Page 103 of Unfettered

“There’s a reason Doc didn’t let Roman and I go back to work after what we went through, and we’re talking years and years of abuse for Master. His entire life. So my Brothers are being selfish, and I highly disagree with anyone who thinks he should have life all figured out by now.”

Scowling, I try not to let the hurt and anger get to me, but fuck. No wonder Master used to punish those who misbehaved. I love my Brothers, but dammit. They’ve probably set Master back, when he’s innocent. He made amends, and he’s actively working on himself.

Atticus chuckles, and my head whips toward him. I glare, because nothing is funny about this. Only Fury’s movement distracts me from grabbing my knife. She must be able to tell I’m getting upset. I shift uncomfortably, petting her, though it’s more to distract myself than anything.

“I wasn’t laughing at what happened,” Atticus states firmly. I flick my eyes toward him, but I’m not willing to soften just at that. “Look, I’m sincerely glad he has you to take up arms for him. He needs that. Part of the reason I’m asking these questions is not only to check on you personally, but because I’m going to be one of his therapists. Having information is useful to me, and I like for my patients’ support network to be involved in their care.”

Huffing, I don’t comment. I’m not thrilled that he asked me questions without telling me his intentions. Then again, I can’t exactly disagree with ethically questionable methods when I’m usually on the wrong side of morality.

“I think your Brothers will come around. Keep in mind, just like healing takes time, so does processing. To them, they’re going through grief. They lost someone who shaped a major part of them, who helped provide them a guiding light and a lifeline. Keep the conversation open between you all, but there’s nothing wrong with stepping in to protect someone who belongs to you.”

With that, it clicks into place. The need to protect him. And hell, the others in my life. Perhaps that’s why the Boys struggle. They’re used to being the one protected in many ways, and while Master always gave me protection, he taught me to be a protector. He gave me the nickname Death because he saw the potential inside me. And for that? How else could I ever repay his love than giving him the time and space to heal?

“He’s a lucky man… So are the others who have your heart,” Atticus murmurs, quiet enough that I’m not sure if I actually hear it right.

He makes a clicking sound and Fury immediately bounces away, going back to her Daddy. I want to pout, but I force myself to smile instead. “Thank you for letting me brush her.”

“Anytime, Pepita. I suppose I should get some work done now, though.”

With that dismissal, I stand and head out with a wave. I figure I may be able to catch Roman, and we can sneakily continue looking at real estate. We need a much larger location… Especially since I don’t plan on letting Javi go after we get better. Or Anderson…

I get about halfway to where I suspect Roman is when I come to a stop, my brain suddenly latching onto the last part of what Atticus said. Did he just call me a pumpkin seed?

Oh, God. I need more caffeine for this. I wonder if this is a tell Daddy thing or not… Coffee first. Then contemplate feels.

Tennant pulls Benjamin from the room, leaving me, Keegan, and Jayden with our Boys, who are all looking guilty and sad. I raise a brow at my Bel Fiore, not liking the way he curls into himself and tilts his head down. Though he makes sure to keep his eyes on me, as he’s been taught.

“I think you need to tell us what happened,” Keegan says, almost gently, though I can feel the tension radiating off him, as it matches my own.

All three Boys cringe, but it’s Marcus who speaks up. “We were trying to get answers from…Sandro. We’re concerned. His name change, his therapy, and now his relationship with Tennant… We had to make sure he was alright. He may no longer be our Master, but he’ll always be Il Padrone to us. So, we had to make sure he was okay.” There’s a defiant edge to his words, as if he's defending something that should be as simple as it sounds—checking on their former Master and friend.

But… “Tennant and Hollis are both ready to take you all to task. Hol sent out a pre-warning to us all, which is how we got here so quickly when Ten sent his message. So. What. Happened?” I make sure to meet all their eyes, and they all have the decency to look ashamed, but that only ramps up the concern more.

“I don’t agree with calling him Sandro.” Antonio finally speaks up. “It’s bullshit. That’s not him. He’s Allesandro. Il Padrone. Not…whoever he’s trying to pretend to be.”

I raise an eyebrow at that. “You think he’s lying? That he’s not taking his therapy seriously? You think he’d willingly risk Lio, or any of you, by putting on an act? You don’t think Tennant and Hollis would figure out his game and put him down?”

With each challenge, they all flinch, and Antonio looks at the floor, his head bowing, shielding himself from me.

“He doesn’t need to be anyone but himself,” Ignacio argues. “We don’t want him to cut off pieces of himself to make it work. And so we’re concerned. It’s not a crime to make sure Tennant isn’t taking advantage of his vulnerable state, and to express that we don’t agree with his choices.”

“I think telling someone you’re not going to respect their name, and insisting they’re wrong, is the crime here, Princess,” Jayden says smoothly.

Ignacio flushes and bows his head.

“Look at me, Bello,” I order.

Antonio’s chocolate eyes meet mine, and the pain in them is staggering, but while in other instances they could sway me, this isn’t one of those times.

“Why is Tennant upset?”

He winces and his bottom lip trembles. “We disrespected Allesandro’s choice. We…we discounted all the progress he’s made, because he’s not healing in the same way we did.” He heaves a big breath, his shoulders rising and falling as he looks at his brothers. “Javi gave us a come to Jesus. He…said we were using our family connection as a weapon.”

“He was right,” Marcus says so quietly that if I wasn’t watching his lips, I would have missed it.

I frown. “Where’s Javi now?” I’m surprised the psychiatrist isn’t in here putting them further in their place…or stabbing them.

Marcus shrugs. “He said his piece then hightailed it out of here. He…didn’t seem like himself. Was more…emotional than I’ve known him to be.”