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"Why do you care so much? Why can't I just live my life in private?"
"Because you're fucking careless!" He roared across the desk as he stood abruptly. His fist pounded on the dark stained wood. "You thought no one knew? Thought it was ok to run around behind my back fucking someone I'd given shelter to. I have eyes and ears everywhere. This has to stop now before it gets out of control, and I can't protect you. Your men won't listen if they know what you two have been doing."
"No, Father, I don't think it's that at all. I think they'd listen just fine given how much I've proven myself over the years."
Rather than react to my words, he pressed a button on his phone. Salvatore's voice filled the office. "Yes, boss?"
"I have a project for you. One that I want you to take your time on. Really do some of your best work."
"Oh, really. Sounds... exciting," he drawled, his tone almost jovial.
I shook my head quickly as bile rose up my throat. "Don't," I pleaded.
"I'll have to call you back, Sal. Give me a minute." My father hung up without waiting for a response. His grin was feral, the kind only a man who'd backed his prey into a corner would wear.
If there was another way out of this, I couldn't think of it. Not without executing my father right then and there. And that would only lead to more trouble given the loyalty his men held towards him. I'd rather not completely destroy our family line with my anger.
Which meant the only thing to do was to agree.
For now.
Once I was in whatever place he sent me, then I could work out a plan. I could find a way back to Preacher. If I played my cards right, we could even take over for my father and still get our own happily ever after of sorts — just with more murder and violence.
"I'll go. You swear to never hurt Preacher and I'll leave. In fact, relieve him of his duty. If he can't be mine in all ways, then he is no good to the organization." I spoke with a false sense of bravado as my heart shattered in my chest. It fragmented in a way that made me wonder if the pieces would ever mold back together.
My father nodded his head, his smile sinister as he sat back down. "Good choice, son. I'll accept your request to let Preacher go. Besides, I think he's better off somewhere else. I'd hate for him to have an accident with you gone."
"And that's how I would up in Santorini. Ricardo was with me the entire time six-month stay. Then we came back to the U.S. and began working our way through all the major cities to expand the Romano reach. My father never let up on his threats to hurt you, nor did he give me a moment of peace. From tracking my phone to having Ricardo do daily check-ins, my life was nothing more than an expanded prison of sorts." I finished the major points of the story while avoiding the whole becoming The Monster part of it all.
Preacher didn't speak at first. He seemed to be taking it all in, as if he'd been waiting a long time to hear the truth.
"Why didn't you just come tell me? I would have left with you. We could have taken everything we needed and started over."
I shook my head. "Ricardo stepped into the room as soon as I agreed to the demands. My father took my phone right away, then he took me straight out the front door to a waiting car. There wasn't any time. When I finally gained access to a phone, your number had changed. I figured my father had something to do with that."
He gave a slow nod. "He cut my line off the moment Luca told me I was done. I showed up to work and got told that not only was I "free" but that you were gone and never coming back."
My heart ached at the pain lacing his tone. He had no clue all this time that I'd been protecting him. What kind of life would that be? I tried to imagine our roles reversed, but I couldn't. It hurt too much to even think about.
"What now?" I asked after he didn't say anything else.
"Now we shower and eat. Did you already forget that part?"
"No, but I figured you might want to digest the information I just gave you. Maybe you didn't want to be around me anymore or —" he put a finger to my lips.
His eyes met mine, and he gave me the softest of smiles. "There is never a time when I don't want to be around you. While I might not agree with the way everything was handled, I can see why you did what you did. I still want you, Dante. I've always wanted you, and I always will."
Overcome with relief, I crashed my lips to his. I needed the connection between us now more than ever.
If he still cared... If he still wanted me, then maybe he could help me set us both free. Maybe he'd know a way to make it so we could be together the way it should have always been.
He groaned into my mouth as I wiggled on his lap. I desperately wanted to straddle him, but I felt too big. The muscle I'd put on over the years was helpful for the persona I crafted, though it was more of a hinderance to my ideal position.
As if he could read my mind, Preacher shifted my hips back, then used his knees to pry my legs apart. He dragged me down on his lap as his lips never left mine.
"Fuck, baby. I've missed you," he panted between kisses.
I damn near came from his growly tone alone. Add in the way his hands gripped my ass and the rocking motion of our hips, and well, I was a goner.
