God I Wish.
“Cody!” Alex groaned. “Cody, wake up and turn that off.” Alex threw a pillow at his friend. They’d gotten home late, continuing to party after Alex had left Luca, and crashed at Alex’s apartment. Cody’s alarm was going off and it was loud. Too loud.
“Ugh.” Cody responded, rolling over and ignoring the alarm.
“Cody!” Alex shot up in bed and snapped. Cody had been in the bed too, but somehow had ended up on the floor. Cody just groaned again so Alex got up and turned off the alarm coming from Cody’s phone. “Wake up asshat.” Alex lightly kicked his friend, walking over to his bathroom. He splashed his face with cool water then started brushing his teeth. “Cody, come on, you’ve got to get to work.” He said through toothpaste.
“No, I’ll call in sick.” He said in response from the floor. Refusing to move.
“You can’t call in sick.” Alex spat and grabbed the mouthwash.
“Yes I can.” He raised his head, his hair a wild mess. “I’ll tell Tiffany to go suck a rock or something.”
“That’ll go over well. I’m sure after that she’ll really want to give you that promotion you want.” Alex laughed. Cody was a leasing agent at an apartment over in Midtown. He wanted the promotion because assistant property managers got free rent if they lived on the property.
“Shit.” Cody yawned and stretched. “I think you might be right.” He said sitting up. “Do you have an extra toothbrush?” He asked.
“Closet.” Alex pointed. Cody got up and slowly walked into the bathroom, grabbing a toothbrush. Alex was doing his morning face cleaning routine.
“Scoot over.” He said to Alex so he could begin brushing his teeth. “Got anything I could borrow?”
“We aren’t the same size.” Alex went to go grab himself some clean clothes to get into after he showered.
“I really just need a polo or button up shirt. I can wear last nights pants.” Cody started to rummage through Alex’s face products. “What’s this bottle?” He picked one up.
“Rose water, it’s great for the skin and sure, grab something from my closet.” Alex stripped and hopped in his shower, rinsing off the now dry face cream. “Just don’t take the black one with the white flowers, I’m wearing that today for my date.”
“Date?” Alex heard Cody start to gargle.
“Yeah, that guy I told you about from a week ago. I ran into him at the club last night. He’s taking me out today.” Alex started scrubbing his body. “By the way, he owns the club.” He laughed.
“What?” Cody asked.
“Luca, the guy from the other night, he owns Velluto.”
“What!” Cody opened the curtain and peeked his head in. Shock painted across his face.
“Jesus Cody.” Alex jumped from the scare; he didn’t bother to cover up. They’d been friends so long; they’d seen each other naked countless times.
“The guy you fucked the other day, is the same guy that owns the club?”
“Yes.” Alex continued to bathe.
“Luca.”
“Yes.”
“Luca Moretti?” Cody asked for clarification.
“Yeah.” Alex repeated, annoyed.
“You know he’s like a huge drug dealer right?” Cody asked.
“What?” Alex scoffed. “No he’s not.” Cody liked to exaggerate.
“Yeah, he is. Melanie, the other leasing agent, her brothers ex-girlfriends brother deals for him.” Cody explained.
“That would make Luca a kingpin, and I doubt Melanies best friends cousins sisters ex is the most reliable source.” Alex brushed it off. He didn’t get that kind of vibe from Luca. “Luca owns the club. That’s it.”
“It was her brothers, ex-girlfriends brother. Smartass.” Cody popped back out of the shower. He sat now on the toilet waiting his turn for the shower. “And Luca is what? 25? How do you think he was able to buy that club?”
“I think he’s 28, and he probably comes from money. He lives up in Veridian Heights. Only tech assholes and people who come from money live up there.” Alex finished his shower and hopped out, letting Cody step in.
“Or he used his drug money. I’m telling you that club is a front.” Cody said.
“He isn’t a drug dealer.” Alex defended, but in all reality he could’ve been. Alex didn’t know Luca. For all he knew Luca was a drug dealer, or some kind of kingpin. “He’s not a drug dealer.” He repeated to himself, quieter, to convince himself now. He sprayed the rose water on his face.
