8. Elio

8

ELIO

" H ow can I help?" Tom asked.

"How do you do it? How do you live with…?" I gestured toward the door where Vinnie and Tony had made their exit.

Tom smiled. "It took me a while to get used to it. Vinnie is a force to be reckoned with, and it was a matter of days from meeting him to him telling me he was taking me with him and there weren't any other options. In the end, he did give me a choice, but I followed him. I'd seen things I shouldn't have, so my other option was essentially mob-run witness protection. I wouldn't have been free either way, and being with Vinnie is…nice."

His smile told me exactly what was nicest about it. "There are definitely some benefits to being with Tony, but I feel like I'm going from one prison to another."

"Realistically, what are your other options?"

"I saved up some money, but Billy took it, the son of a bitch. I should never have hooked up with him. That was a huge mistake."

Tom's eyes widened. "You slept with him? No wonder Vinnie killed him."

I rolled my eyes. "Trevisani men sure as hell are possessive, aren't they?"

"They are. It's hot though."

"Yeah, it is. I was planning on running. I was going to use that money, but now when I really think about it, how far would I have made it? I'd always be looking over my shoulder."

"At least with us, you know someone has your back. Does Tony make you happy?"

I took a moment to consider the question instead of immediately saying yes. Tony satisfied me like no other man, and that certainly made me happy. But I'd also enjoyed the days we'd lingered in bed after fucking, neither of us wanting to leave. Before Tony, I tried to keep all my relationships purely sexual, but with him, I had trouble drawing those lines. Something just felt right with him.

I'd never let a man make me breakfast, but talking with Tony over coffee and eggs was nearly as heavenly as being in bed. Earlier I'd told him I didn't know him, but that was a lie. I knew him as well as I knew my brothers and they'd been there every day of my life—not that they'd ever made much of an effort to get to know me.

"Yes."

"Then stay. Give Tony a chance."

I huffed. "Like he'd let me leave."

"If he thought you would be happier without him, he might."

"But it's not really his choice, is it? It's Vinnie's or the Marchesis."

Tom smiled. "I've met Lucien, you know. He isn't as bad as people say, as long as you're an ally."

"But I'm the enemy—or at least his son."

"True, but like Vinnie, Lucien's in love. It changes a man."

In love. Was I in love with Tony? Was that the feeling that had me thinking of him every fucking day, longing to go back, to find him? "I don't know if I can do this."

Tom smiled. "You can. It's not easy to love them, but I've been with Vinnie for a while now, and it gets more comfortable, even when they're being assholes."

His grin made me laugh. "I can only hope."

"They're also really good at apologizing."

I thought of what happened in the woods with Tony and imagined apology sex. "I bet."

"I'm sure you'll be finding out sooner than you know." As if on cue, I heard a door open and footsteps approaching. "Like I said…."

We were both laughing when Tony and Vinnie entered the room.

Vinnie frowned. "What's going on here?"

"We're having a civilized conversation instead of posturing at each other," Tom said.

Vinnie looked him up and down. "You're really asking for it."

"Maybe."

The affection in both their glances told me that whatever happened between them after this, they would both enjoy it.

"Come with me." Tony's voice was gruff. I wanted to protest being spoken to like that, but Vinnie was watching us closely. I could tell Tony off in private.

We headed down the hall. Tony motioned to a room, and I stepped inside expecting to see Vinnie's office. Instead, we were in what I assumed was a guest room. It was illuminated only by an antique hurricane lamp, but I could tell there was king-sized bed with a white comforter, a dark green sofa, and a large, old-fashioned wardrobe. "What are we doing in here?"

"Talking," Tony said.

"And Vinnie doesn't mind us ‘talking' in here?" I looked pointedly at the bed.

"All he cares about is getting his way."

"So you're planning to seduce the information out of me, right?"

Tony scowled. "You have to know we can't go through with a plan when we don't actually know what information you have. It's like stepping into a fight not knowing if my gun is loaded."

