Chapter 10
Iturn the phone over in my hand, nervous about the call I’m going to make.
Fuck knows I’m glad Doc managed to get me one so quickly, but it doesn’t make this easier on me.
And hell, I’m surprised he even managed this.
After everything that happened, I expected Hollis to shoot the idea down. He would have had every right to.
Shame fills me and my heart hurts. I have so much to apologize for with them. Fuck. But the first step I need to take is this call…
“Hello?” The suspicious voice calms me more than a shot of whiskey ever could.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Luca. Fuck. Where the hell have you been?” the voice growls, and I cringe.
Before I can answer, he’s already continuing.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you get your ass back here.
We’ve been worried, and don’t think this won’t end up with you on your knees taking your punishment like the good little boy we know you can be. ”
“Is that our Boy?” The second voice washes over me, making me miss them both desperately.
“I’m sorry. I…fucked up.” I squeeze my eyes closed, desperately trying to hold back the sting of tears I feel.
“One moment, I’m putting you on speakerphone.
” The rush of sound comes from a few muted screams in the background and I wince.
Fuck. I interrupted torture time. I’m definitely not off to a good start.
“Alright, we’re here. And yes, you did fuck up.
You need to walk us through what happened, but first… Are you safe?”
Sighing, I smile weakly at the depth of caring in his voice. “Yeah, I am. Kind of. At least, I’m being treated so I can’t leave yet, but the doctor here is a good one.”
The silence is deafening, and while I peek to make sure we haven’t been cut off, I know I shouldn’t be worried. My history makes everything complex, despite how much they reassure me. Suddenly, there’s barely hushed whispering, before it cuts off abruptly.
“Dominic and I will come get you.” I melt at the force in his voice, even as I want to sob from relief. Still, I know that’s not an option.
“You can’t. You know better. You can’t leave your jobs. Coming into another Boss’s territory? Not happening. Especially here. It’s…well, volatile isn’t strong enough of a word. There’s no longer just Il Padrone and Cristian to contend with, but three others.”
“Three? What the fuck is happening at my cousin’s?”
“It’s complicated. And please, don’t tell your father, Teo,” I plead, not needing that headache. There’s already a war here, I don’t need it to be worse.
“Fine. But I’m not happy about this. And we will come get you if there’s an issue. I don’t give a fuck about territories. We’ll deal with the consequences. What’s
important is you.”
Teo sighs and I imagine him pacing, trying to get rid of the nervous energy he carries so often. Softly, he breaks into my musings, “He’s not going to get you back. He hasn’t touched you, has he?”
“No. I don’t think he will.” Guilt slams into me, because I can’t be sure. Not after finding out what he did to Lio.
Fuck. I’ve spent months around human trafficking, and I’ve seen exactly what rape can do. I never thought Il Padrone would go there. After years of being my best friend… It doesn’t make sense. Unless… “Fuck. I’m an idiot.”
“What did you just call yourself?” I jolt at Dominic’s growl.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Sir. I just realized something, and well, I need to get a handle on it.” Taking a deep breath, I steel myself against any protests. “I need to help Il Padrone, and make my apologies to Lio and the rest of them. Then I can come home.”
“I don’t like this. At all. But at least you remember it’s home. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you still haven’t told us the details. You will be paying for it. But, if you insist on staying, we expect regular calls.”
“I do. And I will. I need to remind Il Padrone he’s no longer his father for a reason.
Losing control was always his biggest fear, because shit like this happens.
And with the kidnapping, I should have expected it to trigger a meltdown.
I’ve been there, which is why I have a much different apology to make while I’m here.
” Shame burns me as I remember my history with sexual assault.
A knock at the door distracts me and I groan at the loss of privacy.
“Look, I really do need to go, but I promise, I’ll keep in touch. ”
“If you don’t, we won’t wait. They can fuck off if they think we’ll leave our Boy.”
With a hurried goodbye, I turn off the phone and hide it under the covers. Clearing my throat, I call out, “Enter.”
My heart beats fast as it opens, only to sink when I realize it’s the maid coming to pick up dishes from dinner. Then again, this gives me more time to focus on what needs to be done. Step one is teaching Il Padrone a reminder, one that he gave me before. It’s the only way forward for him.
Fuck, I hate his father with a passion. He twisted my best friend, and this obsession he has with Cristian is just another symptom of the past. I can’t let it stand in the way of his future. Not after he gave me a future of my own. Fucker is lucky he’s my best friend.
My only fear? That I can’t beat back the demons of his past. With all the hatred his father poured into him covering his soul like it’s gasoline, the ember of any additional trauma may have set him on fire.
And if that’s so, is it even possible to stop the fire before Il Padrone burns to ashes, taking everything and everyone he’s ever loved with him…