Page 47 of Stolen Compliance

When we pull up to the training warehouse, my stomach sinks. I’m not allowed to view everything—and from the screams and cries I overhear; I don’t want to see it. The last time we were here, though, it was a rough initiation. The gun to my head was nothing but forced to test the so-called merchandise still makes me feel dirty. The blood on my hands is nothing compared to that shit.

Still, I carefully keep my face blank as we stride toward the doors. The scent that lingers heavily in the air makes my stomach churn. It’s more than the stench of sex, urine, feces, and blood. It’s the utter despair and debauchery that permeates every fucking thing. I never knew those two emotions had a scent, but fuck if they don’t.

Swallowing hard, I try not to breathe deeply. I’m surprised when we don’t go all the way to the middle of the warehouse where the merchandise is tested. This time, we take a slow, winding stroll that lets me actually see how the trainers execute Sergio’s vision.

Whatever I imagined is far weaker than what happens. It’s savage. It’s humiliating. Without context, the fact I’m being allowed to see these small visual vignettes worries me. Just what exactly is coming? Am I going to be forced to further torture these men and women who already endure far more than I’ve seen?

Hell, Il Padrone wasn’t nice with his training, but fuck if I’ll ever consider him truly savage after this. It’s a damn good thing I skipped breakfast this morning. The air of expectation was too much for me.

Finally, I’m led back to where the merchandise is tested before they leave. It’s taking everything not to throw up at this point. Considering the sly grin Dominic sends me, it’s far too obvious. I’ve done too good of a job lately to make such a stupid fuck up. Yet… How can they both live like this? Watching such depravity, and hell, participating in it?

Carefully, I pull on my blank mask. It’s impossible to fit a pleasant expression on. Not when I’m seriously having to consider killing both Teo and Dominic. It yanks at my heartstrings. I’m not sure why. There’s just something about them that calls to me. It disgusts me how I want to kneel for Dominic like I used to for Il Padrone, and how I want to protect Teo, like I should have with Lio.

Hell, right now kneeling for my friend sounds like a fucking great plan. Being able to just snap all thoughts off. Maybe nobody understands when they look at us Boys that even though we were twisted, turned into something we never would have been otherwise, there was still happiness. Still peace. If only my jealousy hadn’t fucked that up for me…

“This is the first time you’ve seen our training. And while you didn’t get to see everything, it gave you a taste. What do you think?” Dominic asks as he sits in the damn chair like he’s a fucking king. Leaving the couch, once again, for Teo and me.

“It’s far more complex than I expected,” I respond as neutrally as possible, but the smirk on Dominic’s face lets me know I failed.

“We need our merchandise incredibly well trained. As you saw during the testing phase. Now, as an exciting opportunity, Sergio will be hosting an auction at the end of the month. The theme will be compliance. Meaning the people selected will have to perform flawlessly. There cannot be a single mistake.” Dominic’s eyes flick to Teo before returning to me.

“Compliance isn’t easy to guarantee, but you certainly have qualified trainers here.” I shrug a shoulder, pretending nonchalance.

Chuckling, Dominic nods. “It does make me wonder… just how well did your Boss train you?”

Confusion, with a hint of apprehension claws at me. “Il Padrone trained all of his Boys flawlessly. We’re his crown jewels, of course.”

The words come by rote, sentiments repeated through the years. Yet, somehow, they taste like ash to me. Especially after seeing what these fuckers count as training. But there’s no doubt that Il Padrone treasured us Boys. There’s a reason we weren’t killed when we didn’t perform perfectly. Whereas I’ve seen what Dominic and Teo do to toys that don’t work right.

Teo shifts uncomfortably on the couch, his body tense as he tries to unravel the mystery of Dominic. Good fucking luck. Granted, he has far more experience dealing with this asshole, but damn. Every word out of his mouth seems to have more than one meaning, even if it’s not one recognized by any dictionary I know.

“Crown jewels, huh?” Dominic murmurs. “An interesting way to view people, certainly. But, alas, that does bring me to what we need to discuss.

“You see, compliance starts with us. The trainers. The handlers. The people in charge. And while you’re a guest, Luca, you are, in fact, representing Sergio. Hence, he has concerns on whether you can show the same level of obedience that he demands from the rest of us.

“With that in mind, we’re going to do a little competition. You’ve seen the training. Teo has been through a version of that. I don’t know how your Boss trains, but Sergio assures me it’s solid. But let’s see who truly submits and who is merely a wannabe, not worth being in the business so to say.”

Swallowing hard, I try not to panic. I wet my lips, noting the way Dominic zeros in on the action, and the sharp inhale of Teo’s breath. Trying to show a confidence I don’t feel, I respond calmly, “Compliance is important. However, there are limits to mine. Both as a Second and as one of Il Padrone’s Boys. I’m sure you understand that there are things he would not wish for me to do…”

“Hmm. He allowed you to be punished, though. The call to Sergio proved that. Would you like me to phone him? See what he says about whether you need to go through this test or not?”

The air in me freezes, and for a moment, I don’t fucking know what to do. I want to have faith in Il Padrone. In my friend. My former Boss. But he wants me to shut this down. Would he callously throw me to them?

He warned me it would be hard. That I’d see things that would make me sick. He never told me, however, that I would be tossed into a den of depravity, expected to act like a whore. When I try to find the threads of reason to give me an answer, it’s like a damn kitten played with it and it’s nothing more than a tangled mess.

I’ve seen him move us along like chess pieces. Now it’s my job to use that knowledge. And. Not. Fucking. Fail.

“Well, Luca?” Dominic taunts me. “Want to see what your Master will do?”

I hold back my shudder, my self-doubts, and raise my chin as I stare at the cold monster in front of me. “If Teo can do this, so can I.”

I look toward Sergio’s heir, wondering how he’ll take this situation. He stiffens, and I catch him mouth something… probably a curse. Thankfully, Dominic isn’t watching. No, his attention is now on his cell phone. Which terrifies me. Who else is he inviting to watch? To compel us?

When he slides it into his pocket, neither Teo nor I move. Not when we’re in the sight of a snake that’s wound up and ready to strike. Hell, I’m not even sure if we’re breathing.

“Very well, then. Let’s see how well you’re trained. I’ll even be gracious enough to take it in steps.”

This time, Teo and I exchange an actual look, our eyes lingering as apprehension and determination dances between us. The need to be the best, to win Dominic’s approval. Even if we both know whether we “win” or “lose”, it doesn’t matter. The only victor here is him.