“We’re family,” he reminded.
“Not through blood.”
“Enough.” He shoved the alpha away. “You aren’t him.”
“No.” Dio reached up and rubbed at his throat. “Because unlike him, I would accept you as you truly are. One day, you’re going to realize that.”
The vulnerable, hurt omega Sarang thought he’d saved that day was an illusion, Shiloh knew that. If the alpha had known from the start who Shiloh really was, he never would have helped him, let alone treated him with such tenderness. Hell, why else would he have kept up the ruse all this time? It sucked having Dio press against that sore spot, though it was hardly surprising.
“If I order you to bring him to me, you have to do it. Should I? One bite, and this can be settled once and for all.” The bond was only formed if the alpha delivered the claiming mark and it was accepted, which meant Shiloh biting Sarang wouldn’t solidify much, but the point of his statement was still there.
“If you wanted that, then you should have ordered it done before making him the underboss,” Diogenes replied. “He’s my superior now.”
“Are you saying his commands hold more weight than mine?”
“I’m reminding you of the chain of power, Prince.” Dio brazenly reached forward and brushed a damp strand of inky black hair off Shiloh’s brow. “And who is responsible for setting that chain, hmm?”
Shiloh looked away.
“Admit it. You played your cards wrong. Give up. Come to me.” The alpha took a step closer. “I can be enough. No one knows you better than I do. You’re still young, but one day you’ll wake up and understand that that’s the most important thing in a relationship. I’ll never reject who you really are. You don’t need to manipulate the board for a chance of getting close. I’m right here. Next to you.”
It was tempting. Not because Shiloh held any real feelings toward Diogenes, but because there was truth there that couldn’t be ignored. Ever since he’d met Sarang, Shiloh had been pretending. He’d put on this massive production involving the rest of the mafia and his siblings. Had contorted reality and rewritten his story.
He’d wanted Sarang, and he’d been willing to do anything, become anything, to have him.
What if…nothing he ever tried would be good enough?
What if they continued on this path, until the resentment grew so big that he ended up destroying the thing he desired the most?
The only person he’d ever truly felt anything real for?
“Emotions are addicting.” Shiloh placed a hand against Dio’s chest and gently pushed him back. “Desire is a drug. If we’re both addicts, you should know my answer won’t change. Sure, you might be enough. But you’ll never satisfy me. You’ll never make mefeel, and that’s what I’m after.”
He’d been diagnosed with his personality disorder at a young age. It’d been kept hush-hush, but Diogenes knew about it. He knew how hard it’d been for Shiloh to learn expressions and cues from others so he could properly imitate feelings he wasn’t capable of actually experiencing.
Things had changed for him four years ago. Sarang had brought him home and stitched him up. Kept him safe. He’d introduced Shiloh to his family.
A normal, average, loving family.
That day, something had come alive within him. Something tangible, yet just out of reach, and he knew if he could finally grasp it, everything would snap into place for him. Things would be better. Clearer. Real.
“Shiloh—”
His multi-slate, which he’d removed and left on the other side of the room rang suddenly, cutting off whatever Dio had been about to say. Shiloh went to it, stepping over bodies with ease.
When he saw the name flashing across the screen, his heart skipped an actual beat.
Like a weakling.
Like a real person.
A normal reaction from someone with a crush.
“Speak.” He made his voice firm when he answered, carefully tucking those softer emotions away.
“Come out,” Sarang’s voice trickled through the speakers. “I’m waiting in the driveway.”
“I said I wanted to be alone.” His gaze drifted over to where Diogenes was, watching as the alpha moved bodies to the side, clearly pretending not to be listening to their conversation.