*****
Luca opened the box, “Looks good.” He picked up a brick of weed, weighing it in one hand, then the other. “Feels light.” He passed it over to Adam who did the same. They stood in a warehouse in Southport where they got most of their shipments. It was mid-morning, the sun still in the east and shining in through a huge window near the ceiling. It illuminated the dark happenings below. They usually did these things in the night, but the Ricci’s had been onto them recently - which meant they had a rat – so they had switched to mornings for some pic ups.
“It’s an airy blend.” Stuart, one of the smugglers for the Moretti family, explained. Luca’s men stood by and Stuart stood still. It was just him and two of his workers. Luca’s team outnumbered his. Stuart could be trusted but the Moretti’s still had a reputation to uphold.
“Well, we’ll have it weighed. If it’s even one ounce off it comes out of your pay.” Luca reminded him. Luca didn’t usually tend to this business; it was usually Marco but he was home with his youngest who was sick. So his father asked him to fill in. Luca whistled and his men started moving the boxes. “We’ll be in touch and the money will be wired into your account after it’s weighed.” Stuart nodded and turned away. Then he collapsed. Blood sprayed around him.
“Down!” Matteo rushed over to Luca and pushed him down, covering him with his own frame. Matteo was his personal bodyguard weighing 280 pounds of stocky muscle. He was almost as tall as Luca, but twice as strong. It felt like being tackled by a rhino. Bullets started flying, Luca pulled his own as he and Matteo crawled behind a large crate. “Stay down!” Matteo commanded. Luca nodded, but kept his gun drawn and his senses sharp. Ready to defend himself.
A bullet ricocheted off of a metal container in front of Luca and nearly hit him, so he moved out and around, raising his gun and aiming at the assailants to give himself cover fire. He let of a few rounds and heard a man scream in agony; he must’ve hit one. Luca ducked behind a car, yelling for his men to pull back. His father would be mad that they lost the drugs, but he’d be angrier that they lost the men. Luca’s men started to pile into the vehicles, some of them saving what they could. Luca jumped in his own car and yelled out to Matteo, who came running.
“Drive!” Matteo wailed, holding his shoulder.
“You’re hit!” Luca stated the obvious in shock as he started to drive, the enemy dodged out of the way of his car.
“I’m good, it grazed me.” He winced. Luca looked over and it did look like it was just a flesh wound. “It was the fucking Ricci’s!” He punched the dash in anger and pain. “I recognized one of the men.”
“Let’s just get the fuck out of here.” Luca acknowledged as the car peeled out of the warehouse and onto the street. Rubber burned as he hit the gas, his own men following him as they drove. “What a fucking day!” Luca almost jumped in glee. The adrenaline was quite addictive. He secretly loved these moments as much as he disliked most of the family business; he loved the rush, the action, the danger.
“Just get me to the fucking stitcher.” Matteo grimaced. Luca floored it.
*****
“Hey.” Alex opened the door.
“Hey.” Luca replied, standing on the other side. He still felt hyped from this morning, adrenaline pumping. He felt high, but he hoped Alex couldn’t tell.
“You look nice.” He complimented Luca’s attire. He wore a black shirt, tucked into his dark grey slacks, with a matching blazer thrown on.
“Thanks.” Luca responded with a soft smile, trying to calm himself. “You look so hot right now.” Alex wore the black button up with the white lilies and some khaki chinos. “I love lilies, they’re my favorite.”
“I didn’t know that.” Alex blushed lightly. He stepped out of his apartment and locked the door. “So, where are we going?” He asked.
“Well,” Luca took Alex’s hand, it was soft and warm. Alex liked the gesture. It was sweet, their fingers laced together and Alex couldn’t help but notice how big and manly his hand felt in his. Such a soft, yet firm and fierce grip. “I thought I’d take you out to Old Town, maybe visit the museum or something then I’d take you out to eat.” Luca smiled down at him. They started down the stairs to the parking lot where Luca’s very expensive-looking car waited.
“I’d like that.” Alex nodded as they reached the vehicle. Luca opened the door.
