Ah!
Alex stepped out of the shower; it was almost time to leave for lunch with Cody. He needed someone to talk to about Luca and…everything. It was a lot. Too much for just him. He knew he could trust Cody not to say anything but there was also a deep sense of dread growing in his gut over it.
What will Cody say? Alex thought to himself. He stood in the mirror drying himself and brushing his hair when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen – it was a number he didn’t recognize. He let it go to voicemail. Alex had bigger things to deal with right now.
Cody ensured that Alex’s arrival to the restaurant didn’t go unnoticed. “Over here, bitch!” His voice sang across the patio, heads turning as Cody waved Alex over. He sighed.
“Cody, I saw you from the parking lot.” He gave his friend a once over, noting the sheer, bright pink mesh top. “Did you just come from a circuit party?”
Cody struck a pose and wiggled his eyebrows. “No, but I am going to one after this.” He popped a chip into his mouth, gesturing to the basket of salsa and tortilla chips. “I ordered both of us some margs.” He grinned.
“It’s noon.” Alex said, incredulous as he slid into his chair.
“Gotta pregame.” Cody took another bite.
Alex laughed; it felt hollow. The weight in his chest felt impossible to shake. He tried playing it cool, attempting to swallow the lump in his throat. Cody caught the look. He always caught the looks.
“What’s up? You said you wanted to talk.” Cody’s voice softened, smile dimming as he leaned across the table.
Alex hesitated, fingers tapping against the condensation on his water glass. How the hell was he supposed to say this? How do you start a conversation like this? “Yeah, uh…it’s -” He stumbled, searching for the right words. “It’s about Luca.”
Cody’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry. I never liked him anyway. Too tall. And his hair? Ugh.” Cody flicked his wrists to punctuate the sentences.
Alex blinked, “We didn’t…break up.” His nerves made his voice dance around the bush in front of him.
“Oh, then he’s so hot.” Cody tried to save face. Alex chuckled. Cody was a good friend.
“Thanks.” Alex sighed. His pulse pounded in his ears. He gripped his glass tightly. Just say it. “You were wrong…sort of.”
“About?” Cody leaned back and cocked an eyebrow.
Alex looked around the patio, the place was quiet – a few tables, but no one close enough to hear. He dropped his voice. “Luca.”
“What about him?” Cody could sense there was more.
Alex shook his head. He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “He isn’t a drug dealer.”
“Okay…” His friends playful demeanor faltered.
“He’s in charge of the drug dealers.” Cody’s jaw fell open, but Alex wasn’t done. “He oversees some minor weapons deals, illegal alcohol sales, launders money…” Alex trailed off.
“What?” Cody’s eyes were wide, he sat frozen.
“He’s in the mob.” Luca whispered as he leaned over.
As if on cue, the bubbly waiter appeared with two margaritas and a basket of queso. “Here you go! Can I get you two anything else?”
Cody’s hand shot out to his drink and he downed it in seconds, repeating the move with Alex’s drink. “Another. Strawberry this time.”
“We don’t have -”
“Strawberry this time.” He cut them off with a flat tone.
“Okay.” The server stuttered and disappeared.
“Cody calm down.” Alex could see Cody’s face about to crack.
“Calm down?” Cody was shocked. “Alex, you’re dating a fucking hitman.” He whisper-screamed.
“He’s not a hitman.”
“Then what the hell is he?”
Alex hesitated with the answer, then softly: “He’s the son of the Don.”
“What!” Cody balked.
“Shh!” Alex swatted. “I need you to not freak out, so I don’t freak out. I am barely holding it together as it is.”
Cody exhaled slowly, clearly trying—and failing—to process. “Fine. Tell me everything.” He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, “I cannot believe how good of a friend I am.”
Alex nodded, taking a breath to steady himself. “Okay… here goes.”
And so, he began.
Luca poured amber liquid into the crystal tumbler. “Whiskey,” he murmured with a small smile, bringing it to his lips. He sank into the plush chair, his shoulder pulsing with a dull ache. The pain meds he’d grabbed from the bathroom were starting to kick in, and for the first time in hours, he felt a hint of peace.
Peaceful. Light, even. Telling Alex had been a relief—more than he thought it would be. No more secrets between them. He’d braced himself for shouting, for breaking things… hell, for Alex pulling a gun on him. But none of that happened.
He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, letting the weight lift off him. He enjoyed the moment.
“Luca!” Moment over.
His father’s voice boomed through his apartment.
“Luca!” Giovanni yelled again.
