Page 15 of Consequences
“Alright, I think we have a plan in place,” Il Padrone states slowly. “I want to be kept updated on you and your movements, even the hacker side of things, but for now, I believe things should proceed as Benjamin and Roman laid out.”
I let out a small sigh of relief when Cristian concurs. With a slight bow, I acknowledge it with a, “Thank you, Padrone and Cristian.”
Roman simply gestures his acknowledgment and starts dismissing everyone to continue their tasks. I touch base with the Martellis as they go, and mentally check things off my list. I’m curious to find out about the medical side of things, but not enough to hear it firsthand when Il Padrone is staring at me so intently.
I start to skirt out of the room when I’m stopped by Il Padrone’s voice. “Oh, Benjamin, I believe you should stay back. Along with Roman. And Ignacio.”
Fuck. I knew Il Padrone caught those damn looks between Roman and Ignacio. And now I’m screwed. Ignacio and I had been given permission to marry by him. Finding out we’re no longer on that path, and we’ve now chosen other partners? This is not going to go well—especially when Il Padrone probably isn’t feeling the most in control to begin with.
Well, at least I’ll get an update about Tennant and Lio, as I know the doctors will be stepping into the room soon—at least, according to the agenda Roman made up. I was quite impressed with it. Just not impressed enough to face Il Padrone without my best friend.
As everyone leaves, the five of us stare at each other. Ignacio comes closer and stands right next to Roman, setting his hand on his new love. Cristian inhales sharply as Il Padrone scowls, his gaze flicking from Ignacio to me.
“It appears we need to have a conversation…” Cristian addresses his son, and I inhale, realizing I had been holding mybreath. At least I’m not the first up, because this is going to go oh so well…
Oh. Shit.
Of all the things I planned for this meeting, all the moving parts I organized and reorganized… And I let something as stupid as this slip by me…
Il Padrone flicks his gaze between Benjamin and Ignacio, his scowl deepening when he pauses at the hand Ignacio sets on me. It’s not the simple, harmless touch of a friend, or family member. His hand rests heavily on my lower back—the intimate touch of a lover.
Dad’s black eyes are soul-sucking, and I am terrified to look at him, knowing that once I do, he’ll be able to read everything. I’ve gotten better at hiding my feelings, but like with Ten, I’ve never been able to hide from the man who raised me. They taught me all the tricks of the trade. There’s not a thought of mine that they can’t read, no matter how hard I try.
The Bosses wait us out, their patience far greater than mine. I don’t want to be the one to break first, but I know Dad well, he won’t say a damn word until he thinks I’m ready to open up.
I don’t know Il Padrone very well at all, but I know enough to be sure that this sitting in silence thing isnotgood.
“P—” Ignacio starts, but I hold up a hand.
Between the three of us, I am the one with the most authority. The one who must lead by example. “Ignacio and I have…connected,” I say slowly. “It’s new for both of us, and it’s been a bit slow, but we’re seeing where it’s going. It wasn’t planned, and I know it’s not what you want for me, but he’s helped keep me sane.”
Swallowing, I try my best to keep my tone even and smooth, not showing an inch of the nerves running through me. “Hollis, Jude, and Ten…they’re all okay with this. Ignacio isn’t part of what the four of us have, and I like it that way. It’s different,he’sdifferent. I feel…good when I’m with him.”
Il Padrone says, “I didn’t know the two of you were looking to open your relationship to someone else.” He once again looks between Ignacio and Benjamin.
“We didn’t,” Ignacio replies. “What I have with Roman, it does not include Benjamin.” My lover takes a breath and squares his shoulders. He drops his hand away from me, and I mourn the loss of his touch, but I understand. “Padrone, Benjamin and I…we decided to end our engagement and part ways as friends.”
The seconds stretching between those words and Il Padrone’s reaction are the longest of my fucking life.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice your missing rings?” he asks in a cool tone. “Thought I would be too busy to notice such a significant detail was missing from you both? Or that I would be too worried over my own love to miss your not so subtle signals to your new one?”
Ignacio takes a few steps forward, stopping directly in front of his Boss, and goes to his knees.
I have to bite my tongue in order to hold in my gasp. Benjamin takes a step closer to me, and the support is helpful, though I fight not to shrink back at Dad and Il Padrone’s assessing gazes.
“Forgive me, Padrone,” Ignacio says. “But I love him.”
I do gasp this time, a lump forming in my throat. It is far too early for such words, but hearing them come from Ignacio, as he kneels in front of his Boss—hisMaster—is more than I ever thought I would want.
“Love,” Il Padrone scoffs. “I gave you special permission to marry Benjamin, and yet you’re repaying me by breaking it off with him? And I’m supposed to believe youloveRoman. I’m not sure you know what those words mean, Chaos.”
Ignacio offers his hands out to Il Padrone and says, “Forgive me. I understand I went about this the wrong way, but I do love him. I made mistakes with Benjamin. I discovered I am not all he needs to be happy, nor is he all of what I need.
“I do still love him, in a way. I will always love him. But that love has changed. This is different. What I feel for Roman is love. I know what I promised before, and I do not regret it, just like I cannot regret falling for someone else. Punish me, I’ve earned it, but leave Roman out of this.”
Tears spill down my cheeks at Ignacio’s emotional words. I didn’t expect any of this, but… “I love him, too.”
“Roman,” Dad chides.
