Page 46 of Destruction

“And we have faith in you, Tesoro Mio,” he says.

Emotion clogs my throat, but thankfully, I don’t need to speak out loud. “I just want to make Dad proud.”

“You are,” he assures me. “When we get him back, and he sees how well you’ve held everything together, he’ll tell you just how proud you’ve made him. You were born for this, Roman. It shows, too. From the way you speak, how you hold yourself, and even the way you dress.” I scoff but he ignores me. “Yes, it may be unconventional for someone in your position, but you own your style and sense of self, and that confidence is what helps people not question it. I know you don’t feel ready, but youare. You’ve been ready since the day you spared my life.”

Tears fill my eyes and I don’t bother blinking them away, knowing I’m safe here with him. “Thank you.” My hand trembles as it tips off my chin, but I don’t care anymore. Pushing down my emotions is something I’ve struggled to do my whole life, knowing a Boss isn’t supposed to show just how vulnerable he is.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since Dad was taken, it’s that emotions are part of the job, even if those not at the top don’t think they should be. It’s learning how to express them, and when, that’s important. Locked here in Dad’s office, with Jude sitting in front of me, I know I’m as safe as can be.

My phone vibrates on the desk and I wipe my eyes before picking it up. Glancing at the screen, a pit of dread fills me.

HOLLIS

Our bedroom. Now.

Looking up, I find Jude slipping his own phone in his pocket. “I’m assuming Tennant is finished,” he muses. He grabs his hearing aids and slips them back in before standing. “Shall we?”

Taking a deep breath, I push away from the desk, slipping my phone into my jacket. I straighten my skirt, making sure the pleats lay just so, before following Jude out of the office.

The presence of extra guards in the halls sets me on edge—more than I already was since Hollis’s text.

In any other circumstance, I’d be worried he was pissed, but he gave his blessing for whatever occurred between Tennant and Benjamin, so whatever this is, it must be big enough for a private conversation.

We use the elevator, because after a session with Jayden, Jude isn’t up for taking the stairs. He grabs my hand once we’re in the car and doesn’t let go, even as we walk down the hall to our room.

The suite door is open and Tennant is already there, sitting on the couch, one leg crossed over the other.

We leave the door open and I take a seat next to Ten as Jude sits in a chair. “You look well fucked.” I can’t help but comment.

Tennant snorts. “I am.”

I eye his shoulders and arms, noting how blood seeps through his white shirt. “I see he’s not a docile little mouse,” I muse.

Tennant smirks and shakes his head. “Far from it. He plays the act well, but he’s a Martelli for a reason.”

“You’re right, Roman,” Jude drawls. “Fucking catnip.”

“Will you two fucking stop with that,” Tennant snaps, frustration bleeding into his tone. It’s not an easy feat to make him lose control, which means he cares far more for Benjamin than he’ll ever admit.

I wait for jealousy to spark, since Benjamin isn’t ours to keep, but it doesn’t. I’m not surprised, as I’ve never been jealous of any of the individual relationships that happen outside the main one between the four of us, but I never thought about how it’d feel if an outsider was thrown into the equation. Except now, wehaveto think about it.

Hollis finally comes into the room and shuts the door behind him. The click of the lock is loud in my ears, even as my heart beats quicker at seeing him. He’s wearing a black dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, which is surprising as he’s very conscious to not show his scars. His dark hair is its usual messy disarray, but it’s his dark brown eyes, framed by his glasses, that are captivating.

The air in the room feels electric as Hollis leans against the closed suite door and studies the three of us. “I want you and Jude to watch this,” he says, holding out his tablet. “And then I’ll tell you what I’ve decided.”

Fear creeps into my throat as I look at Ten, who is watching our hacker, the trepidation in his ice blue eyes is the only indication of what he might be thinking.

Getting up, I take the tablet from Hollis and perch on the arm of Jude’s chair, holding the device between us. “There’s sound,” Hollis says from his spot still by the door. “So make sure the captions are turned on.”

Doing as ordered, I finally press play, furrowing my brows when I see it’s a recording of the training room we have here at the house. It’s only ever used when we’re on lockdown, as we are now, or if we’re bored enough, as Tennant prefers more space than the room can offer. Plus, there are only limited skills he can test here.

The training session starts out as expected. Tennant taunts Benjamin, using his experience with that psychotic bastard, Jax, as a way to bring out the bloodlust hiding in the other man.

I have to bite my tongue to not comment on how sloppy Benjamin’s technique is, especially when he allows himself to be backed into the wall. The sight of Tennant leaning in to kiss him has my breath catching.

Jude taps the screen, splitting the feed as he brings up the view from the other camera, just in time to watch as Tennant takes Benjamin’s trauma, and uses it to build him up.

The next time they go at it, I can see Benjamin is actually trying. There’s a determination on his face that is admirable, especially as he manages to get Ten on the ground, though he gets too arrogant for how undertrained he is.

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