FALLING FOR THE WRONG BROTHER: THIRTY DAYS IN HELL

1.

Luca Mariani POV

"Another round?" I asked, leaning over the bar, nudging the guy beside me as I flagged down the bartender walking past.

He grinned, showing a neat row of teeth. "You never stop, Luca, do you?"

I smirked, tossing a glance around the room. Party neon lights flickered, washing everything in shades of blue and purple. Smoke hung in the air, scented with cologne and cheap whiskey.

"Stop? Darling, that would require me to stop breathing," I said, tapping my glass. The ice clinked, matching the beat of the music.

"Get your hands off me!" A voice came from the far end where bodies were swirling around pressed close on the dance floor. Every inch of the place pulsed with movement, laughter and then the occasional shout of hype.

He rolled his eyes, leaning close. Typical, just like always. My hand slid to his waist, pulling him closer as he laughed against my neck.

"You're always gonna be a bad boy,’ He said with a chuckle, leaning in to give me a kiss.

I was good at this. The smiles, charm and my smooth words. A wink here and a brush there; guys never resisted for long. Though I never kept it serious or lasting because that was the beauty of it.

My gaze drifted across the club, catching a dozen sets of eyes drawn to me. I'm sure they wanted the same. I loved it. From the energy to the power. Then the way gazes lingered a little too long.

"Damn!" I exclaimed in my mind. "I love it."

And then I saw him.

Sitting alone in the corner, dark wavy hair falling messily over his forehead. He wore a rumpled white dress shirt, collar open, sleeves shoved to his elbows and a face that looked haunted yet striking. His full lips parted slightly as he stared into his half-empty glass.

I shifted in my seat, something stirring low in my gut that I didn't immediately have a name for.

"Damn. He's…"

I managed to cut the thought off before it finished.

However, I couldn't help but notice the sharp line of his jaw, the way his throat moved when he swallowed, the subtle tension coiled in his shoulders like a man holding himself together with every piece of courage in him. I couldn't look away as I wondered what had brought him here, looking like he was carrying the weight of the world.

I don't even know why I noticed him because I normally don't notice people so I shook my head slightly and looked away, reaching for my drink. "Not again."

Then, a group of three guys approached him.

"Hey gorgeous!" I lip read buzzcut, thier leader's mouth as he leaned in too close, his hand brushing the charming guy’s arm.

Immediately, my jaw tightened. He shook his head and I couldn't make out anything he said but they didn't back off. Things started looking serious when one grabbed his wrist, pulling him toward the dance floor.

His eyes flashed with anger and fear as he shouted words I couldn't hear before he yanked free, snatching a bottle from the bar. Next, it shattered against Buzzcut's head with a sharp crack, the glass scattering across the sticky floor.

"Ooh. Alright then." I smiled before realising I should probably do something.

The others lunged. I was on my feet before I thought twice about it, weaving through the crowd. I slammed into the first guy, my fist connecting with his jaw in a solid thud that sent him sprawling into a table.

"Back off," Buzzcut snarled as bottles toppled with liquid splashed everywhere and screams pierced the music. The second guy swung wildly and I ducked, driving my elbow into his gut while the whoosh sound of air expelled. The third bolted for the door, but I tripped him with a swift kick, pinning him down with a knee.

"Back the hell off," I snarled, voice cutting through the chaos with authority.

The bouncers were closing in now, so the guys scrambled away, cursing under their breaths. I straightened in relief and turned to him. He stood there, breathing hard, a few shards of glass crunching under his shoes. Then his eyes met mine; wide, grateful, a mix of adrenaline and something deeper.

"You okay?" I asked, extending a hand. His skin was flushed.

Up close, he smelled like cedar and something faintly expensive.

He nodded, taking my hand. His grip was firm and warm. "Yeah. Thanks a lot. I'm Alessandro."

"Luca." I guided him toward the exit, the cool night air hitting us as we stepped into the alley. My black sedan waited at the curb, engine still warm from the drive over. "Let me give you a ride home. Can't leave you here after that mess."

Alessandro hesitated, then slid into the passenger seat, buckling up with shaky fingers. I started the car, pulling onto the quiet side street with the city lights blurring past. Silence stretched, broken only by the hum of tires on wet asphalt. He stared out the window, arms wrapped around himself. I kept my eyes on the road.

Finally, he spoke. His voice was soft but steady. "I wasn't that drunk, you know. Just... needed to forget."

He paused again, his fingers twisting the hem of his shirt. "Went to my fiancé's place tonight. Nico. It's his birthday, and our wedding's in two days—" I exhaled sharply at the revelation.

"I planned a surprise for just us, private. I made cupcakes, there were lights, the whole thing. But when I got there..." He was already sniffling.

I glanced over, keeping my eyes on the road but listening hard as his words tumbled out.

"The door was unlocked. I heard noises… soft moans actually, then thuds. Thought maybe he had the TV on. But when I pushed the bedroom door open, there he was."

"With a woman. On our bed, fucking like animals. He was thrusting into her so hard the headboard banged the wall, her legs were locked around him, screaming his name."

"And he just… he just kept going. He didn't stop or notice my presence until the cupcakes hit the floor."

His voice cracked on the last word. My hands gripped the wheel tighter as I pulled over into a deserted lot behind a row of shuttered shops.

"Jesus, Alessandro. That's... I'm sorry."

He turned to me, eyes glistening and the dam broke. Tears spilled down his cheeks, silent at first, then wrenching sobs that shook his whole body. I quickly unbuckled, reaching over to pull him into a hug across the console. He buried his face in my shoulder, his warmth seeping through my shirt while his hands clutched my back.

"It's okay," I murmured, one arm around him, the other resting at his back. "Let it out."

"It's gonna be alright."

In the shift, his hand slipped lower, accidentally brushing against the front of my jeans. I froze.

*What the—*

My body responded before my brain caught up, a heat I hadn't expected and couldn't immediately explain. I'd been wound up since the club; the fight, the adrenaline, the strange pull I'd felt since I first noticed him and now…

“Shit. Shit.”

Something stirred unmistakably. I stiffened, jaw locking, staring straight ahead.

"Luca—" His voice cracked as he gasped, pulling back sharply, eyes wide as his gaze dropped.