10. Dante
CHAPTER TEN
DANTE
Ireturned to my personal room after the classroom session and sank onto the mattress. Shaw was becoming a vulnerability.
If Salvatore caught on to my distraction, he would leverage it, which meant a death sentence for us both.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. I called for Ishi to enter.
She handed me a cold water bottle and settled into the chair beside my bed. The sheet covered my hips, but Ishi had stitched me up too many times to care about modesty.
“Congratulations on another satisfied client,” she said, her teasing tone a stark contrast to the hellhole surrounding us. “He’s quite sweet. Not to mention very cute.”
“You like him, don’t you?”
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “Almost as much as you.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Only to me.”
If she noticed, Salvatore would catch it when he reviewed the tapes, searching for any weakness he could exploit. I needed tighter control.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Ishi asked.
I wanted to ask her to check on Natalia to see how she was dealing with having Jace as a client, but I couldn’t do so without tipping off Salvatore.
Other than Ishi, Natalia was the only true friend I had in the brothel.
My curiosity would have to wait for our weekly clandestine meeting at a coffee shop, away from the prying eyes of the brothel.
“Not that I can think of right now, but thanks,” I said.
“You know I’m always happy to do anything I can to take care of—” Ishi’s words cut off as the door swung open without warning. She stood and bowed, her physical demeanor transforming into perfect subservience.
Salvatore Gennaro entered my room. The man who had adopted me after orchestrating my parents’ “accident” filled the doorway with his broad frame in a tailored three-piece suit. A jade-green pocket square matched his tie.
His cold gray eyes cataloged every detail.
I had watched his manicured hands strangle a man for daring to interrupt him during dinner.
Those same hands had rested on my shoulder at fifteen when he’d first explained what my “duties” to the family would entail as my training to become his perfect sexual weapon began.
One day, I would cut them off before killing him to free myself and my brother. And if it meant I became the new head of the Gennaro Mafia, then so be it. But today, I waited.
“Welcome back, Master,” Ishi greeted, her voice honey-sweet. “How was your trip to California?”
“Mostly a waste. It seems they’re not ready for Gennaro Corporation yet.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”
He crooked his finger, beckoning her closer. “You should reconsider my offer, girl. You’d make a fortune working with clients.”
“Perhaps after I graduate.” They were empty words. I’d rather she quit and abandon me than be forced into sexual servitude.
“Very well. Dismissed.” He waited until she closed the door. “Where are your manners, boy?”
I lowered my gaze, slipping into the role I’d perfected over years of survival. “Welcome back, Father. Please forgive my lack of decorum. I wasn’t expecting your return for another week.”
“That’s no excuse, but I shall forgive you this time.” His eyes traveled down my body, lingering where the sheet draped low across my hips.
“Your generosity knows no bounds.” I sounded humble while calculating how many bullets it would take to ensure he stayed dead.
“It seems you have a new patron I should know about.” His casual tone couldn’t disguise the threat lurking beneath.
I kept my voice flat, yielding nothing. “What do you want to know?”
“Why one of your classmates started frequenting you during my absence.” He claimed Ishi’s vacated chair. He reached out and traced a finger along the edge of my sheet, not yet pulling it away but promising he could.
“Coincidental curiosity.” I acted disinterested, as if Shaw were a random client. “It was his friend’s birthday, so they came here to celebrate. Besides, it’s not as if he can’t afford me.”
Salvatore crossed one leg over the other. “That’s not the issue.”
“I made him aware of the consequences of my identity being revealed.” It would mean a bullet for him and one for each member of his family, though I hadn’t spelled it out so bluntly to Shaw.
“You say that, but he brought friends.” Salvatore’s eyes dissected my expression, hunting for any flicker of emotion. His hand slid beneath the sheet to rest on my knee, his thumb making small circles against my skin. “Should I be concerned?”
“No.” I prayed Shaw wouldn’t prove me wrong.
