Chapter 21
Farewell
The Moretti estate in New York was quieter than it had been in weeks. The chaos of the cartel conflict had finally subsided, and the family’s power was more consolidated than ever. Yet for Luca, the victory felt hollow. His mind was elsewhere, focused on the difficult conversation he needed to have with his brothers; a conversation he’d been dreading, but knew couldn’t wait any longer.
He found Enzo and Matteo in the study, the room bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. Enzo was seated behind the massive oak desk, his sharp eyes scanning a stack of documents, while Matteo lounged in one of the leather armchairs, a glass of whiskey in hand. They both looked up as Luca entered, their expressions shifting from curiosity to concern as they took in the tension in his posture.
Luca closed the door behind him, his chest tightening with each step he took across the room. He paused, standing in front of the desk, his hands clenched at his sides. “I need to talk to you both,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil rising in his stomach.
"Sure. About what?" Enzo asked.
“About my future.”
Enzo set down the papers he’d been holding, his gaze sharp and unwavering. Matteo straightened in his chair, the casual ease in his posture replaced by a rare seriousness. They exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them, before Enzo gestured to the empty chair across from him. “Sit,” he said.
Luca hesitated for a moment, his mind racing, before lowering himself into the chair. He took a deep breath, his eyes flicking between his brothers. “I’ve made a decision,” he began, his voice low but resolute. “I’m... I'm leaving the business. Caleb and I… we’re going to start a new life. Somewhere far from here.”
The room fell into an unnerving silence. The weight of Luca’s words hung heavy in the air. Enzo’s expression remained unreadable, his fingers steepled in front of him as he studied Luca with a keen, almost calculating look. Matteo leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his brow furrowed in disbelief.
“Leaving?” Matteo broke the silence, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern. “Luca, where would you even go, this is your home. We’re your family.”
“I know,” Luca said quickly, his chest tightening at the hurt that flashed in Matteo’s eyes. “And you always will be. But I can’t keep living like this. Not after everything that’s happened. Not after almost losing him.” He exhaled, steadying himself before he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s not just about Caleb. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, long before he ever came back into my life. I just never had the courage to admit it to myself. I wanted out, but I didn’t know how to walk away. I didn’t know if I even could.” He swallowed, his jaw tightening. “But I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want this life.”
Enzo was silent for a long moment, his gaze unrelenting as he searched Luca’s face. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, his expression softening ever so slightly. “Luca,” he said, his voice calm but thick with an undercurrent of emotion. “You’re my brother. My blood. And no matter where you go, or what you choose to do, you’ll always have a place here. Always.”
Luca’s breath hitched, his eyes snapping up to meet Enzo’s. The sincerity in his brother’s voice, the raw affection that shone through, was almost too much to bear. “Enzo…” he began, but Enzo raised a hand, silencing him before he could say more.
“You’ve given everything to this family,” Enzo continued, his tone steady but filled with an undeniable warmth. “Your loyalty, your blood, your life. If this is what you need to find peace, then you have my blessing. And my support.”
Matteo, his usual smirk absent, gave a slow nod. His voice when it came, was quieter than usual, touched with an uncharacteristic tenderness. “Enzo’s right,” he said. “You’re our little brother, Luca. And we want you to be happy. Even if that means you’re not here with us.”
The weight of their words landed heavily on Luca’s chest. A sudden rush of emotion surged through him, and he felt the sting of tears in his eyes. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed to hear those words; how much he’d feared their rejection. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “Both of you. I don’t know what to say.”
Enzo rose from his chair, rounding the desk to stand before Luca. He placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm, yet reassuring. “You don’t have to say anything,” he said, his voice low but warm. “Just know that we’re here for you.”
Matteo stepped in, clapping Luca on the back before pulling him into a rough embrace. “You’re not getting rid of us that easily,” he said, his voice teasing but laced with affection. “We’ll visit. And you better keep in touch, or I’ll hunt you down myself.”
Luca laughed; the sound wet with unshed tears as he hugged Matteo back. “I will,” he promised, his voice thick. “I’ll call every week. And you’re always welcome wherever we end up.”
Enzo pulled back, his hand still resting on Luca’s shoulder, his tone shifting to something more businesslike despite the softness in his eyes. “Speaking of which,” he said, “What about the vacation home at Lake Como? It’s yours. Consider it a gift.”
Luca blinked, taken aback by the offer. “Enzo, I can’t...”
“You can,” Enzo interrupted, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. “And you will. It’s a perfect place to start over. Quiet, beautiful, far from all of this.” He made a vague gesture to the room around them, to the life they’d all built together. “And I’ll set up a trust for you. Enough to start a legitimate business if that’s what you want. Something that’s yours.”
