Page 43 of Lines Drawn
“I'll try.”
Benjamin sighs, but with one last look in my direction, he leaves the room.
Roman looks at the closed door and then to me. “I am suddenly very worried now. He kissed me. And…was nice? I mean, the look on his face wasn't forced nice, but he…seemed like he actually cared? Did I wake up in an alternate dimension or…”
I laugh and then groan as my wound aches. “Maybe you're finally winning him over. Don't question it, Little Prince.”
“Maybe…” he mumbles, but the look on his face says he's not buying it. Roman isn't an idiot. He may play down his intelligence sometimes, but that's because he was trained to. His pretty looks make people assume things about him, and he uses that to his advantage. He is turning into a man anyone couldbe proud of, which is what makes Cris's actions all the more grating, because it's like his kidnapping made him forget that.
Sighing, I try to get comfortable in the chair. “Go rest, Ten. I'm fine.”
I shake my head. “I don't want you to be alone. I'm okay.”
“Tennant.”
“Please, Little Prince. Just let me do this.”
He narrows his eyes but nods. “Fine. But if you hurt too much, promise you'll go rest?”
“I'll be fine.”
“Please?”
I hate it. He really shouldn't be alone with everything going on, but… I also know I'll get my ass kicked by all my lovers, and the two doctors, if they think I'm not taking care of myself.
And if things play out how I suspect they will, I'll need every ounce of strength I have.
“Okay.”
He smiles softly and shifts on the bed, wincing as he does so, before settling down and closing his eyes.
All I can do is watch him, and hope he's not put in a position that he isn't physically or emotionally ready for. Something tells me we aren't that lucky though.
“Come on. Wake up. I’ve got coffee.” I swat at Benjamin, who is shaking me. “It’s time to get ready. You’ve got to meet Antonio. Remember…first act as a Boss.”
Grumbling, I roll out of bed and blink open my eyes, glaring at my best friend. I barely slept. Instead, I tossed and turned with nightmares running through my head. I snatch the cup of coffee out of Benjamin’s hand and gulp it down, not caring about it scalding my tongue.Fucking hell.
“I’m up,” I grunt, thrusting the empty mug at Benjamin. “Fuck. I’ll get ready. How much time do I have?”
“You’ve got about an hour. I wanted to let you sleep as much as I could, and still give you time for coffee.”
I scrub at my face, scrunching my nose when I glance around for my clothes. I stumble upright and pull on yesterday’sgarments, hating the feeling of being dirty. Yawning, I croak out, “I’m going to need another cup. Right now, I have to get a shower and put on some new clothes…”
Benjamin shifts his weight uncomfortably. “Uh, I don’t think mine will fit you, and I don’t exactly have anything in your style for this type of stealth…”
“Fuck.” I drop my head back, praying for some sort of divine intervention. “I didn’t think to grab anything before I went to bed. It’s fine. If he’s in the bedroom, he should be sleeping.”
“And if he’s not?” Benjamin studies me, his brow furrowed in worry.
I stretch my neck out, hoping to release some of the tension that wouldn’t even fucking disappear during sleep. “Then I’ll deal with it. He should leave me alone, especially since I’m claiming my fucking birthright.”
I clasp Benjamin on the shoulder and give him a smile that I hope reassures him, but it falls short, and I know it. Exhaling, I let my hand drop as I walk out without another word, because, fuck. What can I say?
Feeling like a thief, I sneak around the mansion, trying to be quiet. The sense of comfort and being home here seems to have disappeared, and I hate it. There’s nothing I can do about it—at least, right now. The door to mine and Allesandro’s room is open, which should mean he’s not there.
Walking in, I breathe a sigh of relief when the bed appears empty. The moonlight filtering through the window illuminates it. My heart hurts when I realize that means he’s likely with Cristian. I rub at my chest and try to shake it off. We have too important of a task tonight for me to be ruminating over shattered dreams.
Turning on the light, I head toward the closet. Quickly, I pull out my dark clothes that are perfect for infiltrating. Moving silently, I make it to the bathroom and quickly take care of myneeds after turning on the shower. Stripping out of my clothes, I shudder in the chill, as my body is still waking up. Hopefully, the shower will invigorate me. It doesn’t take long for the water to warm up, and I groan quietly in relief as I step inside, letting the powerful stream beat down on me.
