Chapter 7
7
LUCA
V iktor left my house early this morning, which is fine by me. I didn’t fucking sleep a wink knowing he was right down the hall, his pretty cock hard and aching, leaking onto the bed. I could almost feel his frustration and it took everything inside of me not to crawl into bed with him, flip him over, and give him exactly what he wanted.
He’s seeped so far into me that I’m not sure I can extricate him anymore.
Working so closely with him is a detriment to my mental health. Viktor has always been a part of the family. I know he’s extremely loyal to Anthony, and that he feels he owes Anthony his life.
And in a way, he does.
Anthony took him in when no one else would, but then again, he’s always been a bit of a sucker for kids who need a home.
When he was younger, Viktor used to watch me intently, his eyes never leaving me when I was in the same room. Anthony joked he had a crush, but I never got that impression. Maybe a bit of hero worship, if anything.
But then that awe started to morph as he got older, and I could feel the hate emanating from him.
I don’t know what I did, but something about me agitates him. And in turn, he has me all twisted up inside.
I don’t like to be twisted.
Twisting others…I quite enjoy that.
The problem is now that Anthony is working less, things are being delegated to me, and Viktor is now a constant presence in my life. Inescapable.
The image of Viktor bent over the bed, his ass red, his cock pressed against the side of the mattress, dripping and angry, pops into my head, and I reach down and adjust myself.
I quite liked that. Making him cry and beg.
And watching him suck me off…
Perhaps I should make that a daily ritual.
The thought appeals. He was quite good at it. Probably at the better end of the blow jobs I’ve received throughout the years.
I huff and shake my head.
Probably one of the best ones I’ve gotten, if I’m honest.
No time for honesty , I think as I move into my bedroom and change. I have a meeting with Anthony today and then I’m heading to the fighting ring.
I pack up my duffle bag and peer at myself in the mirror. I look fucking tired. But after the fight, I’m sure I’ll feel alive. Maybe I’ll get some sleep tonight. Some would call me self-destructive. Seems I might be. At least I’m not boring.
The doorbell rings and I move toward it, my heart rate increasing as I pull the door open, seeing Viktor on the other side, looking just as tired as me.
Seems he didn’t sleep well either.
Good. We can both be miserable.
He scowls at me, and I can’t help the way my lips twitch in happiness. I love riling him up, love getting him so frustrated his cheeks turn pink and his hands tremble.
Love how horny he is for me, despite hating it.
“You’re late,” I say, and his nostrils flare.
“I’m fucking not.”
“You are. I’ll have to let Anthony know about this.”
His hands fist near his sides. He looks like he’s going to punch me. Fuck, I’d love a chance with him in the ring, down and dirty, no holds barred. I want to watch him bleed while I hold his face down on that dirty concrete floor and fuck his ass raw.
Maybe I’ll make him come with me tonight, make him get a taste of what he could have. The temptation is overwhelming. I know he can fight. We’ve sparred in the past.
But now, knowing him the way I do? Knowing what noises he makes when he loses control…
It has me wanting to go a few more rounds.
The thought percolates as he drives me to Anthony’s house and as I sit in Anthony’s office, discussing what we found at the clubs. Doc confirmed that the other woman had the same drug in her system, and the bartender at the club last night who was flirting with Viktor mentioned to Anthony that a new drug has been circulating with customers.
“He called it Pink,” I tell him.
“Pink?”
“Yes. He said that he’s heard it mentioned a few times. He doesn’t know where to get it, though. He said he’d ask around.”
“Guess that’s something then,” Anthony says.
“We can’t do anything until we know more about it, who’s supplying it, and who is buying it.”
“Exactly. I’ll call my informant in the police force and the Senator to see if they know anything.” We stare at one another, and Anthony sighs. “So, what do you propose we do now?” He leans back in his chair, eyes serious, brow furrowed.
“I don’t fucking know. Vik thinks that the Sirens have something to do with distribution, and I sort of agree. But I’m hesitant to think they’re responsible for the bodies. We’ve known them for ages. We’ve never had issues with them.”
“And yet, look what happened to Mikhail. His close friend tried to kill him. Seems you can’t trust anyone these days.”
His eyes bore into mine, and I lean back, crossing my ankle over my knee.
“Fuck off with those inferences. You can trust me. Don’t fucking think that shit.”
His lips crack slightly and he offers me a conciliatory grin. “I know I can, and I also trust Viktor.”
“I know.” I leave that vague. I have nothing else to say.
“I think he may be on to something with his suspicions. With his past, he has good instincts.”
