Chapter 13
Seven had a night of dreamless sleep and a morning of mind-blowing sex, followed by a very handsy shower and breakfast made by his gorgeous half-dressed, heavily-tattooed boyfriend.
It should have been a perfect morning and, on some level, it was.
But every time he found himself basking in his happiness, guilt stabbed him in the heart.
His mother. How could he be happy with this sword swinging over her head?
It wasn’t fair that Seven was getting all the things he’d ever dreamed of while his mother—the person who’d sacrificed everything for him—was suffering.
Who was doing this to her? And why? Why her?
She’d dedicated her life to that place. She wasn’t a thief. It just didn’t make any sense.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Enzo said, coming up behind Seven and wrapping his arms around him. “I’m not gonna let your mom go to jail.” Seven could hear the smile in his voice when he tacked on, “My mom would kill me.”
Of all the things that made Enzo Seven’s perfect match, it was that they were both unrepentant mamas’ boys.
And—thankfully—both their mothers liked each other.
Growing up, his mother had the occasional friend, but nobody who stuck around.
Once they found out who Seven’s father was, or that Neith was constantly being sucked back into his orbit, they bailed.
But now, she had Enzo’s family…including Rocco? Enzo wanted his mom to be happy above almost anything, but the idea of her becoming a Conti before he did made him a little jealous. Did that make him a bad person?
“You believe me, don’t you?” Enzo asked, pressing the words into the skin just behind his ear.
Seven smiled, leaning back against him. “Of course, I do. It’s just…scary. Who would do this? She’s such a good person.” Finally, he gave voice to the thought that he didn’t want to utter out loud. “You don’t think my dad could have some part in this, do you?”
“You think your dad would set her up? I thought they…got along,” he said hesitantly.
Seven huffed. That was one way to put it. “If he heard she was dating your uncle, he might retaliate. Or maybe he did it to hurt me.”
That thought had teeth, sinking into his heart.
Did his father hate him enough to take his mother from him out of spite?
He couldn’t stop thinking about their last phone call.
His sperm donor had called him a disappointment.
A mistake. It wasn’t the first time his father had lashed out when he refused to put money on his books or provide bail money, but the venom in his voice had been… noteworthy.
“I don’t think this has anything to do with Stan. Logically, I think someone promoted your mother as a set-up to cover their own crimes. But that’s just a hunch. I’ll know more once we dig a little deeper. But I’m gonna take care of it.”
Seven’s breath caught at the swell of emotion that washed over him.
Enzo was truly the sweetest man he had ever met.
It was hard to believe how they’d started months ago.
Seven believed, deep down in his soul, that Enzo would do whatever it took to make sure his mother never set foot in another prison cell, legalities be damned.
“Let’s get dressed. It’s gonna be a long day,” Enzo said, dropping another kiss on his bare shoulder before he turned them both, leading them back towards the stairs to his bedroom.
“Did they drop off my clothes while I was sleeping?” Seven asked, frowning as he glanced back down at the apartment, looking for a suitcase he might have missed.
“No. Jericho said it was impossible to get to your apartment with all the reporters camped out. I called in a favor while you were sleeping last night. Some things were dropped off while you were still drooling on my shoulder.”
Seven narrowed his eyes. “Called in a favor?” he repeated slowly. “From who?”
Enzo smirked. “I know a guy.”
“You know a guy?” he parroted.
How had he missed Enzo getting out of bed last night to retrieve clothes from some mysterious clothing fairy?
“Are you going to keep repeating everything I say?” Enzo teased, chucking him under the chin.
“Are you going to start making sense soon?”
“I have a guy in men’s fashion. He was nice enough to let me buy from him directly.”
“You talk like a mob boss,” Seven mused, unable to hide his smile.
“Why? ‘Cause I’m Italian?” Enzo asked, a slow grin sliding across his face. “That’s offensive.”
“The Italians didn’t corner the market on the mob, you know,” Seven reminded him. “You guys just got cooler movies.”
Enzo walked to the closet and pulled out a shopping bag, handing it to him. Seven tugged each piece of clothing from the plain white paper bag, laying them out on the bed, staring at the tags with wide eyes.
Seven turned back to Enzo, giving him a suspicious look. “This is the clothing your friend rushed over to you? As a favor?”
“You don’t like them?” Enzo asked, face falling.
Seven made an exasperated noise. “It’s not about whether I like them or not. This is too much.” He grabbed the sleeve of the navy, red, and white sweater. “This is Gucci, Enzo. These jeans are Balmain. Balmain!”
