Page 56 of Stolen Compliance

His eyes are full with tears and his lips tremble before he pushes out, “Please.” He tries to once more undo my buttons, so I sit up and remove my shirt.

As soon as I do, I get a lap full of crying bunny as he buries his face into my throat and his fingers claw at my bare skin. He trembles, pressing so hard against me I’m convinced he’s trying to burrow into my skin.

“Shh,” I soothe. “It’s okay. I got you.” Leaning over, I grab the soft throw from the bottom of the bed and toss it over us, cocooning him in warmth.

He snuggles even deeper into me, and I press a kiss to his head as he finally seems to relax.

“I got you…” I whisper. “It’s okay. You’re safe with me.” I don’t have control of myself anymore, words spilling out without any heed to who might be around, or how they sound.

“Not…wanted,” he mumbles. “No…name…no job…”

“Shhh. You’re wanted, bunny,” I assure him. “Daddy wants you.” He cries, tears soaking into my skin. “That’s right. Daddy’s here, Little Bunny Boy. I got you. You’re okay. It’s okay.”

I’m not sure which of us I’m trying to convince, but I repeat the words over and over until my throat dries, and my voice goes hoarse, and he finally falls asleep in my arms, right where he belongs…

My alarm going off startles us both awake. Luca shoots up, and I shush him, encouraging him to lay back down. “Sorry, bunny.”

Leaning over, I grab my phone and shut the alarm off. It’s far too early to be awake, but with the auction coming up in just a few weeks, and Kari’s impossible mission, there’s work to be done.

Sliding out of bed, I stretch, aware of eyes on me.

I meet Luca’s shuttered gaze as I dress in the clothes I discarded last night, wondering if he remembers what happened, the dangerous secrets we both confessed, before he passed out.

“You have ten more minutes of sleep before your alarm will go off,” I tell him, double checking I have all my things before striding out of his room.

Dominic is waiting for me in the hall, and my stomach swoops.

I took a calculated risk going to Luca last night. Comforting him…staying the night.

“Hope he is worth your life, Buttercup,” he says harshly.

I don’t dare look at the closed door behind me, holding Dominic’s gaze.

“As much as you are,” is the only thing I can say this early in the morning, too tired for word games and to pretend like we’re nothing to each other.

Dominic scoffs, but that he’s not dragging me in front of Sergio says more than his words and actions ever will.

Yesterday changed things for us all, whether we’re ready to admit it or not.

From the look Dominic gives me before walking away, I know he’s prepared to continue lying to himself.

Fine. I got this far despite him, I’ll continue moving forward, and if that includes dragging Luca through it too…so be it.

After all, they wanted me to become a monster…

It’s been almost two weeks, and I’m still pissed at Teo. He doesn’t know how to move through the hallways without being caught. He’s lucky that I was able to manipulate the video footage. If his father found out…

Sighing, I drink my coffee, pushing that fucking nuclear thought out of my head. It’s getting closer to the auction, and I’m antsier than I should be. I’m not even sure why. Although it doesn’t help that Luca is like a damn teddy bear that Teo and I are constantly tugging between us.

For the most part, the bunny hops along, automatically agreeing to whatever plan we put in place. Whether he’s following me as I check more backend matters—the soldiers, the captains, the inner workings of the schemes we run—or if he’s in Teo’s fucking care with the clients and suppliers.

It’s like we’ve ripped it down the center. I stay in the shadows, Teo steps into the spotlight. Really, it’s what he’ll do as Boss, anyway. It shouldn’t matter. It sure the fuck shouldn’t hurt.

And yet, it gnaws on me. The fact Teo has escaped my grasp for so long, and worse, tugs the bunny along occasionally. I want to insist that they’re both mine, but under Sergio’s far too careful watch lately I’ve had to suffer in silence, like a good Second does when his plans flicker and die. Only, they won’t die. I refuse to allow it.

Today will help ease that pounding headache that creeps up when they’re not around. Because both of them will be in my hands today, under my observation. A direct order from Sergio. A testament of what’s to come, and they’d both better remember their roles because if they don’t… Well, fuck it. Even if they are a credit to me, I’ll find a way to knock them down again, anyway.

Teo stumbles in first, as expected. His attention zeros in on the coffee maker as he ignores me. It doesn’t surprise me when he gets down a second mug as well. After making sure his coffee is perfect, he then doctors Luca, who takes it far sweeter than either Teo or me.