Page 25 of Stolen Compliance

Sighing, Miles drums his fingers across his scarred desk. It’s certainly not like Sergio’s office. No, this one is purely functional. As expected, of course, as it’s in the middle of a whorehouse. One that Kari doesn’t run—and likely doesn’t know about.

“The new merchandise is working out. She’s not going to last long. But the boy? I thought you were crazy not to put him to auction—would have picked up some fine money—but hell, we get people willing to pay an obscene amount for him because he’s not broken in. And best of all is when they can use the sister against him.”

Miles is right in his assessment. I didn’t think it would work either. Unfortunately, I can’t even take the damn credit for this one.

“It was the newbie’s idea. He pitched it to Sergio.” My lips twist into a sneer, but fuck, there’s a damn hierarchy on this shit and he should have brought it to me.

“Ah, and the truth comes out,” Miles retorts with a smugness that makes my skin crawl.

Grunting, I ignore his stupidity. It’s not his fault after all that both Teo and Luca are making my life hell right now. And so what if I’m a little frustrated? It’s not like there’s shit I can do about it.

Tsking at me, Miles prods further, “Come now. Talk to me. Rumor has it Teo has been slaking his urges with a new man every night and that you’ve been a right ass the last few weeks.”

My fingers twitch, wanting my gun with a powerful urge. Unfortunately, Miles fills a hole most can’t step into. There’s black souls and men without souls. Miles is the latter, which lets him slither through this hellhole without an issue.

“It’s fine,” I bite off. And that’s true. Just because both newbie’s ass and Teo’s are completely off-limits to me unless they fuck up…or that they’ve started this weird competition to see who does the best to get the barest sign of acceptance from me. Fuck.

It’s like I’m being motherfucking edged all the damn time with a bunny and a puppy who all want to please me, but I can’t fucking take either one. So instead they keep getting better, thinking that’s the secret to my attention when it’s the exact opposite of what lets me touch them.

Fucking Sergio.

The worst part? Seeing the bunny sit there and make overtures to Teo, repeatedly, only to be shut down cold each time. The pup knows who holds his damn leash, even if he goes off like a dog every night sniffing at bitches who don’t deserve him.

All I need is for them to fuck up. Once. And I’ll have them beneath me, begging for mercy. Except it. Will. Not. Come. Because there is none in me.

“Fine. Take that evil smile and get the fuck out of here, if you’re not going to give me any details. I’m an old man, you know…”

Laughing, I shake my head, forcing myself to get back to business. Thankfully, it’s already been completed. “Old my fucking ass. You’ll still be here when I’m dead. They say the good die young; I figure you sold out your soul a long time ago.”

Miles cackles, throwing his head back and letting his thick hand fall onto the desk, rattling everything. I roll my eyes at his antics, but fuck if it isn’t like stepping back into time when I visit him. A simpler time when it was easy to take what we were owed and said fuck the rest. Now we have to slither between agencies and politicians who don’t realize the civil service we do.

“Alright, try to behave. I’m out of here. Keep an eye on the new merchandise, especially the boy. I expect newbie to fuck up at some point. And if he does, I think the boy may be an option for the impossible test.”

That wipes the smile off Miles’s face. Fuck knows we both know what that test is like… It makes us men, though. Men who can handle the pressures of this life without failing.

I stroll away from the den of debauchery, the screams still ringing in my ears despite the quality soundproofing. By the time I reach the SUV, it’s merely yet another memory. It doesn’t exist. Because in this life, you don’t look back—only forward.

When I climb into the SUV, I give the driver the sign to go and pull out my phone. Tapping it against my leg for a moment, I try to figure out what I should do next. Shrugging, I decide to check in on my charges. By now, they probably want to kill each other. Not that I’m opposed, but I’d rather fuck them when they’re alive.

Sending a text, I wait impatiently for a response. Thankfully, the damn pup knows I hold his leash and replies quickly. It’s easy enough to reroute us after that.

I spend the rest of the drive checking in with the captains and soldiers. Snapping out commands, adding more shit to my list to check, and watching the network. There are high-powered CEOs who complain about the shit they go through, but fuck if they know what constitutes as stress.

A Second is the conductor of a blood-soaked symphony, where each note has to complement each other, and nothing can drop. Because the moment it does—the slightest amount of discord—it’ll crash to the ground. Because silence… that’s not just a pause in the fucking market. No, that’s a catastrophe that means prison doors are shutting, or worse—a casket is closing.

“We’re here, sir,” the driver states as the car pulls into the parking lot of one of our restaurants. Thankfully, it’s a front spot because it’s starting to get brutally cold out.

Mixed in with our more interesting businesses are those that are what the tax guy would consider legitimate ones. Granted, I’m not sure how true that is when we all know some money laundering takes place, but fuck it. It’s still one of my favorite pizza places in the city.

Walking in, I immediately see Luca and Teo in a booth. I wave the hostess off and merely stop and stare for a moment. Both are leaning toward each other, arguing in what must be low tones. There’s a beseeching quality to Luca’s face… I can definitely see the bunny being the type to beg.

Teo? He leans back, putting more space between them. His face is all hard planes, like it’s set in granite, and he merely waves Luca off like a damn gnat.

Interestingly, Luca tugs at his hair, and I can almost feel his frustration from here. I’m tempted to let it play out, but Teo moves forward again, and that’s my sign. I quickly make it over there, sliding into the booth as I draw Teo back.

It’s not that I think Teo would hurt Luca, but I don’t need a lecture from Sergio if I’m wrong. Because while Teo may get in some trouble for it, the shit would fall mostly on me. And fuck that.

I force Teo to stay next to me, and he immediately ceases struggling when he notices it’s me. I put my lips next to his ear and whisper, “I hope you’re not fucking with the newbie. Especially while I’m not around. Did you forget who holds your leash? Or that more than I speak to your father?”