Chapter 35 Emilio
“Emilio.” I swallow at Master—no, Allesandro’s voice. The warmth of it envelops me, and the command pulls me to him immediately.
Forcing myself to stay planted where I am, I incline my head and answer, “Allesandro.”
A slash of pain crosses his face, but I breathe through my initial reaction to give in.
Fuck. It’s not easy when my heart is bleeding all over the fucking place.
I desperately want to go to my knees, to beg, to promise and receive promises in exchange.
Still, I stiffen my spine and harden my heart against him.
“May I talk to you?” he asks.
“We are talking.” I deliberately misunderstand him, but he doesn’t accept the easy out. Instead, he gestures a little ways off so we have more space for this fucking ‘discussion’.
Antonio’s wordless growl has me pausing before I roll my shoulders back and follow.
Allesandro swallows hard before raising his hand, seemingly to touch me.
I step back, refusing his touch, because I know I’d die just to have his hands on me again, and I can’t afford that weakness.
Biting back a sigh, he grits out, “I’m worried, Caro.
The reports about a hit being called out on you…
I understand you have allies of your own, but I hope you’re being safe. ”
Baring my teeth, I narrow my eyes on him. “We are strong. I don’t need you to interfere.”
Running his fingers through his hair, he stares at me in frustration. It’s something I have rarely seen from him. “I know you can take care of yourself. You’re Death. But that doesn’t mean I don’t worry. You’re—”
Allesandro shakes his head, cutting himself off.
I want to insist he finish that sentence.
I’m what? Foolish? His? Fuck, I can’t handle the mixture of emotions swirling inside me.
I shift uncomfortably, struggling not to edge away from the man who holds my heart, owns my soul, and crushes my spirit all at once.
“I’m fine. I think you should be more concerned about your sweetheart.
” I tilt my head toward the tableau I caught out of the corner of my eye.
Whatever Cristian said, it upset my fellow Boss.
For a moment, I’m thankful Benjamin isn’t here.
I have a feeling another knife would find itself buried in Cristian… and hell, probably Allesandro as well.
Surprisingly, Allesandro doesn’t turn toward his lover.
He waves my statement off, and I’m not sure whether to feel relief or fury.
He chose that asshole over us and now he’s setting him aside?
What. The. Fuck. I clench my hands into fists and step back, needing to put space between us before I do something that will jeopardize this shaky alliance.
Unfortunately, he follows me. First, one step. Then, two. And another, until he’s so close I can feel the heat pouring off him. “Tesoro, I’m letting you have this time, but you know you belong with me.”
“With you or under you?” I sneer, my body vibrating with the unfairness of it all, the broken promises littered across the ground between us. Fuck him if he thinks I’ve forgotten.
Allesandro’s lips pull into a tight line as he raises his hand to touch me once again.
Before it can connect, I’m being pulled back and cradled in two arms that have become synonymous for protection—for love.
Tennant’s voice drips with violence as he tells my former Master, “You don’t want to do that. ”
“Who are you to interfere?” Allesandro drops his hand, but lifts his chin, meeting Tennant head on.
Snorting, Tennant tugs me impossibly closer. “Always so condescending. You no longer own him. You never truly did. Mio Mostro ora appartiene a noi. Sempre.”
Allesandro hisses, snapping out, “Emilio. You have crossed a line. Choosing him…”
“You have no say in this. None!” I struggle in Tennant’s hold, but he doesn’t let me go. Not even when Allesandro steps forward once again. This time, there’s murder in his eyes, and I’m not sure if it’s directed at me or my love.
“I never took you for a whore,” Allesandro spits out, and the words reverberate around us, echoing inside my brain, tearing my bleeding heart apart even more.
His words sink into me, like indelible ink staining my skin.
Tennant’s arms fly off me as I'm choked by fear—even if I’m not sure what or who I’m afraid for.
Thankfully, the moment is broken by a flurry of movement as the others march our way, Cristian held by his guard.
I wave my former lover off and turn into Tennant, stopping him from making any moves that may destroy what we’re working toward.
With a deep sigh, he hugs me before letting me go and ushering me out of the warehouse.
I notice that Antonio has switched to guarding Jude, and relief courses through me. Thank fuck nobody was left unprotected. Right now, I don’t trust the fuckers. It’s too much of a game to them, and I know how Allesandro likes to play those.
I jump into one of the SUVs, with Tennant sliding in next to me.
I can barely breathe, even as I watch Carter and Marcus make it to their vehicle safely.
I trust that Jude, Antonio, and Dmitri have also reached theirs without an issue.
I fumble with my seatbelt, my vision obscured by the sudden appearance of tears.
“Shh, Mostrotto.” Tennant takes the seatbelt from me and buckles me in as I swipe at the fucking tears.
Humiliating. Weak. Wrong.
Tennant’s voice whips around the car. “You are not weak. I do not want to hear that from you. Ever. He is the one who is weak. He is the one who threw everything away. Not you. Never you.”
I shake my head, unable to stand that my thoughts slipped out again.
That Tennant heard the humiliation. As the SUV rumbles to life, I take deep gulps of air, forcing myself to breathe through the red-hot pain.
I choke back anymore words that want to escape and turn my head to look out of the window, hoping to hide my shame.
When Tennant’s hand finds my thigh, I don’t push it away, even though it’s a reminder that while I may be hiding now…
my Sir and Tennant won’t let me hide indefinitely. Thank. Fuck.