“In here dad!” Luca called back; he sat up in his chair with a hiss of pain.
Seconds later, “Oh, Luca! Thank god!” Giovanni stormed into the living room. Without warning, he pulled his son out of the chair and hugged him tightly. “I’m so relieved.”
“Why? What happened?” Luca let his father squeeze him.
“There was a shooting!” Giovanni’s dark eyes narrowed, scrutinizing him. “You weren’t answering your phone. Your mother and I were worried sick. Our informants were saying—”
“I dropped it last night while I was out,” Luca interrupted quickly. “I’ll get a new one later. It’s fine.”
Giovanni wasn’t convinced. “Fine? Word is the Riccis are making good on that promise of a hit they put out. I thought you’d been caught in it.” He went to the bar cart and poured himself a drink. “The idea of losing you…” His voice trailed off, but his stare spoke volumes.
Luca forced a chuckle, trying to lighten the moment. “Well, I’m here. A little hungover maybe.” He took a long sip of his whiskey, watching his father carefully.
“Who were you out with last night?” Giovanni asked, sitting across from him. He swirled the glass around.
“Just…friends.” Luca stiffened.
“What friends?” Giovanni pressed.
“Like I said. Just friends. I met up with an old buddy from college. He’s getting married.” Luca kept a neutral face, despite the prickle of irritation.
“When?” Gio asked. Why so many questions? Luca thought.
“March.” Luca replied smoothly.
“What’s his name?”
“Steven.” Luca took another sip of his whiskey, hoping that would end the subject.
“Funny,” Giovanni mirrored his son, silence stretching between them like a rubber band. “I thought it was Alex you were out with last night.”
The rubber band snapped. Luca went cold. Had his mother told his father? No—she wouldn’t.
“Who?” he tried to deny, but it was futile. His father gave him the look. The one that stripped away any chance of lying.
“Yes,” Luca admitted quietly. “How did you know?”
“I had you followed.” Giovanni swirled the whiskey in his glass, his tone almost casual. “But I wouldn’t have had to if you’d just told me you had a boyfriend. He’s cute, by the way—not Italian, but cute.” He drained the last of his drink.
“Thanks,” Luca muttered, biting back a retort. He wanted to argue that he was too old to be tailed like some teenager, but deep down, he knew his father wasn’t wrong. It had been long enough. He should’ve told him about Alex—for a myriad of reasons. “Alex is great.”
“I know.” Giovanni’s gaze sharpened. “I had him looked into. An EMT.”
“Yeah.” Luca nodded, fingers toying with the empty glass in his hand.
“Risky.” The single word carried weight, punctuated by Giovanni’s stern look. “A first responder, Luca—risky.”
Alex’s job did put him too close to the police. The Moretti’s had enough connections on the force to keep things smooth, but still—it was risky. Stupid, some would say.
But there was something about Alex that sent all of Luca’s reasoning out the window.
“I know, but I’ve been careful,” he said, almost defensively.
“Have you?” Giovanni arched a brow. “Because I hear he’s been to the club. Seen things he shouldn’t have.”
Luca exhaled sharply, pushing himself up from the chair and heading to the bar cart. “Yeah, well, Adam should learn to keep his mouth shut.”
“Don’t blame him. He told me what he had to—when he had to.” Giovanni’s voice held its usual authority, the kind that made arguing pointless.
Luca poured himself another drink, jaw tight. “I’ve been handling it.”
“How?” Giovanni pressed, rising to his feet and following Luca to the bar. “How are you explaining away the things he’s seen?”
“I’ve…” Luca hesitated, searching for words. He couldn’t very well tell his own father he’d been dicking down Alex to distract him. “I’ve been keeping him busy,” he said slowly. It wasn’t entirely untrue.
Giovanni studied him for a long moment, expression unreadable. “Hmm.” He sighed and poured himself another drink before leaning next to his son. “Alex is smart. I looked into his grades.” He sipped. “He’ll figure it out.”
Or I’ll just tell him, Luca thought wryly, though he didn’t voice it.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” he replied instead.
“What if he already has?” Giovanni’s tone shifted, colder now. The sudden change sent a chill up Luca’s spine. “After all, he was with you last night… when you got shot.”
Luca froze. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, boy.” Giovanni’s voice dropped, low and dangerous as he placed a firm hand on Luca’s shoulder.
“Ah!” Luca winced, the pressure sending a jolt of pain through him.
Giovanni’s hand fell away, but his stern gaze didn’t waver. “Sit down. We need to talk.”
