8. Choices

CHAPTER 8

CHOICES

Antonio's heart pounded as he stared into Damien's cold, assessing eyes. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, stealing the air from his lungs. He was balanced on a knife's edge, caught between loyalty to his family and the undeniable pull he felt towards Damien.

"Well, pet?" Damien's voice was dangerously soft. "I'm waiting for an answer."

Antonio swallowed hard, buying himself a moment to think. He couldn't betray his family, but the thought of turning against Damien made his chest ache in ways he wasn't ready to examine.

"I'd stop you," he said finally, lifting his chin in defiance. "Whatever it takes."

Something flashed in Damien's eyes—pride? Disappointment? It was gone too quickly for Antonio to decipher.

"Is that so?" Damien prowled closer, every movement screaming predator. He backed Antonio against the wall, caging him in with his larger frame. "And how exactly do you plan to do that, little boy? Have you forgotten who's in charge here?"

The pet name, usually so arousing, now felt like a slap. Antonio bristled, anger overriding his fear. "I'm not your fucking pet," he snarled, shoving at Damien's chest. "And I'm not going to stand by while you destroy everything I care about."

Damien caught his wrists easily, pinning them above his head. His grip was bruising, a reminder of the power he held. "Careful, Antonio," he growled. "You're treading on dangerous ground."

But Antonio was beyond caution now. The hurt and betrayal he felt fueled his rage, giving him a reckless courage. "Or what?" he spat. "You'll punish me? Lock me up? Go ahead. At least then I'll know where I stand with you."

Damien's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Where you stand? You're mine, Antonio. My property, my plaything. Nothing more."

The words cut deep, but Antonio refused to let it show. He laughed bitterly, the sound harsh in the tense air between them. "Right. Just a convenient fuck toy to help you take down my family. How could I forget?"

For a moment, something like hurt flashed across Damien's face. But it was quickly replaced by cold fury. He released Antonio's wrists abruptly, stepping back.

"If that's what you think, then perhaps it's time we ended this little arrangement," Damien said, his voice icy. "I'm sure your mother would be thrilled to have her precious boy back. Assuming, of course, that she even noticed you were gone."

The dig at his family rekindled Antonio's anger. "Fuck you," he snarled. "At least my family gives a shit about me. Unlike you, who's just using me as a pawn in your sick games."

Damien's hand shot out, gripping Antonio's jaw painfully. "Careful, boy," he growled. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

But Antonio was beyond intimidation now. He met Damien's gaze defiantly, a spark of triumph in his eyes. "No, you be careful," he shot back. "Because I know things now, Damien. Things that could bring your whole empire crashing down."

Damien's grip tightened for a moment before he released Antonio, taking a step back. His eyes were calculating as he regarded the younger man. "Is that a threat, Antonio?"

"It's a warning," Antonio replied, straightening his spine. "I'm not your puppet anymore, Damien. And I won't let you hurt my family."

The tension between them was palpable, the air crackling with unspoken threats and simmering desire. Because even now, furious and hurt as he was, Antonio couldn't deny the pull he felt towards Damien. The memory of last night, of Damien's hands on his body, his voice rough with passion, sent a shiver down his spine.

Damien must have sensed it, because his expression shifted, becoming predatory in a different way. He stepped closer again, his large body radiating heat.

"Your family," he murmured, voice low and silky. "The same family that's never appreciated you? Never seen your true worth?" His hand came up to cup Antonio's cheek, the touch deceptively gentle. "Not like I do, pet. I see everything you are, everything you could be."

Antonio's breath caught in his throat. He wanted to lean into the touch, to let Damien's honeyed words wash over him. But he couldn't forget what he'd overheard, couldn't ignore the very real threat to his family.

"Stop it," he said, hating how weak his voice sounded. "Just... stop. I won't let you manipulate me anymore."

Damien's thumb brushed over Antonio's lower lip, igniting sparks of unwanted arousal. "It's not manipulation if it's the truth, baby boy," he purred. "You belong here, with me. You know it, deep down. Why fight it?"

For a moment, Antonio wavered. The temptation to give in, to lose himself in Damien's touch and forget about the outside world, was almost overwhelming. But then he thought of his mother, of Lorenzo, of everyone who was counting on him.

With a herculean effort, he pushed Damien away. "No," he said firmly. "I won't betray my family. And I won't be your pawn anymore."

Damien's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and something that looked almost like respect. "So that's your choice then?" he asked, voice dangerously soft. "You'd throw away everything we have for a family that's never truly valued you?"

