18. Jude
M y curious nature has always been my downfall. It’s how I found myself entangled with the Amatos in the first place, though never did I expect it to lead me here . Everything I’ve been through, all the pain and suffering, the permanent damage to my body, and it is Roman’s belief in me that has me stumbling.
I won’t let him down. He’s given me far more than I could ever repay him for, and there’s nothing in this world that would have me disappointing him. But that doesn’t mean I don’t question his mental state.
Nevertheless, here I am in one of Tennant’s favorite torture chambers, waiting for Benjamin and Marcus Martelli to be escorted here, along with their “present” to Ten.
“Sit, Agnellino,” Tennant says, pointing to a chair near the far edge of the room.
“I’m fine.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion, Jude. It’s going to be a long day. I’m going to put both of you through your paces. Ideally, I’d test you both physically before we got to this part of the curriculum, but I can’t say I’m disappointed by the change; it’s refreshing. Now, it’s just you and me, so sit. There will be plenty of time to prove yourself and your strength later. Besides,” he grins, “if anyone dares question your resilience, I will be happy to put them in their place.”
Arguing with him is futile, especially when I know he’s just trying to look out for me. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that I’m not on my own anymore, that other people are around who care for my well-being.
I hate admitting my limitations. Being deaf has never bothered me, not really. It’d be pointless to gripe about something I was born with, but thanks to my bitch of a mother trying to kill me, I will never be able to walk the same again.
Jayden’s insistence and continued work with me has given back much of my range of motion and strength, but it’s not the same, and admitting that is a hard pill to swallow. Especially when the Family is now counting on me to survive my trials with Tennant, and stand by Roman’s side.
I refuse to look weak in front of the Martellis, especially when one of them has already gone out of their way to insult me. As much as I hate Tennant stepping in, I’m glad he did—not that I’ll ever tell him that. After a lifetime of being othered, and treated like shit by my family, my tolerance for such things is at an all-time low. I would have hated to kill the bastard and make things worse for Roman, especially when he has so many more important things to worry about right now.
Tennant’s wave in my peripheral gets my attention, and I look over at him. “They’re here,” he says, brandishing his phone.
Standing, I make my way over to him. “How do you want to play this?”
His grin is slightly unhinged. “I am going to break you, Agnellino.”
“I’m ready.”
He laughs a little. “I hope so.”
He opens the door and makes a detour to the bathroom, before leading the way to the main room of the warehouse, where Enzo is waiting with Marcus, Benjamin, and their offering.
“Was the escort really necessary? Either you trust us or you don’t,” Marcus says when we appear.
Tennant shrugs casually. “There are some things that are on a need-to-know basis. You’re lucky you’re here at all, I could have just as easily sent an escort for Benjamin only.”
Marcus snorts. “Yeah, right. I would have liked to see that.”
“Next time,” Tennant muses. “It’ll be fun.”
“Uhh, or not,” Benjamin says. “I don’t think Lio or Ignacio will be happy if you do that. Not to mention, Il Padrone will be back by then—hopefully—so, unless you have a death wish, bad idea.”
Tennant grins. “Oh, did you think this was a one-time offer? No, you’re mine now, or, at least, you will be. And until I release you, you do what I say, when I say it. Understand?”
“That’s not what we agreed to,” Marcus snarls.
“Did I forget to send the fineprint?” Tennant asks in a cheerful voice. “You signed up for this, which means it’s my rules. And if I want to kidnap you from your home for a while…there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
“We’ll leave.” Marcus takes a step forward, to put himself in front of Benjamin.
“No.” Benjamin grabs Marcus’s arm and pulls him back. “He’s right. I asked for this.” Benjamin raises his chin and looks straight at Tennant. “Do your worst.” He gives a pain-filled smile. “I’ve already been through hell and back for my Family. Anything you throw at me will pale in comparison to that.”
Tennant laughs while I watch Benjamin in fascination. His lack of fear is…reckless. The way his cheeks tinge pink, and the quick breaths he takes, tells me he’s not as fearless as he wants to appear, but any challenge thrown at Ten is going to be taken; either he doesn’t realize that, or he’s so desperate to prove himself, he doesn’t care. No matter the answer, all it will do is end up with him broken and bleeding.
“We’ll see about that.” Tennant tosses the bag he retrieved from the bathroom at Benjamin. “I’m glad you wore your makeup, good to know you’re not completely hopeless. Now, remove it.”
“Excuse me? You can’t be serious.”
“I am always serious, Benjamin,” Tennant says, just low enough that I can barely hear him. “This is what you agreed to. I told you, I’m going to break you, and strip you of everything that makes you you .”
“This is uncalled for!” Marcus protests.
“You’re no longer needed here,” Tennant tells him. “Enzo will escort you back, and he will work with you and Carter on the best ways to utilize our forces, so we’re not spread too thinly.”
“I think I’d better stay,” he replies.
“No,” Tennant says calmly. “You won’t. You have a job to do, and that doesn’t involve being here. Benjamin is in good hands. I would hate to tell your Boss you’re being uncooperative.”
“It’s fine, Marcus. I got this. I’m not afraid of him.”
Marcus looks at Benjamin, and says something too low for me to hear, but he gestures to the bag in Benjamin’s hand, so I can guess. They exchange quiet words for a moment before Marcus turns back to shoot daggers at Tennant.
“The Boss said no permanent damage…”
“I agreed not to kill him. How bloody he ends up will be up to him and how well he can listen.”
“Are you sure about this?” Marcus asks one last time.
“Do as you’re told, Marcus,” Benjamin says in a firm voice, the order clear.
“Yes, boss,” Marcus grits out, bowing to Benjamin’s authority over him. “Call me if you need anything.”
“It’ll be fine.”
Marcus looks dubious, but he allows Enzo to escort him out of the warehouse. Once he’s gone, Tennant calls for one of the guards from the outside to drag his newest toy off to the torture room he prepped earlier.
“Now,” Tennant says. “Are you going to do as you were told, or will our first lesson start here?”
“Do you know how long it takes to get makeup this flawless? And you want me to just wipe it off all willy-nilly? Because you said so? How is that okay? I came here for your so-called “training”, not to be degraded like this.”
Tennant moves closer to Benjamin, and he holds his ground, lifting his chin in defiance. “That’s exactly what I want,” Ten says. “I am glad you put the makeup on, this would have been far more painful for you if you went without, but now you’re here, and you’re mine. I will make you into the perfect little soldier, and to do that, I will first strip you of everything that makes you unique. Make no mistake, you will be mine , and once you are… I will show you how to rebuild yourself into something even your own Family members are afraid of.”
“And if I don’t?”
I move in closer, so as to not miss a word of what Tennant has to say. Ten looks at me, the smile on his face is pure mayhem. “Then I will enjoy ruining you. Your choice, Topolino.”