Doc leans into Javi for a moment, and I pretend I don’t notice the besotted look Javi gives him. As interesting as that is, Doc seemingly not noticing Javi’s big, obvious crush on him is what has my attention.Jesus, fuck, I’m glad Soren gets to deal with that and not me.
“I know you wouldn’t hurt Roman on purpose,” I sign, not trusting my voice. “That doesn’t mean I trust Atticus. I can’t trust my Boys with him, or my lovers.”
“You can,” Doc reassures me. “Javi and I both agree he is the best. Hell, he’s probably the only one who can get through to Cristian at this point. Honestly? I’m ashamed, as Cristian’s friend, to not have seen it before.”
I raise a brow, but no further explanation comes from either of them about whatever the fuckthatmeans.
“Eh, you weren’t looking for it, and well, you Amatos are good at hiding your kinky desires,” Javi tells him. “Besides, it’s my job to see what no one else does. Dissecting people is my favorite pastime.”
“None of this is reassuring,” I say flatly.
They both blink at me. “Can you give us a little faith?” Doc asks. “Atticus…he is the best at what he does for a reason. Give him a chance to prove your concerns are misplaced.”
I take another step forward, slamming my hands down on the table. Emotions I haven’t felt before swirl through me, threatening to choke off my thin thread of control.
“The people I care about, who you claim to care about too, are at risk here, Doc. I do not take that lightly. Who the fuck is he, and why is he okay with doing this without negotiating a fucking contract?”
“He is the only hope Cristian has at getting back to a sense of normality,” Javi says, diverting my attention away from the doctor and onto him. “He is Roman’s best chance at actually having his father back, or does that not matter to you?” His voice is cold, barely loud enough to be heard, and devoid of the levity he usually infuses into it. His multi-colored eyes are bright, and the monster inside him is looking straight at me.
If he’s trying to scare me, though…well, he can keep at it. I’ve never backed down from Tennant before, and I won’t from him either. There’s a reason Ten and Hollis call meAgnellino, after all. Their wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“Do not think you know me, or how I work,” I tell him. “My concern is perfectly valid, and if I had the capacity to, I’d feel bad that you don’t have anyone in your life you’d worry about should something happen to them.” I flick my gaze to Doc briefly before meeting Javi’s eyes once more. “Or maybe you do… You're not as detached as you want to come across, are you, Javi?”
He rises from his seat, making the threat clear, but I don’t give an inch. “Be very careful, Jude. I’d hate to derail Roman’s progress because I was forced to do something drastic.”
“You already said you would never put yoursubjectsin harm’s way… Though I can read between the lines, and I know that means unless it benefits you. Hurting Roman by hurting me? That would go against your thin veneer of ethics.”
He doesn’t so much as flinch, but I see the truth in his eyes. He cares far more than he wants to admit.
“If Atticus touches anyone in a way he’s not supposed to…”
“He won’t.” Javi smirks. “Well…how do you feel about chokeholds? Because I can’t promise Cristian won’t be on the receiving end of one if Atticus gets too full of his bullshit. But I trust Atticus to know how to defuse a situation so no one gets hurt—it’s part of why I wanted him.
“You and I both know how…volatile some of the subjects are. Atticus will be here to help monitor and control the situations before they can become dangerous for everyone. You should be thanking me.”
“One chance,” I tell him. “That’s all you and he get. One chance, don’t fuck it up.”
Javi gives a parody of a smile. “I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”
We’ll see.I’ll be keeping a close watch, Leandro too. Though I have a feeling the boy will be too fascinated by Atticus to actually care who or what he really is… Still, that could work to my advantage, making it easier to get him to give me what I want.
Either way, there’s not a thing Atticus can do in this house that won’t be accounted for. I’ll make sure of it… And I really will give Javi that spanking if I need to…before stringing him up and beating the utter shit out of him, that is.
“Are we done here?” Javi asks, his expression easing as he adopts the usual jovial persona he wears. “I need a fucking nap.”
Doc looks at his friend. “Are you okay?”
Javi’s expression softens when he meets Doc’s eyes. “Fine. I slept like shit, is all. I’ll be okay after a nap and a large—no,twolarge milkshakes.”
“Maybe we can ask Daddy?” Doc says. “I had whipped cream on my French toast this morning, but that hardly counts as part of my sugar intake, right?”
Javi nods. “Yes, I agree.”
I roll my eyes, once again glad I’m not Doc’s Daddy, so I don’t have to deal with any of this.Poor Soren.
Leaving them to their post-nap plans, I head out of the break room, pulling out my phone and bringing up the text thread with my Boys. The jittery feeling of protection still hasn’t left, as my concerns about Atticus have not been properly addressed. Though I’m sure both Javi and Doc now know where I stand onthe subject. Still, I need my Boys. Hell, I’ll take only one of them at the moment. I just need to lay eyes and hands onsomeone. Maybe my cock too…
Slowly, I knock on Anderson’s door. It’s…weird. I don’t have an issue with mental health services per se. I just never imagined I’d need them. I’m honest enough with myself to admit that I do, that I should’ve sought it sooner, especially when Sandro offered it to me after Jax, and when Ignacio tried to break my shell.