Blackmail.

"You're hiding something."

Vincenzo’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. His dark eyes stayed locked onto Noel, who sat curled up on his bed, his arms wrapped tightly around himself.

Noel didn’t respond. He didn’t even look at him.

Aria and Nico exchanged glances, shifting uncomfortably.

"Who was that guy?" Vincenzo pressed, stepping closer. His patience was razor-thin. "The one who had his filthy hands on you."

Noel flinched at the reminder. His fingers clenched the blanket, his breathing still uneven from earlier.

Aria was the first to break the silence. "Vince, drop it."

Vincenzo’s gaze snapped to her, his jaw tightening. "Like hell, I will. You think I’m gonna just stand back after seeing someone attack him?"

Nico sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Look, man. It’s complicated."

"Then uncomplicate it," Vincenzo snapped, his voice low and dangerous. "Who. The fuck. Was he?"

Silence.

Noel’s head lowered, his platinum hair falling over his eyes. He was trembling, trying to keep himself together, but his body betrayed him.

Then, barely above a whisper— "Julian."

The name sent a violent chill down Vincenzo’s spine.

"Julian?" he repeated, as if testing how it felt on his tongue. It tasted like venom. "An ex?"

Noel nodded stiffly, still refusing to look at him.

Aria sat beside him, rubbing his back. "More than that," she muttered under her breath. "Way more than that."

Vincenzo's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Why did it feel like he was missing something? The way they all danced around the truth, the way Noel refused to say more... it pissed him off.

And yet...

Despite his frustration, despite the heat of his anger still simmering under his skin, he couldn’t ignore the sight in front of him. Noel was breaking.

His entire body was stiff, his breathing shallow. He was curled inward, like he wanted to disappear. And Vincenzo had seen this before—he’d seen men shut down after years of war, soldiers too afraid to sleep because of the nightmares waiting for them.

Noel was still fighting his demons. And Vincenzo had no idea what those demons were.

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Fine," he muttered. "You won’t tell me now? I’ll find out myself."

Noel’s head snapped up. "Don’t."

Vincenzo smirked, but there was no humor in it. "You really think you can stop me, pretty boy?"

Noel’s lips parted, his breath hitching.

Aria threw Vincenzo a glare. "For once in your goddamn life, could you not act like an overbearing psycho?"

Vincenzo ignored her. His attention was locked on Noel, who was still visibly shaken. His instincts told him to back off, to give Noel space.

But another part of him—the possessive, ruthless, territorial part of him—wanted to tear the world apart to find out why Noel was so goddamn afraid.

"Rest," Vincenzo said, voice gruff. "I’ll deal with this."

And before Noel could protest, he turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Later That Night

Vincenzo leaned against his car, a cigarette between his fingers, his mind running through everything that had happened.

Julian.

The name alone made his blood boil.

Who the hell was this bastard? And what had he done to Noel to leave him this terrified?

His phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—an unknown number.

His instincts flared. He answered.

A low chuckle greeted him on the other end.

"You must be Vincenzo De Luca."

Vincenzo’s grip on the phone tightened. "Who the fuck is this?"

Another chuckle. "Oh, you’ll find out soon enough."

Click.

The call ended.

Vincenzo stared at his screen, his jaw clenching. His pulse was steady, but there was a slow, burning rage curling in his gut.

"You think you can run from me?"

Noel's breath hitched as Julian’s fingers twisted painfully in his hair, yanking his head back. The alley was dark, the dim glow from the streetlights barely reaching them. Noel’s hands trembled as he gripped Julian’s wrist, trying to pry himself free.

Julian smirked, leaning in until their lips were nearly touching. "Stay away from your new lover, Noel," he whispered, his breath sickly sweet with alcohol. "Or do you want everyone seeing that pretty little ass of yours all over the internet?"

Noel's entire body went rigid.

No. No, no, no.

His heart pounded violently against his ribs, his stomach twisting into a nauseating knot. The old, familiar terror clawed at his throat, making it impossible to breathe.

Julian pressed his lips to Noel’s in a rough, possessive kiss, biting down hard enough to draw blood. Noel gasped, shoving at Julian’s chest, but Julian was stronger. Just like he had been that night.

The memory slammed into him like a truck.

*Flashback – Three Years Ago*

*Trigger warning ⚠️*

"I thought you liked me, baby."

Julian's voice had been smooth, teasing, as he ran a hand down Noel's back. The apartment smelled like expensive cologne and faint traces of cigarette smoke.

Noel sat on Julian’s bed, gripping the edge of the sheets tightly. He had been nervous but excited. Julian was the hottest guy on campus…everyone wanted him. And somehow, he had chosen Noel.

Or so he had thought.

Noel had barely gotten the chance to process anything before Julian’s lips were on his, his body pressing him down onto the bed. It had started slow, almost sweet…until it wasn’t.

Until Julian's hands were too rough, his weight too heavy, his grip bruising.

"Wait, Julian.."

"Shh," Julian whispered, fingers curling around Noel’s wrists, pinning them above his head. "You’ll like it soon."

No.

No, no, no.

"Julian, stop! I…"

A sharp slap stung across Noel’s cheek. "You’re being difficult," Julian sighed as if Noel was inconveniencing him. "Didn’t you say you wanted this?"

Tears burned at the corners of Noel’s eyes. He tried to push Julian off, but Julian only laughed, effortlessly keeping him down.

Then Noel heard it…the soft beep of a camera recording.

His blood turned to ice.

"Smile for me, babe," Julian murmured, gripping Noel’s jaw so he had no choice but to face the camera. "If you ever try to leave me, Daddy dearest gets a special little video of his son acting like a perfect little slut."

*Present Day*

Noel collapsed against the alley wall, his knees weak, his vision blurred.

Julian walked away, stuffing his hands into his pockets as if nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t just ripped Noel apart all over again.

Noel pressed his trembling fingers to his lips, tasting blood.

I have to get out of here.

His mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused. The weight of the past crushed him, suffocating him, making it impossible to think.

And then…

"Noel?"

A familiar, deep voice.

His heart nearly stopped.

He turned, his entire body stiffening as he met a pair of dark, piercing eyes.

Vincenzo.

His expression was unreadable, but his gaze flickered between Noel’s trembling form and Julian’s retreating figure.

His sharp jaw clenched. "Who the fuck was that?"