Luca should’ve known better than to try and lie to his father. His father somehow always knew.
Giovanni Moretti had eyes and ears all over the city.
“I love him,” Alex said, breaking the silence that had stretched far too long. Cody, who had been quietly absorbing everything Alex shared about Luca Moretti, finally stirred.
“Love?” Cody echoed, sipping his fourth margarita. The server had come by several times, clearly judging. “That’s a big word.”
“I know.” Alex sighed, feeling the weight of it—of all of it. “I just don’t know what it means now.”
Cody tilted his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “It means now you’re Karen Hill.” He tried for a joke. Maybe. Neither of them knew what any of this meant.
Still, it felt good for Alex to have talked it out. To finally tell someone else.
“Has he killed anyone?” Cody’s voice dropped slightly, serious for once.
“He says no.”
“Do you believe him?”
Alex paused. The breeze brushed his face, gentle and caressing, as if coaxing him to think harder. “Yes,” he said finally, nodding. “Yes, I do.”
Cody shrugged; his expression unreadable. “Then I think… I don’t know what happens now either. I can’t decide for you. I can’t tell you to leave him. I can’t tell you to stay. I can’t tell you anything.”
“Thanks, you’ve been really helpful,” Alex chuckled, rolling his eyes.
Cody grinned and joined in his laughter. Then, he sobered slightly. “So why tell me all this?”
Alex let out a deep, throaty laugh, his shoulders shaking. “I don’t know that either.” He paused, inhaling a slow breath. “I just—”
They both fell silent.
Around them, the world moved on as though nothing had changed. Birds chirped. The wind stirred. The clink of dishes, distant conversations, and a car horn honking filled the background.
A woman at the next table whispered about buying a dress for her sister’s wedding. Someone else lamented their overdue rent.
The world kept spinning, but Alex? He felt stuck. Frozen.
His heart pounded at the thought of Luca—his touch, his smile. His body ached for it. For him. But his mind? His mind screamed that this was stupid. Dangerous. This wasn’t some rebellious fling with a bad boy who smoked cigarettes and rode a motorcycle. This was the mob. Luca was a criminal.
A criminal, Alex thought again.
But when he spoke, his voice was clear. “I love him.”
Cody arched a brow, biting back a smile. “He is kinda hot,” he said, face scrunching up dramatically. And then, as if unable to stop himself, he broke into a familiar tune. That criminal song by Britney Spears.
“Don’t you dare—” Alex warned.
Cody grinned wider, continuing his song.
“Shut up!” Alex laughed, chucking a chip at him.
Cody ducked, singing louder.
“Stop it!”
Their laughter rang out, cutting through the noise of the world.
Finally, Cody leaned back against the table, sobering just enough. “So… what are you gonna do?”
Alex stared at the sky, as if it might suddenly hand him an answer. “I have no fucking clue, Cody. No fucking clue.”
Cody didn’t miss a beat. “I say you fuck him at least one more time.”
Alex let out a bark of laughter, feeling his cheeks flush. “That’s your advice?”
Cody shrugged, unfazed. “If it’s good, you’ll have your answer. If it’s bad, you’ll still have your answer.”
Alex rolled his eyes, fighting a smile. “So you’re saying I should base my entire relationship on how good the sex is?”
“That’s how I make all my man-related decisions. Hasn’t steered me wrong yet.” Cody shrugged.
Alex shook his head, laughing despite himself. But then, quieter now, his thoughts turned serious again.
How would he introduce Luca to his parents? His sister? How could he explain this to anyone?
Cody broke the silence with a teasing hum. “Bow chicka wow wow.”
“I’m going to kill you,” Alex said, laughing into his hands.
“Careful,” Cody shot back, wagging a finger. “That threat carries a lot more weight now.”
Alex’s eyes widened as he stifled his laughter.
Cody softened for a moment; his expression unusually thoughtful. “Call him,” he said simply. “You need to have the next talk with him, not me.” Cody became an adult in this moment. Just for this moment.
It was surprisingly solid advice.
Alex groaned. “You’ve been no help.”
“Yes, I have,” Cody insisted with a wink. He grabbed his bag and stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get fucked on the dance floor of a circuit party.”
He twerked his way toward the exit.
“Wear a condom!” Alex called after him, shaking his head.
“Maybe!” Cody called back over his shoulder. Then, without missing a beat: “Oh, by the way, you got the bill!”
