Page 92 of Unfettered

“And speaking of your Daddy…” I move my hand off his cheek and reach for my phone. “Smile.” Allesandro lets me take a picture of him, his blush almost covering up the blooming bruise on his face. “Hopefully, this gets him to leave me alone. Emilio is worried about you, but he trusts me; he has Roman and Cole and the puppy to distract him. Tennant only has Benjamin.” I send the photo and put my phone aside. “Don’t be surprised if your Daddy is extra annoying next time he sees you, I had to threaten him to get him to stay put.”

“I’m surprised he listened. He…likes to try to fix me.”

I snort. “He’s a fixer, but he knows that, as important as it is for Benjamin to understand Tennant has others in his life that he needs to care for, he also needs to show Benjamin that he’s there for him as well. So, Tennant can worry about you all he wants, but his place is with the Topolino right now, and mine is with you.”

Allesandro licks his lips and I give in to the temptation to kiss him again, just as soft and sweet and slow as before. “Thank you,” he whispers when we finally part.

I smooth back his hair, the strands a little too long, but fitting for the Sweet Boy name Ten gave him.

“Anytime, Sweetheart, anytime. Partners.”

“Partners,” he repeats, and this time, he sounds like he means it.

Swallowing, I glance from Jayden’s pissed off face to Doc stripping off his gloves. Both Joel and I have stitches, but so far, Jayden hasn’t said a damn word. And hell, Doc’s only made one statement, and that’s to confirm that neither of us were getting the good drugs. Which, fuck. Why couldn’t Sarah be on duty?

Still, I bite back the hiss of pain as Jayden narrows his eyes at both Joel and I, pretty much warning us that our lives are forfeit if we move. Fuck, that shouldn’t be hot, but well…yeah, it is. And if Joel would get the fuck out, I would be happy to show Jayden just how much he’s turning me on.

Doc grunts as he looks at Jayden. “They’re your problem now. I don’t expect either to need PT, but you can follow up in case you feel otherwise.”

“Thank you,” Jayden bites back, finally uncrossing his arms, although his hands remain clenched in irritation.

Doc tosses us patients a grin that has me frankly more worried about whether we’re going to be nothing more than a smear of blood on the floor. Fucker whistles as he leaves, and I’ll admit, part of me wants to follow. It’s a thin line between hot as fuck and terrifying…and Jayden is tap dancing all over that shit.

Jayden exhales, pinching the bridge of his nose as he paces in front of us. When he finally stops, it’s to pin his brother with the most lethal glare yet. Even I lean away from Joel at the risk of that ire splashing over onto me.

“You let my Princess get hurt.” His voice is flat, but no less terrifying than if he was yelling. Actually, I’d rather he shouted.

Huffing, Joel rolls his eyes. “It’s not my fault. He’s the one who got in the way of a bullet. Not me.”

Unable to keep my mouth shut, I intercede, snapping, “Asshole, that’s because you have no situational awareness and decided to stand in an active shooter environment like a fucking target! I wasn’t going to let my Sir’s brother be killed!”

The sharp inhale has both of us cringing. We, uh, may have initially tried to make it sound less dangerous. That seems to have been a mistake.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” Jayden’s hot gaze pins Joel where he’s at, and I’d crow in success if I didn’t know my ass is on the line next. “And why do you have a matching mark?”

“Because your Princess got snippy,” Joel tosses back with a wicked grin. It actually has a gleam of respect to it, but that’s more fucked up than I thought was possible.

I brace myself for the hurricane of Super Dom to turn on me. Yet it does not come. Instead, Jayden gets in Joel’s face, and I’m left breathless. Turned on. And, at the same time, a cocoon of warmth envelops me so much that I’m left reeling…

“First, you don’t get to call him Princess. That’s my nickname. Second, if you want to play big brother, stay in your lane. Ignacio has done nothing to deserve your idiotic preconceived notions.” He jabs Joel hard. Thankfully, on the uninjured shoulder, because not even I would wish otherwise. Then he continues, “He’s honest and loyal. Let the past go. I have. And Ignacio is part of the reason for that.

“He doesn’t just roll over for me. His submission is a gift, and a responsibility. I trusted you to take care of him when I couldn’t. And you failed. So no, you don’t get to stand there and cast judgment on a man I care about—one with integrity and depth.”

Joel’s eyes widen in shock, and he turns to stare at me. This time, I’m positive it’s respect in his eyes. He gives me a nod, and even though there’s no words, I understand. I want to preen from the fucking acknowledgment, the balm of my soul from two men who somehow heal the doubts inside of me. Yet, I keep it locked down. Especially as I await Jayden’s wrath.

Instead, I whisper, “Thank you.”

Joel grunts in response, and Jayden lets out a snort, causing both brothers to grin at each other. My heart rejoices at seeing Jayden relax, even if I’m still pissed at Joel. Because seeing Jayden happy makes my happy, and fuck if that isn’t weird.

Earning his approval makes sense to me. It’s the same as it was for Il Padrone. But this happiness? This needing him to be settled? That…that is the same thing I associate with Roman, and it means I’m completely, utterly fucked.

That’s the L-word level, and while panic starts to kick in, it rapidly dissipates because I recognize how lucky I am to have two men in my life who bring that out in me… And each one gives me something completely different, but something I desperately need from each of them.

“You can go.” Jayden waves his hand at his brother, but his piercing eyes don’t leave me. Joel takes the escape without hesitation. Fuck, I don’t blame him.

“Sir,” I acknowledge, tilting my head, even though I wish I could go to my knees. But if anything, I think that would piss him off more, because my body already aches.

Sighing, Jayden shakes his head. “I’m not that easily won over.”