6. Unexpected Allies

CHAPTER 6

UNEXPECTED ALLIES

Gina Caruso prided herself on her observational skills. As Damien Benedetti's right-hand woman, it was her job to notice the things others missed. And lately, she'd been noticing a lot when it came to her boss and his new... companion.

She watched from across the room as Damien guided Antonio through another high-stakes business meeting. The younger man was a vision in a tailored suit that probably cost more than most people made in a month. But it was the way Damien looked at him that caught Gina's attention.

There was possession there, certainly. Damien had always been territorial about his things. But there was something else, too. A softness in his eyes that Gina had never seen before. It was... unsettling.

As the meeting concluded, Gina approached the pair. "Mr. Benedetti," she greeted smoothly. "A word in private, if I may?"

Damien's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Of course. Antonio, why don't you wait for me in the car?"

It wasn't a request. Antonio's jaw clenched, a flicker of defiance in his eyes, but he complied. As he brushed past Gina, she caught a whiff of expensive cologne mingled with something uniquely... Antonio. She could see why Damien was so captivated.

Once they were alone, Damien turned to her expectantly. "Well?"

Gina chose her words carefully. "I couldn't help but notice how... invested you seem in your new protégé. I just want to make sure it's not clouding your judgment."

Damien's eyes flashed dangerously. "Careful, Gina. You're treading on thin ice."

She held her ground. "With all due respect, sir, it's my job to look out for the family's interests. And right now, your interest in Antonio Lombardi is raising a lot of questions."

For a moment, she thought Damien might lash out. But then his shoulders relaxed, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Always the pragmatist, aren't you, Gina? Fine. What do you want to know?"

Gina blinked, surprised by his openness. "Is this just another power play against the Lombardis? Or is there something more going on?"

Damien's gaze drifted to the window, where Antonio could be seen fidgeting in the backseat of the waiting car. "It started as a game," he admitted softly. "A way to get under Vivian's skin. But now..."

He trailed off, and Gina felt a chill run down her spine. She'd never seen Damien like this, so... vulnerable.

"Be careful," she warned. "Feelings can be dangerous in our world."

Damien's expression hardened, the mask of the ruthless crime boss sliding back into place. "I appreciate your concern, Gina. But I have everything under control. Antonio is mine, and that's all anyone needs to know."

As he strode out of the room, Gina couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get very, very complicated.

Antonio slouched in the backseat of the luxury sedan, frustration simmering beneath his skin. He hated being dismissed like a child, hated the way Damien could control him with just a look or a word.

But even more than that, he hated how much he craved Damien's approval. How a single touch or word of praise could send heat pooling in his belly and make his heart race.

The car door opened, and Damien slid in beside him. Without a word, he pulled Antonio close, one large hand cupping the back of his neck possessively.

"You did well in there," Damien murmured, his breath hot against Antonio's ear. "I think you've earned yourself a reward tonight."

Antonio shivered, torn between desire and defiance. "I'm not your trained monkey," he bit out, even as he leaned into Damien's touch. "I don't need treats for good behavior."

Damien chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Oh, but you do, pet. You need a firm hand to keep you in line. And I'm more than happy to provide it."

Before Antonio could retort, Damien's lips were on his, hot and demanding. He melted into the kiss despite himself, a needy whine escaping his throat as Damien's tongue swept into his mouth.

When they finally broke apart, both panting, Damien's eyes were dark with desire. "We have another engagement tonight," he said, voice rough. "A charity auction. I need you on your best behavior. Can you do that for me, pet?"

Antonio nodded, still dazed from the kiss. "Yes, sir," he breathed, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Damien's answering smile was predatory. "Good boy. Keep that up, and I'll make sure you're thoroughly rewarded when we get home."

As the car pulled away from the curb, Antonio's mind raced. He was in too deep, falling harder for Damien with each passing day. But a small voice in the back of his mind whispered a warning. This couldn't last forever. Sooner or later, reality would come crashing down around them.

He just hoped he'd be strong enough to weather the storm when it hit.

Lorenzo hunched over his laptop, eyes burning from hours of staring at the screen. He'd been combing through security footage, financial records, anything that might give him a clue to Antonio's whereabouts.

The fact that his best friend had been spotted with Damien Benedetti, of all people, set off alarm bells in Lorenzo's head. Something wasn't right. The Antonio he knew would never willingly align himself with their family's greatest rival.

A knock at the door startled him from his thoughts. "Come in," he called, quickly minimizing the windows on his screen.

Vivian Lombardi swept into the room, her face a mask of barely contained fury. "Tell me you have something," she demanded.

Lorenzo sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Nothing concrete yet, Donna. But I did manage to trace some unusual financial activity in one of our shell companies. It looks like someone's been siphoning off funds, small amounts at first, but growing larger over the past few months."

Vivian's eyes narrowed. "Antonio?"

Lorenzo nodded grimly. "It's possible. The timing lines up with when he started getting in over his head with his gambling debts. But there's something else..."

He pulled up a grainy security image on his screen. It showed Antonio entering a high-end clothing store, Damien Benedetti's hand possessively on his lower back.

Vivian's sharp intake of breath was the only indication of her shock. "When was this taken?" she asked, voice dangerously calm.

"Three days ago," Lorenzo replied. "I've been trying to track their movements since then, but they're good at staying off the grid. Whatever's going on between them, they're being careful about it."

