Chapter 1:16 Red is Right, By Vince 

I’m a control freak, I admit that, and the very reason I was against having kids is unraveling before my eyes. Reminding me why I’m the last person in the world who deserves him. 

From the moment I held Tio, I was vulnerable and devoted. For the first time in my life understanding what true love was. An emotion my father did his best to train out of me with all the rest of them. It's something of a requirement for a leader, especially in our world. I never had the same issue with that as every one else did. 

It wasn't until my beating heart looked up at me, holding my one finger in his whole hand that I worried. Really worried about all the feelings I'd stripped to hold the seat. Kids need love. Plain and simple. They need softness, emotions, comfort, things that I never knew how to give. 

Outside of sex, even in that arena, I'm a hard and unforgiving bastard. I don't know how to process, let alone express the things that Tio needs. He's just been with us for almost a month, and hasn't spoken a word yet. 

Doctors can't find a thing wrong with him and say that it's normal for some kids to talk later, especially boys, I just know he can't because I'm broken. Every test imaginable was ran on him just to make sure that Tio was as healthy and perfect as he seemed. 

Regardless of him being my spitting image, and Nico not being able to nut without a dick up his ass, we had a paternity test and the whole nine yards done discretely. The only reason my twin or I even understand feelings or how to identify them was my mother, before she passed in a car crash when I was twelve. 

I always assumed it would be Nico who settled down and got a surrogate or adopted making me an Uncle, which I would know how to be. Not a dad. I don't deserve that or him, with how incapable I am. 

I don't have girlfriends. I keep pets. Literally women who sign a piece of paper that says they obey me, and even those max out at six months. So I know it's me. I know I'm the reason that Tio doesn't like or trust people. 

Why he shies away from them and refuses to speak, no matter how I try to encourage it. There are maybe a handful of people that can go near him that he interacts with. So when the woman I was trying to fuck fifty ways from Sunday, goes from sex kitten to ethereal nymph who can understand him..... 

I felt like a bomb went off and I got stuck in the freeze frame capture of it. 

I couldn't speak, couldn't think, just drop jawed stared as he baby babbled away in a fit of tears to a stranger, who knew that he was sick, and needed medicine; when the woman I engaged myself to, was more worried about her makeup that he used to draw with. 

The nanny Elena insisted on, being her own to help with him, obviously not doing her job either. I am the most influential boss in this city, and while my father's enemies and rivals waited until I was in kindergarten to put a hit out on me; I'm fairly certain that this is as much an attempt on Tio’s life as it is mine. 

Obviously trapped, the woman starts screaming in a language I’ve never heard with minimal broken bits to translate, but not understand. Ticks and tocks on a toddy clock when Jack met Sally, and Miles Otis having pie with James Bond. 

The English was so broken I’m not sure she speaks it fluently.

He’s is fussing his little heart out, wanting the woman back when she does some Jackie Chan shit taking down six armed Russians before they can get a good shot at us. From broken English to no English, ripping her clothes off and bitching at us in her native language, as she takes a literal bullet for him. 

A boy she doesn’t know, just met, while I, the Don of the fucking Syndicates stand there..... shocked, awed, pissed, helpless...... 

The geriatric seems to get what she means even if he doesn't understand her language.  “Zip is AF jargon boss. It's the fastest and safest way to the bottom without a full team. Justhold on to him tight.” and getting the doors open. 

“Think of yourself as a fireman, Sir.” The one Tio likes encourages before hoisting the still wailing Elena on his back and tying her to him with his belt. 

Fireman it is. 

On solid ground again, bullets are still flying down the shaft, which she did her best to block us from. How does she go from that to this? Call me a dick, but I've never been down with women fighting. 

It's a learned behavior. One they wouldn't need or learn unless bad shit happened to them. Protecting my mother from this world was my father's number one rule. He didn't know how to show emotion, but he said any woman brave enough to choose us as partners, were worshiped. 

I have no idea what the hell to make of her, and that is saying something. Considering my job, my life, my family, my business all relies on my ability to read people, and sorry, but there is no reading whatever ever she is. 

Submissive was all I got from our encounter in the apartment. She was a natural even if her brain didn't know it her body did. All those subconscious gestures that fell in perfect line with my command. Maybe it was innocence rather than fight in those feline eyes, so impossibly big and hazed at the moment. 

From putty in my hands, to an angel answering a prayer, to human shield attempting to man handle me out of the shaft.....I don't know what end is up. I don't think she does either. “Red.” Her finger shakes at a row of red light's we're meant to follow, but all I can feel is my own insecurities. 

Red is right sweetheart. Even doms have their limits, and I'm far past any line I've ever crossed in my head. I'm still on red with us in the back of the ambulance with Rourke blowing up my phone, and Nico wailing in my chest.