Chapter 4 Keegan
My stomach churns as I clench my hands into fists. If I had an outlet right now, I’d gladly fucking destroy it. Two Bosses. Two-thirds of the Council. The son of the man who has stolen my heart… Gone. On my watch. What. The. Fuck.
Grinding my teeth, I stare at the phone propped up on the fucking hospital bed, which, of course, I’m in. As if enough hasn’t gone wrong. Thankfully, the gunshot was barely anything. At least, in my opinion. I’ve had far worse, and it’s not going to affect my dominant hand.
My sister, of course, has a differing opinion. In this case, I’m not worried about pulling on the big brother role with her. Normally, I defer to her expertise, but in this case? Fuck that. I have more than enough on my plate.
I huff at the knock on the door. It’s either another guard Tennant is forcing on me, since the asshole has decided to become more protective than a lion defending his pride, or it's my sister coming to lecture me more, which…pass. Trying to push my anger down, but failing, I snap, “Enter.”
It’s not either of the people I expected. Fuck. I think it’s far worse…
Il Padrone—or, I guess, Allesandro, as we’ve been warned to call him—cautiously walks inside, his hands collapsed in front of him. My left eye twitches, as my emotional control is shot, and in walks the man who made life both a misery and amazing. Fuck. I’m not ready for this shit.
He stops a few feet away from my bed, watching me warily.
Neither of us say a word, there’s too much to say, but yet, nothing at the same time.
I curse Sarah for taking my weapons. I’m not sure what to do with this man…
I don’t know him. That’s clear from the complete lack of arrogance.
Hell, he’s not even wearing a suit, which really disturbs me for some fucking reason.
Aside from during sex, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him without a suit.
It wouldn’t have surprised me if he fucking slept in one.
“Is there something you need?” I finally give in and ask. It comes out far more gentle than I planned, but fuck, the man in front of me looks so damn lost.
Allesandro rocks back onto his heels, crimson staining his cheeks as he grips his hands so tight that white shows along his knuckles. He lowers his eyes, and with a quiet, deferential voice, says, “I would like to help find Roman and Emilio. Please.”
Scoffing, I raise an eyebrow. “And how exactly would you be able to help? From what I’ve heard, you’ve been busy giving up. Now you expect me to believe you’re suddenly up to finding our enemies and taking them out?”
He flinches, and I know my barbed words hit their mark. I steel myself against the guilt that suddenly washes over me. It somehow feels wrong to mock this man, which…fuck. What is this world coming to?
With a sigh, he nods, and for a moment, it seems like he’s going to walk out.
But then he stiffens his spine and raises his eyes to mine.
This time, I see the flames, the need that I can recognize.
He’s certainly not the great Il Padrone he used to be, but at least there’s something there. And I can work with that.
“You’re right. I gave up. On me. Because I didn’t deserve anything else.
But I will never give up on Emilio. He is the only thing in life that makes sense.
” He touches his chest briefly, but doesn’t look away.
“I live for him. Maybe that doesn’t make sense.
Fuck knows my father would never understand it, but Emilio is the only reason I have for breathing, for living, and I will do everything I can to find him and get him back where he belongs. ”
Grinding my teeth, I retort, “And where does he belong?”
“With the Council. He is an amazing Boss, and what you all have created is special. It’ll work.
I am proud of all of my former Boys, and together, I know you’ll exceed anything I could have managed in my lifetime.
That is the best legacy I could have asked for, even if I know it’s despite me more than because of me. ”
I look up at the ceiling, wishing his words weren’t daggers to my heart, because I know Marcus’s opinion of the asshole, and…
unfortunately, I can understand why. With a deep exhale, I return my attention to him.
“Very well. I’ll talk to Carter and see what's the best way to have you help. But, I want a promise from you.”
“Anything.” Allesandro doesn’t hesitate, and I wonder what the fuck Luca did to the man to change him this radically. Or maybe this is who he always would have been, if he didn’t go through all the fuckery he did.
“One, I need you to get better. I don’t give a fuck what that means. You listen to my sister who, for some reason, still cares about you. Therapy, actually eating, whatever. Do it. If you backslide, you’re gone. And second…pick up the phone and call Marcus.”
Allesandro swallows what must be an instinctive denial, but he surprisingly pushes it down. His vivid blue eyes don’t waver from mine as he states, “You have my promise. And as soon as I can have access to a phone, I’ll call him. He’s impressive, isn’t he?”
I want to bite back, “No thanks to you”, but I don’t.
For one, I can’t find it in myself to grind him down any further than he already has been.
And second? Fuck if he’s not one of the reasons my War is so damn good.
Even if I disagree with the methods. Thank fuck the Council is making other choices.
I don’t say it, but that’s the real question in all of this…
Can the mighty Il Padrone live under the rules set by others? And somehow…I think he can. Fuck.
He must sense I’m tired, because he leaves as quietly as he entered, and I add “figuring that shit out” to my list. Shaking my head, I wait for Sarah to come back and let me out of here. I have too much on my list, and if I’m right, Tennant is probably unravelling even further than I am.
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens. No matter what, we will get Lio and Roman back. We will destroy our enemies. As for the rest? Well, that’ll be a matter of time.
Fuck if I know what to hope for at this point, but as long as I have my family, that’s what matters. I guess we’ll find out exactly who will be part of that family later on…
Choices. We all have to make them. I can only hope that Allesandro understands this is his last chance. I’ll bring the sword down on him myself if needed…if others don’t beat me to it first.