“After you.” He offered.
“Hm, a gentleman.” He mused.
“I told you I was.” Luca said, closing the door after Alex sat down. Luca walked around and joined him in the car. “Let’s go.” He said.
The drive to Old Town wasn’t long, traffic wasn’t bad and the Hawthorne Bridge was stunning. Alex had driven on it a few times and he always thought it was beautiful. The Hawthorne Bridge was the first bridge built that allowed the Old Town to more easily connect and grow across the river. Old Town was beautiful, full of old architecture and held most of the cities history. Luca and Alex made small talk as Luca drove down streets and pointed out landmarks along the way.
Alex had grown up in Northbridge but it was such a big and old city there were still things he didn’t know.
“How do you know so much about all of this? I feel like we don’t even need to go the museum now.” Alex commented.
“Well, I love history. I went to college here actually and got my degree in it. But local history has always astonished me.” Luca pulled into a parking spot. “Like this place,” They’d pulled into the museum parking lot. “it actually belonged to the Celeste Family, one of the founding families, but Angela Celeste the last living heir to the family disappeared one night without a trace. Rumors of course say she was taken by demons.” Luca said in a spooky voice. “After that, the other families along with the town council converted it into the towns historical museum.”
“Demons?” Alex asked in a skeptical tone. “I don’t believe in demons.”
“I don’t either.” Luca chuckled. “But the town is rich with rumors of the supernatural. Witches, Vampires, the like.” He got out of the car and walked over to Alex’s side, opening it. “I don’t believe in any of that, but it’s fun to learn about.” Luca extended a hand, Alex took it.
Hand in hand, they walked into the museum and Luca answered all Alex’s questions. Alex liked the way Luca’s face lit up when he explained something, the light that turned on in his eyes when he nerded out about something. Listing off dates and naming the founding families.
“And what about you?” Alex asked, “You’re family. Where do they come from? How long have they been in the city?” He asked mostly because he wanted to know more about Luca, the enticing man who he felt this hard pull towards. He also asked because Codys fucking words had wriggled into his head.
“Oh?” Luca shifted. “My Grandpa came here with his parents in the 50’s, met my grandma and the rest is really history.” He explained.
“When did you buy the club? How did you get into it?” Alex asked, broaching the subject in a passive way. He wanted to prove Cody wrong.
“My great grandparents had some money when they got here, invested well with the Hales using their connections back home to open trade relations and then Grandpa took over.” Luca and Alex slowly walked through the museum, walking into the Gallery portion and taking in all the art. “My dad has kept up pretty well establishing his own ventures and after college I went to him for a loan. I’m still paying him back actually.” Luca laughed, reciting the lie they had established. “What about you?”
“Oh, my family has been in Northbridge for I don’t know how long. Pretty boring really.” Alex shrugged. “My dad is actually a librarian at the university library and my mother is a history professor. Professor Bennett.” He said.
“Oh wow!” Luca beamed. “I can’t believe it.”
“What?”
“I had her my third year.” The two laughed. “Small world.” Luca reached back out and took Alex’s hand.
“Small world.” He echoed, taking the hand.
“I’m starving. Ready to go?” Luca asked and Alex nodded.
Leaving the Celest Mansion, the two decided to walk down The Cobblestone, the main street of Old Town, full of little markets, small businesses and food stalls. While walking they came by ‘Old Slice’, a pizza place and decided to stop there.
“Ugh, I hate olives.” Alex commented at Luca’s two slices of pepperoni and olive pizza. They had just sat down and Alex was sitting with his simple cheese pizza slices.
“You know I have to dump you now.” Luca joked with a convincing deadpan face.
“Dump me?” Alex asked.
“Well, I just mean there won’t be a second date now. Telling an Italian that you hate olives? There’s no future for us now.” He chuckled. “And you’re one to judge me, all you got was cheese.” He points at the plain pizza.
“Hey, cheese is a classic.” Alex defended, taking a bite.
“And olives are too.” Luca took a bite with a big grin, the cheese creating a string from his mouth to the pizza. They both laughed.
