13. Crossroads

CHAPTER 13

CROSSROADS

Antonio's heart pounded as he raced up the steps of Damien's penthouse. The threat against Damien's life echoed in his mind, drowning out all rational thought. He pounded on the door, fear and adrenaline making his hands shake.

The door swung open, revealing Damien with a gun in hand. His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed with concern. "Antonio? What the hell are you doing here?"

Before Antonio could respond, Damien pulled him inside, checking the hallway before slamming and locking the door. He turned to Antonio, his face a mask of barely contained fury and worry.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Damien growled, crowding Antonio against the wall. "I got a threat against your life. You shouldn't be anywhere near me right now."

Antonio's breath caught at their sudden proximity, his body responding to Damien's presence despite the danger. "I got one too," he admitted. "About you. I had to warn you."

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air between them charged with tension and unspoken emotions. Then, as if a dam had broken, they surged together. Damien's mouth crashed down on Antonio's, hot and demanding. Antonio met him with equal fervor, fingers tangling in Damien's hair as he pressed closer.

The kiss was all teeth and tongue, desperation and relief pouring out in a clash of lips and wandering hands. When they finally broke apart, both panting, Damien rested his forehead against Antonio's.

"You stubborn, reckless brat," he murmured, voice rough with emotion. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

Antonio managed a shaky smirk. "I have some idea. But maybe you should remind me, Daddy."

Damien's eyes darkened at the name, his grip on Antonio's hips tightening. "As much as I'd love to bend you over right here and fuck some sense into you, we've got bigger problems to deal with."

Reality came crashing back, the brief moment of reunion shattered by the weight of the threats hanging over them. Antonio nodded, forcing himself to focus. "Right. So what's the plan?"

Damien stepped back, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "First, we need to figure out who's behind this. Then we take them out, hard and fast."

They moved to Damien's office, poring over intel and making calls to their respective networks. As they worked side by side, the familiar rhythm of their partnership fell into place. Antonio's quick wit and outside-the-box thinking complemented Damien's strategic mind and ruthless efficiency.

Hours passed in a blur of activity. As leads began to coalesce, pointing towards a coalition of smaller families seeking to exploit the rift between the Benedettis and Lombardis, the tension in the room ratcheted up.

"We need to move on this now," Damien said, his voice tight with barely contained rage. "Before they can launch whatever they've got planned."

Antonio nodded, adrenaline thrumming through his veins. "I'll call my mother, warn her to beef up security on our territories."

As he reached for his phone, Damien's hand shot out, gripping his wrist. "No. It's not safe. We can't trust anyone right now, not even family."

Antonio's eyes narrowed. "She's my mother, Damien. I can't just leave her in the dark."

"And my father threatened to disinherit me if I didn't cut ties with you," Damien countered. "Family isn't always on our side, baby boy."

The endearment, spoken with such casual possessiveness, sent a shiver down Antonio's spine. He wanted to argue, to push back against Damien's control. But a larger part of him craved it, needed the stability Damien offered in the chaos swirling around them.

"Fine," he conceded. "So what do we do?"

Damien's smile was all predator as he pulled Antonio close. "We go to ground. I've got a secure bunker where we can lay low and plan our next move."

The elevator ride to the sub-basement was charged with unresolved tension. Antonio could feel the heat of Damien's body beside him, hyperaware of every shift and breath. By the time they reached the bunker, a state-of-the-art facility hidden beneath the building, Antonio felt like he might combust from the conflicting emotions warring within him.

As soon as the heavy door sealed behind them, Damien was on him. He shoved Antonio against the wall, pinning his wrists above his head with one large hand. "Do you have any idea," he growled, voice low and dangerous, "how fucking terrified I was when I got that threat against you?"

Antonio's breath hitched, arousal and defiance warring within him. "Probably about as scared as I was when I thought you might be in danger," he shot back.

Damien's free hand cupped Antonio's jaw, thumb brushing over his bottom lip. "You shouldn't have come here. It was reckless and stupid and?—"

"And exactly what you would have done if our positions were reversed," Antonio interrupted. He met Damien's gaze head-on, chin lifted in challenge. "Admit it, Daddy. You're not mad that I came. You're mad that I beat you to the punch."

For a moment, Antonio thought he might have pushed too far. Damien's eyes flashed dangerously, his grip tightening to the point of pain. Then, with a growl that sent heat pooling in Antonio's belly, Damien crashed their lips together.

The kiss was brutal, all clashing teeth and dueling tongues. Antonio gave as good as he got, biting Damien's lower lip hard enough to draw blood. Damien retaliated by grinding his hips forward, the thick line of his erection pressing insistently against Antonio's own hardness.

"Brat," Damien snarled against Antonio's mouth. "Always pushing, always testing me. Maybe it's time I reminded you who's really in charge here."

Before Antonio could retort, Damien spun him around and bent him over a nearby table. He kicked Antonio's legs apart, pressing his considerable bulk against Antonio's back.

"Is this what you want, baby boy?" Damien's voice was a dark purr in Antonio's ear as he ground his cock against Antonio's ass. "Want Daddy to fuck you stupid, make you forget about everything but how good I make you feel?"

