Page 15 of Shotgun Daddy
“I’m going to look after you,” Faustino said, his voice firm but warm. “That director? Timo? He’sdonemessing with you. I don’t give a damn if he’s connected to gangsters or police, or even the God damned government. I’ve dealt with worse. I’ll put an end to this. He won’t touch you again, and he won’t tank your career either. You’ve got my word on that.”
Reece’s eyes widened.
“But… what if it’s dangerous? I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,” Reece said, the sweetness of the juice making him take another gulp as soon as he finished speaking.
Faustino let out a low chuckle.
“Sweet boy, danger’s my fucking playground,” Faustino laughed. “I’ve handled bigger threats than some theater nerd with a few shady connections. Trust me, I’ve got this under control.”
Reece smiled. He believed what Faustino was saying to him. There was a steel in his words, a confidence that made Reece feel like Faustino could take on the world and win.
However as much as Reece was happy to hear what Faustino was saying, he suspected there might be abutsomewhere close.
“Here’s the thing,” Faustino said, his tone telling Reece all he needed to know. “I’ll take care of this for you. I’ll be your Daddy, your protector, whatever you need. But you’ve got to decide if you’re in or out. I don’t do things half-assed, Reece. If you’re with me, you’re with me. All in. No snooping on my cell phone. Nothing. You trust mecompletely, and I’ll keep you safe. How does that sound?”
Reece felt like time was standing still.
It was an ultimatum, that much wasn’t in doubt. Faustino was offering him everything he’d longed for. He was a Daddy who’d fight for him, stand by him, care for him in his own way.
But it came with a price… total trust, total commitment.
Could Reece give that to a man like Faustino Fendi, with his wild past and dangerous world? It was a big moment, of that there was no doubt.
He looked into his eyes, dark and unwavering, and felt the answer rising inside him. But it was going to take all his Little courage to let it out.
“I’m… in,” Reece said, his voice soft but steady. “I trust you, Daddy.”
“Good boy,” Faustino said, his voice low and gravelly as he reached over and pressed a kiss onto his forehead. “Now let’s finish these juices and figure out how to make that bastard regret ever crossing you.”
Reece giggled, and snuggled closer.
With Faustino beside him, he felt ready to face anything. Even the Timo Taylor shaped shadows still waiting in the wings…
Chapter 8
Faustino
Faustino’s chest swelled with a rare kind of pride as Reece nestled deeper into his arms, the sound of the boy’s soft voice echoing in his mind.
He’s in.
All in.
And that sweet ass doesn’t know what’s headed its way either…
Reece had agreed to let him look after him, to trust him completely, and that lit a fire in Faustino that he hadn’t felt in years.
This boy, this sweet, sassy Little with his big brown eyes and bigger dreams, was his to protect now. Faustino knew he couldn’t let him down. That just wasn’t him. He would never let another Justin situation play out. No matter what.
Faustino knew that he’d move mountains to make sure no one, especially that slimy sonofabitch Timo, dared block Reece’s path to the acting career he deserved.
Timo Taylor might think he held all the cards with his connections and his slimeball attitude, but Faustino was aboutto show him that the Fendi men handled business differently. Faustino would keep a razor-sharp eye on that bastard, and make sure he didn’t so much as glance Reece’s way without regretting it.
“You don’t have to worry about a damn thing,” Faustino said, his voice low and steady as he brushed a stray strand of hair from Reece’s sweet face.
Reece’s skin was warm under his fingers, and Faustino lingered there a moment longer than he meant to. Suddenly there was an electric charge between them, one that hadn’t been there before – or certainly not so prominently at the surface.
“I’ll make sureno onegets in your way. That director? He’s on my list now,” Faustino snarled. “He steps out of line, he’s finished. I don’t care who he knows or what he thinks he can pull. I’ll bury him.”
