Chapter 25 Roman
“You need to Dad him,” I tell Carter once Lio leaves the room.
“What? ‘Dad him’?”
“Yeah. Lio…he never had a father, and his mom’s gone. His brother was a dick who gave him away, and his other brother wanted him dead. He needs love and care… You’re a great dad, and if anyone deserves to be doted on, it’s Lio.”
Carter’s face softens, and he reaches for my hand. “It makes me happy you think that, Roman. I love you, more than I knew I could love another person I wasn’t in love with.” A flash of devastation crosses his features for a moment.
I squeeze his hand. “Dad is wrong; you’re the best parent anyone could ever ask for, and I’m glad you’re mine.”
“I’ll always be your father, Roman. No one can take that away, not even Cristian. No matter what he says, what he does; you’re the son I always wanted.”
I can’t help the tears that fall down my cheeks, and I hate it, how easily the emotion can overcome me, especially recently. I wish I was more like Lio, able to hold myself together better. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt so fucking much then.
“I won’t let anyone treat you as if you’re insignificant,” I implore. “You’re mine. My dad, the one who loved me when I was terrified no one else would. You’ve stood by my side, supported me in everything, and I won’t let anyone, not even my father, treat you as if you’re nothing.
“I don’t care if ‘blood’ relations are what most people consider family, or what it takes to have a claim to a name in this world. You are an Amato, always. Even if you’re taking your place in the De Luca Family now. You’re still my dad.”
He leans over and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Ti voglio bene, Figlio Mio.”
“To voglio bene, Dad. Sei la famiglia che scelgo.” Deep blue eyes bore into mine, and Carter gives me a watery smile at that.
“I’m serious about you Dading Lio. You both deserve it.
I always wanted a sibling, but Dad…he said I was enough.
” I let out a bitter laugh. “Guess it’s a good thing I’m an only child.
I wouldn’t want any sibling to have to deal with this shit.
It's bad enough that Cole is subjected to it.”
A strange look passes over Carter’s face, but he shakes it away before I can question him on it. “Cole is resilient, he’ll be fine. He’s a good kid; bright and funny. I’m glad Marcus and Keegan are okay with me spending time with him. The two of you are the only things holding me up some days.”
“Maybe you can bring him in here? I can’t do much, but I can read books, watch movies?”
“Yeah, I think we can do that. I’m baking cookies after I wrap some work stuff up, we can bring you some.” He studies me for a moment. “You know my friendship with Cole doesn’t take away the love I have for you, right?”
“Of course. He’s like…a baby brother, or cousin, or something. There’s plenty of love to go around.”
“Good.” Carter leans in and presses another kiss to my head. “I need to go see Marcus, and arrange Lio’s meeting with Allesandro.”
I stare at him, worry filling me once more. “If Dad asked…would you meet with him?”
Carter lets out a big sigh and looks away, taking his time to answer, which only ratchets my fear and worry up more. “Yeah, I would. I have to hear him out. We’ve been together for almost a decade, Roman. I owe him—”
“You owe him nothing,” I spit.
“Shh.” Carter sets a hand over mine. “I owe him the chance to talk. To explain if he’s gotten his head out of his ass, or to show me if he hasn’t.
I owe him as a fellow Boss, because we may not like it, but we do have to show some decorum now.
We are above them because of our actions, not because we’re better than they are.
If we want to be taken seriously, want them to respect us and believe we mean what we say, then we need to act like it.
“Part of being a Boss means doing things you don’t like; you know this, Figlio. We will not stoop to their level, but we'll show up and play the part we were always meant to.”
I let out a shaky breath and look down at my blanket, instead of my dad’s all too knowing gaze.
He’s right, of course. I learned a lot during my time as Boss when my father and Allesandro were gone.
I learned the type of leader I am, while they are currently showing me what I don’t want to be. But…it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
My father went too far in his treatment of Carter.
It’s one thing to insult me and my choices.
I’m aware of my failings and weaknesses.
But Carter? He’s done nothing but love us since the day he was thrown to the wolves by his own family.
I will not let anyone think they can disrespect him, especially in front of me.
When you love someone, you don’t hurt them the way my father did Carter. Or how Allesandro hurt Lio.
Maybe this position makes me weak. My caring nature and the emotions I can’t always shut off means I’m easier to exploit. But I don’t care.
As long as I’m still breathing, no one will get to hurt my dad or my friend.
“Okay. Just…be careful. And take a guard. I have a feeling Ten will want to go with Lio to meet Allesandro, but maybe take Marcus or Keegan? I know I can trust them to protect you.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” He tilts his head a little. “Is there something going on between Lio and Ten that I need to know about?”
I shrug. “From what I understand…they worked well together when they went to ‘interview’ those guys after the fire. Lio caught Tennant’s interest. I know they haven’t done anything yet, but…they both want to.”
He huffs a laugh and shakes his head. “You’re okay with this?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? Lio deserves someone who will love him and protect him, and help build him into the best version of himself. Hollis and Tennant can give him that. Plus, this means he has to stay close… He won’t leave me if he’s with my lovers, right?”