Luca’s throat tightened, his mind racing. “Enzo, I don’t know what to say,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “This is... too much.”
Enzo shook his head, squeezing Luca’s shoulder. “It’s not nearly enough,” he said, his tone firm but warm with brotherly love. “You’re my brother, Luca. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re happy.”
Luca nodded, the tears finally slipping free. He reached for Enzo, pulling him into a tight embrace. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “For everything.”
Enzo held him just as tightly, his grip steady and strong. “Shut up,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
When they finally pulled apart, Matteo was grinning, though his eyes were suspiciously bright. “Well,” he said, giving Luca another firm clap on the back, “looks like you’re officially retiring. Don’t get too comfortable, though. You’re still a Moretti. And we’re not exactly known for staying out of trouble.”
Luca laughed, the sound genuine and full of relief. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, his heart lighter than it had been in years.
???
Caleb stood in the heart of his Brooklyn apartment, adrift in a sea of half-filled boxes and the remnants of his life. The late afternoon sunlight slanted through the windows, gilding the dust motes in the air, but he barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere, caught in the relentless churn of the past two months; a reel of moments flickering too fast to grasp.
It was staggering, how swiftly everything had collapsed. His career, his purpose, the foundation he’d spent years constructing; it had all crumbled in the space of days. And now, here he was, boxing up the remains, standing at the threshold of the unknown.
His hands found a framed photograph, its glass cool beneath his fingertips. A younger version of himself stared back, caught in a moment of camaraderie with colleagues who had once felt like family. The memory of his final meeting with his former boss resurfaced, sharp-edged and hollow.
The conversation had been clipped, polite; stripped of anything resembling warmth. His name had been cleared, the stain of accusation erased, but the wounds beneath still ached. He had placed his resignation on the desk without hesitation, his voice measured, even as emotions warred within him; relief, anger, and something unexpected, something frighteningly weightless. Freedom.
He exhaled and set the photo in a box labeled donate , his fingers lingering on the frame before releasing it. The betrayal still festered beneath his ribs, a wound slower to scar over than the actual wound in his abdomen. He had given everything to the DEA, to the pursuit of justice, only to be discarded by the very institution he had sworn loyalty to. The thought of returning, of slipping back into a world where trust was a fragile illusion, made his stomach tighten.
He had meant what he told Luca that day in the garden; he was done. No more chasing ghosts. No more waiting for the inevitable knife in the back.
Yet, as he sealed the box with a strip of tape, he recognized that the weight in his chest wasn’t solely grief. There was something else now, something lighter, something unfamiliar. Possibility . The kind that only comes when you let go of what no longer serves you. He had spent years convincing himself that this was the life he wanted, that contentment was enough. But here, in the quiet hush of a nearly empty apartment, he could finally face the truth: he had never truly been happy. Not until Luca had walked back into his life, shattering every illusion he had clung to.
Caleb’s thoughts drifted to Luca, to the way he had looked at him when he had said yes; to leaving, to starting over. The memory ghosted a smile across his lips, though uncertainty lurked at its edges. This was uncharted territory, a path without a map. He didn’t know what lay ahead, not really. But he knew one thing: he was ready to find out.
He was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear the door open, didn’t register the quiet approach of footsteps. It wasn’t until strong arms slid around his waist, pulling him back against a familiar chest, that he startled.
A breath caught in his throat, until the scent of Luca’s cologne wrapped around him like a tether, grounding him in an instant. He exhaled, tension melting, and leaned back into the warmth of the man who had changed everything.
“You okay?” Luca asks him quietly, his nose buried in the side of Caleb’s neck.
Instead of answering, Caleb turned in Luca’s arms, and suddenly the world outside seemed to dissolve. The boxes, the memories, the weight of everything he’d been carrying; it all faded into the background, leaving only Luca. His hands slid up Luca’s chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as he pulled him closer, their lips meeting in a kiss that was both desperate and tender.
At first, it was soft, almost tentative, as though they were relearning each other. Luca’s lips moved against Caleb’s with a gentle urgency, his hands sliding up Caleb’s back to cradle him closer. But then Caleb deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing against Luca’s lower lip, and something shifted.
The kiss grew harder, more insistent, fueled by weeks of pent-up emotion and the unspoken fear of losing each other. Caleb’s hands fisted in Luca’s shirt, pulling him impossibly closer, as if he could erase the space between them entirely.
Luca responded in kind, his hands sliding down to grip Caleb’s hips, his fingers digging into the fabric of Caleb’s jeans. A low groan escaped him, the sound vibrating against Caleb’s lips, and Caleb felt it like a spark igniting something deep within him.
He pushed forward, his body pressing against Luca’s as he guided them toward the nearest wall. Luca’s back hit the surface with a soft thud, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned into it, his hands moving to Caleb’s waist as he let Caleb take control.
