Page 4 of Savage Book Boyfriend

“I'm listening.” I leaned forward, waiting for the information.

When Beniamino explained the situation to me, I knew I was in. The predicament called for a hail Mary and I was her saving grace. Maybe she could save me too. Because this was a coincidence. She needed me and this was an opportunity for me to get what I wanted too. I'd call this a win, even if I had to lay claim to a legacy I didn't want to be a part of.

DANTE

As Beniamino’s words sank in, a mixture of shock and apprehension settled in my chest. The idea of marrying someone based on an old family agreement seemed absurd, like something straight out of a bad movie. But it wasn’t just the absurdity of it all—it was that it presented a twisted kind of solution to my problem. Shock and awe, if you will.

I stared at Beniamino, trying to read his expression. He looked as serious as ever, and for a moment, I wondered how different our lives might have been if I’d stayed away from medicine and gotten tangled in the family business like him and the others. Would I have turned out as stone-faced and resolute? I doubted it. We might share the same blood, but we were cut from different cloth. I attributed that to my mother.

“I know about you,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “About all of you. Our father wasn’t exactly subtle. But I stayed away for a reason.”

Beniamino nodded, not looking the least bit surprised. “We know. I just found out you existed a few hours ago, but we’re still family. And the family looks out for each other.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Funny way of showing it, showing up at my door out of the blue and demanding I marry someone.”

“Not demanding,” he corrected. “Offering. It’s an arrangement, Dante. One that benefits us all. You get a family, and we honor this agreement. Tommaso has created trauma for each one of us. But the reality of our situation is that he’s dead. We’re all tired of him haunting us. Instead of running from the mess that he’s put us all in, I’ve taken it as a challenge to do better. That’s why you have a choice. One that I hope that you’ll do for me, not for him.”

There it was again—the idea of family. It gnawed at me, tugging at the deep-rooted loneliness I’d been feeling ever since the diagnosis. I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “And who is this woman I’m supposed to marry?”

“Her name is Genesis,” Beniamino said. “She’s in a bad situation. By marrying her, you’d be saving her and her daughter.”

“Her daughter?” I echoed, surprised. This arrangement kept getting more complicated.

Beniamino nodded. “She has a little girl. They both need protection, and we’re the only ones who can give it to them. You’re the only one.”

I fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down on me. It wasn’t just about a marriage of convenience—it was about saving a life. Two lives. My mind flashed back to my grandmother, her eyes filled with unshed tears as I told her the news about my MS. I remembered the way she’d held my hand, her grip firm despite her age, as she whispered about the importance of family, of leaving behind a legacy.

Maybe this was the universe giving me a chance, a way to have the family I thought I’d never have. A way to matter, to protect someone who needed it.

I looked back at Beniamino, my decision made. “Alright,” I said, my voice steady. “Tell me what I need to do.”

Beniamino looked relieved, though he hid it well. “We’ll take you to meet her, explain the situation. She might be hesitant, but I think I can convince her. I have a way with people.”

I nodded, a small spark of determination igniting within me. This was it—my chance to take control of my future, to protect a family, and to make sure I wasn’t alone when things got worse.

Beniamino clapped a hand on my shoulder, a rare gesture of camaraderie. “Welcome to the family, Dante.”

Tammaro stayed quiet the entire time, observing me. Though I knew them all by name, I had no idea what kind of people they were. This welcoming to the family felt different than I thought it would. There was no celebratory balloons and a party. No, Tommaso admitting that he missed his son and was sorry that he’d waited so long to get to know me. He was dead and gone and all I had left were my siblings and grandmother. With a change of heart to keep them distant, I put my best efforts forward.

I managed a small smile. “Thanks. Now, let’s go see what kind of mess I’m getting myself into.”

As we drove toward our destination, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of hope. Maybe this wasn’t the path I’d imagined for myself, but it was a path nonetheless. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was heading towards something meaningful. Something real.

GENESIS

Istared into the cracked bathroom mirror, hardly recognizing the woman staring back. The flickering fluorescent light overhead made my bruises look worse, turning the purples and blues into sickly greens. My fingers traced the edge of the newest bruise on my cheek, wincing at the pain. This was my life now—a cycle of fear, pain, and survival.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to numb the throbbing. Today was supposed to be one of the good days. Chant had left early, and I had some time to myself. A rare luxury. I glanced at the clock, knowing that the peace wouldn’t last. He’d be back soon, and with him, the constant threat of violence.

My daughter, Mia, was still asleep in the other room. Her tiny body curled up under the thin blankets, oblivious to the chaos around her. I envied her innocence. She was the only reason I hadn’t given up yet, the only reason I forced myself to keep going every day. For her, I would endure anything.

I dried my face with a threadbare towel and took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever came next. I had to find a way out, for both of us. Every time I thought I had a plan, Chant found a way to drag me back. I had no money, no phone, and nowhere to go. Every time I tried to run, he caught me. But I couldn’t stop trying. I couldn’t let Mia grow up thinking this was normal.

A loud knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. My heart jumped into my throat. I quickly crossed the small apartment to the door, peering through the peephole. My breath caught. A tall man, maybe in his mid-thirties, stood on the other side, his dark eyes fixed on the door. He was dressed sharply, in a suit that screamed money and power. He didn’t look like one of Chant’s usual goons.

The knocking came again, louder this time. I glanced toward Mia’s room, praying she wouldn’t wake up. Chant would kill me if he found a stranger here. But the man didn’t look like he was going to leave anytime soon. I bit my lip and reached for the doorknob, hesitating. If Chant found out I’d let someone in… No. I couldn’t think about that now.

I opened the door a crack, keeping the chain in place. “Can I help you?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.

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