36. Elio

36

Icarry Camila's trembling, exhausted body back to our apartment, her soft whimpers filling the air. Ren trails behind us, a wicked grin on his face. "Looks like we had some fun, huh Elio?" he taunts. I grit my teeth, refusing to let Ren's crass behavior ruin this moment.

"Shut it, Ren," I snap. "Tonight, I'm going to give Camila some aftercare. We can't just leave her like this."

Ren's eyes narrow, but to my surprise, he nods. "Alright, I'll help," he offers.

I shake my head firmly. "No, Ren. Aftercare isn't your speciality." I turn to Dante, who has been watching quietly. "Dante, will you help me with this?"

Dante nods, his expression softening. "Of course, Elio. I know how to be gentle."

I carry Camila into the bathroom, Dante following close behind. "Run the bath," I demand, sitting on the chair in the corner and rocking her gently as Dante turns on the faucet.

Once the bath is full, I gently lower Camila into the warm, soothing water, her body relaxing as it envelops her. Dante and I work together, focused on caring for her. I start massaging shampoo into her hair, my fingers tenderly working through the soft strands as she lets out a contented sigh. Dante kneels by the tub, carefully washing her arms and legs with a soft sponge.

We handle her with the utmost care, treating her like the precious princess she is. I feel a sense of peace and purpose, knowing that despite everything that has happened, I can still show Camila the gentleness she deserves.

Camila lets out a soft moan, arching her back against the cool porcelain of the bathtub. I feel a surge of desire course through me at the sight, but I force myself to stay in control. "Camila, you need to stop that," I warn. "If you keep moving like that, I won't be able to help myself."

Dante nods in agreement, his jaw tight. "He's right. We want to care for you and make you feel better, not to lose ourselves right now."

To my surprise, Camila looks at us with hooded, desire-filled eyes. "I want you to touch me," she whispers, "please."

I exchange a conflicted glance with Dante, seeing the same turmoil reflected in his dark eyes. We both crave her, our bodies aching with need, but we also want to show her a different kind of intimacy - one focused solely on her pleasure and comfort rather than our own selfish desires.

Dante gently takes one of Camila's smooth, wet legs out of the water, running his large hands along her glistening skin. I continue massaging her scalp, feeling her silky hair glide between my fingers as I watch her eyes flutter closed, and a soft sigh of contentment escapes her parted lips. Slowly, gently, we explore her body, caressing and stroking her supple flesh, intent on bringing her nothing but pure bliss.

Camila's breathing quickens, becoming shallow and rapid, and her hips start to undulate in response. I lean in close, my lips brushing against the delicate shell of her ear as I speak. "That's it, princess," I murmur, my voice a low rumble. "Just let go."

Dante's hands drift higher beneath the water, and Camila lets out a low, throaty moan as he finds her sensitive bud and begins stroking her clit in slow circles. I capture her lips in a deep, passionate kiss, swallowing her cries of ecstasy as she surrenders completely and finds her release under our combined efforts.

Spent and satisfied, Camila sinks back into the water, her eyes shining with a newfound trust. Dante and I exchange a glance of understanding. That we will continue to care for her, to show her that she can find joy and safety in our arms, no matter the darkness surrounding us. No matter the fact that Ren will always crave the dark and depraved from her.

As Dante finishes gently washing her breasts, I tenderly lift Camila from the tub and wrap her in a soft, fluffy towel, taking care to dry her body. I carry her to my bedroom, Dante trailing behind, and lay her down on the silken sheets of the bed. I press a feather-light kiss to her forehead, brushing a strand of damp hair back, and she sighs contentedly, some of the tension leaving her body.

"Rest now, princess," I murmur, my voice a low rumble. "You're safe here with us."

Dante moves to the side of the bed, offering Camila a glass of cool water, which she sips gratefully. As she lays back against the pillows, I pull the blankets up and tuck them around her.

I know that our intimate actions tonight have irrevocably changed the course of our relationship, binding us together. Still, in this moment, all that matters is Camila's comfort and well-being. I vow to do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means going against my family's interests. She belongs to us now, well and truly, and I know there's no world in which I let her go.

As Camila's eyes flutter shut, her breathing evening out into sleep, I turn to Dante, my expression serious. "Thank you for your help tonight," I say quietly.

Dante nods, his own gaze filled with a mixture of concern and understanding. "Of course. We're in this together."

I glance back at Camila's sleeping form, her beauty striking even in repose. My heart feels heavy with the weight of what we've done, binding her to us irrevocably. But I know that there's no turning back now. We will face the consequences together, the four of us bound by these newfound intimacies, for better or worse.

As we walk into the living room, Ren approaches with a huge grin on his face, holding up his cell phone. "We're in lads. Dimitry just sent the confirmation."

"Any assignment yet?" I question.

"Not yet," Renzo says, shaking his head. "But I'm sure Dimitry will be in touch soon with the details of our first assignment."

I nod, trying to hide my unease. When Renzo had first told me about Nexus and their initiation rituals, I'd been skeptical that a secret society operating on a college campus could really offer the power and connections he claimed. But now, with our membership confirmed, the reality is setting in. We're part of something bigger now, and there's no going back.