He does. I know a little about his background. I remember when Viktor showed up, a scraggly teenage boy who Anthony took in off the streets. Anthony told me a bit of what he’d been through. It’s been fifteen years since that day, and Viktor has been nothing but loyal.
And still, there’s just something about him. Something that draws me to him. Something that makes my blood heat.
“And he’s saved your life more than once,” Anthony adds.
“Yeah, I know that.”
“Maybe we should put some surveillance on the Sirens, just to see what they’re moving. It’s been meth for a while, but maybe they’re looking to expand the market.”
“Could be. We’ll give it a shot and see. Put Anna on it. She’s probably the best fit.”
“Good idea.” He grabs his phone, sends off a text, and then sets it down.
He stares at me, and I stare right back. “What the fuck is that look for?”
“Just waiting for my right-hand man to tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing’s going on. ”
“I saw you with Viktor last night.”
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t know you were into men.”
“He’s good at sucking cock.”
Anthony huffs and then shifts forward slightly. “Don’t fucking hurt him, Luca. You’re like a brother to me. I’d hate to have to send you to Bane.”
I scoff. “I won’t do anything he doesn’t beg for.”
Anthony seems to be appeased by that. He has a soft spot for his soldiers, especially Vik. He has two sons, but Viktor has managed to worm his way into his heart.
“Good. Now get in contact with some of the informants on the streets to see if they know anything we don’t.”
“Will do. We done?”
“We are. You going to the Shadows?”
“Yeah. Need to get this itch out of my system,” I say.
“Or you could just fuck him. You’d feel better and you’d end up less injured.” I scowl at Anthony, and he chuckles. “Like I said, better than getting your face bashed in. At one time I thought you were pretty, but now you’re just looking rough.”
“This has nothing to do with Viktor. I just need the rush.”
He doesn’t believe me. I can tell by the way he watches me leave his office. But I have nothing else to say.
Boxing with him is nothing like the bare-knuckle fight I’m about to have.
As I walk through the house, I run into Agatha, Teddy, and Tatum in the kitchen, Tatum perched at the island watching Teddy and Agatha bake.
Viktor is nowhere to be found. That agitates me more than I’ll ever admit.
“You looking for your boyfriend?” Tatum asks, a sparkle in his eyes.
I huff at that and then ruffle his hair. “You just like starting shit. ”
“And so do you,” Agatha pipes up, pursing her lips at me. “Two peas in a pod.”
I smirk and then move toward Agatha, pulling her into a tight hug. She’s been like a mother to me since mine was taken from me all those years ago. I may be a Rossi, but the Costellos have been my family for all of my adult life, Agatha included.
“Where are you off to?” she asks, and I shrug. I’m not telling her a thing. She’ll only nag.
“Nowhere. Do you know where Vik is?”
“Ah, so you are looking for your boyfriend,” Tatum says, and I arch an eyebrow at him. “Looking to do some heavy-duty smooching?” I stare at him, and he waggles his eyebrows at me. “Dick smooching?”
Agatha hisses at Tatum, and he giggles at that.
“No cookies for you with that potty mouth.”
Tatum blanches, and then Teddy looks up at me from the cake decorating and points outside.
“Thank you,” I tell him and then turn on my heel, exiting the kitchen and the house entirely. As I step outside, the gardens Angel spent so much time in when he lived here sprawl out before me. They’re now being maintained by the gardeners, so when he visits, everything will be as it was.
Anthony insisted upon it.
As I traverse the gardens, I find Viktor on the other side with a few of the guards, Jax, Quincy, and Rocco. All of them are talking and laughing. My steps falter when I catch Viktor smiling.
He looks good like that. He looks happy.
But as I approach, Viktor’s eyes slam into mine and my gait slows for just a moment. The way those eyes make something inside of me shift, dark and hidden.
A monster waiting to play.
Maybe I should just fuck him.
But I shake that thought away. I won’t do that again.
I can’t .
Everyone straightens as I approach and their chatting fades until it’s just the wind rustling the trees. I glance up and see the dark gray clouds hovering above us. Seems rain may be coming once again.
“Vik, let’s go,” I say and then turn around, knowing that he’s following me. I can tell by the tingle blooming across my skin, the way the back of my neck prickles from his glare.
When we make it to the SUV, Viktor is deathly silent, getting in the driver’s seat and following the directions I input into the navigation system. We move through the busy streets and onto the freeway, moving through puddles and around slow trucks.
“Where the fuck are we going?” he asks as rain spatters on the windshield.
“Your job is to not ask questions.”
“Fuck that,” he says as I slide a cigarette out of my pocket and hold it to my lips.
“I said I wouldn’t do that anymore,” he bites out, but I can feel him start to break. He can’t help himself when it comes to me.
