16. Santiago
SANTIAGO
Feeling someone pressing down on me, I opened my eyes to see pale skin glinting like diamonds under the moonlight.
My breath caught, and my cock hardened, already bursting with need, precum soaking the tip.
The man straddling my lap noticed, a devilish smile spreading across his plump lips as he leaned forward.
Now, with said lips a breath away, I swallowed my spit, aching to have a taste.
His hand slipped down my body, traveling along my skin like a coiling snake before wrapping itself around my hard cock.
I stifled a moan, my body submitting to the pleasure as he began moving his fist in slow strokes.
And when he applied more force, gripping me until it hurt, my balls tightened, and I bucked my hips off the bed, imagining I was thrusting into his hole—
“Down, boy.”
Two little words, and I was put under a spell, one that drained me of all reasonable thought.
With my heart pounding in my ears and my cock bursting with the need to come, I was losing my mind, unable to tell between right and wrong, until he moved his hand to wrap it around my throat.
His fingers dug into my flesh with brutal force, cutting off air from my lungs, and yet, my cock was getting harder.
So hard it became untamable, and as he continued choking me, I thrust my hips, begging for relief.
He chuckled, the familiar sound dancing on my nerves like drops of venom, turning my muscles rigid as if I were bitten by a serpent.
A delicious ache slowly spread through me, settling in my cock.
Feeling I was about to come, I gritted my teeth, not caring I was unable to breathe, when the roar of a motorcycle jolted me awake, and I snapped my eyes open.
Heaving and sweating like a pig, I sat up on my bed, my mattress soaked with sweat.
I was hung between reality and a nightmare when that same roaring sound cut through the air again.
Still in a haze, I turned aside and glanced through the blinds at the street.
It was the middle of the night, and not a soul was out there, and yet, I could still hear the distant sound of a bike’s engine.
“Fuck,” I sighed, rubbing my face with my palms.
I’m losing it.
Feeling like something had died in my throat, I got up and walked over to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Snatching the first thing I found—a coffee mug—I opened the tap and started to fill it when I noticed my hand was fucking shaking.
Shit.
Angry, I put the mug aside, then filled my palms with water and splashed it on my face.
That whole Ariyan shit was messing with my head to the point I couldn’t even sleep now?
Was him haunting me at work not bad enough?
Now I had to dream about him, too? And what the fuck did I even dream of?
Being choked? I truly was losing my mind—
“Santi?”
I glanced behind me to see Nacio standing at the entrance to the kitchen, face puffy from sleep and eyes half-closed. Somehow, it reminded me of the time he was a little kid and ran to my room after having a bad dream.
“Did I wake you?” I asked after turning off the tap.
He shook his head. “Nah, Tess sent me to bring her water.”
So she’s here… Honestly, I was too tired to even tell him off about it and instead moved from the sink to make room for him.
“Why’re you up?”
Not about to tell him I’d just dreamed about my psycho boss choking me, I said, “Couldn’t sleep.”
He hummed in response and filled the same mug I’d left on the sink.
Watching him as he did reminded me once again why I kept up with this shit to begin with. If not for Nacio, I wouldn’t give a second thought about going back to prison. But knowing I had to fight so that he’d have a better future, I’d swallow whatever Ariyan tossed at me.
“Hey.”
“What is it?” he asked, turning to look at me with that sleepy expression.
Putting a hand on his shoulder, I pulled him close. “You’re not getting into trouble, are you?”
A juvenile smile spread on his lips. “You bet.”
I planted a kiss on the top of his head, only for him to complain I’d make him spill the water. Getting the message, I let him go.
“Aren’t you going back to bed?” he asked, and I shook my head.
“Think I’ll go for a run.”
“For real? It’s like, three in the fuckin’ morning.”
I nodded when he yawned.
“Whatever, just don’t get lost or something.”
After my brother went back to his room, I got ready and left the house.
The night air felt nice, refreshing, and just what I needed to clear my mind.
Putting my headphones on, I started running, getting lost in the music and sport.
Passing by the different streets, I got a glimpse of the nightlife I used to live.
Booze, drugs, sex, violence, it was all there—the very things I knew to stay away from, yet never did, as I was never smart enough to listen to my own advice.
But it wasn’t always like that. I remembered being a happy kid until Mom died, and until he decided to give up on us.
On himself. Without noticing, my legs carried me to the old gym, the one he’d once owned.
With the music still playing in my headphones, I paused in front of the now closed door and stared at it.
Growing up, my dad was my hero. Now, he was a drunk buried six feet under.
A drunk who died like the biggest loser on Earth, in his own piss and blood while I was—
Catching movement in the corner of my eye, I turned aside.
Seeing nothing, I held still for a second before I took my headphones off and stepped closer, focusing on the end of the alley.
My heart rate increased as I slowly approached, fists already clenched together and ready to fight, when a stray cat jumped from between the trash cans.
Shit.
Watching it running away and disappearing into the night, I sighed and brushed a hand over my sweaty face.
I was getting paranoid over nothing, first imagining motorcycle sounds and now feeling like I was being watched.
Somehow, I ended up feeling even worse than earlier, and in need of a shower, I started to run my way back home.
Reaching my street, I switched to walking and took out my headphones, shoving them into my pocket.
