Page 49 of Lines Drawn
“Fuck…I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Carter,” Marcus says. “Nothing. It’s been a stressful few days. We’ve…been wondering when you were going to break.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “I don’t blame you. I… Fuck, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Everything is so fucked up. Cris…he stomped on everything I thought was true.”
“What happened?” Keegan asks softly. “After dinner, what did he say to you?”
Swallowing, I look down at my hands, the words getting stuck in my throat as more tears burn my eyes. “He…he said only one of us has ever had any actual rights as Roman’s father.”
You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Both Keegan and Marcus hiss, and soft, quiet curses flow from Marcus as he jumps to his feet.
“How dare he! Anyone with fucking eyes can see how much you love Roman! Heisyour son, and nothing can take that away from you. You don’t need to be fucking blood related to be a father, or would he like to tell us we’re not Cole’s fathers?”
“Settle, Tease,” Keegan tells him. “You’re not helping.”
“It’s fucking bullshit!”
“Enough,” Keegan says in a firm voice.
I set a hand on Keegan’s arm that’s still wrapped around me. “It’s okay.” I look up at Marcus. “I appreciate you wanting to go to bat for me, but Keegan is right. I don’t want you to get in trouble with Il Padrone over this.”
Marcus deflates, but I can still see the anger swirling in his dark gaze. He knows that the situation with his Boss and Master is already volatile, and the last thing I want is for my friend to end up on the other end of Allesandro’s vitriol because he was defending me.
“You’re a good friend, both of you… But I don’t want either of you to get hurt because you’re trying to protect me. I’m… Well, fuck, I guess I’m a mafia Head now, since I claimed my birthright.” The words make me sick and I double over, grabbing onto my knees, sucking in deep breaths as Keegan rubs my back.
Fuck… A Boss… I never wanted that. I never wanted to become what my brother and father tried to turn me into, but… I can’t let this stand.
For too long I’ve allowed Cristian to make decisions for me, rather than with me, and that was a mistake. I’ve learned. The past ten years, I’ve learned how to be a Boss as I stood by his side. I know what Georgio and Julian taught me. I watched Roman take up the mantle when the Bosses were kidnapped.
I may have never wanted to take the bloody, twisted crown my father left behind, but for my son, for my Family, and for myself, I will do what needs to be done.
Georgio may have discredited me because I’m a bastard, but I am still his son. De Luca blood runs through my veins, and Cristian seems to have forgotten that.
I didn’t move up to be Roman’s guard all those years ago for no reason, but because of the survival skills Julian beat into me for nearly ten years.
I’m not as bloodthirsty or hardened as Cristian and Roman, but Iwasbred for this life. It hurts, fuck does it hurt so badly I can barely breathe. Only Keegan’s hand on my back, and Marcus kneeling in front of me, holding my hands, keeps me in place and grounded, but I will not back down, not from this.
“We’ve got you,” Marcus says.
I look into his eyes, seeing his affection for me, along with the fire in his gaze that begs to be let out so he can take down everything that’s ever hurt me.
“Whatever you need, Carter, we’re here. You’re not alone.” It makes me warm from the inside out, knowing I have Il Padrone’s War on my side.
“Thank you. I… Fuck, I need to talk to Roman and Lio, but I’m done. I…I can’t do this anymore. My heart can only break so many times.”
I fall into Marcus’s embrace, his arms tight around me as he shifts from his knees to his ass, holding me halfway in his lap as I cry once again. Only, as the tears fall, I feel less alone.
“You sicken me,” my father snarls at me, tossing me to the ground.
Bruises litter my skin, and as I push upright, I gasp from the pain in my ribs. Fuck. How long have we been at it now?
“I will not yield,” I grit out as I stand, hatred pouring off me.
Tsking, he shakes his head. “You still haven’t found your coldness, have you? That is why you’ll lose them. You think you can have love? Ridiculous.”
“They are mine,” I roar, even as confusion swamps me. He’s dead…isn’t he?
“I will go on behalf of the O’Connel Family.” Emilio’s cold, clipped voice suddenly echoes around me.
