Page 11 of Destruction

“Oh, fuck no. Not while I’m still trying to get used to this whole Second thing. It’s fucking scary as shit.”

Standing, I help him off the bed. I lightly nip his neck before cupping the side of his face. “You’re doing great already.”

He barks a laugh as he shakes his head. “I must be doing well enough if it sends you into a He-Man impression. And no, I’m definitely not complaining. It certainly gives me incentive to get even better.”

I press my lips together, unable to say a word as he sashays to the bathroom.Fuck. My Little Mouse is going to kill me one of these days. And what a fucking way to go.

“If you’re planning on boring us to death,” I say conversationally, looking right up at the camera, “this is a good start.”

Allesandro snorts, but doesn’t say anything. After all, it’s not like he can disagree with me. Being left chained in a soulless concrete room is socliché. Granted, Tennant’s torture chambers have the same look, but at least we give his experiments chairs, and something to look at—even if those things are the instruments of their pain.

When no response comes from our host, I consider thunking my head against the wall, just for something to do. Instead, I begin humming one of the Taylor Swift songs that Roman’s had on repeat the last few weeks.

“Really?” Allesandro raises an eyebrow at my song choice.

I shrug. “There’s a reason we always have music playing at the house. Silence is maddening. And it hasn’t even been a day yet. I don’t really plan on dying by boredom in here. Though, it might be worth it if I get to skip Ten’s lecture.”

“Save us from hovering Seconds,” he mutters.

“Exactly. I don’t know about you, but my Family will try to put me in a bubble after this—as if I can’t take care of myself. I’ve been doing it a lot longer than any of them.”

“I can already feel my Boys’ worry and protectiveness. It’d be…sweet, if it wasn’t so damn annoying. Who do they think made them and taught them how to live up to their full potential?”

I hum my agreement. “I’m surprised our host hasn’t snapped at us yet,” I say lowly.

“Maybe he perished from boredom himself,” Allesandro responds.

Laughing, I lean my head against the concrete wall and sigh. As much as I’m enjoying talking to Il Padrone—something we don’t get to do much because of our respective job titles—I wish something interesting would happen. No, I don’twantto be tortured, but anything is better than this. Not that I have high hopes the torture would be any good. I grew up with Tennant, after all, so it takes a lot to impress me.

“We’ve already bet on who’s Family will get here first,” I say casually. “Shall we also wager against who is going to be the most…destructive in their search?”

“Easy, my Emilio. He is the most…hostile one when it comes to me.”

“Yes, I can see that. Though he’ll find a match in Tennant.” In truth, it worries me. The longer I’m gone, the less control Tennant will have over himself.

Saving him when we were teenagers was the right thing to do, but for the monster that lives in Tennant, it meant somethingmore. Loyalty isn’t what keeps Tennant by my side. If it was, he never would have ended up hospitalized in the first place.

No, what keeps Ten with me is something far deeper than anyone else will ever understand. And it scares me shitless to know I’m not there to rein him in. I have to believe Hollis’s hold on him is enough…

“I’m willing to take that wager,” Allesandro says, ignorant to the dark turn my thoughts have taken.

“Name your price, Padrone.”

His smirk is a much-needed light in this otherwise bland cell.

My muscles are deliciously sore after Ignacio stamped his mark on me, but I manage to walk into the office without a problem. I’m not surprised that Lio is already waiting for us, even though we’re earlier than anyone else. I immediately sit in the Second’s chair, unsurprised that Ignacio sits next to me.

“Have fun?” Lio smirks at me, even though the amusement doesn’t reach his eyes.

My heart hurts for him, but I know all I can do is be there for him. Because we will find his love. “Mmm, we did. But we’re ready.”

“I didn’t expect anything less.” Lio runs his fingers along the desk, taking a deep breath. “I’m not sure how to deal with Roman.”

“What do you mean? You’ve talked to him a million times before. Unfortunately.” I cringe, having never hidden my disdain for how close those two are now. It’s not that I don’t want to share my best friend, it’s just that I don’t want to share him with Roman—or anyone that might be too compatible with him. After all, I’ve trained him to be the best friend ever.

Rolling his eyes, Lio smirks at me, and this time there is true amusement on his face. “You know that as much as I enjoy Roman, he’d never replace you.”

Looking down at my nails—which need a manicure—I mumble, “Of course. After all, friendship rules won’t allow it.”

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