ログイン*LEONARDO* I pulled up across the street and stared at the small restaurant.Jamin was inside. My nerves were shot to pieces. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this nervous in my entire life. My own words kept replaying in my head, sharp and ugly. *Why? Is it the money? You fucking gold digger.* *Ah, you just had to make things complicated. You were a good lay, though.* *I don’t need your love, Jamin. Love was never part of this arrangement.* *But you did. You forgot your place.* *Your debt is cleared. Pack your things and get out of my house.* *Don’t make this hard for yourself. I need you out of my house in ten minutes.* *ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF?!* *Respect yourself. Get your things and leave. Trust me… you don’t want me dragging you out of here.* I rested my forehead against the steering wheel, wanting to punch myself.Did I really have to say all of that?Fuck! I lifted my head again and looked through the glass. There he was.
*LEONARDO* “You never gave a fuck about me,” I reminded. Luca gasped. “I knew it! You… you acted so loyal, so obedient. You made me put my faith in you, put you in charge. But this was always some grand revenge plan, wasn’t it? Look, I know I may have done things you didn’t like, but they were all for…” “I never had a grand revenge plan against you,” I said. “That story exists more in your head than mine. I simply can’t stand the sight of you. You’re already living with the consequences of your own choices, and frankly, I don’t have time for you.” “This still doesn’t make any sense! You fought for years to reach this level. Why give it up?!” “I want to try being a little more ordinary.” “What does that even mean?!” “It means I want to chase only meaningful things from now on.” He stared at me like I had started speaking another language. “It’s as if you’re speaking in riddles. How is being CEO of King Group not meaningful?” “I’ve spent
*LEONARDO* “Did you get the pictures?” I asked as I settled into the back seat. Gary handed them over. I went through the images of a woman and three children. I had always drawn a line at making children pay for the sins of adults. That last scrap of restraint was gone now. Their father had pushed me past it. “I know you never stopped watching Jamin,” I said. “Thank you for that. But the security needs to be tighter. No slips. Not for a second. I still want him to be able to go about his day without realizing he’s being watched, so make sure he notices nothing. But there must be eyes on him around the clock.” Gary nodded. “After I step down, eliminate every possible threat except Julius. I’ll handle him myself.” “Understood.”I knew it wouldn’t be possible, or even easy, to take everyone down that quickly. But I had to keep Jamin safe, no matter what.****************** After the private signing over of the shares was concluded, I made my way to the
*LEONARDO* “I swore I wouldn’t come here again,” I heard the door opening, followed by footsteps.It was Vance. “But Betsy keeps calling me. You’re making that woman worry herself sick. Aren’t you a little old for this?”I did not answer. He looked at the clothes still tangled around me on the bed, and his voice dropped. “Wrapping yourself in his clothes isn’t going to solve anything.” He sat on the edge of the mattress. “I can’t smell him anymore, Vance,” I murmured. For a second, he just watched me. Then the frustration came back, sharper. “Will you stop torturing yourself like this? Listen to me for once. I’m begging you.” He leaned forward. “Out of all the noise in your head, what do you feel more than anything?”The answer required no thought. “I want to see him.” “Then go see him. Well, if he wants to see you, that is.” I pulled the shirt away from my nose. “He… wouldn’t want that, would he?” “Considering you bro
*LEONARDO* “Mr. Madrigal, breakfast’s ready.” Betsy’s voice cut through the fog in my head. “Has Jamin had breakfast?” I heard myself ask. When she did not answer, I pulled the clothes away from my face and looked at her. “Jamin, he… you…” She did not need to finish. I turned away as the weight of it landed all over again. “You should eat something,” she said carefully. “Do you want a stronger dose of the appetite booster?” “No. Just leave it there.” She set the tray on the bedside table. “Mr. Madrigal…” “Betsy, I’m fine. You can go.” She hesitated, then nodded and left me alone with food I would not touch and a room that still did not contain him.**********Gary came in not long after. He stood near the foot of the bed with a tablet in hand, posture tight the way it always got when he was forcing professionalism over concern. “There’s an important meeting today,” he said. “The board won’t push it again. I’ve been holdin
*LEONARDO* The music was low, the kind that made everything feel slower than real life. Jamin’s hand fit in mine like it had always belonged there. My other hand rested at the small of his back, feeling the warmth of him through his shirt as we moved in small, lazy turns. He kept smiling up at me, the way he did when he was happy and a little mischievous about it. “You’re stepping on my foot,” he said. “I am not.” “You are. Mister, that was definitely my foot.” I looked down, then back at his face. “If I was, you’d still be smiling like that?” “Maybe I like dancing with you even when you do it wrong.” “I don’t do it wrong.” He laughed, bright and unrestrained, and dropped his forehead against my chest for a second before tipping his chin up again. “I love dancing with you.” The words landed soft and certain. I tightened my hold on him without meaning to. He swayed closer, arms sliding up around my neck now, body fully a
*JAMIN* The mister?Mister what?Should I ask what his name was?I suddenly couldn’t find my voice. Calmly, he pulled out a chair and sat down opposite to me. “Let’s eat first.” He began and pressed a button. Two waitresses came around. “What will you like to eat, Jam
*LEONARDO* Jamin scurried back a bit and hurriedly explained, still on his knees. “I…I…it’s been awhile since my last master and I haven’t done it with anyone ever since. So my skills are a bit lacking…”I shut my eyes briefly in frustration. I had no time to teach anyone anything rig
*JAMIN* No!This was the only “10k” I’ve been able to find so far.I can’t lose him!I could lie, right?A harmless little lie.So I replied. 25 wasn’t that far from 22. I’d be 25 before you know it.Me: [I’m twenty-six]Mister:[Send a picture] A picture? What does he need a picture for?
*JAMIN* “Have you seen Caesar lately?” My co-worker, Frank asked as we both lifted bottles crates from a truck and into the warehouse. “No.”Then again, I really haven’t seen him in months. Caesar used to work some part time gigs with Frank and I. “I had found it suspicio