Vivian was quiet for a long moment, her eyes never leaving the image on the screen. When she finally spoke, her voice was like ice. "Find him, Lorenzo. I don't care what it takes. Bring my son home."

As she swept out of the room, Lorenzo felt a chill run down his spine. He'd known Vivian Lombardi his entire life, had seen her at her best and worst. But he'd never seen her like this, cold fury radiating off her in waves.

He turned back to his computer, determination setting his jaw. He would find Antonio, no matter what it took. And heaven help anyone who stood in his way.

The charity auction was in full swing, Chicago's elite mingling and bidding on overpriced trinkets in the name of philanthropy. Antonio stood at Damien's side, playing the part of the devoted companion to perfection.

But inside, he was a mess of conflicting emotions. Every touch, every possessive glance from Damien sent sparks skittering across his skin. And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was betraying everything and everyone he'd ever known.

"Another drink, sir?" A waiter appeared at Damien's elbow, tray of champagne flutes balanced expertly.

Damien plucked two glasses from the tray, handing one to Antonio with a meaningful look. "Thank you," he said smoothly, dismissing the waiter with a nod.

As soon as they were alone, Damien leaned in close, his lips brushing Antonio's ear. "You're doing wonderfully, pet," he murmured. "Keep this up, and I might have to show you just how pleased I am when we get home."

Heat pooled in Antonio's belly at Damien's words. He opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by a commotion near the entrance.

A group of men in ill-fitting suits pushed their way into the ballroom, their rough demeanor at odds with the refined atmosphere. Antonio felt Damien stiffen beside him, one hand coming to rest possessively on his lower back.

"Rizzo," Damien growled, eyes narrowing. "What the hell is he doing here?"

Antonio's blood ran cold. He recognized the name—the Rizzo family was a rising power in Chicago's underworld, known for their brutal tactics and disregard for the old ways.

Before he could process the implications, Damien was steering him towards a secluded alcove. "Stay here," he ordered, voice low and urgent. "Don't move, don't speak to anyone. Understand?"

Antonio nodded, throat too dry for words. As Damien strode away to confront the intruders, Antonio's mind raced. This was bad. If a fight broke out here, in front of all these witnesses...

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Antonio? What the fuck is going on?"

He spun to find Lorenzo standing behind him, face a mixture of relief and confusion. "Lorenzo," Antonio hissed, panic rising in his chest. "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe."

Lorenzo's eyes hardened. "Neither should you. Come on, I'm getting you out of here."

He grabbed Antonio's arm, but Antonio wrenched away. "I can't," he said, hating the desperation in his voice. "Lorenzo, please. You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me," Lorenzo demanded. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you've switched sides. Thrown in with Benedetti of all people."

Antonio opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the sound of raised voices. He peered around the corner to see Damien and a burly man he assumed was Rizzo engaged in a heated argument.

"This is neutral ground, Rizzo," Damien was saying, voice cold as ice. "You have no right to be here."

Rizzo sneered. "Rights? Since when do you care about rights, Benedetti? We know you've been moving in on our territory. This ends now."

The tension in the room was palpable, everyone holding their breath as they waited to see who would make the first move. And then, like a match to gasoline, all hell broke loose.

Antonio wasn't sure who threw the first punch, but suddenly the elegant ballroom was a war zone. Glasses shattered, women screamed, and the sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the air.

He felt Lorenzo tugging at his arm again. "We need to go. Now!"

But Antonio's eyes were locked on Damien, who was holding his own against two of Rizzo's men. Without thinking, he broke free from Lorenzo's grip and rushed towards the fray.

He reached Damien just as a third attacker came at him from behind, switchblade glinting in the chandelier light. Acting on pure instinct, Antonio grabbed a champagne bottle from a nearby table and brought it down hard on the man's head.

The attacker crumpled, and Damien spun around, eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and... was that pride?

"I told you to stay put," Damien growled, but there was no real anger in his voice.

Antonio managed a shaky grin. "Since when do I follow orders?"

Their moment of connection was shattered by the wail of approaching sirens. Damien cursed under his breath. "We need to go. Now."

He grabbed Antonio's hand, pulling him towards a side exit. As they ran, Antonio caught sight of Lorenzo's shocked face in the crowd. The look of betrayal in his best friend's eyes sent a pang of guilt through his chest.

They burst out into the cool night air, Damien's sleek black car already waiting at the curb. As they peeled away from the scene, tires squealing, Antonio's mind reeled with the implications of what had just happened.

He'd chosen Damien. Without hesitation, without thought, he'd thrown his lot in with the man who was supposed to be his captor. His enemy.

As if reading his thoughts, Damien's hand came to rest on his thigh, grip firm and possessive. "You did well in there, pet," he murmured, voice husky with adrenaline and something else. "I think you've more than earned your reward tonight."

Antonio shivered, anticipation and dread warring in his gut. He was in too deep now, no going back. Whatever game they were playing, the stakes had just gotten a whole lot higher.

And as the city lights blurred past the window, Antonio couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The Rizzos wouldn't take this lying down, and now both the Benedettis and the Lombardis were in their crosshairs.

He'd inadvertently placed himself at the center of a brewing gang war. And judging by the heat in Damien's gaze as they sped towards the penthouse, that was far from the only storm he'd have to weather tonight.

Antonio swallowed hard, equal parts terrified and exhilarated. One thing was certain—nothing would ever be the same again.