This was the greatest date Alex had been on in years, and it had made Luca completely forget that he had been shot at this morning and almost killed. The two sat together and finished their meal and enjoyed each other’s company, asking questions and getting to know each other.
“Sorry you two, but we’re closing up early today.” A member of the staff came by Alex and Luca’s table to let them know. It was just after seven, not too late, but the sun had already started to dip.
“Oh, sorry, no problem we’ll leave.” Luca outstretched his hand and Alex took it, they stood and Luca left a fifty-dollar bill behind on the table as a tip.
“Oh that is so hot.” Alex said to Luca, he winked down at him. They walked back to the car that they had left in the museum parking lot. Luca repeated his gentlemanly gesture with the door and Alex again thanked him.
The drive home was more silent, Luca’s hand rested on Alex’s thigh. Alex’s cheeks flushed with warmth and his stomach filled with butterflies. They returned to Alex’s apartment and when they got to the door Luca turned Alex around quickly and placed his lips on his. Alex was taken aback but didn’t hate it. It was a sweet and tender kiss. Not very long, but it got the point across.
“You should come in.” Alex suggested. Luca’s face still so close to his.
“I wish I could,” Luca sighed, his breath smelled like olives and marinara. “but I have to go get the club opened.” Luca lied, he had to go do some business with his brothers for his dad.
“And I have to work tomorrow, so I can’t be up to late.” Alex turned the key, “Otherwise I’d wait up for you.”
“I wish you could.” He growled and pecked Alex’s lips again. “I have to be up tomorrow for something anyway. Helping a friend move some stuff around…they’re moving.” Luca lied again. For the first time in his life when he lied, it made him feel guilty. He didn’t want to lie to Alex. But he also couldn’t tell Alex the truth…at least not yet.
“What a good friend.”
“That’s me.” Luca pulled back and Alex opened the door. “Listen, I’ll be busy all week – the club and family stuff – but maybe next weekend we could-”
“Yes.” Alex agreed eagerly. He blushed, too eager.
“I’ll text you.” Luca smiled, he liked when he blushed. “You’re so cute when you do that.” He said out loud.
“Stop.” Alex playfully shoved him. Luca feigned a wound. They laughed.
“You have no idea how much I want to come inside and say, ‘fuck the club’.” Luca’s eyes turned dark and seductive.
“You have no idea how much I want you to.” Alex responded. Luca reached past the threshold and took Alex’s face in his hand, lightly, and pulled him back in for a kiss. This one deep and long.
Alex whimpered as he felt Luca’s tongue massage his. Luca’s free hand traveled down Alex’s back and caressed the base, above his ass. Alex’s hands traveled all over Luca’s body, gripping his bicep, then his side, his shoulder. Luca lightly nibbled Alex’s top lip, then bottom before he pulled away. The two separated with heavy breaths.
“You should go before I pull you inside.” Alex told Luca between breaths.
“I should.” He didn’t want to break eye contact. He’d only known Alex for two weeks or so, and he already felt something for him he wanted to taste his entrance again, he wanted to have Alex’s tongue gliding up and down his own length once more. Luca wanted to bend Alex over the balcony and fuck him until their cum rained down onto the sidewalk. “I’ll see you next weekend.” Luca forced himself to say, stopping his thoughts before a boner grew.
“I’ll see you next weekend.” Alex echoed, rubbing his lips together trying to savor the taste of Luca’s kiss.
Luca had to force his feet to turn and walk away, he wanted to stay. Lay in bed with Alex all day. All night. All week.
Alex wanted Luca to feel Luca fill him up again with his eight girthy inches. Alex turned around, closing and locking the door he collapsed onto the chair in his living room.
“Fuck.” He sighed into the empty space. His phone started ringing. “What bitch?”
“Are you still on the date? How is it? Y’all fuckin’?” Cody asked on the other side of the line.
“No, it went fucking great, and god I wish.” Alex replied.