Antonio whimpered, torn between pushing back for more friction and maintaining some semblance of control. "Maybe," he gasped. "If you think you can handle me, old man."

Damien's laugh was low and dangerous. "Oh, I can handle you alright. The question is, can you handle what I'm about to do to you?"

Antonio's breath hitched, a shiver of anticipation running down his spine. But he couldn't resist one last push. "Big talk for an old man," he taunted, wiggling his ass provocatively. "Sure you don't need a Viagra first, Daddy?"

In an instant, Damien's hand came down hard on Antonio's ass, the sharp crack echoing in the bunker. Antonio yelped, more in surprise than pain, heat blooming across his skin.

"Such a naughty boy," Damien growled, his voice a mix of amusement and arousal. "Looks like Daddy needs to teach you some manners."

Before Antonio could retort, Damien was manhandling him onto a nearby cot. He found himself face down, ass up, Damien's large hand pressing between his shoulder blades, then roughly stripped.

"Count them," Damien ordered, his free hand caressing Antonio's exposed cheeks. "And don't forget to thank Daddy for each one."

The first spank caught Antonio off guard, a perfect blend of pleasure and pain that had him gasping. "O-one," he stammered. "Thank you, Daddy."

By the fifth strike, Antonio was a writhing mess, cock leaking steadily onto the sheets below. "Five! Thank you, Daddy, please... I need..."

"What do you need, baby boy?" Damien's voice was rough with desire. "Tell Daddy what you want."

"You," Antonio whimpered, all pretense of brattiness gone. "Need you inside me, Daddy. Please."

Damien groaned, his control visibly slipping. "Such a good boy for me," he murmured, unzipping his slacks and positioning himself at Antonio's entrance. "Daddy's going to take such good care of you."

He pushed in slowly, giving Antonio time to adjust to the stretch. But once he was fully seated, all gentleness vanished. Damien set a punishing pace, each thrust hitting Antonio's prostate with unerring accuracy.

"Fuck," Antonio gasped, fingers clutching desperately at the sheets. "Daddy, feels so good..."

Damien's hand came around to grip Antonio's throat, not squeezing but a clear show of dominance. "That's it, baby," he growled. "Take Daddy's cock like a good little slut. You were made for this, weren't you? Made to take me, to be mine."

The possessive words sent Antonio spiraling closer to the edge. "Yours," he babbled, lost in sensation. "All yours, Daddy, only yours..."

Just as Antonio felt his orgasm building, the sharp blare of an alarm cut through the heated atmosphere. Damien tensed, his hips stilling as his head snapped towards the security monitors.

"Fuck," he snarled, eyes narrowing at the display. "We've got company."

Antonio whined, bucking his hips desperately. "Don't you dare stop now, Daddy. I'll be a brat all week if you leave me like this."

Damien growled, torn between duty and desire. "You're already a brat, baby boy." But he resumed his thrusts, somehow even more intense than before. "Guess we'll have to make this quick."

His hand wrapped around Antonio's neglected cock, stroking in time with his punishing pace. "Come on, sweetheart. Show Daddy how good you can be. Come for me."

The combined sensations of Damien's cock pounding his prostate and the rough friction on his dick had Antonio careening towards the edge. "Daddy!" he cried out, body tensing as his orgasm hit him like a freight train.

Feeling Antonio clench around him pushed Damien over too. He buried himself deep with a guttural groan, spilling hot and thick inside his boy.

For a moment, they stayed frozen, panting and trembling in the aftermath. Then Damien pulled out gently, gathering Antonio into his arms.

"Such a good boy for me," he murmured, pressing tender kisses to Antonio's flushed face. "My perfect little brat."

Antonio nuzzled into Damien's chest, feeling small and protected in the bigger man's embrace. "Love you, Daddy," he mumbled, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Damien's breath caught. He tilted Antonio's chin up, searching his eyes. "Say that again, baby."

Antonio bit his lip, suddenly shy. But the warmth in Damien's gaze gave him courage. "I love you," he repeated, stronger this time. "Even when you're a grumpy old man."

Damien's laugh was soft and full of wonder. "I love you too, you mouthy little brat. More than I ever thought possible."

The moment was shattered by another blaring alarm. They sprang apart, the reality of their situation crashing back.

"Playtime's over, baby boy," Damien said, tossing Antonio his clothes. "Time to show these fuckers what happens when they interrupt Daddy's quality time."

As they dressed hurriedly, stealing heated glances and fleeting touches, Antonio felt a curious mix of fear and exhilaration. Whatever came next, they'd face it together. And really, what could be scarier than falling in love with the most dangerous man in Chicago?

With one last kiss, equal parts tender and claiming, they moved towards the bunker door. Damien's hand found Antonio's, squeezing reassuringly.

"Ready to raise some hell, sweetheart?" he asked, a dangerous glint in his eye.

Antonio grinned, all teeth and mischief. "Always, Daddy. Let's show them why you don't mess with your boy."

The door slid open, and they stepped out to face whatever threat awaited, united and unbreakable.