22. Jude
Fucking Keegan. I protest this whole “kidnapping a best friend” thing, but sadly, I know it'll probably just amuse him. Fucker.
The little voice in my head that's gotten quieter and quieter the further settled the entire Council has gotten decides now is the time to remind me that I deserved to have someone in my corner the entire time, rather than having to grow up in a house full of people and still be alone, figuring out everything on my own.
I try hard to shut that voice out, dwelling on the fact that I had no one in either my family or among the acquaintances I made at school—both the Deaf school I attended and college—does nothing.
I’m apathetic enough to not care that I was on my own, but you’d think someone in my previous life would have tried.
Though maybe that’s just being around Roman and everyone else in the Family for so long.
They make me understand what’s “normal”, or as normal as you can get in this life of ours.
Making my way to the medical wing, I pause outside Cristian’s room, wondering if Allesandro and Tennant are still with him, or if they finally tracked down that hospital board member and are having fun.
Rather than going in to see, I pull my phone out and head down to Nario’s room, typing as I go.
JUDE
When you get a chance, I know Antonio and the Stars would appreciate a visit from you. Nario is still heavily sedated, but Nicolo and Antonio could do with a pick-me-up.
That done, I slide my phone back into my pocket before heading into Nario’s hospital room.
I find Antonio and Nicolo both on the cot that Doc had brought in. Nicolo is fast asleep, his head in Antonio’s lap. My Boy is sitting up, back to the wall, his hand gently petting the Star’s hair. He looks up when I enter the room, his face lighting up even as he gives me a tired smile.
“How’s he doing?” I ask quietly.
“The same. Kail was just in here. He said they’ll start tapering off on the sedatives tomorrow, since it doesn’t look like the transfer has set him back any. Doc will give an outline of what to expect once he’s awake and coherent.”
I nod. “Okay, that sounds good. I’m ready to see our Star’s eyes.”
“Yeah.”
Dragging one of the chairs over to the cot, I sit heavily in it. Antonio watches me carefully as I reach for his face, leaning over to kiss him gently.
“Where’s your cane?” he voices and signs. He uses more SEE than ASL, but that he feels confident enough at all to try—even though his hands are slow and unpracticed—warms me to my core.
“Forgot it in my office. Keegan bullied me out, and didn’t give me a chance to protest. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
He raises a brow and I smile, smoothing my hand over his hair. “I am, promise. The PT session Jayden forced on me, and the pain shot I got, helped wonders. Yes, I’m stiff and uncomfortable, but I think that’s more stress than my actual injury.”
“Okay,” he says, accepting my response.
We fall into silent companionship as we sit with our sleeping Stars.
The quiet is nice, a reprieve we all desperately need after the months and months of insanity.
I hate the reason we’re here, though. Seeing Nario in that hospital bed…
Rage isn’t an accurate word for the swirl of emotions running through me.
When we finally get our hands on the Senator, I’m going to make him fucking beg for mercy. He doesn’t get to hurt my precious Star, the sweetest, loving, best Boy there is, and not feel even an ounce of pain in return.
Speaking of Boys… Fuck, I never thought it’d be Carter, of all people, calling Keegan Daddy, but then… No, nope, I really don’t want to think about it. Not when he’s essentially my father-in-law… Fuck, there really aren’t any secrets in this damn family.
But, well, it makes sense in a lot of ways. Cristian, as much as I know he loved his ex, he also smothered him. I don’t think anyone else noticed, except probably Tennant, but then he notices everything.
Now, Carter has the freedom to explore, not only a relationship with Keegan and Marcus, but himself as a person.
Much like Antonio and the twins gave me a place to further explore myself as a dominant and a Daddy, Carter is being given the same opportunity.
What that means for my…friend and my Boss is something only they can answer in time.
Though I agree with Keegan that Carter doesn’t seem like a brat, but then, what I told him is also true.
Having that soft place to land, the opportunity to be vulnerable, truly stripped down to a place where nothing matters except what makes you feel happy and fulfilled and safe…
anything could happen. I’d be very shocked if Carter joined the Brat Brigade, though.
My assessment is that he’s most likely a sweet Boy who needs his Daddy to spoil him rotten. I wish Keegan luck there. Something tells me he’s screwed, and is going to become the sappiest, most indulgent Daddy in the house. Poor sucker.
Those thoughts, of course, bring me back to Allesandro.
Tennant has…become his Daddy, of all things, which is weird as fuck, and something I’ve been trying not to think about since Ten reiterated that Allesandro is off-limits.
Which, fine. I don’t like the guy, but I accepted his place in Antonio’s life—mostly.
Knowing Tennant sees something in him, though? The fact he and Hollis have not only given him a chance with Lio, but that Tennant has taken a chance on him? Fuck. It’s more than seeing something trustworthy in the guy.
Tennant…isn’t exactly a casual lover. More like the type they warn you about in health class because of all the red flags.