The sun would rise soon, meaning I’d have to get ready for work.
Just as the depressing thought crossed my mind, the sound of a car made me turn around.
It stopped right before me, its headlights blinding me completely.
“The fuck?” I hissed, placing my hand in front of me and squinting to get a proper look. The blue and white lightbar on top of the car made me grit my teeth just as someone got out of the passenger side and shut the door behind them.
“Gabriel?” I said, slowly lowering my hand after he stepped toward me and I recognized his face.
“Hey.”
“Hey?” I frowned. “The hell are you doing here?”
“Cortez was just dropping me off after our night shift,” he said, pointing with his thumb at the other officer, who stayed in the car.
“Why?” I hissed, irritated. “You don’t live here anymore.”
Before he could answer me, the car rolled forward, stopping beside us as the other officer lowered the passenger window.
“You all good?” he asked when Gabriel bent down a bit to shoot him a friendly smile.
“Yeah. Thanks for the ride home. See you tomorrow.” He tapped the side of the car.
Before the other officer drove off, I noticed the son of a bitch scanned me.
Fucker.
But I did the same, taking notice of his facial features. It was always good to remember people’s faces around here. Once we were left alone, Gabriel stepped closer, looking too damn happy for someone who just pulled an all-nighter.
“Since when do you jog?”
“Since I’m out of prison,” I answered flatly, patience running low. “Now, tell me, why are you here?”
“I’m staying here with Mom and my sisters while my dad’s out for work.” His old man was a long-haul truck driver. “They’re scared after those two guys were murdered at the beginning of the month.”
He’s talking about Ace and Ricky.
“Did you catch the person who did it?” I asked, trying not to sound too interested.
He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. At least, not yet.”
“Nacio said it was a drug deal gone wrong.”
He clicked his tongue, catching my attention.
“You don’t think it is?”
Looking me straight in the eyes, he shrugged.
“Honestly, no, not really. You see, the scene was clean. One got a bullet to the back of the head, while the other got one right between the eyes. They were both carrying, too, and yet it didn’t seem like they had time to pull out their guns.
So, if you ask me, I bet it was done by a professional. ”
A professional?
My brows creased because… why? Who would waste a hit on those two losers?
“But honestly, the men in the station couldn’t give two shits about scum like those guys, so I won’t be surprised if the case is dropped soon.”
Really? Just like that? Two men were shot dead in the middle of the street, and the police didn’t care enough to go after whoever did it?
“You knew them, didn’t you?”
I frowned at him. “Why? Think I had something to do with it?”
Placing both of his hands before him in a mock surrender, he chuckled. “Of course not. Besides, Nacio told me you were at work when it happened.”
My brows drew together. “So you did ask about me.”
“Only because I was worried,” he was quick to clarify while stepping closer. “Your name came up, so I had to make sure you were clear. Don’t worry, you’re off the hook. I took care of it.”
I narrowed my eyes because, “What do you mean?”
“After speaking with Nacio, I went over to your workplace and got the CCTV footage. I wanted to have it just in case someone brought your name up again.”
And while I knew that from everything he’d just said, what I needed to care about was my name coming up on a double homicide case, the first thing that worried me was him going to the hotel because—
“Did you speak to anyone in the hotel?”
He nodded, then crossed his arms. “Yeah. Your manager was actually very eager to help. He’s a nice guy, a bit too good-looking to be working in that field, if you ask me. When I think about it, I can’t remember his name—”
“It doesn’t matter,” I cut into his words, and he scowled.
“Just stay out of my business.” I sounded hostile on purpose because Gabriel needed to stay the fuck away from that crazy bastard.
If Ariyan found out we had a history, who knew what he’d do.
“Anyway, I have to take a shower. See you later.”
“Santiago.” He grabbed my arm, keeping me close. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I was just worried.”
My eyes moved to his hand that held on to me before going up to meet his concerned stare.
“Like I said, we’re not together anymore, so you’ve got no reason to be.”
He slowly dropped his hand from me, yet didn’t look away.
“I’ll always care for you.”
“That’s your problem.” I scoffed. “I have to go get ready for work—”
“You’re still at the hotel?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sadly.”
“What?”
I quickly shook my head, not about to get into it. “Listen, thanks for watching my back and all, but stay away from my work from now on, okay?”
Holding my stare, he nodded. “Yeah, sure. Of course.”
Just like always, he was too nice for his own damn good.
Forcing a smile, I turned and started walking away when he called my name.
“What is it?” I asked, half turning to look at him.
“My offer still stands, by the way. For Cubanos.” Two dimples showed on each side of his smile. “In case you change your mind.”
That made me huff.
“Give up, Gabriel.”
“You’ll see. Eventually, you’ll say yes.”
Somehow, his persistence brought a small smile to my lips.
“In your dreams.”
In the most surprising way, Gabriel, of all people, made me forget about my dream. Or so I thought, until I walked out of the shower to see I’d gotten a text.
Ariyan
I need you to pick up some things for me before work. Be sure to be at this address before 10 am.
Typing the address he sent into my maps app, I cursed the motherfucker because it was some stupid warehouse in the middle of fucking nowhere, and getting there by bus would take me forever. And when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, he sent me another text.
Ariyan
And be a good boy and wear your name tag properly.