"What do you think he'll ask us to do?" Dante pipes up from his spot on the couch. There's an edge of nervous excitement in his voice. Out of the three of us, Dante has always been the most eager to prove himself.

Renzo shrugs. "With Dimitry, it's hard to say. But knowing how these societies operate, it'll be some kind of test to gauge our loyalty and discretion."

My palms feel clammy at the thought. When we'd discussed this back when it was all still hypothetical, it had seemed thrilling - a chance to exercise the kind of ruthless cunning Father always preaches. But now faced with the actual prospect of being tasked to do God knows what, my stomach twists itself into knots.

Because in truth, I don't know if I have the stomach for the kind of deeds Nexus likely requires of its members. Violence, intimidation, blackmail...these are all part of the family business, things I've been prepared for since I could walk. But carrying them out in cold blood, just to satisfy some society's arbitrary whims?

I shove these doubts aside, schooling my face into a mask of cool confidence. Now is not the time for weakness or second-guessing. We have a duty to the family, a legacy to uphold. No matter what Dimitry asks of us, we will prove ourselves worthy.

All the same, as we speculate about what's to come, I can't ignore the quiet but persistent voice in my head. It whispers that nothing good can come from involving ourselves with Nexus and their machinations. And it wonders if we've made a terrible mistake in pursuing power without considering the cost.

Ren grabs a bottle of whiskey from the bar and pours us each a glass. "To us," he says, raising his drink in a toast. "The future leaders of this godforsaken world."

We clink our glasses together, the amber liquid sloshing over the rims. As I take a sip, the burn of the alcohol mingles with the thrill of our success.

"So, what's next?" I ask, leaning back against the couch.

Ren's grin turns wicked. "Now, we celebrate. And I think I know just the way to do it."

He glances toward the bedroom, where Camila is sleeping off the night's activities.

I shake my head, my jaw clenching with anger. "Absolutely not, Ren. Camila's off-limits right now. She needs rest."

Ren's eyes flash with annoyance. "Come on, Elio. You can't keep her all to yourself. We're supposed to share, remember?"

I step forward, my fists clenched at my sides. "I said no, Ren. Don't push me on this."

Dante steps between us, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Easy, boys. Let's not fight over this. Camila's not going anywhere."

Ren scoffs, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Fine. But how am I supposed to blow off some steam then? I'm wound up tighter than a fucking spring."

I pause, an idea forming in my mind. A slow grin spreads across my face. "I have the perfect solution. We'll go out and let loose, just the three of us."

Ren's eyes light up with interest. "Yeah? What did you have in mind?"

I grab my jacket from the back of the couch and shrug it on. "You'll see. But trust me, it's exactly what we need right now."

Dante nods, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I'm in. Let's do it."

We head out into the night, the cool air invigorating after the heat of the apartment. I lead the way, my strides purposeful as we make our way through the darkened streets.

As we walk, I feel the tension draining from my body, replaced by a sense of anticipation. Whatever the night has in store for us, I know it'll be a hell of a ride.

Ren falls into step beside me, his earlier frustration forgotten. "So, where are we going, Elio? You gonna keep us in suspense all night?"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Patience, Ren. Good things come to those who wait."

Dante laughs, the sound echoing off the buildings around us. "Spoken like a true leader, Elio. Lead the way."

I lead Ren and Dante through the darkened campus, our footsteps echoing off the stone buildings. The night air is crisp, and I can feel the excitement thrumming through my veins. I know exactly where we're going, and I can't wait to see the look on Ren's face when he realizes it.

As we approach the shooting range, I can hear Ren's sharp intake of breath. "No fucking way," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

I grin, pushing open the heavy metal door. "Welcome to your own personal playground, Ren."

We step inside, the fluorescent lights flickering to life overhead. The room is empty, save for the rows of targets lining the far wall. I walk over to the gun cabinet and pull out a sleek black pistol, the weight of it familiar in my hand.

Ren's eyes are wide with wonder, his fingers twitching at his sides. I know how much he loves guns, how much he craves the power they give him. But I also know the dark history that lies behind that love.

"Ren," I say, my voice low and serious. "I know how much this means to you. But we have to be careful. We can't let what happened before happen again."

Ren's jaw clenches, and for a moment, I think he might argue. But then he nods, his eyes never leaving the gun in my hand.

"I know, Elio. I'll be careful. I promise."

I nod, satisfied with his answer. I hand him the gun, watching as his fingers wrap around the grip with a practiced ease.

Dante steps up beside me, his own eyes gleaming with anticipation. "My turn next," he says, grinning.

I laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. "Patience, Dante. We've got all night."

We take turns firing at the targets, the sound of gunshots ringing out in the empty room. Ren is a natural, his aim true and his movements fluid. I can see the joy on his face, the pure exhilaration that comes from holding a weapon in his hands.

As we shoot, I feel a sense of camaraderie wash over me. This is what we're meant to do, the three of us. And together, along with our princess to bind us, we're unstoppable.