Chapter 71 Chapter 71 – Do You Love Him?

Chapter 71 Chapter 71 – Do You Love Him?
"Because, you know, it's probably just stupid gossip, and I probably shouldn’t be bringing it up," Cedric continued, blurting out his reckless accusations faster and faster.

Gianni raised one eyebrow, his expression darkening with annoyance.

"But I've heard things. A few rumours in the past, that maybe you're... otherwise engaged." Cedric let those words hang in the air for a moment, loaded with meaning.

"That… maybe… There might be someone else you're supposed to be with. Someone waiting in the wings for you."

Linda's expression faded, first curious then concerned. "Cedric, what are you talking about?"

"Nothing," Cedric said, but he couldn't stop now, the jealousy was burning too hot in his chest. "I was just wondering if I should be worried about some other person showing up and claiming what's theirs. You know… Hypothetically."

He was referring to the betrothed, of course. 

That phantom woman Maria had mentioned, the one Gianni still hadn't addressed despite Cedric bringing it up multiple times.

And yes, Cedric was only with Gianni for the sex and the protection and to spy on him, and yes, he hated him for being so incredibly violent, and yes, he was conflicted because Gianni was also somehow protective and good to him and his family, even at his own risk.

But he couldn't help the sharp, vicious stab of jealousy he felt when he thought about some faceless woman out there who might share this, share him, with Cedric. 

Who might have a legitimate claim. 

Who might be what Gianni was supposed to want. 

What would happen to Cedric then? If Gianni ever left him, could he ever go back to his old life away from him?

Gianni's jaw tightened. "Cedric…”

Just then, his phone rang, breaking the tension.

Cedric groaned and stabbed his fork into the pasta. Fuck that phone call.

Gianni pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and his entire expression changed. The warmth drained away completely, replaced by a cold, focused and absolutely lethal frown.

"Excuse me," he said, standing abruptly. "I need to take this."

He stepped into the cramped living room, his voice dropping to rapid, harsh Italian. 

Cedric could only catch a few fragments, he’d learned a little Italian after all that time spent locked up with Gianni. 

He heard "when?" and "how many?" and "I'll handle it" before the words became too fast and too angry to follow.

Linda leaned across the table, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Cedric, what's really going on? What was all that about?"

"I told you, Ma. It's complicated."

"That man just…” She paused, choosing her words carefully while glancing at Lily. "He just implied having some very serious feelings for you. And you just accused him of having someone else. So which is it?"

"I don't know, Ma." Cedric pushed his pasta around his plate, unable to meet her eyes. "Your guess is as good as mine.”

"Do you love him?" Linda asked gently, her tone less interrogation and more genuine concern.

Did he?

Cedric thought about Gianni carrying him when he was hurt, about the phone he'd given him even knowing Cedric might use it against him. 

Just now he'd stopped himself from killing Ray because Cedric had asked, and last night, holding him while he slept… it was so vulnerable in a way Cedric had never expected.

"I think I might," Cedric said finally.

"Maybe. I don't know. He's—" He struggled to find words that wouldn't terrify his mother.”

"To tell you the truth, Ma, he’s not what I expected. He's violent, really violent. He hurts people, and he scares me sometimes, but he also..." 

Cedric gestured helplessly. "I mean… fuck.”

“Language, Cedric.”

“Yeah, sorry. I just meant… he chased Ray out of here. He protected Lily. He's sitting in our shitty kitchen eating your pasta like it's the best thing he's ever tasted, and I think he actually means it. And I don't know what to do with that."

"Then why do you look so scared when you talk about him?"

Because loving Gianni Falcone was like loving a forest fire, that was the only way Cedric could describe it at the time.

It was beautiful and warm, but absolutely guaranteed to burn everything down eventually. 

There was also the fact that Cedric was supposed to be gathering evidence to destroy him, and not falling for him. 

Because there might be someone else, someone who was actually socially acceptable and not a porn star-turned-spy with a drug habit and a family full of problems.

"It's complicated," Cedric said bitterly.