With a sigh, he lights it for me, and I inhale deeply, the nicotine sinking into me. Heavenly. Almost as good as him sucking my dick.
The thought of it, him between my legs has my cock perking up.
Perhaps I should make him do it again.
Or maybe what I’m about to do will satiate the lust. Maybe Anthony is wrong and fucking him won’t be better for me.
It ruined me once.
I won’t go there again.
“Park here,” I say when we pull up to a warehouse. I point to a concrete wall and two crooked parking lines. Viktor maneuvers between them, and I hop out, grabbing the duffle bag and moving toward the entrance, rain pelting me as I go.
As soon as we push inside, it’s humid and hot, the scent of blood and sweating bodies permeating the space. The sounds of cheering and skin and bones being pummeled ricochet off the metal siding, and I can feel Viktor’s look of concern drilling into my chest.
I brush it off. I don’t need anyone worried about me .
I’ve been taking care of myself for far too long.
We move through the crowd, some people recognizing me and slapping me on the back, jeers and words of approval as I move toward the changing rooms.
“What the fuck is this?” Viktor hisses when we’re finally alone.
“Nothing you need to worry about. Just stand there and look pretty.”
His jaw tightens, his frustration evident in the way his hands bunch near his sides. Fucking love it, love that I can get to him.
I change quickly, pulling on just a pair of athletic shorts and nothing else, my chest and feet bare. My tattoos and scars are on display, and I see the way he looks at me.
He likes what he sees.
He always has.
I slide a mouthguard between my teeth and grin at Viktor, who narrows his eyes at me.
“You’re doing some kind of fight club shit?” he hisses as he follows me back out toward the crowd.
I just wink at him as I make my way over to the man who runs this—Agro, a mean son of a bitch with a penchant for blood and broken bones. He’s made quite the living off this. I don’t blame him for leaning into it. And I appreciate that he’s offered me a chance to fight and get this anger out of me.
“You made it!” he shouts, slapping me on the back. “You’re up next.”
He glances over at Viktor, his eyes sliding up and down his body. “You bring another fighter?”
“No, he’s here to watch. He’s a bit of a fan.”
“I’m not,” he grumbles, but I ignore him, turning my gaze out to the men in the ring, blood dripping from their mouths. It’s violent and unhinged, and I crave it.
I started this up a year ago and haven’t looked back.
Anthony objects to it in his silent way, but he can’t stop me from attending .
I do whatever the fuck I want.
The crowd roars when one man topples over, his head knocking against the cement. Agro moves into the circle and lifts the other lilting man’s arm in the air as the crowd goes wild.
Adrenaline washes through me as a few men pull the knocked-out guy off the floor, blood in his wake, and then the announcer shouts out my fighting name, Mantus, and the name of my opponent.
Boulder.
A man much bigger than me. He comes lumbering out from the crowd and his arms flex. They’re as big as melons.
Fuck, this is gonna hurt.
Viktor’s fingers wrap around my wrist and shockwaves shoot up my arm at the touch.
“He’s going to murder you.”
Concern lines his words and all I can do is smirk at him.
He has no idea what I’m capable of.
The smell of blood filters through my nostrils as my head whips to the side, pain lancing through my cheek and mouth and down to my neck.
Fuck, Boulder got me good , I think as I stagger back, sweat marring my vision. He’s bigger than me and has an advantage, but he’s also slower. And I’m a mean fighter. Growing up the way I did, scrapping for everything I had after my parents and brothers died, boxing with Anthony when we became friends, joining the MMA gym—I know I’ll win this.
I’ll just be sore after, and very bloody.
I’m not getting any younger. Forties are no joke.
I swipe at my eyes and gather up my strength, my feet spread as I bend my knees and lift my arms.
Duck, punch, kick, my bones and tendons snapping as flesh meets flesh. The man stumbles back, and I aim for his throat, trying to punch the air out of him, but he manages to fall to the right, making me hit nothing but the breeze.
The crowd jeers, and I spit blood onto the ground as Viktor catches my eye. He’s standing between two men, spittle flying from their mouths as they shout, their cheeks red, bills clutched in their hands.
Viktor’s jostled slightly and his eyes narrow at me.
He’s pissed.
I can’t help but wink at him, irritating him further.
His frown deepens, and I whip my head around, ducking just in time to avoid the blow Boulder is trying to land on me.
But even though he misses this time, he manages a few more hits, one right to my kidneys, the other to the side of my arm, and one well-placed kick to my knee. But then I’m able to launch myself onto his back and choke him out, my legs wrapped around his waist, my arm strangling him.
