Page 31 of Consequences
Hollis waves my apology away. He knows there is nothing I can do about it—or more accurately will do. My loyalty is to Master, even if there’s part of me calling for Hollis.
“We will discuss it later. Right now, Cucciolo, we have something more important to speak about.”
I furrow my brow as I mentally run through what else there could be. Shaking my head, I ask, “Is it something to do with the fed? Or the list?”
Hollis tenses as he closes the last bit of distance between us. His hand snakes out and grips my chin tightly, pinching it hard enough to bruise. “You. Let. Someone. Shoot. You.”
His hard, staccato words reverberate around me and I cringe, trying to pull away, but I'm unable to move from such a punishing strength. “It’s not like I meant to get shot!”
“You scared me, Cucciolo.” His nails dig into my flesh, and I melt at his concern. His eyes are a combination of rage, terror, and something else—something I can’t discern. “We have rules.”
“What rules?” I protest, unsure where he’s going with this. “There’s nothing I could have done differently!”
“You do not let yourself get hurt. Especially when it’s something that will mark you permanently. You are only allowed to suffer from your Master and me. Do you understand me?” Hollis hisses, and I swallow hard. Fear, pain, and fucking horniness coursing through me. My cock has been relatively silent lately, and this is a damn uncomfortable time for it to make itself known.
“I—”
“It appears you at least remember that I am in charge of my Boy. Yet, for some reason, you’re including yourself too. I don’t believe I’ve given you permission for that.” Master’s voice jolts me, but Hollis doesn’t let me go.
“I’m merely instructing Cucciolo that he owes a punishment for getting shot.” I widen my eyes at not only the thought of a punishment, but that Hollis isn’t backing down.
Master comes closer, and I shoot an alarmed glance at him as he puts his hand on Hollis’s shoulder. Oh fuck. Tennant will not accept any marks on Hollis, and I know Master’s grip can be as tight as Hollis’s.
“I believe you want to let my Boy go,” Il Padrone states calmly. At Hollis’s hesitation, he adds a steely, “Now.”
Hollis huffs and finally lets me go. I move my jaw side to side, grimacing at the pain. From Hollis’s grunt, it's clear Il Padrone is ensuring Hollis also enjoys a touch of pain. When he finally lets go, Hollis immediately faces him.
“Padrone—”
“No. I don’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to hear it from Benjamin either, who, by the way, has the worst poker face of anyone. You should have expected me to read guilt on him immediately. I’m disappointed you made such an error.”
I raise an eyebrow at that. It’s almost as if he’s giving Hollis his approval… I must be hearing that wrong. It would make no fucking sense. I keep my mouth shut, knowing any interruption will make everything worse.
Hollis inclines his head, before turning back toward me. He touches my hand and murmurs, “Cucciolo, be more careful. We’ll speak of this, and more, later.”
Without another word, Hollis walks away. I’m not sure what he means by more, and when I glance questioningly at Il Padrone, he doesn’t answer either. He merely stares down at me with an unfathomable expression. It worries me, but when he takes my hand and brings it up to his lips to kiss, I push all thoughts of Hollis and future discussions away.
“Master, I missed you.”
“And I you, Caro.” He takes the seat next to me and runs his fingers through my hair. I’m slightly surprised by it, but he seems to be doing it more often. Almost as if he needs to touch me to confirm I’m real. It’s something to ask Benjamin about. He may be able to explain it to me.
“Are we really going home soon? Because I have not missed the chef.”
Master’s laugh makes me smile, and when he relaxes, my own body does as well. “You can’t get rid of the chef. You know that. I believe Benjamin will be cutting your caffeine intake anyway during physical therapy.”
Scowling, I want to refute that, but Benjamin is sadistic as a therapist. He would absolutely use caffeine against me, so I don’t overdo it, or even as a punishment.Fucking hell.Best friends suck. “That’s just unfair.”
“From what I hear, the Amato physical therapist is even worse. Perhaps be grateful that I’m choosing to move us back home.”
I don’t say a word. I am grateful to have him back. But for some reason, going home… It doesn’t sound as appealing as it should. Maybe it’s because the nursery is there.
Either way, I wish I had Master’s confidence about this. I know better than to question him though. He’ll make it work the way it should. He always does. Closing my eyes as exhaustion overwhelms me, the only thought I have left is: thank fuck he’s back with me again.
Iwork on not fidgeting, but considering the way Daddy reaches out and places a hand on my arm, I don’t quite succeed. Not knowing what this meeting is for has me on edge. Sarah and I have been keeping the Bosses up to date with the progress our patients have been making—not that we’ve had a choice, with Il Padrone barely leaving Emilio’s side—so I don’t know what they could possibly want with us.
Unless Cristian is going to reprimand me for allowing Hollis to see Emilio—as if I had a choice in the matter. Sometimes the path of least resistance is the sanest one. Besides, Cristian knows better than to think a lecture, formal and in front of people or not, will ever stop me from doing what I want.
Though maybe that’s why he asked Daddy to come too…Shit.
