Chapter 22
ALEXEI
Despite how nippy it is in here, Matteo’s body heat keeps me warm as he stays pressed against me, his cock wedged in my ass. Like when he almost went to grab lube, I want him to stay here, just like this, so I’ve got my arms wrapped around him, keeping him close.
He rubs his face against my cheek, offering a tender kiss before pulling back enough to gaze down at me. I lean closer, licking up his lips, and he crushes another kiss on me. He nibbles at my bottom lip, then pulls back.
“Let’s stay like this,” he says. “Let the world come crashing down around us.”
I know he’s not serious, but it’s a nice thought, and I allow myself to enjoy the fantasy. But it has to end, something I’m reminded of as he pulls out of me, nice and steady, with as much care as he took getting in. I’m a little disappointed but just glad that he stays on top of me.
He raises his hand to my face, rubs my temple with his thumb. “To think, I’ve seen you around for a year and a half and never even considered that you could do this to me.”
“Get you hard?” I ask playfully.
But he doesn’t laugh. “No, Alexei, it’s much more than that. I never considered just how kind, thoughtful, and caring a person you could be. The way you would be willing to put your life on the line to help out some guys you hardly know.”
“That’s what you did with me, isn’t it?” I ask, thinking of my own reasons why I’m so enamored of Matteo. “I feel like you’ve put yourself last when it comes to what needs to be done.”
He studies my expression before gulping. “I have this thought, but I’m scared if I say it, you’ll think it’s too soon, that it’s ridiculous. But I like you. A lot. I think I’m falling for you.”
The rush through me reminds me of when I came, but hitting at something so much deeper in me. Lost in his gaze, the words pull right from me. “I’m falling too. Pretty fucking hard.”
He chuckles, but then his eyes widen. “Sorry, I’m not laughing at that. Just at all this, and being so relieved to hear you say it back.”
“You don’t have to apologize. It is kind of funny. Remember when we were just two straight guys?”
We both laugh, but soon he’s kissing me again, and there’s nothing funny about that. I place my hands against the back of his head, keeping his lips tight against mine as our tongues steal another taste.
A knock catches my attention before the door opens and I hear Cody’s, “Ooh, oops. Never mind. Sorry. Sorry.”
By the time Matteo and I manage to pry our mouths away from each other and turn, it’s closed again.
“The pizza’s here,” Cody says. “Just, for whenever you’re ready. No rush.”
“Sorry for the eyeful,” Matteo calls out, and we’re both snickering again, but I feel his stomach rumbling against mine.
“We should get you some food.”
“Just a few more minutes,” he pleads, nestling his face against my neck.
And I’m not about to refuse him. Not sure I could even if I wanted to.
And I definitely don’t want to.
*
After eating pizza, Matteo and I FaceTime our parents.
Given what we have planned, I keep reminding myself this isn’t a life-or-death mission. We can always back out. But it’s not like there’s no risk.
“You sound off tonight,” Mom says.
“Do I?”
“Everything okay?”
The weight of what’s happening feels like it’s settling in the back of my throat, wanting to push out but stuck behind a dam, water pummeling it but unable to break through.
I shake my head. “Just busy,” I say, which is the closest I can get to the truth.
Part of me fears that if something did happen, they might be left wondering the way we have about my brother.
After all, there’s so much we don’t know about the Rift or the Saints’ powers.
And with Syphor potentially expecting an attack after Matteo entered him, there’s really no telling what the consequences could be if things don’t go according to plan.
Which is why I can’t let that happen.
I refuse.
“Just wanted to say I love you both. More than anything.”
They tell me they love me too, and when I see the sadness in their eyes, I’m relieved. Because I know they assume this is a moment I’m having, where I want to make sure they hear this because of what we didn’t get from my brother.
“I love Nick too,” I say.
“We do too, baby,” Mom assures me.
We sit in a moment of silence.
For him.
When I get off the phone, I approach the Sinners, who are still congregated around the pizza boxes in the main warehouse. There’s another thing I must do before we go on our mission.
“Luke, you mind if we chat for a minute?”
He and Brad exchange a look before he pushes to his feet and steps away with me.
When we’re far enough from the guys for some privacy, I turn back to him.