“You have that much faith in your patron?” His grip tightened just enough to trigger memories of the punishments that followed when I’d moved too soon, finished too fast, or couldn’t get hard.
“It’s not a matter of faith. It is merely a fact.”
Salvatore stroked his chin. “Even if Shaw falls for you?”
“His feelings are of no consequence to me. He comes here for the illusion, which implies there is nothing to be had outside of these walls, correct?”
“He harbors the delusion all the same. Perhaps because you are too indulgent with him.” His hand slid higher up my thigh.
Shit, that meant he’d reviewed the tapes already. I had grown careless during his absence, letting my guard down when I should have remained vigilant. “I’m keeping my client satisfied with his chosen game.”
He leaned forward, capturing my chin. “Then perhaps you are a better actor than I gave you credit for.” His thumb brushed across my lower lip.
You have no idea how good, you sadistic fuck, I thought while my face remained impassive. “I do my best.” I looked down, resisting the impulse to jerk away. There were few things worse than being touched by that bastard when I was naked.
“I’m aware of your little ‘reward’ to him.” He released his hold on me and leaned back in the chair. “Why did you give him extra time?”
The lie came easily. “It was payment for his silence.”
His fingers traveled higher, stopping short of my groin. “I made you into such a perfect instrument of sexual satisfaction, didn’t I?”
I acted as demure as he expected from me. “Yes, Father.”
“Your insolence almost cost you a visit with your brother this week, but I’m feeling more generous than normal, given your patron’s continued silence, as well as your increased profits.”
Raphael was the only reason I endured my hellish life. My teenage brother remained untouched by Salvatore’s depravity only because I served as both shield and substitute.
Salvatore’s next words chilled me. “Perhaps there is more use to be had from your new toy. I could think of many ways to utilize him.”
“As an employee?” Everything inside me screamed in protest at the possibility. The thought of Shaw being broken by abusive clients made me want to burn the entire building to the ground with Salvatore inside it.
“There is that aspect to consider as well.” His fingers brushed against my cock. “Perhaps I should see what all the fuss is about. You’ve always had excellent taste in men. It’s a skill I taught you well.”
I fought to keep my breathing steady, to not tense under his touch. It was one of his favorite tests. Show fear and he’d exploit it. Show disgust and he’d use it against me. “I learned from the best, Father.”
His fingers wrapped around me. “Yes, you did.”
He stroked me, his eyes watching my face for any flicker of emotion as he tried to get me hard. “Remember when I first showed you how to pleasure a man? How you fought against it until you learned resistance only made things worse?”
I kept my expression blank, letting conditioned arousal take over to protect myself. His hand moved with methodical pressure, targeting the spots he had mapped out years ago.
“Still fighting me after all these years,” he murmured, increasing his pace. “And always losing.”
I retreated to that familiar void inside my mind where sensation existed without emotion.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
I raised my gaze to meet his. As much as I hated him turning my body against me, the alternative was worse. The last time I had failed to perform under his touch, he’d brought Raphael into the room and made me watch as he stroked my brother’s hair, praising how beautiful he was becoming.
Once was all it took. I never failed again.
“That’s it,” he purred, his free hand coming up to caress my face. “Your body remembers who it belongs to, even when your mind forgets.”
I hardened in his grip, sickened by the forced physical response.
“It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed the pleasures of your body,” he said, his voice dropping to that dangerous tone that preceded some of my worst memories. “Perhaps I should remind you what it means to serve the family.”
That threat had always lingered between us, a weapon he kept in reserve to maintain his dominance over me.
He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear.
“I could bend you over right now, make you take me dry until you bleed. Would you cry out in agony? Or would you stay silent the way I taught you?” His hand tightened around my cock as he continued to jerk me off.
“Maybe I should invite Santino to watch. He’s always wanted exclusive rights to you.
I could let him have you after I’m done so he can mark that pretty skin of yours. ”
I stared at a spot on the wall, refusing to react, even as my stomach lurched at the threat.
