7. Emilio
R ed hot fury slams into me as I hold Hollis in my arms. It chokes me and I struggle against it, against the need to kill.
What do I do when there’s nobody to kill?
The demons that Hollis faces…fuck. I’ve been there.
The way those shadowy bastards consume the mind makes me sick, and seeing it on Hollis’s face?
I want to go back to the warehouse and torture the three men we left alive. Fuck waiting for Tennant. But I can’t. I can’t leave Hollis, and so I stuff down my anger, knowing it’s a selfish feeling. It’s not what he needs.
“Come with me, Angel,” I murmur against his skin, tugging gently while not letting go.
It’s awkward to walk with him in my arms, but I don’t give a fuck. I manage to stay on my feet as we go, only switching to place him by my side when we get to the stairs.
“I’m not a fucking angel,” he manages to say through his sobs. “I’m a failure. Worthless.”
Growling, the pain spikes through me, and when he flinches, I struggle to shove my ball of rage away. It’s not what he requires. I’m adrift in his pain and his needs, confused on how to move forward.
There’s only one person I know who can manage the chaotic thoughts I struggle with, and I hope he can do the same for Hollis. Fuck knows I’m not good enough. Not at handling this, and hell, I’m not nearly good enough for him. Not that it’ll stop me from being his.
“You’re not worthless. You’re my Angel. My…Sir.” I swallow hard at putting the word out there, especially without talking to Master about it. I can only hope he’ll understand. “Now, come with me. Please.”
My quiet entreaty must break through his pain, and he follows me silently.
Part of that pisses me off. That stillness isn’t normal for him.
It’s as if his light has gone out, and I have no fucking clue what to do.
It scares me, and that…that I don’t know how to handle.
I desperately want to wrap him up in my arms, and refuse to let him go anywhere that may hurt him, but I can’t smother him.
And hell, I don’t even understand why I feel this way.
“Don’t you dare pity me,” Hollis warns me, his voice dropping low, and I almost sigh in relief. That anger is far better than what I stumbled on.
Shaking my head, I hurry him along. “Never, Angel. Never. We both know what it’s like to dance with demons. The fact they’re in our minds means nothing. They’re still real.”
I open the door to mine and Master’s bedroom, breathing in relief at the sight of Master. If anyone can help, it’s him. He’s the other half of my soul, and the only one I know strong enough to stand up to the shadows. I hope he’ll do the same for Hollis.
I’m not sure how Hollis managed to get a piece of my heart. It’s…weird. And uncomfortable. Gritting my teeth, I ignore it. Master will help me with that later. After we take care of my Angel.
Master quirks an eyebrow at the sight of us, but doesn’t say anything. He’s in the process of stripping out of his suit, and doesn’t hesitate to continue as I push Hollis into the bathroom. I run the tap over the sink and gently coax his hands under the water.
“Fuck,” he grumbles at the sting, and I bite my tongue to stop the words that want to tumble out. Instead, I carefully clean the wounds, grateful they’re not deep enough to need stitches. I turn the faucet off and grab a towel, dabbing his delicate skin dry.
I hesitate briefly before bending down and brushing my lips across the wound. When he tries to tug his arm out of my hand, I shake my head. “No, Angel. You’re beautiful. Always.”
“He’s right, Hollis.”
Hollis startles at Master’s rumbling words.
I struggle not to slump in relief as Master reaches around us and grabs the medical kit.
Flicking it open, he takes out the antibiotic ointment and gauze.
It doesn’t take long for him to patch up Hollis’s injuries, and only then do I feel like I can breathe.
“Alright. Keep that on, and have one of the docs check it tomorrow. I will be following up on that.”
Hollis opens his mouth to argue, but Master’s glare stops him. Instead, his cheeks flush and he mumbles, “Thank you.”
I start to strip off my own clothes, glad I had already taken a shower before wandering the house and stumbling upon Hollis. When I’m down to my underwear, I work on Hollis’s clothes. Il Padrone leans against the wall, his arms crossed as he takes us in.
It’s hard not to get distracted by him and his powerful muscles on display, but I force myself to pay attention to what I’m doing.
Every inch of Hollis’s skin that I uncover has me desperate for more.
Fuck. My cock hardens in my underwear, but I know that’s the last thing Hollis needs right now.
He’s exhausted and emotionally worn out.
Master guides us both to the bed, and Hollis hesitates before getting in. “Just…sleep with us. Please?”
His face softens at my request, and he cups my cheek before he slowly kisses me.
My lips follow his, but he pulls back with a chuckle, a new lightness filling him.
I slide into bed after him and curl my body around his.
Master turns off the lights before joining us, and he places his hand on my hip as I run my fingers through Hollis’s hair, waiting for him to fall asleep.
It doesn’t take long for exhaustion to overtake him, and I sigh in relief as he finally falls under.
I carefully twist my upper body so that I can look at Master.
There’s only a sliver of moonlight coming in through the window, but it’s enough to see his vibrant eyes.
I go to speak, even if I have no fucking clue what I’m going to say, but he lays his finger against my lips.
“Shh, Little One. We’ll talk later. For now, you need sleep, too. We’ll be fine.”
When he moves his finger, he bends and kisses me deeply—hungrily—and I bite back a groan of frustration at the way my dick twitches.
He laughs silently before urging me to once again curl around Hollis.
Once I do, he surrounds me, and it doesn’t take much for me to fall asleep.
Safely between the two men that somehow own me.
My soul. My heart. And…fuck. Every inch of my existence.
I hope Master knows what to do with this, because I sure as fuck don’t.