"The gun is loaded. I can promise you that."

Tony frowned. "It's stuffy in here." He crossed the room, then unlocked and opened a window. A light breeze floated in along with the sound of music coming from a neighboring courtyard.

When he faced me again, he said, "Even if I were willing to accept your word, Vinnie's not, and he will only tolerate a minimum of defiance from me. I can't do more than I've done, not and keep you safe, which is my number one mission."

"Of course it is." The words came out more bitter than I meant. I was just getting tired of protection and confinement being the same thing.

"Do you doubt me?" Tony asked "Do you doubt how much I care? Do you understand what I'm risking?"

I knelt in front of him, and he sucked in his breath. "Are you saving me the trouble of seducing you?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I want to say thank you for eliminating Billy, for defending me, for taking all these risks."

"Are you going to turn the zip drive over to Vinnie?"

I shook my head. "I can't do that."

"You have to. It's the only way you'll be safe."

"These are my secrets to use, not Vinnie's."

Tony brushed the hair from my forehead, and I shivered. "You're here now. You're part of us."

"No, I'm here with you, not your family."

"There's no way to separate me from them."

He was right, but I wasn't ready to admit that. "If I solve my own problem, then it has nothing to do with your family, it's just me freeing myself."

"Do you really think that when your father realizes where you are he won't come for us anyway? That he won't think we forced you to betray him?"

"He won't take that risk. He knows I hate him. He knows I don't want to be part of his organization."

"Being part of his organization and sleeping with the enemy are two different things."

I hated how right he was. I hated realizing that the plan I'd believed in would never have worked. Could I really turn over everything and give up my last chance at escape? Was I going to join the enemy? Was it worth it for Tony?

Yes, it was, but I couldn't give in without a fight.

I clasped my hands behind my back, licked my lips and looked up at him. His eyes were wide. I had him off balance, which was exactly what I was going for. I might let him win in the end, but he was going to know I was playing him too. I might let him do whatever he wanted to me in bed, but I wasn't going to be his servant. "Are you planning to torture me until I give in?"

"Elio, I…." A car honked and the screech of owl startled me. Tony brushed his fingers over my cheek. "Owls are my favorite birds. It's a good omen."

I smiled. "Don't you want to get started torturing me then? I won't fight you, not much anyway."

He held my gaze as he undid his pants and pulled out his cock. "Open up."

I did, and he slid his dick over my tongue, giving me only a little at first, just a tease. I sucked hard, and he groaned. When I leaned in to take him deeper, his restraint broke.

He gripped the sides of my head and thrust deep, choking me. I clasped my hands tightly and let him do what he wanted. I needed this, and so did he. I couldn't explain it, but I needed him to force me to surrender to him, to make me believe I had no choice.

He pushed all the way in until my face was pressed to his abdomen. I couldn't breathe. I tried to stay still, to let this happen, but I started to fight, to push at his thighs. I needed air. I?—

He let me go, and I sat back on my heels gasping as he stared down at my dick. It was hard as fuck, jutting out from my body, dripping precum.

"You fucking love this."

I did, but I wasn't going to admit it. I dropped my gaze on the floor, not saying a word.

"Tell me what I need to hear."

I shook my head, not yet ready to give in. I had fight left in me. I still couldn't overcome the years of being taught to protect my family, no matter how they treated me.

"I won't stop. I'll keep fucking your mouth, cutting off your air. You can breathe when you're ready to admit you belong with me."

"With you? Not to you?" The words came out raspy and barely audible.

He grabbed the side of my head and pulled me to him again. "Swallow me."

I did as he said. He fucked my mouth savagely, then forced every inch down my throat again. "Will you turn over your evidence?"

I shook my head as I tried desperately to get some air in through my nose. He pinched it shut, and I thrashed against him, fighting his hold. He was so fucking strong.

"Give in to me."

I fought him desperately, tears running down my face. With a growl, he pushed me away, then grabbed my arm and dragged me to the bed.