“Or perhaps I should have you service the entire Sanguinetti family at their next gathering. Imagine how useful you’d be on your knees, mouth open, taking cock after cock while I negotiate territory rights with Umberto. A peace offering of sorts.”
My jaw clenched, but I remained silent.
“No?” He feigned disappointment. “Then how about I bring in your brother to be their new toy? It’s time he learned what his future holds. I could have you show him what he’ll be doing once he turns sixteen if you displease me.”
That was the one line he knew I couldn’t bear to cross. Threats about Raphael had kept me compliant through years of degradation.
“Say something, boy,” he commanded, increasing his pace. “Tell me how much you want it. Beg me to use you as the whore I made you.”
I swallowed my pride and hatred. “Please, Father,” I whispered, every word burning me. “Use me however you wish.”
He radiated cruel satisfaction. “That’s better.
” His thumb circled the head of my cock, spreading the wetness there.
“Maybe I’ll have you ride me while I make calls to our associates.
Let them hear how well I’ve trained you.
Or I could indulge Zhao. He’s been asking for another private session with both of us. ”
The mention of the Triad boss nauseated me as I remembered the last time he’d visited.
I’d spent weeks recovering from the beating he’d given me in search of his pleasure, which had landed me in the hospital with internal bleeding, a few broken bones, and plenty of stitches.
His sadism amplified Salvatore’s when they teamed up against me.
“Nothing to say?” Salvatore taunted. “I thought I taught you better manners than that.”
“Thank you for considering me worthy,” I forced out.
He laughed, low and dark. “Still so resistant after all these years. It makes breaking you again and again so much more satisfying.” His strokes became faster, more demanding.
“What about your new toy? Shall I show him what happens to pretty boys who catch your eye? I could make you watch while I introduce him to the realities of our business.”
“No,” I said before I could stop myself.
Salvatore’s hand stilled. “No?” His voice was soft, lethal. “Did you just tell me no, boy?”
Panic clawed at my throat at my critical error. “I meant no, that wouldn’t be necessary, Father. He’s merely a client. No one special. He’s not worth your time.”
“Is that so?” His grip tightened painfully, cutting off the dark pleasure he’d inflicted on me against my will. “Then you won’t mind if I sample him myself. I can show him what it means to belong to the Gennaro family.”
The thought of him touching Shaw made something snap inside me. I could feel my mask slipping, the rage I’d suppressed for years threatening to erupt.
Salvatore saw it. Of course he did. His smile widened as he released me and moved back. “Interesting,” he said, straightening his tie as though we’d been discussing business. “Very interesting indeed.”
The abrupt shift left me disoriented, which I knew was his intention. Keep me off-balance, never knowing which direction the next threat would come from.
“Prepare yourself to assess my latest acquisition. Consider it your reward for good behavior while I was gone.”
Understanding dawned. The entire exercise had been preparation to get me aroused so I’d be ready to perform with the new recruit. Another form of control to remind me that my body wasn’t my own. “In the Viewing Room?”
“As always.” His lips curved into what others might mistake for a smile.
“You should sound more enthusiastic. Renato is a handsome Italian dancer I found in a California club and convinced to return with me. You will find him a most enjoyable experience.” He ran his fingers through my hair in a parody of paternal affection.
“What time?”
“In ten minutes.” He paused at the exit. “Depending on how it goes, perhaps I’ll let you see your brother tomorrow. He’s growing more handsome by the day. Almost as beautiful as you.” The implicit warning hung in the air between us.
I kept my voice steady, not revealing the wave of murderous rage his words triggered. “Yes, Father.”
When the door closed behind him, I remained motionless, acutely aware of the cameras recording my every move.
I stood up and went to the bathroom to prepare myself for the Viewing Room.
Salvatore’s game was obvious. He was testing whether I’d grown too attached to Shaw by gauging my response to someone new.
He wanted to see how far the latest threat had rattled me.
Whatever game he was playing, I’d beat him at it.
After all, I’d learned from the master.