“And the sneakers are Balenciaga,” Enzo said, looking adorably confused as he stared at the clunky white footwear.
“I know the shoes are a little weird, but it’s couture.
It’s all a little weird. He works in the warehouse so we had to go with what they had in your size.
We can go shopping tonight and you can find stuff more your style. This is just for work.”
“More my style?” Seven said, shaking his head. “My style is Goodwill. My style is Felix’s hand-me-downs and samples. I know I wear name brands at work, but that’s because Felix lent me the clothes he won’t wear anymore because they’re ‘last season.’”
Enzo crossed the room, wrapping his arms around him and drawing him in. Seven wanted to fight, but his body instantly melted.
“We’ll consider that part of your dowry, too,” he teased.
“I know you’ll get the money back when my mom shows up in court, but you’re spoiling me. This is thousands of dollars.”
Enzo buried his face in his neck, words muffled against his skin. “I make a lot of money. If I want to spend it on you, why can’t I? Spoiling you makes me happy. Especially considering how we started. It’s going to take me a lifetime to make up for hurting you as badly as I did.”
Enzo’s lips moved against his neck as he spoke, raising goosebumps along Seven’s arms. He was going to get addicted to this—the way Enzo whispered his cheesiest, sweetest lines directly into Seven’s skin like he was embarrassed.
He wrapped his arms around Enzo’s broad shoulders, then ran a hand up into his thick, dark hair, tugging him from his hiding space.
“You already apologized. You’ve made it up to me dozens of times,” Seven reminded. “You don’t have to buy me. I’m already yours.”
“I’m not buying you,” Enzo said, looking crestfallen. “Is that what it feels like?”
For a second, Seven’s lungs forgot how to work. He didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “No, I just don’t want people thinking that our relationship is…transactional.”
Maybe he wasn’t over the contract. Maybe—just a little—Seven worried that they’d somehow ended up exactly as Enzo had intended. Enzo giving, Seven taking. But that wasn’t true. They were always together. Enzo put him first. He’d dropped everything to take care of Neith.
“There’s nothing transactional about us. I make a lot of money. A shocking amount, really.” His gaze dropped to Seven’s lips. “I want to be the one—the only one—who gives you what you need,” he murmured, his voice low and raw, sending Seven’s blood rushing south. “In all the ways.”
“Don’t you dare get me all worked up right before we’re supposed to leave,” Seven warned.
Enzo’s hands dropped to squeeze his ass. “What if I can’t help myself?” he asked, his mouth only a breath away from Seven’s.
Seven didn’t have time to answer before Enzo captured his lips. He sighed into it, lips parting without thought, and Enzo’s tongue dipped inside, teasing against his own. He couldn’t stop the whine that escaped, or his fingers from tightening in the older man’s hair.
Seven had no idea how long they stood there, kissing lazily. Whenever Enzo broke the kiss, Seven chased his lips, not ready to leave their bubble.
Finally, Enzo dragged himself away, both of them half-hard and breathing a little heavier. “Let’s get dressed before I drag you to bed. Lourdes is demanding to see me before work.”
“Fine,” Seven said, dejected.
Enzo’s head swooped down, and he nipped Seven’s lower lip hard enough to make him yelp. “Don’t make that face at me. You won’t like what happens next.”
Seven gazed up at him, hoping his look told him just how much he wanted that. “If I promise to behave, can I still be punished?” he asked.
Enzo’s demeanor changed immediately, one brow raising as his hand closed around Seven’s throat gently, his thumb teasing over his pulse. “Don’t let your mouth write a check that cute little ass can’t cash. I’ve been dying to put you over my knee.”
Awareness thrummed through Seven. He was desperate to see what happened if he pushed Enzo too far. He wanted to be punished, wanted to see him snap.
He shrugged, giving him his best innocent look. “I only do it because I love how you react…Daddy.”
Enzo squeezed just enough to make Seven feel a little light-headed. “You’re awfully smug. Let’s see what you sound like later when your ass is bright red and you’re choking on your own tears.”
“I’d rather choke on your cock,” Seven countered, breathless.
“Oh, don’t worry, brat. I have no doubt you’ll be doing both.” Enzo released him, giving him a gentle shove back. “Now, get dressed.”
Seven smiled at Enzo’s broad back, pulling his clothes on as he watched Enzo do the same. His teeth pressed indentations into his bottom lip, right where Enzo had bitten him, as he watched him get dressed.