“Hey, I know this is overdue, but this has all gotten out of hand so fast, and I figured you didn’t want to talk to me after you found out the truth, but I do want you to know that when the Saints first told me to watch you and the Sinners, I really thought I was protecting you.
And I enjoyed spending time with you. Watching movies.
Pushing you outside of your comfort zone occasionally.
I just didn’t want you to go on thinking that was fake. Not that you even care.”
He’s quiet, just listens to me, which is really all I need him to do.
“Alexei, I had a lot of fun too. That’s what made it hurt when the truth came out.”
“I get that.”
“You were cryptic about what they were paying you with…or what you needed that notebook for. What was it?”
A part of me just wants to keep this close to my chest. Like this is my burden to bear, and I must suffer with it, never let it out to hurt another.
But I remember what it felt like to talk with Matteo about it.
It didn’t feel like a bad thing; it felt…
healing. And after what I did, Luke deserves the truth.
“I have a brother.”
“What?”
“He went missing a few years ago. We don’t know what happened. And the Saints promised me I could get answers. And when they didn’t follow through, I tried to get them myself. And I know that doesn’t excuse what I did to you, but…I just miss him so fucking much.”
My face twists up, and the tears are fucking coming.
No.
I turn away and wipe at my eyes.
“Alexei…I’m so sorry.” He rests his hand on my arm, and it takes me by surprise.
“I just don’t mention him around people because then they’ll ask about where he is, and I hate telling them he’s not around anymore when I hope that one day he’s gonna walk through the door and everything’s gonna be fine.”
When I turn to him, his expression is sympathetic.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me, but in case anything happens tonight, I wanted you to know I never did any of this to hurt you.
But I have to be honest, and even if I knew then what I know now, I’m so fucking desperate, man, I’m not sure I would have done the right thing. And I’m sorry for that too.”
I’m tearing up again.
He’s quiet for a few moments. “I’m not going to forgive you, Alexei.”
And though it hurts, I accept that’s the punishment for what I did.
But then he moves close, hooking his arms around me and reeling me in for a hug—a tight, real hug, the hug of a friend. “Because there’s nothing to forgive. I’m sorry you had to deal with all that.”
Tears rush from my eyes, though not from pain, but from relief. Until he said the words, I hadn’t realized how much the guilt had been weighing on me.
I sob against his shoulder, and he just holds me close, comforting me until I manage to get myself together. When I finally pull away, he extends his hand. “Friends?” he asks.
I take his hand and shake. “Friends.”
We share another hug before joining the guys.
I tell Matteo about making up with Luke, and soon, we’re all on our phones, whittling away what may be the last moments of our lives doing what we all love most—basking in the pleasures of social media.
At nine thirty, we head through the woods toward the back of Alpha Alpha Mu. We’re far enough that we can barely make out the house through the trees.
“Here,” Cody says. He hands Matteo and me necklaces like the ones the Sinners wear. “I’m gonna do a spell that should keep you guys from being seen up to the house. Seth knows how to break it when Malcom gets the door. We’ll do the same.”
“Are you serious? You can do that?” Matteo asks as we put on our necklaces.
“It won’t like, make you disappear. It’s more like it keeps others around you from noticing you, but it’s not foolproof. If someone’s right up on you, they’ll see you, but it’s better than nothing.”
“I’ll take better than nothing right now,” I say. “How will we know when it’s working?”
“You won’t,” Seth says. “But we will.”
Cody gets in that familiar position on his knees, offering up his quiet chants. Once again, it’s like a wind encircles us, and then everything stills.
“Okay,” Seth says. “Let’s get to it.”
I text Malcom to let him know we’ve arrived, and we wait for confirmation from him before we exit the woods, slipping through the gate and heading for the house.
When we’re at the basement door, I text Malcom again, and he opens it and escorts us inside.
Matteo gets the door behind us, sliding a rock against the frame to keep it open.
“Hey, Seth,” Malcom says. “Surprised you’re joining us. Didn’t know you were a gamer.”
“Yeah,” Seth says. “Gaming’s not usually my thing, but—hey, are you sure we’re not gonna get caught?”
“Don’t worry,” Malcom says. “Alexei told me you already bailed on plans with some of the guys, and it’s lights out, so you won’t have an issue.”
He leads us through the basement, then up the stairs. When he reaches the door, Seth says, “Malcom, you’re going to go check and make sure it’s clear, then help us get to your room without being detected.”