“Cody!” Alex groaned, pulling out his phone and glaring after his friend. He sat back with a sigh, the screen lighting up in his hand. And still, he didn’t know what to do.
“Hey,” Luca said as he stepped into the apartment.
“How’s the shoulder?” Alex asked, locking the door behind him.
“Good.”
It had only been a few hours since they last saw each other, but it felt like longer. The air between them was thick, heavy with tension. Alex still hadn’t made a decision, but he was closer. Cody’s stupid advice lingered in his mind, though it wouldn’t be the deciding factor.
Alex glanced at Luca, whose demeanor spoke of his own troubled thoughts. Giovanni had given Luca an ultimatum: bring Alex to meet him, or Giovanni would handle it himself. Luca refused to let that happen—he feared he knew exactly what “handling it” would mean.
“Good,” Alex echoed, finally breaking the silence. “Uh, sit.”
He gestured to the couch. Luca nodded and sank into it, the soft cushions betraying its age. Alex joined him, sitting cross-legged and facing Luca with a nervous giggle.
“So…”
“So…” Luca repeated, a faint smile tugging at his lips before fading. “What now?”
The question hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. Luca didn’t know how to tell Alex about Giovanni’s demands, but he’d find another way if it came to it.
“I… I thought about it all day,” Alex began, his voice hesitant. He wouldn’t tell Luca that he’d confided in Cody. He’d seen enough gang-related movies to know that could be a death sentence. “Luca, I— I meant what I said before you got shot. I love you.”
Luca’s face softened instantly. “I love you too.” He reached out and grasped Alex’s hand firmly, his thumb brushing gently across his knuckles.
“But I don’t know what that means now.”
Alex lowered his gaze to Luca’s hand in his. He traced the lines of Luca’s palm absently, wishing he could read them like a map—something to show him the right path, the right choice.
“It doesn’t have to mean anything other than that,” Luca replied, a quiet certainty in his voice. He was already forming plans in his mind—ways to sneak Alex out of the city, to hide him far away from this life.
“Except it does.” Alex let out a low, bitter chuckle. “Luca, you’re a criminal. I’m an EMT. I took an oath to protect people.”
“I haven’t killed anyone,” Luca reminded him, almost defensively.
“How many guns have you given to people who have?” Alex countered. “How many drugs have you sold to people I’ve either saved with Narcan or was too late for?” His voice cracked with the weight of the words. “How many times have our jobs crossed paths without us even realizing it? Am I even safe now—now that I know?”
“Yes!” Luca said immediately, his voice sharp. “I will make sure of it.”
“And the other questions?” Alex pressed. He trusted Luca to protect him, but trust didn’t erase reality.
Luca opened his mouth to answer, but no words came.
Silence settled over them like a fog.
“My dad wants to meet you, by the way,” Luca said finally, seizing the moment. There would never be a perfect time, so he might as well get it over with.
“Why?” Alex asked, his stomach sinking.
“He had me followed,” Luca admitted. “He knows you’re the one who patched me up.”
“Does he know you told me?” The question felt like ice on Alex’s tongue.
“He’s my father. He’s smart—I would’ve had to tell him eventually.”
Luca explained the conversation with Giovanni. How his father insisted on meeting Alex to ensure he could be trusted. Giovanni had promised that no one else would know about Alex—no one who didn’t need to.
“Should I be scared?” Alex asked quietly.
“No.” Luca inched closer, pulling Alex into a protective hug. “Maybe a little,” he admitted, lightening his tone. “He didn’t like my last boyfriend. I still don’t know what happened to him.”
Alex jerked back; eyes wide. “What?”
“I’m kidding,” Luca teased, stealing a kiss to calm him.
“Not funny.”
“Sorry,” Luca murmured, kissing him again, longer this time.
“Mm, Luca…” Alex tried to protest between kisses. “We need to keep talking.”
“After,” Luca replied simply.
With that, he scooped Alex into his arms, carrying him to the bedroom as their lips remained locked.
Alex felt Luca caress him, massage his tongue with his. Luca laid them down on the bed and started undoing his pants. Alex undid his own.
“Fuck…” Luca moaned as he pulled up and pulled his shirt up and over his head. His chest heaved and Alex loved the sight of it. The way his muscles flexed as he breathed. Shifted as he descended back to Alex, wrapping his arms around him. Luca laid on top of Alex as the two grinded into one another.
Alex reached down to free Luca from his underpants. He looped his thumbs around the waistband and pulled, feeling Luca’s stiffness bounce against his wrist. Luca gasped into Alex’s mouth as Alex took hold of the semi-hard penis.