“Oh, Roman. Lio won’t ever leave you. He might be…more stoic than you, and awkward about affection, but I can see he cares about you. If this dynamic works for all of you, then that’s all that matters. So long as you’re happy and safe.”
“Yeah. I am happy. More than I’ve been in a long time, even with all this shit going on.”
“Then that’s all that matters, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to go check in with Marcus and Keegan, but I’m sure someone will be around soon to sit with you.”
I huff. “I’m perfectly capable of being on my own.” I get a raised brow at that. “Whatever. But can you blame me? It’s so boring being stuck here. Who knows when they’ll let me out again.”
“Listen to Dr. Ranlen, she knows what she’s doing. I’m sure once you’re a little more healed, and able to move around without wincing every few seconds, she’ll reevaluate the bedrest.”
I cringe, hoping he wouldn’t notice that sitting up this straight for so long has been killing me. “Yeah, okay. I’ll behave.”
He lets out a disbelieving laugh. “You do that. I’ll be back later with cookies.”
“Thank you.”
Carter presses one last kiss to my forehead, and I don’t even pretend that I don’t like the affection, it’s needed after the hell we’ve been through.
Sighing, I reach for my phone and call Hollis, hating that I can’t just go down to the office he and Leandro have set up.
“Are you okay, Amore?”
I smile at the concern in his voice, as some of my irritation from being left behind because I was crushed a little by a fucking chandelier eases.
“I’m fine. Checking in to see if you have any news.
We just finished with our meeting, and Lio didn’t quite believe me when I said Luca seems to have had a change of heart. ”
“Ahhh.” Hollis chuckles. “If I didn’t hear it for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it either. Maybe I’ll invite him in to have a listen to the recordings. Though Doc is sending the trips here, so they can give a firsthand account of the new Luca.”
“What? Why? Did something happen?”
Hollis hesitates a moment, before laying it out on the table.
“Leandro picked up a…concerning conversation between Cristian and Allesandro—everything is fine, nothing has happened, this is just a precaution. Doc doesn’t think Cristian would actually go through with it, but Tennant isn’t taking any chances with this Cristian. "
I curse. “Yeah, they definitely need to be here then. What about Doc?”
“They’re staying where they are. Ten and Doc went round and round about it, but the stubborn brat stayed firm.
He needs to be there for Luca—he’s better, but Doc doesn’t trust Allesandro with him.
He also said, and I quote, ‘If someone needs to make the hard decisions, then it can be me. You won’t pity me or talk me out of it.
I can do what needs to be done, so shut up and go find a lover you can fuck into submission.
’” I laugh and Hollis sighs. “Yeah, can’t say this whole situation has changed Doc’s attitude, or his relationship with Ten.
Those two are…if I didn’t know their story, I’d think they hated each other. ”
I snort. That…is a good way to put it. I know Doc and Tennant are friends, and care about one another, otherwise neither would get so snippy towards the other and live to tell about it. They just have a unique love language, is all.
“Any other news?”
“Not at the moment. I’m working on backtracking the two calls to Daniel.
The one from the supposed organization is layered in encryption, which could mean it’s legit.
That’s both good and bad news for us. I’ll be able to break through it eventually.
It doesn’t matter what aliases, security measures, etcetera, they try to use.
I have an alert out now on the number and some keywords, so if anything pops up, we’ll be able to use it and track them down.
“The failed hit is different as that came from a burner phone. I can’t trace it, and even if I could, they probably ditched the phone soon after the call. I’ve put feelers out to my contacts, so we’ll see what pops up.”
“Okay, thanks. Keep me informed?”
“Yes, Boss.”
I swallow back the urge to ask him not to call me that. Instead, I try to embrace it, letting it wash over me. Shivering, I clutch my phone a little tighter.
“Thanks, Hol.”
“Don’t thank me for doing my job, Amore. This is the least I can do. If you feel you owe me something, then you can give it when this is all over. You, me, Ten, Jude, Lio, Benjamin, Ignacio, and maybe even Antonio…we’re all owed some downtime. A lot of time spent in bed, Giocattolo.”
I moan and shift as my cock perks up with interest. “Yes, please.”
Hollis laughs darkly. “As soon as you and Ignacio are better, and this is all over with, it’s a promise, Toy.”
I huff out a sigh. “Let’s hope it’s soon then. I’ll let you get to work. Call or text me if you need something from me, or you find anything.”
“I will. Ti amo, Roman. I’ll see you for dinner.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up and drop my phone onto my lap, wishing there was more I could do, but being injured aside, I’m a bigger, more important target now that I’m Boss, and that means less time in the field.
Boss. I let the word roll around in my head for a while, knowing how undeserving I am of the title and position, but I'm damn sure going to make everyone who believes in me proud. Because for some reason, Carter and Lio, and my lovers, and all the men who’ve pledged to follow me, don’t see the young kid who is out of his depth, but the man I can only ever hope to be.