Obsessive, more possessive than he wants to admit, and protectiveness that is borderline concerning—at least it would be if any of us were normal and cared about societal definitions and expectations.
So, between that and Antonio’s request to give the guy a chance, I really don’t have a choice but to try to have a conversation with him eventually.
Fuck my life. There’s a reason I avoided emotional attachments in the past. Not only did no one hold my attention for long enough, but they’re so much work and commitment.
Antonio is lucky I love him.
My Boy sets his hand on my arm and I look at him, but he nods in the direction of the door. I turn my attention there, surprised to see Hollis standing in the doorway.
“I’m not interrupting, am I?” he signs.
I shake my head, waving him in. “No, sorry, I was lost in thought about…things.”
He quirks a brow, amusement in his eyes, but he lets me get away with not elaborating.
Unlike my Boy, I’m not a gossip, and as sign names were one of the first things I taught him and the twins, I don’t want him to get suspicious should he make out Tennant and Allesandro’s names.
When the former Martelli Boss is ready, I’ll let him tell the Boys about his new…
relationship dynamic, and deal with whatever explosion follows.
“Something going on?” I ask.
Hollis shakes his head. “I brought a blanket for Nario.” He gestures awkwardly to where it’s tucked under his arm.
“I know the ones they have here are shitty—you’d think Doc would invest in better sheets and shit, but he’s an asshole.
I hit my curfew for being in my office, so I decided to give you three a break.
Go get some real sleep, I’ll sit with Nario. ”
“I don’t want Javi to come after me if you’re not where you belong…” I warn him.
Hollis laughs. “I’m in the medical wing. They’re taking shifts to watch over both Cristian and Nario, so as long as I’m not working, or giving them reason for concern, they shouldn’t bother me. I…need this, to be close at hand to my doctors, but not trapped in my room.”
I look at Antonio. “We’re being kicked out,” I tell him wryly. “You wanna wake the Star and we can take him upstairs to bed?”
He glances down at Nicolo. “He’s not going to want to be away from Nario, but it’ll do him good to be in a real bed. You too.” He meets my gaze, stubborn determination shining in his eyes.
I bite back a sigh. “Only if you’re there with us. Otherwise, I’ll just be up and worrying about you.”
A soft, pleased expression crosses my brat’s face. “Of course, Daddy.”
“Good, it’s settled. You three go to bed, and I’ll be here to keep Nario company.” Hollis settles the blanket he brought over the Star.
“Where’d you even get that?” I ask as I stand.
Hollis scowls. “Fucking Connor. I asked for a new blanket and the fucking smartass brought in ten. Ten, Jude! What the hell am I supposed to do with them all?”
I chuckle. Connor is definitely a Caretaker Daddy.
That’s such a smartass Caregiver move. It’s exactly what Hollis needs in a therapist. Someone who can give him the tough love he needs, while also meeting him on his level.
I can already see the change in him, and it’s only been a few days, but he looks…
less haunted. Though I know it’s still early, and it’s not always going to be so easy.
Still, asking for help, and taking his mental health seriously, is the first step. Now to get Roman to do the same…
“But what if he needs me…”
I turn at Nicolo’s sleepy voice and reach out for him. He comes easily, blinking his bleary eyes up at me. I smooth my hand across the lines on his face made from sleeping against the seam of Antonio’s pants.
“Hol will stay and make sure everything is okay. He’ll alert us should Nario wake or something happens, okay?”
Nicolo pouts, and I hold his gaze until he sighs and reluctantly nods. “Okay, Sir.”
Leaning forward, I press a kiss to his forehead. “Good Boy. Come on, let’s go get some real sleep.”
I make sure to kiss both Hollis and Nario before escorting my Boys upstairs. Neither of them protests when I shove them into the shower first. The warm water helps to relax us all, and Antonio practically drags Nicolo to the bed once I’m finished drying them.
I turn on the vibrations on my smartwatch, so I can be sure not to miss a notification about Nario, before removing my hearing aids and putting them in their case, and sliding into bed with my Boys.
Nicolo is already fast asleep again, and this time, Antonio’s arms are wrapped firmly around him. Moving in close, I kiss his head, before leaning over to kiss Antonio, soft and deep, savoring his taste.
“Love you, Daddy,” he says as he closes his eyes.
Tossing my arm over both of them, I watch as they sleep, exhaustion tugging at me, but my need to reassure myself that they’re still here, even if Nario isn’t right now, is too great to give in to sleep.
It’s moments like this that I miss sleeping with Tennant the most. I might not have been comfortable sleeping cuddled up to anyone except Roman, but Tennant’s hyper-awareness has always helped me relax faster than anything.
Right now, with all three of my Boys hurting, I could use that attentiveness.
We need that fucking orgy bed. There isn’t a world that exists in which I don’t want all my lovers with me.
The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.
Even if that means sharing space with fucking Allesandro.
I’m going to have to speak with him sooner rather than later, because fuck this, we can’t be divided any longer.
Fuck my life.