Antonio squared his shoulders, meeting Damien's gaze head-on. "What we have is a lie," he said, even as the words tore at his heart. "It was never real. But my family... they're my blood. And I won't abandon them."

For a long moment, Damien just stared at him, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he surged forward, capturing Antonio's lips in a bruising kiss.

It was all teeth and tongue, more a battle than an embrace. Antonio found himself responding despite his anger, his body betraying him as it always did when Damien was involved. He clutched at Damien's shoulders, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer.

When Damien finally broke the kiss, they were both panting. He rested his forehead against Antonio's, his breath hot on the younger man's lips.

"This isn't over," Damien growled, his voice rough with emotion. "You're mine, Antonio. Whether you admit it or not. And I don't give up what's mine easily."

Antonio's breath hitched, a mixture of fear and arousal coursing through him. But his bratty nature flared up, refusing to back down. "I'm not yours," he spat, even as his body betrayed him by leaning into Damien's touch. "I'm not some toy you can just claim and discard."

Damien's eyes flashed dangerously. In one swift motion, he pinned Antonio against the wall, his large body caging the younger man in. "No?" he purred, voice low and dangerous. "Then why are you trembling, baby boy? Why can I feel your cock hardening against my thigh?"

Antonio whimpered, hating how easily Damien could affect him. "That's... that's just biology," he stammered, trying to maintain his defiance. "It doesn't mean anything."

Damien chuckled darkly, one hand sliding down to cup Antonio's ass possessively. "Keep telling yourself that, pet. But we both know the truth. You need this. Need me. Need your Daddy to take care of you, to keep you in line."

The words sent a jolt of heat straight to Antonio's core. He squirmed in Damien's grip, torn between pushing him away and begging for more. "I don't... I don't need you," he insisted weakly. "I can take care of myself."

"Oh really?" Damien's smirk was predatory as he pressed his thigh more firmly against Antonio's erection. "Is that why you're rutting against me like a bitch in heat? Face it, baby. You're lost without Daddy's guidance."

Antonio's face burned with humiliation and arousal. He wanted to give in, to let Damien take control and wash away all his doubts and fears. But the memory of what he'd overheard earlier steeled his resolve.

With a burst of strength, he shoved Damien away. "No," he said firmly, even as his body screamed in protest. "I won't let you manipulate me anymore. I'm not your little boy, and I'm sure as hell not your pet."

Damien's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in their icy depths. "Careful, Antonio. You're playing a dangerous game."

"Maybe I am," Antonio shot back, chin lifted in defiance. "But at least I'm playing by my own rules now."

With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Damien staring after him with a mixture of fury and grudging respect.

Once alone in his room, Antonio's mind raced with possibilities. He needed leverage, something to keep Damien at bay while he figured out how to protect his family. His eyes landed on Damien's laptop, carelessly left open on the desk.

A wicked grin spread across Antonio's face. If Damien wanted to play dirty, two could play at that game. He might not be able to physically overpower the older man, but information? That was a weapon Antonio knew how to wield.

As he began to dig through Damien's files, looking for anything he could use, Antonio couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. This was more than just survival now. It was a chance to prove himself, to show Damien that he wasn't just some helpless little boy to be coddled and controlled.

***-

Meanwhile, in his private study, Damien poured himself a generous measure of whiskey, his mind churning with conflicting emotions. He'd never expected Antonio to get under his skin like this. The boy was supposed to be a pawn, a means to an end. So why did the thought of losing him make Damien's chest ache in ways he'd long thought himself incapable of feeling?

He knocked back the drink, relishing the burn. Antonio's defiance should have angered him, should have made him want to assert his dominance even more forcefully. Instead, it only heightened his desire, his need to possess the younger man completely.

Damien closed his eyes, remembering the way Antonio had felt in his arms, the sweet sounds he'd made as he came undone. It was more than just lust. There was a tenderness there, a protectiveness that Damien hadn't felt in years.

"Fuck," he muttered, pouring another drink. He was getting soft, letting his guard down. Antonio was a liability, a weakness he couldn't afford.

And yet... the thought of letting him go, of never again seeing that bratty smirk or feeling the warmth of his body... it was unbearable.

Damien's hand tightened on the glass, his resolve hardening. He'd find a way to keep Antonio, to make him understand that his place was here, by Damien's side. And if that meant dismantling everything he'd built, burning his empire to the ground... then so be it.

Because Antonio was his. His boy, his brat, his everything. And Damien Benedetti always protected what was his.