He falls to the floor with a thud, passed out, me on his back like some kind of avenging king riding into battle, and Agro moves toward me, lifting me from Boulder and holding my arm in the air as the crowd goes wild.
Viktor is not one of them.
His anger grows as he marches toward me and pulls me to the locker rooms, his grip rough on my biceps, his face set in stone.
I pull my mouthguard out and spit blood to the side, pretending I don’t like the way he’s gripping me.
“Why the long face, Vik-baby?” I ask and chuckle when he shoves me down onto the bench.
“Anthony would have fucking killed me if you ended up badly hurt. And you did it anyway.”
I slide a hand through my wet hair, slick with sweat, and manage a sly grin at him. “I did. And I fucking won.”
“Fuck. You,” he spits and then squats down so that we’re eye to eye. His hand moves to my bloody mouth, his thumb gently brushing against the split lip. “We have to get you cleaned up.”
The way he’s touching me so tenderly makes something squeeze in my chest, and I almost can’t breathe. I wrench my head away from him, and his hand falls to his side.
I stare at him and he meets it before huffing and standing up.
“You done here then?” he asks, his words rough and frustrated.
“Yes. I got what I needed from this.”
He purses his lips and then gestures toward the door. “Fine. Then grab your shit and I’ll take you home.” He’s cursing and grumbling as I reach behind me and pull my shoes from my duffle bag before shoving it into his arms.
“You grab it,” I say, and he grinds his teeth. He watches as I toe on my shoes and then we’re pushing through the crowd. We make our way to the SUV, rain pelting us until we’re finally inside the cab. He turns on the heat full blast as he drives me home. Everything is oddly quiet except for the swish of the windshield wipers. My head is swimming slightly from the punches I took to the face, my torso throbbing from the knuckles that drove into them.
But even so, I feel fucking alive.
My therapist said I have issues.
He didn’t live long after that.
The car suddenly shuts off and Viktor hops out, moving to my car door and wrenching it open. Rain hits his already damp shirt, one that looks far too good on him, accentuating his chest and arms, and I let my eyes sweep over him as I step out, my skin growing wet as I just stand there. Never did bother to put on a shirt.
“You going to take care of me, Vik-baby?” I ask dryly when our eyes catch. He just turns and stalks toward the front door, unlocking it and doing a small sweep of the premises as I follow him inside, my vision growing hazy from the way I ache.
“Doc is gonna be here soon,” he explains as I close the door behind me and lock it.
“Fuck that. I don’t need to be looked at. Tell him not to bother. ”
“No. You’re an old man, Luca, acting like a fucking asshole going into a ring with a man half your age and twice your size.”
That grates on my nerves. “You saying I’m fucking old? I’m not. I fucking won.”
He huffs in annoyance and folds his arms across his chest. The shirt pulls slightly and an ache builds inside of me.
Maybe the punch to my head knocked something else loose.
Or maybe it’s always been there with Vik.
It seems fighting did nothing to abate the lust building inside of me.
“Sure. What the fuck ever, Mantus . But right now, you look like you’re about to keel over. You have a concussion. Doc will confirm it.”
“Fuck off. Get out of my house,” I hiss.
He doesn’t leave, just seems to grow more resolute. And it only makes me hornier. He takes up far too much space. In my house. In my head. In my fucking aching heart.
“Can’t do that. Don’t want you dying of stupidity.”
I huff a laugh and pain ricochets through me, forcing me to lock my jaw to keep a gasp inside.
“Told you so. And you’re bleeding all over the fucking floor.”
“Come here,” I rasp. He steps toward me and as soon as he’s close enough, I reach out. My fingers curl around the nape of his neck and I drag him into me. His hands fall to my waist as I slant my mouth over his.
He stiffens before sagging into me, my tongue thrusting into his mouth as his nails dig into my skin. The way he tastes, a moan moving from me into him. He swallows it and leans into me further before I pull back, his lips smeared with my blood, and fuck, I like it.
The way he looks covered in me.
His tongue sneaks out and wets his lips, making me want to do it again, but he just grabs onto my arm and pulls me toward the hallway.
“Don’t fucking kiss me again. Asshole. ”
“You fucking loved it,” I say, adjusting my hard dick.
Seems I liked the kiss, too.
“Get in the shower,” he grumbles, and I watch as he leans forward to turn on the water, his shirt pulling up slightly, showing off a sliver of his back. He reaches in and cups a handful of water before splashing his mouth with it, ridding himself of me.
I cock my head, unable to move my eyes from him as he straightens and meets my stare.
“Get the fuck in.”
I don’t move. I just stand there until he starts to undress me. His fingers skirt over my sensitive skin, and I shudder.
He can’t fucking stand it.
He can’t stand me.
