Page 3 of Stolen Compliance

He shakes his head. “Fucking typical. Probably expects to be waited on hand and foot. He has a lot to learn if he doesn’t want to be sent back to his precious Master in pieces.”

I hum in acknowledgment, less than impressed with the guy already and I haven’t even seen him. Still, there’s part of me that understands. I was much like him not too long ago, not that it excuses him, but at least I know where the guy is coming from. I might know only the basics of where he comes from—my father only ever speaks of his distant cousin with pity and contempt—but that doesn’t mean I don’t expect better.

Knowing it’ll be far saner, and safer for the guy’s health, to have me fetch him, I drain the rest of my mug and set it aside.

“I will go get him and start imparting the rules.”

Heading to the door, I’m stopped by Dominic getting in my face. Looking up at the taller bastard, I am careful to keep my face neutral, even if I want to shove him aside, too tired for his bullshit this morning.

“Remember, just because he’s the fresh meat doesn’t mean you’re left off the hook on your training. I will take both of you down if I need to.”

I let myself grin this time, equal parts amused and pissed at his unnecessary warning. “Father already said we get to share the shiny toy… Don’t worry, you won’t be left out.”

Dominic’s displeasure is clear, but he holds himself back—for now. I know I’ll be hurting later, but fuck it. My training was complete, no matter what Dominic thinks or feels. He doesn’t have to like it, but he won’t go against my father’s clear edicts, either.

Besides, as I’ve said, we have a shiny new toy to break in… Even if there’s a limit to how far we can go for this trial period. If I had a heart still, I’d feel bad for the poor bastard for getting to experience Dominic, but this was on his “Master’s” orders, so the guy will have to deal.

Knocking Dominic to the side as he won’t move on his own, I brush past him and leave the kitchen, holding my head high and showing that he doesn’t scare me, not anymore.

When I get upstairs to the guest room, I find it shut tightly, and I sigh, banging on it forcefully. It’s opened to a blinking man around my height, half dressed in a suit, with honey-blond hair going everywhere.

“You’re late,” I tell him clippedly.

His mouth opens and closes a few times before he clears his throat. “Teo, I’m assuming?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You have two minutes. We don’t have all day to wait around for you.”

He flushes, and I see the contempt in his eyes before he smothers it out. “My apologies. I wasn’t given a time.”

I don’t respond because he’ll find excuses don’t fly here. Doesn’t matter if Dominic wasn’t specific—asshole hardly ever is—it’s trial by fire here, and so far? This guy is going to be burned.

He scrambles back into his room and hurries to righten his clothes. Lounging in the doorway, I lose sight of him as he ducks into the ensuite, but it takes more than two minutes before he’s ready.

His hair is neatly combed, and he looks sophisticated, a true representation of his Boss and Family. Too bad none of it will save him.

I lead him downstairs and out the front door where our car and Dominic are already waiting. Dominic is, of course, glowering, but at least he thrusts one of the travel cups into my hands.

“Too bad you were late,” I tell our new charge. “You could have gotten one of these.”

I slip into the car after Dominic and wait for Luca to follow. He holds himself stiffly once he sits across from us, and I notice the way he watches me take a drink of my second coffee with longing.

“There’s no trial process here,” I tell him since Dominic won’t. “We lead by example. You’ll just be watching today, but you’re going to get an up close and personal look at the merchandise that is waiting for shipment to their new homes. You will be seen but not heard. What you will witness here is a privilege, one we are graciously allowing because my father believes your Master needs the leg up. One wrong move and…” I shrug, letting him come up with his own conclusions—not that they’ll be anything close to the truth.

Thankfully, the short drive is passed mostly in silence, until Luca ruins it by saying, “We weren’t aware Sergio had a son…”

I snort. “We prefer to keep our personal business private.” The unlike you goes unsaid, but the way his expression darkens before he forces himself not to react says he understood. He really does have a lot to learn if simple insults can get under his skin. I almost feel bad for him. Almost.

Our car stops outside the warehouse we keep the merchandise who are almost ready for auction and shipment. Before getting out, I cast one more measuring look at the fresh meat. “Remember, seen and not heard. You’re about to enter the real world, and it is far crueler than your gilded cage.”

With that, I step out of the car, whatever humanity I have left sloughing off completely as I embrace who I was turned into. Who the poor bastard will need to become.

If I felt pity anymore, this would be the time to utilize it. Instead, all I can offer him is advice I had to learn the hard way. Time will tell if he’s smart enough to take it or not.

Soft. That’s the only word that fits Luca Martelli. Although the fact Allesandro would give his Boys that last name turns my stomach. The stupidity of it all.

The Boss gave me instructions, though. Fix the asshole, just like I did with his son. I frown briefly at that. The son the Boss didn’t know about, and worse, that I didn’t realize existed. Luckily, Sergio didn’t take that out on me. Bitch did a runner, and it was good riddance. But to take a man’s son? Takes all kinds in this world, and most aren’t worth spit.

The Boss does his meetings outside the warehouse, not needing to get his hands dirty anymore. Why should he? That’s my job. Even if he sticks me with babysitting assholes who are too soft occasionally.