Gianni reappeared in the doorway. His expression was unreadable, but his posture seemed a lot different. 

His shoulders were set differently, his jaw tight, and his eyes had gone cold and calculating. 

This was danger mode Gianni, so Cedric knew whatever had been on that phone call, it was bad. Real bad.

"We need to leave," he said, his voice clipped and professional. "Now."

Lily's head snapped up, her eyes going wide with alarm.

She looked between Cedric and Gianni, her hands already moving in frantic signs. What's wrong? What happened?

Linda stood, her maternal instincts clearly screaming danger. "But you haven't finished—"

"I'm sorry, Mrs Santos. Lily." Gianni's voice was polite but absolutely firm, leaving no room for any argument. "Something urgent has come up. Business that can't wait."

"Then go," Linda said, already moving toward them. "But Cedric stays."

Gianni went very still, “That's not possible."

"He's my son." Linda's voice hardened, taking a fearless tone that had gotten Cedric through sixteen years of childhood tantrums and teenage rebellion.

"He just got home after weeks of no contact. You can spare him for one night. Please."

"Mrs Santos—"

"Please." Linda's voice softened, but her eyes stayed fierce. "Just one night. Let me have my boy back for one night. I won't ask for more. But I need this. I need to know he's safe, that he's really here, that this isn't some dream I'm going to wake up from."

Cedric watched Gianni's jaw tighten, saw the calculation happening behind his eyes. 

Gianni Falcone didn't compromise for anyone, he didn't give ground, and he took what he wanted; damn the consequences.

Cedric knew there was no way in hell he would grant his mother that request.

He started to stand, sighing as he did so.

“Alright,” Gianni grunted.

“Wait, what?” Cedric asked, unable to believe what he’d just heard.

"I'll have four armed guards stationed outside," Gianni said finally, his voice firm and commanding "They don't leave their posts until I come back for him personally. No one goes in or out except family."

"Fine," Linda agreed immediately.

"And Cedric—" Gianni turned to him, his dark gaze heavy and intense "You stay here. You don't go anywhere. You don't answer the door for anyone except these guards I'm leaving behind. You don't even think about stepping foot outside this apartment. Understood?"

There was something in his voice, some edge that Cedric couldn't quite put a finger on. Desperation, maybe. Or fear.

Cedric nodded, not trusting his voice. He wanted to ask what it was that had gotten Gianni so on edge all of a sudden, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Gianni crossed to him in three strides, cupped his face in both hands, and kissed him hard. 

It was brief and claiming and desperate all at once, as though he was trying to memorize the taste of Cedric's mouth.

Like it was the last time he could do it.

"I'll be back before midnight," Gianni murmured against his lips, quiet enough that only Cedric could hear. "Wait for me. Please. Just this once, do what I ask and wait for me."

Then he was gone, the door closing behind him with a soft click, his footsteps echoing down the stairs as he left.

Cedric flopped onto a seat at the kitchen table, his mother bustling around cleaning up, while Lily still pressed against his side, afraid he'd disappear if she ever let him go.

Meanwhile, Cedric’s mind was racing.

He didn't have a phone anymore, because Luca had destroyed it, so he couldn’t call Marcus somehow from here.

And he wanted to know how much longer he had to decide.

He spotted the kitchen clock hanging above the sink. 

5:47 PM.

He had just minutes until the meeting with Dante at Block E, wherever the hell that was.

Thirteen minutes to figure out how to slip past four armed guards who'd been ordered to keep him here. 

Thirteen minutes to decide if he was the kind of person who could lie to his mother's face and potentially blow up the one good thing he'd stumbled into.

Cedric had to choose between Gianni, his family, and whatever Dante and maybe Marcus had planned.

Lily's hand found his and squeezed it tight. 

When he looked down at her, she was watching him with her big, knowing eyes. She signed slowly with her free hand, her eyes growing wet with tears: You're going to leave again, aren't you?

Cedric's throat tightened. He couldn't lie to her, he had never been able to lie to her.

But he couldn't tell her the truth either.

The clock ticked forward.

5:48 PM.

Time was running out.