Luca pulled Alex’s pants down, ripping them off. Alex felt the air meet his ass. The two kept moaning as they rolled across the bed, hands never leaving the others body.
Alex was still loose from this morning so he guided Luca to his entrance, wincing in pleasure as it breached him.
“Oh god…” Luca groaned as he felt Alex’s tightness grip him, pulling him deeper and deeper. Within moments he bottomed out, drawing a moan from Alex. He started to rut, gently, in and out of his boyfriend.
“Harder please…” Alex asked between kisses. Luca answered by thrusting with a rough smack. “Ah!” Alex yipped. Luca repeated the motion and began to build up speed as he locked his arms around the man below him.
Alex wrapped his legs around Luca, one hand in his hair, the other cupping his ass. He guided Luca in and out of him at a ferocious pace. They fucked for what felt like hours, Luca pulling all the way out before slamming back in. Alex flexing and releasing as Luca went in for long, deep strokes.
The two moaned and the room filled with the scent of their sweat and pheromones. Alex felt himself tense as Luca hit his prostate, rubbing it with his cockhead. It throbbed against Alex’s gland.
“I’m close.” He whispered into Luca’s ear.
“Cum for me baby…” He begged and Alex released himself. Letting himself feel the orgasm rock his body.
“Ah!” He wailed as he arched into Luca, the heat bursting through him. Sending him into orbit.
“Argh!” Luca groaned as he picked up his pace, feeling his own orgasm closing in. “I love you Alex.” He announced. “I love you so much.” He came, deep and hard into Alex. It sent electricity through his body, his face scrunching as it usually did. His toes curled; body flexed. “Oh…” He let out a long moan as he kept pulsing, humping in and out of Alex.
“Don’t stop.” Alex begged, so he didn’t. Luca took a deep breath and powered through. He kept going. After a few more moments of Alex squeezing his walls, and rutting in and out, Luca came again. He shot another volley of the pearly liquid inside his boyfriend.
They lay together afterward, their breathing steadying as Luca rested his forehead against Alex’s.
“I love you,” Alex whispered, his decision finally made. He cupped Luca’s face, his gaze deep and certain. “I love you.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe,” Luca vowed.
“So, I’ll set up the meeting with my father.” The two were freshly showered and standing by Alex’s front door. “He’ll want it to be sooner than later.”
“I work the next four days, but I’m off on Tuesday.” Alex told him.
“I’ll see if he can make that work. But Alex—until then—be careful. They saw you with me.” Luca had explained the Ricci’s and the feud between their families.
“Okay.”
“I’ve arranged for Adam and a few others to keep an eye on you.” Luca added
“Can I trust them?” Alex asked.
“You can trust me.” Luca told him. “And they work for me. They’re loyal. They wouldn’t dare make a move against you. It would be a move against me.”
“I’m not family.” Alex said plainly.
“Not yet.” Luca smirked.
“Did you just -?” Alex’s eyes widened.
“No,” Luca said quickly, then paused. “Unless…”
“One step at a time Moretti. I just decided not to dump you over this.” Alex told him. “Maybe give me some time before we’re planning the spring wedding?” Alex laughed uncomfortably.
“Right, sorry.” Luca didn’t hate the idea of Alex Bennett becoming Alex Moretti. In fact…
“I’ll wait for your call.” Alex unlocked the door.
“Can I come by tonight?” Luca asked.
“Well, I do need to check your bullet wound.” He smiled, leaning up to kiss his boyfriend.
“Mm,” He grinned into the kiss. “I should get shot more often. Get some extra love and attention from my man.” He teased.
“Maybe don’t.” Alex chuckled, “That’s not as funny as you think it is. Not now anyway.”
“Fine.” He pulled his face away from his. “My father can be…” He searched for the words. “big?” Alex raised a brow. “He can take up a room, he’s intimidating. I mean he’s head of the family so that’s to be expected.”
“Good to know. I’ll prepare.”
“My mother is the one who you should really be afraid of.” Luca warned, not a joke.
“Normal couples don’t have this problem.” Alex commented.
“Sorry.” Luca grimaced.
“Don’t be.” Alex stroked Luca’s jaw. “Oh, if only you weren’t a Montague, and I a Capulet.” Alex mused.
“I hope our ending is happier.” They shared a final kiss before Luca left. Alex watched from the window, following Luca to his car—unaware of the man parked across the street, camera in hand, snapping photos of him.
