4. Consequences

CHAPTER 4

CONSEQUENCES

The room Damien led Antonio into was dimly lit, its purpose unmistakable. Antonio's heart raced as he took in the various implements arranged neatly on the walls. This was clearly a space designed for discipline and control.

"Eyes on me, pet," Damien commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Antonio reluctantly met Damien's piercing gaze, a shiver running down his spine at the intensity he found there.

"You tried to run," Damien stated, circling Antonio like a predator stalking its prey. "After I made it clear what the consequences would be."

Antonio lifted his chin defiantly, even as his insides quivered. "I'm not your property. You can't just keep me here against my will."

Damien's hand shot out, gripping Antonio's jaw firmly. "But I can, pet. That's exactly what our deal entails. And now, you're going to learn what happens when you defy me."

Without warning, Damien spun Antonio around and pushed him face-first against the wall. Antonio gasped as Damien pressed against him, the older man's body a solid wall of heat at his back.

"I'm going to punish you now," Damien murmured, his breath hot against Antonio's ear. "And you're going to count each strike. If you miss one, we start over. Understand?"

Antonio's breath caught in his throat. He should protest, should fight back. But something in Damien's tone, in the commanding presence of him, made Antonio's knees weak.

"Y-yes," he whispered, hating how small his voice sounded.

"Yes, what?" Damien prompted, his grip tightening.

Antonio swallowed hard. "Yes... Sir."

The first strike caught him off guard, a sharp sting across his clothed backside. Antonio yelped, more in surprise than pain.

"Count," Damien reminded him, voice stern.

"One," Antonio gritted out, face burning with humiliation and something else he didn't want to examine too closely.

The punishment continued, each swat precisely placed and steadily increasing in intensity. By the tenth strike, Antonio was panting, his body trembling with a confusing mix of pain and... arousal?

"You're doing so well, pet," Damien murmured, his free hand caressing Antonio's back in a soothing gesture. "Just five more. Can you be good for me?"

Antonio nodded jerkily, beyond words. The final five blows were the hardest yet, drawing gasps and muffled whimpers from his throat. When it was over, he sagged against the wall, overwhelmed by sensation.

Damien gathered him close, strong arms wrapping around Antonio's shaking form. "Shh, I've got you," he soothed, guiding Antonio to a nearby sofa. "You took your punishment so beautifully. Such a good boy for me."

Antonio's mind reeled, torn between indignation at being treated like a misbehaving child and a desperate need for more of Damien's praise. He curled into the older man's embrace, burying his face in Damien's chest to hide his conflicted expression.

"Why?" he asked, voice muffled by Damien's shirt. "Why go through all this? Why not just turn me over to Rizzo or my mother?"

Damien's hand came up to stroke Antonio's hair, the gesture surprisingly gentle. "Because you're far too valuable to waste on either of them. You have potential, pet. Raw, untapped potential that I intend to shape into something extraordinary."

He tilted Antonio's chin up, forcing their eyes to meet. "You belong to me now. The sooner you accept that, the easier things will be for both of us."

Antonio wanted to argue, to rail against the unfairness of it all. But exhaustion was creeping in, his body and mind wrung out from the intense experience. He found himself nodding, too drained to put up any more resistance.

"Good boy," Damien murmured, pressing a kiss to Antonio's forehead. "Rest now. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

As Antonio drifted off, cradled in Damien's arms, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was falling deeper into something he might never be able to escape.

***-

Across town, in the opulent Lombardi family compound, Vivian paced her study like a caged tigress. It had been days since she'd heard from Antonio, and her motherly instincts were screaming that something was wrong.

"Any word?" she snapped at Lorenzo, who stood nervously by the door.

Lorenzo shook his head, expression grim. "Nothing, Donna Vivian. His usual haunts are coming up empty. It's like he's vanished into thin air."

Vivian's eyes narrowed dangerously. "People don't just vanish, Lorenzo. Not in my city. Someone knows something, and I want you to find out what. Use whatever means necessary."

"Of course, Donna," Lorenzo replied, bowing his head respectfully. "I won't rest until we find him."

As Lorenzo hurried out to continue the search, Vivian sank into her chair, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. Where was her boy? What trouble had he gotten himself into this time?

And more importantly... who would pay the price when she found out?

***-

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Damien's penthouse, bathing the kitchen in warm light. Antonio sat stiffly at the marble island, pushing eggs around his plate as Damien sipped his coffee, watching him with those intense blue eyes.

"You're not eating," Damien observed, his voice deceptively casual. "I thought I made it clear that taking care of yourself was part of our arrangement."

Antonio's grip tightened on his fork. "Forgive me if I've lost my appetite," he bit out. "Being held captive tends to do that to a person."

Damien set his mug down with a sharp click. "We've been over this, pet. You're not a captive. You're here of your own free will, remember?"

"Because the alternative was being fed to the wolves," Antonio snapped. "Some choice."

In an instant, Damien was behind him, strong hands gripping Antonio's shoulders. "Watch that tone," he growled, lips brushing Antonio's ear. "Or I'll have to remind you of your place before we leave."

A shiver ran down Antonio's spine, his body's traitorous response to Damien's dominance making him squirm. "Leave?" he asked, hating how breathless he sounded. "Where are we going?"