Malcom stares at Seth for a few moments before finally breaking eye contact and heading through the door to do as instructed. Guilt nags at my conscience. It doesn’t feel right to push on someone.
“I don’t know how you can do that to a nice guy without feeling shitty about it,” I note, and Seth snaps, “Who the fuck said I don’t feel shitty about it?” He stares me down before turning back to the door.
Seth is so hard to get a read on, but it’s a relief when I see moments like this, where there’s more to him than his attitude and snide remarks.
While we wait for Malcom to return, we’re all on edge, surely fearing the same thing—that somehow he’ll accidentally alert a member of the Saints, and they’ll come running—but just a few minutes later, he returns and guides us farther into the house.
He manages each turn first, inspecting before we continue on our route, until we reach his room.
As we enter, I stumble over the rug by the door, and Seth whispers, “Smooth move,” as he heads in and closes the door behind me.
“Okay, Malcom. Thanks for that,” Seth says before pushing. “Now game away and leave us alone while we play a little game of our own.”
As Malcom obeys, Seth texts the guys to let them know we’re in and the coast is clear.
The plan is that Seth will use his powers to crack the lock to Finnegan’s room. Then we’ll all rush in. Seth will use his powers to subdue Finnegan, and as we restrain him, he’ll set up a circle of protection to keep any of Finnegan’s goons from interrupting his work.
Seth receives another text. “Okay, the guys are in the house. When they get here, I’m gonna get Malcom to escort you out.”
“Wait, what?” Matteo asks, echoing my thoughts.
“Trust me. We appreciate that you got us in here, but this is too dangerous. And really, you’re both liabilities at this point. Alexei, you don’t know how to use any powers, and, Matteo, we don’t even know what the hell happened with you. It’s too big a risk.”
“That’s not what we agreed to.”
“Yeah, well, the Sinners and I agreed at the church we would let you come this far, but that’s it. Sorry, but there’s no point in putting your lives at risk.”
“That’s tough shit because you’re not gonna be able to make us leave,” Matteo insists.
Seth rolls his eyes. “Swear to God. Whatever. Your funeral.”
His phone buzzes, and when he checks it, he says, “They’re coming up the stairs. I’m gonna go greet them.”
“Should I add you in as a player now?” Malcom asks from the sofa.
“No, just keep on doing your thing,” Seth says as he cracks the door open. He starts out when there’s a sound…I know it from somewhere…but before I have a chance to pin it down, I see Seth flying toward me.
I throw myself out of his path, and he looks like he’s about to go flying out the window, but the same sound moves through the air before he ricochets off an invisible boundary and comes back toward me before dropping to the floor.
The fuck?
But that sound, the way he hit that boundary at the door and window, it’s like the containment circle Brad and Luke put around Matteo’s bed.
“Seth?” I ask, Matteo and I rushing to help him to his feet. “They did something to keep us in here.”
“No fucking shit.” Seth groans.
My gaze shifts to Malcom, who’s keying away on his phone. “Fuck,” I mutter. “What are you doing, Malcom?”
He turns to me, his eyes black.
Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Just letting the guys know you’re here,” he says stoically. “I think everybody wants to play tonight.”
Holy shit. That thing is controlling more than just the Saints. What if he’s got the whole damn house?
Seth pulls his phone out of his pocket, quickly texting the guys. “Fuck it,” he says, rushing for the door. He pulls back the rug, revealing a line of salt at the doorway just as Luke, Brad, and Cody step onto the second floor from the stairwell.
“It’s a fucking trap!” Seth calls out to them.
Cody, Brad, and Luke spin around and start back down the hall, but that familiar sound rings through the air as they fly back up the stairs, hitting the wall and dropping to the floor. The Saints must have rigged the whole fucking place.
A door opens and Preston steps out, approaching quickly.
Seth doesn’t waste time. “Preston, back—” He chokes on the word, straining to speak as his face turns red, veins pushing forward. He struggles as though resisting some invisible person who has him by the throat.
As Preston nears, he raises his hand. He’s clearly using some sort of power to prevent Seth from pushing on him.
Matteo and I try to pull Seth out of the doorway, but he’s locked in place. And as Seth’s eyes glaze over, his eyelids lowering, Matteo and I exchange a worried look, knowing damn well we’re fucked.