to sneer at him and tell him my family is gone, but I have some shred of self-control left. He doesn’t deserve my life story.
“I’ll talk to Don Fusaro.” It’s the only thing I can think of saying.
I purposely call him by his title. To call him Lorenzo in front of Benjamin feels too intimate.
It’s a part of our lives he doesn’t deserve.
Benjamin might be his bastard child, but he’s a stranger not worthy of our respect or loyalty.
That’s earned through sweat and blood. Benjamin has shed neither for this family.
“Thank you,” he says with a little less venom.
“Don’t thank me. I couldn’t care less what happens to you or your family. I do what the Don asks. Nothing more. You are not in charge here, Mr Moss. Remember that.”
I internally wince at the lie. I don’t want to give a shit about him. I want to mean what I said about being happy to leave him to fend for himself or being more than willing to kill him, but I don’t, and it makes me even angrier at the entire situation.
I place my gun back in its holster. Benjamin is staring at me strangely and I hate that it makes me self-conscious.
Casting a quick glance at my chest, I make sure there isn’t a button open or a stain on my shirt.
I see nothing. Flicking my eyes up, I see what he was looking at.
Interesting. It seems Mr Moss is a fan of my well-defined chest. The smirk is instantaneous, and he knows I’ve caught him looking.
“You need to follow me,” I say as he darts his eyes about the room, his cheeks reddening.
“Where? Why?”
“I’m to show you to your room, Mr Moss.” Like a fucking lapdog. “It’s late and you need rest.”
“I want to stay here with Kevin,” he shoots back. I sigh internally, because of course, he has to argue. Stepping forward, I have him over my shoulder before he registers my movements. It doesn’t take him long to start screaming and beating my back with his fists, demanding I put him down.
Glaring at Kevin, warning him not to do anything stupid, I swivel around and march out of the room with an apoplectic Benjamin.
I’m tired and want to relax before sleeping.
My mental fortitude is waning and I cannot deal with his dramatic shit right now.
We’d still be arguing in Kevin’s room if I hadn’t taken action.
Benjamin might be small, but he’s no pushover. I have to considerably tighten my grip to keep him in place as I ascend the stairs to the second floor. Kicking the door open, I dump him off my shoulder and onto his bed. “Your room. Good night.”
I want to laugh as I watch him scrambling to get to his feet. “You can’t just manhandle me,” he screams.
I’m in front of him in a second with my hand wrapped around his throat. “I can do as I please. This is my family, my house, and my rules.”
He narrows his eyes in defiance. “Is it your house? Your rules?”
Gritting my teeth, I lean even closer. My lips are millimetres away from his. “Yes, it is. Don’t be fooled. I am the head of this family.”
His retort is instantaneous and cold, “No, Cielo, you’re a replacement.”
The wind is knocked from my chest. I’ve underestimated him. He has a cruel streak, just like his father. I’m a little proud, to be honest. He isn’t cowering. In fact, I think he’s even surprising himself if his wide eyes are anything to go by. He’s not used to delivering such cutting words.
“The door will be locked,” I grit out. Shoving away from him, I stalk out of the room, filled with emotions I have no business feeling.
Why is my usual composure failing around him?
I’ve dealt with the worst of human society and none of their remarks have ever hit their targets.
I don’t care enough about them to let their words affect me.
But Benjamin’s have. They’ve hit a painful bullseye.
Deep down, I know why. As cold and ruthless as I am—as I want the outside world to believe—I crave what can never truly be mine.
Lorenzo took me in and treated me like his own, but the hard truth is I’m not, and I never will be.
However, I have worked my ass off to get where I am today, and no one is going to take that away from me.
Being a replacement is enough. I can live with that. There is no other choice.
My room is opposite Benjamin’s. I wish now I’d locked him in elsewhere. How can I relax when he is so close? He makes me want to storm back in and scream at him. This waif of a man has well and truly gotten under my skin.
“You look like you want to murder someone,” Roberto says, rounding the corner, heading to his own chamber.
He is the answer to my prayers. I need to distract myself from the past few minutes, and what better way than sex? Roberto and I have not fucked in a while, but I think it’s time to break the seal once more. We both know it will be nothing more than a release.
“My bed,” I growl. His pupils dilate and he licks his lips. He takes a final step towards me and claims my mouth roughly. Lust takes over, and instead of dragging him into my room, I spin him and slam him against Benjamin’s door.
“Fuck me, Cielo,” Roberto gasps.
Dropping to my knees, I rip his pants down until they pool at his feet.
Roberto’s hands grasp at the door, looking for something to hold on to.
I waste no time taking him into my mouth, swirling my tongue around his length.
He’s already hard for me, and I need this.
Maybe it’s my sadistic side that wants Benjamin to listen to me sucking another man against the door that holds him captive.
Or maybe it’s my way of demonstrating the power I have.
The power he just stripped from me with a few callous words.
Whatever my reasoning, Roberto is panting and slamming his hand rhythmically against the door as I take him closer to the edge.
As he chants louder, I can’t help but wonder what Benjamin is doing.
Is he listening? Touching himself or curled up on the bed, plugging his ears?
My gut says the former, however. He’ll hate himself for feeling turned on.
I saw it in his eyes when he stared at my body.
Here is my opportunistic revenge. He made me feel out of control, so now I’m returning the favour.
“Fuck, Cielo. That was something else.” Roberto slumps against the door, his face flushed and his breathing laboured. “Please tell me I get a turn.”
“Go to my room,” I say, my voice slightly breathless. Roberto will think it’s because I’m turned on and in need. But the truth is, I lost myself to thoughts of Benjamin Moss.
Roberto practically strides to my room with eager anticipation, and I know I’ll follow, but I need a moment.
I’m still facing Benjamin’s locked door and an irrational need to see him almost knocks me back to my knees.
Is he standing on the other side, straining to hear what’s happening?
Am I losing my fucking mind? A growl escapes my throat in sheer exasperation.
What the fuck am I doing, getting all bent out of shape over a bookstore manager?
A man who could ruin the life I’ve so carefully curated.
Tearing myself away, I cast all thoughts of him to the back of my mind.
It’s the shock of learning who he is. That’s the only rational explanation for feeling and behaving this way.
I just need to recentre myself and concentrate on what matters.
Yes, I’ll make sure he comes to no harm, but that’s it.
He can stay locked away with his friend while I reestablish my position.
Lorenzo and I are going to have another talk, and this time, he will do the listening.
I am Cielo Mannucci, for fuck’s sake. Maybe it’s time to remind my beloved Don of that. He knows what I’m capable of. He knows what I have done and sacrificed for him and this family. There is no Fusaro legacy without me at the helm.