*****
“Word on the street is that the Ricci’s are fucking pissed. They want blood.” Vito told everyone. It was the usual crew, only this time Luca’s mother and sister were there. Normally they wouldn’t be. The women rarely sat in on meetings about the business. They were all in the west wing of the Estate again and Vittorio Ferraro, the families mediator, was filling them in. He’d heard from his informants about how the Ricci’s knew the drug shipment was coming, where and when. Alessandro Ricci’s only son, Rafael, was there and he’d been shot. “It got him in the neck. He’ll live, but he’s paralyzed and it seems his brain was deprived of oxygen so he’ll basically be a fucking vegetable for the rest of his life.”
“Shit.” Sofia, Luca’s sister, said. “I guess that’s a good thing though, right?” She asked. “Weakened them.”
“Sofia.” Isabella Moretti, the family matriarch chastised her daughter. She turned light red in shame. “We don’t wish pain on anyone. We resort to violence only when provoked or out of necessity. We’re above it.”
“They did shoot first ma’am. Killed Stuart.” Matteo spoke up. He had recovered just fine from his wound. It had been just a flesh wound, barely grazing his shoulder.
“Still, no mother wants her son to live like that. So we won’t wish that on anyone. Understood.” This wasn’t a question; her statements rarely were. Isabella didn’t handle family business often, but she was just as vicious and cutthroat as on of the men down in Redwater if she needed to be. She was Giovanni’s true right hand. Not Salvatore.
“Yes mother.” Sofia and her other children nodded.
“Joe.” She turned her ice blue eyes to the man. “I want extra security for the family.” She ran the show just as much as Giovanni did when it came to her children.
“Yes ma’am.” He nodded.
“And buff it up around the estate and all essential areas as well. For the rest of you too.” She gestured to the family. “Vito, after an appropriate amount of time let Giulia know I’d like to meet with her if she would indulge me.”
“Amore,” Giovanni said to his wife, reaching over and taking her hand. “I don’t think that wise.”
“Perhaps not, but as a mother she may listen to me. She may understand that blood for blood will only end in war neither side will win. If she takes one of mine from me for this, I’ll see to it myself.” She turned to her husband, caressing his face. “Get it done.” She gave her orders.
Giovanni twitched his chin and Vito and Joe made notes in their books.
“Everyone leave us.” Giovanni said to the room, they all left. Except for his children. “Antonio, I want you and your girlfriend to go on a vacation for a week or two. Visit New York, Chicago. Get out of the city. Marco, take your family to the beach house in Calabasas. Luca, Sofia, you two need to leave too.” Giovanni instructed.
“Dad, we’re not leaving you.” Marco spoke up.
“Yes you are.” He said with finality. “If Alessandro makes a move at me, someone needs to be around to take over.”
“Dad-” Luca tried to speak now.
“No. You’ll all listen to me. Not as your father right now. As your boss.” His voice boomed with the authority he held. They all knew better than to argue now.
“But I’ve got the club.” Luca still tried.
“Adam can run it. Can’t he?” Luca saw the look in his father’s eyes and bit his tongue, stopping himself from saying anything else. He wanted to stay. See Alex again.
Maybe he could bring him with him? No, that was stupid. How could he explain to Alex why he was taking him on a vacation for two weeks on such short notice and only after one date.
“Yes sir.” Luca nodded, pushing his feelings to the side.
“Go, make your plans.” Giovanni commanded. The children got up and left the room.
“Maybe we go to sunny Aruba?” Sofia suggested. Walking next to Luca who was already pulling his phone out to text Alex an excuse.
“No.” He said. “Last time we went to a beach, you got so sunburned and you complained for a week.” He reminded her.
“Fine, how about we go to Seattle then?” She offered an alternative. “I wanna go see that rock troll sculpture thing from that tv show I like.”
“Sure, book the tickets.” Luca said absentmindedly sending the message.
Luca: Hey, sorry but I have to reschedule our date next week.
Luca: But I promise to make it up to you.
Luca: A family thing came up and I have to leave town for like two weeks.
Alex: Okay, sure. No problem. 😊
Luca: Thanks. I’m REALLY going to make it up to you when I get back.
Luca looked around to make sure no one could see what he was about to send. He sent a shirtless photo of himself with his cock out. His erection stood straight out.