I want nothing more than to push him onto his knees and watch my cock disappear down his throat.
It’s made worse when he kneels before me and helps me out of my shorts.
My fingers slide through his hair and tighten as my cock appears, right in front of his face.
Viktor glances up at me, his cheeks pink, his pupils dilated.
“Let go of me,” he grinds out, but I can’t. Don’t want to.
I jerk him toward me, and his mouth parts as the tip of my dick slides between his lips.
“Suck.”
He groans around me, his tongue sliding out and slipping across my slit. The sensation of it, the feeling of that warm, wet heat surrounding me.
I want more. I want it all.
I pull him harder and more of my dick slips between his lips. His eyes slash up to mine, and my nostrils flare as I fist his hair even tighter.
“Fuck,” I moan as I pull him forward and feel his nose brush against the skin of my groin. He swallows around me, his body going slack, his gaze growing hazy, and then I pull him off me, letting him breathe deeply before repeating it. I feel the wet suction around my cock, pulling me closer and closer to the edge with each thrust down his throat.
He’s loving it, his moans sinking into my skin and making my orgasm crawl higher and higher, to the point that I’m trembling with the need to come.
But then I hear it.
Someone in my house.
Viktor’s eyes flash back to reality, his body stiffening.
“Luca? Viktor?”
Fucking Doc. Has the worst timing.
“Oh shit. I didn’t—well, fuck, I didn’t know you were into men, Luca.”
I turn over my shoulder to see Doc grinning stupidly from the doorway.
“I’m not.”
Viktor pops off my dick and stands up, shoving me slightly.
“Get in the fucking shower. Doc can wait. You smell.”
My lips turn down at that as I glance down at my dick.
“I don’t fucking smell.”
He shoves at me once more, forcing me to stumble into the shower and wash haphazardly while Doc and Viktor talk in the doorway to the bathroom.
I don’t like that at all.
Doc is handsome and accomplished, and the way he looks at Vik…
“What the fuck are you two talking about?” I shout from my place in the shower.
They ignore me as I rinse the shampoo from my hair and finally step out, grabbing a towel and rubbing it across my skin as I make my way over to Vik, who looks a little too happy to be chatting with someone other than me.
Doc’s eyes meet mine, and I can almost feel the grin he’s hiding .
“Let’s get you checked out. Seems someone has been cage fighting.”
“Not cage fighting. Just bare-knuckle fighting…”
“On a cement floor with no protection in a fucking warehouse. It’s shady as fuck.”
Doc chuckles and then guides me to the bed. I sit down, the towel lying across my thighs as he grabs his bag and checks me over, bandaging the cut on my forehead with some tape and then placing some cream on my lip.
“Keep this clean. And yeah, you have signs of a concussion. Nothing too bad, but I’d keep an eye on him tonight, Viktor.”
“Fuck,” Vik mutters, and I like that he’s bothered by it, by me.
I want him to squirm. Against me. Beneath me.
My dick starts perking up and the towel tents. Doc notices, but says nothing as he stands up straight and packs his things away. Always the professional.
“Call me if you think things have taken a turn for the worse. He is in his forties. Not someone who should be out bare-knuckle fighting. And sex…well, maybe make sure he’s not too invigorated.”
Viktor doesn’t like that at all.
“I’m not having sex with him.”
Doc just pats him on the shoulder and nods. “No judgment here. You two take care.”
He nods and then disappears down the hallway, letting himself out of the house, leaving Viktor and me alone in the bedroom.
“Fuck. Why are you such an idiot?”
“I’m not an idiot. I’m your boss. Treat me with respect.”
“Yeah, and why don’t you treat me with respect?”
I lean back slightly, the towel slipping from my thighs, and Viktor’s eyes slide to my dick.
“You don’t want to be respected. You want to be owned. And who can own you, Vik?”
He wets his lips and I can see the bulge in his pants as he eyes me .
“Me. That’s who,” I answer when he doesn’t respond.
“Fine, asshole. I’ll stay, but I’ll sleep on the floor. I’m not sucking your dick again. That was a mistake.”
I lean back even further and then tug the comforter back. “Get the fuck in bed, Vik. And check the ceiling for spiders while you’re horizontal.”
He grinds his teeth but does as I say, clearing the room of any of those infernal arachnids before kicking his pants off, revealing the sexiest pair of panties, and sliding beneath the covers.
“Just stay away from me.”
I let out a chuckle as my eyes close, envisioning the ways I could rip that delicate piece of fabric from his ass. “I’ll stay away, but guess who will come crawling back to me?”
He doesn’t answer, but I can feel his breathing pick up.
“You. You’ll come crawling back. That’s who.”