Chapter 9: Skin and Scars

“What's wrong, Daniel? You are staring”. Luca says, sipping his drink, oblivious to how lost Daniel is in his own thoughts. He grabs his pants and puts them on.

He stood by the window, barefoot, shirtless, backlit by moonlight _a living sculpture of rugged muscle and old scars. He poured some whiskey into the glass by the corner and drank it like he had been thirsty for ages.

Daniel was still frozen

“You are not wearing clothes”, Daniel mutters, his voice tighter than he intended.

Luca glanced over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips, “Is there a problem?”.

The hotel room was cold, and now Luca's bare skin the way his sweatpants hung low on his hips, the three jagged scars raking across his ribs like claw marks.

Daniel manages to force himself to look away, “ Just wondering if you own pyjamas”.

“Not a fan”, Luca replies, stretching himself, the muscles at his back almost shifting.” You will live, don't worry”.

Daniel exhaled sharply and tossed his bag into the bed

“We need some ground rules “.

Luca raised an eyebrow “Rules “

“Yeah, like _” Daniel gestured vaguely at Luca's torso. “Clothes, you can't be stripping off your clothes however you wish; there should be boundaries.”

 

Luca's grin turned wolfish. “You are the one who wanted the unfiltered Luca; why, then, are u acting indifferent? “.

Daniel goes into the bathroom without saying another word to him. He brushes his teeth with unnecessary force trying to scrub the image of Luca's body, his scars off his mind. They weren't surgical but uneven. Too violent.

His phone buzzed on the sink “ Are u guys running away, don't forget I can be everywhere”.

 Daniel spat out his toothpaste “ How the hell did they know about their whereabouts?”.

The bathroom door creaked open. Luca leaned against the frame with his arms crossed,” Are you planning to sleep in here.”

Daniel's gaze dropped to Luca's stomach _to the mottled, shiny skin just above his hip.

Luca went very still.

“Who gave you those” Daniel asked quietly

The light from the main room went off plunging them into near darkness.

They went back into the room and lay side by side on the big bed. Rain began pattering against the roof

“It was a stunt”, Luca said suddenly “ Two years ago there was a fire outbreak in my previous office”.

“ My security had a hangover “Luca continued

Jordan told me to power through, The equipment spilted.

Daniel's chest tightened “ Jesus”.

Luca's laugh was bitter “ Not quite. Just third-degree burns and a payout to repair damages.

Daniel reached out without thinking—his fingers grazing the worst of the scars. Luca flinched but didn’t pull away.  

**"Rule two,"** Daniel whispered. **"No more hiding shit like this."**  

Luca finally turned to face him. **"You sure you can handle what’s under the surface, Reyes?"**  

Their breaths tangled in the scant space between them.  

Daniel’s phone buzzed again. Neither of them moved to check it.  

The news about Principal Thomas spread like wildfire in the city of Bushwick. Autopsy reports revealed he comitted suicide by taking some substance nicotine with his coffee. The disturbing news brought a feeling of mixed emotions among the students, the strict nonsense principal and, at the same time, a man who deserved to live. The press reported that he was found face -down on his desk, that everyone thought he was asleep until after several hours and he still didn't wake up.

Betty one of Fishland High School student reported to the CIA that she had escorted some men into his office earlier that morning.

"Can u properly describe this men". Kelvin the officer inquired.

"There were three of them, quite handsome and polished buh I didn't think I was supposed to ask them their names". She answers innocently. Tears falling from her cheeks, her blue eyes turned reddish.

Just then at the interview, Kelvin's phone buzzed. And he stepped outside to answer his phone.

"Betty, I want you to keep everything that you just said to me, as a little secret between us, the autopsy reports just showed he poisoned himself, the old man probably got tired of living, let's not drag others into his mess." Kelvin said while rustling her messed up hair.

"Stop Crying".

Betty was escorted back home in the police patrol car.

And Thomas's death was swept under the carpet.

“Good morning, Luca”, Jordan's voice broke the silence of the men already drowned in their sleep.

“We leave for Williamsburg by 8:00am; U should start getting ready,”, He said, tapping Luca, who still had sleepy eyes.

Daniel stood up, reached for the curtains and opened them. As the warm morning light filtered through the slatted curtains, bathing the room in a soft golden glow, Luca lay there on the bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling and stirring in crisp white sheets. He sat up slowly, blinking away the remnants of sleep in her eyes, then threw off the blankets and made his way to the bathroom.

“Are you not going to get ready?” “We will not wait for you, so better hurry up”. He said to Daniel with annoyance already beaming in his eyes. He storms out of the room shutting the door behind him.

“I wonder who this guy thinks he is”. Daniel mutters to himself while struggling to dress up

The Three men got ready for the early morning flight departure and sat in the car to leave for the airport.

“Oh! Jesse, I have something I need to do”, Jordan says with his spine straight and his expression unreadable.

“ Now”. Luca retorted. He didn't look at his face when he spoke.

“ You are really silly, Jordan Keating”.

Jordan turned and left without saying another word, his shoes echoing against the hardwood floor.

He arrives at Samuel Moretti’s shop

“ Samuel, I need you to take care of things here while I am in Williamsburg.”

“Nobody must find out about that old fool; I got everything covered on the media; you take care of any other arising issues here”.

Samuel Moretti smiled, all charm and white teeth smile. He slid into a seat beside him, too close, too simple.

His gaze lingered a bit too long.

“I am not worried about trouble”

“ This is my game, and you all should sit and learn from me”.

 Jordan cuts in sharply kneeling with one of his knees

“ I am sorry, boss; I didn't mean to order you around; it's just my tone of asking for favors.”

Samuel interrupts him fiercely " The next time you speak to me like that, I will cut off your tongue."