Caleb crowded him against the wall, his body flush against Luca’s, their chests rising and falling in sync as the kiss grew more heated. Luca’s hands slid under Caleb’s shirt, his palms warm against the skin as they roamed over his back, his sides, his hips. Caleb shivered at the touch, his own hands moving to Luca’s belt, fingers fumbling with the buckle as he tried to pull him even closer.
Their bodies moved together, a rhythm born of instinct and need. Caleb’s hips pressed forward, grinding against Luca’s, and the friction drew a sharp gasp from both of them. Luca’s hands tightened on Caleb’s hips, his fingers digging in as he rocked against him, the heat between them building with every movement.
Caleb’s breath came in ragged gasps, his forehead resting against Luca’s as he struggled to keep his thoughts from spiraling. All he could focus on was the feel of Luca against him, the way their bodies fit together like they were made for this, for each other.
Luca’s lips trailed down Caleb’s jaw, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of his neck before he sucked lightly, drawing a moan from Caleb that seemed to echo in the quiet of the apartment. Caleb’s hands slid under Luca’s shirt, his fingers splaying across the warm skin of his back as he pulled him closer, their bodies moving together in a rhythm that was as natural as breathing.
The friction between them grew almost unbearable, every movement sending sparks of pleasure through Caleb’s body. He could feel Luca’s heartbeat against his chest, rapid and steady, a reminder that this was real, that they were here, together. Luca’s hands moved to Caleb’s face, his thumbs brushing over his cheeks as he pulled back just enough to look into Caleb’s eyes.
“Caleb,” Luca whispered, his voice rough with desire but laced with something softer, something deeper. “Look at me.”
Caleb’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Luca’s gaze. The intensity there, the raw emotion, made his chest ache. He leaned in, capturing Luca’s lips in another kiss, this one slower, more deliberate, as if trying to convey everything he couldn’t put into words. Luca’s hands slid down to Caleb’s ass, guiding their movements as they pressed together, the heat between them building to a fever pitch.
“I need you.” Caleb murmured into the side of Luca’s neck as his hands slid between their bodies and started to unbutton his pants.
“Yes… yes…” Luca agreed, his voice almost desperate as his hands joined Caleb’s, unbuttoning his jeans and pushing them down his strong thighs.
Crazed with desire, Caleb grabbed Luca and spun him around, pressing him face first into the wall as he grabbed his hip with one hand while the other grabbed one of his asscheeks and then slapped it.
“Fuck!” Luca growled, his head hanging forward between his arms.
Caleb pressed his fingers into his mouth, sucking on them for a moment before pressing one into Luca’s ass with ease, the muscle still loose from the previous night.
“Jesus…” Luca moaned when Caleb started to finger-fuck him, his hands scrambling for purchase and his head thrown back into Caleb’s shoulder. He cursed low, guttural, as Caleb’s finger was joined by another, and then another, Luca’s hips moving in time with them.
“Please… I’m ready. Just fuck me.”
Caleb was quick to comply, his hand shaking as he pulled his fingers out and grabbed his leaking cock.
“Shit… you’re so tight.” Caleb cursed as he slid in, stopping only when his balls hit Luca’s ass. He paused then, their breathing ragged, choppy, Luca’s body trembling as Caleb’s arms wrapped around him and pulled him close.
“Move… Fuck me… fuck me…” Luca moaned.
And so Caleb did.
He pulled out slowly and then snapped back in, hard, unrelenting, over and over again, the man beneath him a moaning putty in his hands. His lips pressed into the side of Luca’s neck, kissing, licking, biting, the soft skin there, as one of his hands slid down Luca’s stomach and grabbed his leaking cock, pulling in time with his thrusts
When it finally came, the release was almost overwhelming, a wave of pleasure that left them both trembling. Caleb’s forehead rested against the back of Luca’s neck, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps as he tried to steady himself.
Luca’s arms slid from the wall, his knees buckling, as his body spasmed with release. Caleb held him through it all, his lips pressing against Luca’s temple, the kiss tender and reassuring.
For a long moment, they stayed like that, their bodies still pressed together, Caleb’s softening cock in Luca’s ass, their breaths slowly returning to normal. Caleb’s hands slid up Luca’s front, his fingers tracing the lines of muscle as he tried to ground himself in the moment. The world outside still existed, he knew that, but right now, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Luca, and the way he made Caleb feel; alive, wanted, loved.
“I’m okay,” Caleb whispered, finally answering the question, his voice soft but steady. “As long as I’m with you, I’m okay.”
Luca slowly turned, his arms wrapping around Caleb’s waist, as he pressed a kiss into the side of his mouth “Always,” he murmured, the word a promise.