Page 40 of Lines Drawn
All my breath leaves me, and I stare at Antonio in surprise. “What?” I ask.
He shrugs a little. “I don’t get that part, but…yeah. He and Cristian left dinner early to talk—neither looked happy.”
“Fuck…” I breathe. This is…not good. Even I know that Carter claiming such a thing isn’t good for him and Cristian. My family was very clear on which side they supported in the Amato/De Luca debacle…and for Carter to take up such a mantle is…not a promising sign for him and Cristian.
Fuck, I don’t want to be the one to tell Roman… Unless he already knows? Leandro didn’t say what got Roman so worked up that he needed to be sedated again. I wouldn’t put it past the hacker to somehow be able to watch what went on in the dining room, even from the other side of the house.Shit.
“Anything else?”
“We’re staging a rescue, as I discovered the Fire Chief is holding someone in his basement. I need to gather my team and make plans. It’s why I came looking for you… I…I want youwith me, Jude. As a representative for Roman and the Amato Family…but also for me.”
“I’ll be there,” I assure him.
He shakes his head. “You’re already hurting, and I’m sure you’re tired. I shouldn’t make such demands?—”
“Hush, Bello,” I order, placing two fingers against his mouth. “If you need me, I’ll be there. Roman will be fine, and you’re right, he needs a representative, since Carter and Lio are both going in under other umbrellas. But more than that, I’m going because you need me.”
He looks down, and I move my fingers to his chin, forcing him to meet my gaze once more. “I’ll always be here if you need me, Bello. You’re mine.”
He shakes his head. “Everything is so fucked up. I don’t know what to do…if I can keep you. Il Padrone?—”
“Leave him to me. He doesn’t scare me, he never has. And if he’s fucking up so much then he doesn’t deserve you.”
Antonio tries to protest, but I reach for his hair and tug his mouth to mine, stopping any protest, as I let him feel the sincerity of my words. He melts into me, his hands fisting my shirt and holding me close.
I pour everything I am, all the confusing, swirling feelings I have for the man in my arms, into the kiss.
I knew, from the moment I touched the three of them, that I belonged with Roman, Tennant, and Hollis. Even when I didn’t want to believe it, and couldn’t fathom that someone, let alone three people, would want me and all my baggage, I knew I had to have them, that we wereitfor each other.
Antonio is different, though. He belongstome. He's mine to cherish, to care for, to take apart and put back together. No tears should ever fall from his eyes unless it’s whatIwant. Il Padrone fucked up. He took a beautiful flower and neglected to care for itproperly, and the proof is trembling in my arms. No matter, I’m here now to show him the…love he deserves.
My mind trips over theL-word, but…it feels right, in a way not many other feelings do.
Breaking the kiss, I release his hair and smooth my thumb over his swollen lip. “I’ll go with you, Bello. You never have to ask. You’re mine now, and I’m going to take care of you, I promise. Nothing and no one will ever take you from me. I dare them to fucking try.”
Antonio shivers, and I hope he can see the truth in my eyes, and hear it in my voice. “Thank you,” he signs shakily.
“Don’t thank me for this, Bello. I’ll always give you what you need.” With that, I encourage him off my lap and onto the floor.
He kneels beautifully and I slide to the edge of the bed, maneuvering him where I want him, with his head resting against my leg. He looks up at me and I run a hand through his dark hair. “Just rest with me. I’ll leave you plenty of time to get things done, but for now, let me carry your burdens, Bello. Trust me.”
His eyes are shiny and wet as he speaks, so quietly I read the words on his lips more than hear them. “I do.”
He closes his eyes, his entire body trembling as he takes a deep breath. It takes a while, but eventually, his tension eases and he relaxes fully against me, leaning more of his body weight against my leg.
I continue to run my fingers through silky dark hair and stare down at him. Awe fills me at how much trust he’s putting in me, even though we’re still getting to know one another. Still, I know down to my very bones, that if I could feel love…this is what it would be like.
“Are you sure you want to go down this path?” I bite my lip as my friend paces across my room.
He comes to an abrupt stop, turning to face me. “I don’t have another option. There’s no fucking way I’m alright with what Allesandro and Cristian are doing. Leandro had a point. Granted, I’d hoped to talk to Roman before making this decision…and, uh, Carter surprised me, but I won’t stay here. Not with them fucking everything up. And…”
“And what?” I ask. When he doesn’t say anything, I pat the bed next to me. His shoulders slump as he slowly moves toward me and climbs onto the bed. “What, Lio?”
“I… He hurt me. I can handle when he hurts me for the right reason. Or fuck, even in the beginning, the way he twisted me up. But this? This destroys me. He may not have laid a finger on me, but he may as well have razed me to the ground. There’s…nothing.” Lio leans into me, twisting his engagement ring around on his finger. “We’re supposed to get married, and yeah, I know it’s to unite the Families, but…he’s choosing Cristian over me—over our entire family. I don’t mind sharing, you know that. But…maybe I’m selfish.”
“You arenotselfish,” I growl. “Fuck him. Even if you are sharing, that doesn’t give him the right to put someone ahead of you. And for sure, he shouldn’t be breaking the rules.”
“I can’t trust him,” Lio whispers. “I can’t kneel for him when I don’t trust him to catch me if I fall, or to build me up when I falter. I never realized how much trust meant until it was gone.”
