Page 3 of Lines Drawn
“I’m surprised Benjamin didn’t try to barge his way into the same car as Tennant,” Marcus muses.
“He’s not an idiot. He might not like Roman, but he knows if something happens to him, it’ll hurt Ten, and that’s the last thing he wants,” Carter argues.
“Plus,” I interject, “I wouldn’t want to be in the same car as Ignacio and Tennant.”
Allesandro gets a smug look on his face, and dread fills me. After the comments he made at the end of the meeting…I have a feeling, whatever the Martellis have been up to the last few days, it will not be on Tennant’s list of what he findsacceptablefor his “Topolino.”
The drive to Martelli mansion is tense, with Soren poking me every so often and texting updates to James. Thankfully, he alsogives updates on Roman, and with each one, my heart skips a beat.
So far, the prognosis is…multiple broken bones in his leg and arm, shrapnel lodged in his side, many contusions, and glass embedded into his skin. By some grace of a higher power, the chandelier missed his head, though we still have to worry about the fall he took.
“Do you and Roman have the same blood type, Boss?” Soren asks without looking up from his phone.
“Yes… Why? What’s happened?”
“Nothing,” the younger man assures me, looking at me with his bright blue eyes. “He’s still stable. Well, as stable as he’s going to be right now. But he’s losing a lot of blood, so we’re going to need to set you up for a blood transfusion, if Dr. Ranlen doesn’t have what we need.”
“She’s worked very hard to get her offices up to the standards your Doc holds,” Allesandro says carefully.
“Good,” the nurse replies. “But we still need to be prepared. We’ve already called our contact and told him to be on standby should we need another pair of hands.”
Fucking hell, I hope not. The last thing I need is Doc, Dr. Ranlen, and Dr. Aidan Murry in the same place.I am way too tired for this shit.
Meeting Allesandro’s eyes across the limo, I take comfort in the burning need to kill and get revenge that I can see reflected in his cold blue gaze. Even as Carter takes my hand in his, and Allesandro holds his Boy close, he doesn’t take his eyes off me. A wealth of emotion passes between us in one glance, and some of my fear eases, knowing that even if I fall, someone strong enough to shoulder my burdens will be there to catch me.
Ipace the hallway outside Dr. Ranlen’s newly upgraded medical suite. I’m practically coming out of my skin as we wait for news on Roman. There was so much fucking blood, and despite the amount of times I’ve worked with Dr. Ranlen in surgeries, the terror rushing through me is so fucking unfamiliar. This? This is fucking hell.Not Roman…
I sink against the wall, my eyes desperately trained on the door. I wish to fuck I was in there, but Doc took one look at me and ordered me to wait out here. Even begging Dr. Ranlen did not get me anywhere.
“Hey, it’s going to be fine. Roman is strong.” I glance over at Benjamin and give him a nod. I can’t even choke any words out, though I’m surprised he’s standing next to me. “Seriously, you’re freaking me out. Roman is too stubborn to be down for long. Although, at least this way I may get to torture him…”
That draws a short laugh from me as I shake my head. “Little Mouse, you’re already becoming friends with him. There’s no way you couldn’t fall for his charm.”
I swear I hear a snarl from down the hall, but I don’t pay any further attention. Hollis, Jude, and Tennant are gathered a few feet away from me, making it clear I’m not to be close to them. For some reason, that bothers me.
I want to make things easier on Roman, not more difficult. If I'm not accepted by his loves, I’ll only be hurting him. Sighing, I continue staring at the door, pushing those thoughts away.
“Give them a chance. Right now, they’re worried. And…I didn’t make things easy with Tennant. He’s a little biased.”
I clasp Benjamin’s shoulder, squeezing it in acknowledgment. I know he wants to make everything better, but I don’t think that’ll be possible.
“Really. All three of them are great, and…so is Roman. I guess. I mean, as long as you’re happy.”
I almost laugh at his cute scowl. It’s odd seeing the flash of jealousy on him, but I don’t take it for anything more than it is. Benjamin has always been possessive of what he views as his, and even if he no longer wants me, it doesn’t mean he’s okay with me wanting anyone else. I pat the top of his head, and he brushes me away, rolling his eyes as he smooths his hair back out.
“It’s fine, Little Mouse. They have no reason to trust me right now, but hopefully, they will eventually. Or, at the very least, we can have a truce so that Roman isn’t put in the middle. I know how much he loves them, and I respect that—and them. He wouldn’t love anyone who didn’t deserve it.”
“And I want them to see why you deserve it. I still love you. And Roman had better be nice to you, or I’ll deal with him. They may be hesitant to trust you, but I’m on your side. Always.”
Benjamin’s sweet words hit me in my heart. There’s pleasure to it, with a dash of pain. It’s a feeling I’m beginning to associate with him, and damn if I’m not masochistic enough to keep being pulled toward it.
“And don’t worry, I know Tennant will love you when he gets to know you.”
“Bullshit.” I laugh as both Tennant and I say it. I’m not surprised to see that he’s come closer and closer until he’s right beside Benjamin. As if he needs to steal him away from me.Fucker.
Benjamin puts his hands on his hips and glares at his love. “You need to give him a chance. He loves Roman. And he’s still a part of me, too.”
Tennant doesn’t say a word, just cocks his eyebrow. Benjamin huffs before turning back to me. I lean forward and kiss the top of his head. “Little Mouse, it’s fine. Maybe now isn’t the right time to think about it, alright?”