Damien's grip loosened, one hand coming up to card through Antonio's hair. The gentle touch was at odds with the steel in his voice. "We're going shopping. You need a wardrobe befitting your new position. Can't have you looking like some street rat I picked up on a whim."

Antonio bristled at the implication. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

Damien chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Oh, pet. Those rags might have passed muster in your old life, but you're mine now. And what's mine will be dressed to impress."

He moved back to his seat, fixing Antonio with a stern look. "Now, finish your breakfast. We leave in an hour, and I expect you to be on your best behavior. This will be your first public appearance as my companion, and I won't tolerate any embarrassment."

Antonio's stomach churned with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. "And if I refuse to play along with this little charade?"

Damien's smile was all teeth. "Then you'll be punished. Thoroughly and creatively. And believe me, pet, you don't want to test my imagination in that department."

The threat sent a jolt of heat straight to Antonio's core. He ducked his head, focusing on his plate to hide his flushed cheeks. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll be good."

"That's my boy," Damien purred, satisfaction evident in his voice. "Eat up now. You'll need your strength for what I have planned."

As Antonio forced down his breakfast, mind racing with possibilities, he couldn't shake the feeling that this outing would be a turning point. For better or worse, he was about to step into Damien's world fully. And there would be no going back.

An hour later, they were in Damien's sleek black Bentley, gliding through the streets of Chicago. Antonio fidgeted in his seat, hyper-aware of Damien's presence beside him.

"Stop that," Damien admonished, placing a large hand on Antonio's thigh. "You look like a nervous schoolboy on his first date."

Antonio's cheeks burned. "Well excuse me for being a little on edge," he snapped. "It's not every day I'm paraded around as arm candy for a crime lord."

Damien's grip tightened, fingers digging into Antonio's flesh through his jeans. "Careful, pet," he warned, voice low. "You're already on thin ice after last night's little stunt. Push me too far, and I might decide to skip the shopping trip in favor of a more... hands-on lesson."

The threat sent a shiver down Antonio's spine, his body's reaction a confusing mix of fear and arousal. He bit his lip, forcing himself to take a deep breath. "I'll behave," he muttered. "Just... tell me what you expect from me."

Damien's expression softened slightly. "It's simple, really. You'll stay by my side, speak only when spoken to, and defer to me in all things. To the outside world, you are my devoted companion. My protégé, if you will. They don't need to know the... intimate details of our arrangement."

Antonio nodded jerkily, his throat suddenly dry. "And what if... what if we run into someone I know?"

Damien's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Then you'll introduce me as your mentor and benefactor. Nothing more, nothing less. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Antonio replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

The rest of the ride passed in tense silence. When they finally arrived at the boutique, Antonio's nerves were stretched to the breaking point. As they stepped out of the car, Damien's hand came to rest possessively on the small of his back, guiding him towards the entrance.

"Relax," Damien murmured in his ear. "You're doing wonderfully. Just a bit longer, and then I'll reward you for your good behavior."

Antonio shivered at the promise in Damien's voice, anticipation and dread warring in his gut. As they crossed the threshold into the opulent shop, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was crossing a point of no return.

The boutique was a temple to luxury, all gleaming surfaces and hushed voices. Antonio felt woefully out of place in his worn jeans and t-shirt, acutely aware of the curious glances and whispered comments that followed in their wake.

Damien, on the other hand, moved through the space like he owned it. Which, Antonio realized with a start, he very well might. The staff fluttered around them, all deferential smiles and eager-to-please attitudes.

As they were ushered into a private fitting room, Antonio's skin crawled with the weight of unseen eyes. He felt exposed, vulnerable, like a prized pet being shown off to Damien's world.

"Stop fidgeting," Damien muttered, his hand tightening on Antonio's hip. "You're drawing unnecessary attention."

Antonio bristled at the touch but forced himself to relax. "Sorry if I'm a little on edge," he hissed back. "It's not every day I'm paraded around like a trophy."

Damien's grip became painful, a warning in his eyes. "Watch that mouth, pet. Unless you want a repeat of last night's lesson when we get home."

Heat flooded Antonio's cheeks at the memory, his body's betraying response to Damien's discipline. Before he could retort, a slim, elegantly dressed woman approached them, all professional smiles and deference.

"Mr. Benedetti, always a pleasure," she greeted, her eyes flicking curiously to Antonio. "How may we assist you today?"

Damien's public persona slid into place, all charm and easy authority. "Ah, Marianne. My young friend here is in need of a new wardrobe. Something befitting his new position in my organization."

Marianne's smile never wavered, but Antonio caught the knowing glint in her eye. Clearly, Damien's "preferences" were no secret in certain circles.

As they were led deeper into the boutique, Antonio's gaze darted nervously around the space. And then, like a punch to the gut, he saw him.

Lorenzo. His best friend and fellow Lombardi soldier, staring at him with naked shock from across the store.

Their eyes met for a brief, electric moment before Damien's hand on his shoulder broke the connection.

"Everything alright, pet?" Damien asked, his tone deceptively casual.

Antonio nodded jerkily, his throat suddenly dry. "Fine," he managed. "Just... admiring the view."

As Damien began discussing tailoring options with Marianne, Antonio's mind raced. Lorenzo had seen him. Seen him with Damien Benedetti, looking for all the world like a kept boy.

The game had changed. And Antonio had a sinking feeling that things were about to get much, much more complicated.