Page 31 of Bene

Very little else.

“Are you even awake and dressed?”

“What?” Bene asked.

He glanced down at himself, deciding it was probably better not to answer Marcus’s question with the truth. He didn’t think his brother would appreciate the information that no, he was neither entirely awake considering his vision blurred, nor dressed in any kind of way that was respectable to leave his place.

In fact, anyone looking into his windows was getting a great view of his morning wood that was now starting to go down. Shit, he hadn’t even bothered to pull clothes on before he jumped into bed, which wasn’t his typical style. Usually, he’d beat the hard-on out in the shower, grab a coffee, and get on with his day.

Not today, apparently.

Perfect.

“What did I tell you last night when I called?”

Bene searched his brain to come up with an appropriate answer. He blamed that on the fact clearly, he had been woken up before it was the right time. What else could he do?

“Uh …”

“The Capo … Johnny,” Marcus snapped. “That’s where you’re supposed to be today working. This morning. In a half an hour, actually.”

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“I’m on my way,” Bene lied.

“I called the penthouse. You haven’t even left yet. I told you not to fuck this up, right? That you were going to be busy for the next little while? Lucky for your ass, I actually set up your meeting with the Capo for noon, so you really have an hour and a half, now. Just thought I’d screw you a bit before I told you to get your ass in gear and get to work. Time to get yourself straight, Bene.”

Bene squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed at his jaw. Memories of the night before flooded his mind—a beautiful woman with an angel’s face that fucked and tasted like sin. He barely had time to enjoy those thoughts, or the semi-erection it caused, promising he might get to enjoy his time in the shower after all, before Marcus spoke again, and he lost that small joy.

No surprise there.

“You’re on my time now, little brother,” Marcus said, “and you answer to my rules. Don’t take offense, I’m just keeping you out of trouble.”

“Marcus—”

“That wasn’t the opportunity for a conversation, Bene.”

Jesus.

His brother wasn’t fucking around.

“I’m on my way,” Bene said.

Even though Marcus hadn’t told him what work he would need to do for one of their father’s favorite Capos. In fact, he had no clue what he would be doing at all while Marcus controlled his work for their family. It could be anything. Normally, he handled payments from dealers, rackets, and other business. A go-between for his father, and older brothers who were made men. Whatever they needed, he was there to do.

Now, he was under Marcus’s thumb.

Or so his brother said.

Thing was, he wanted his button.

His in to the family.

Bene needed to be a made man.

He’d do what he had to.