LOGINAiden woke up the next morning to an empty house.The bed was too big, too soft, too quiet. For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember where he was.Then it all came flooding back. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. The house was silent. No footsteps. No voices. Nothing.He got out of bed and walked to the window, pulling back the curtain. Outside, he could see guards stationed at various points around the property. Two by the gate. One near the garage. Another walking the perimeter.But no sign of Vito.Aiden let the curtain fall back and headed downstairs.The house was even more massive in the daylight. Everything looked expensive and untouched, like it was a showroom rather than a place where people actually lived.He wandered from room to room, trying to find something… anything, to keep himself occupied.The living room had a TV, but he couldn't find the remote. There was a library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, but all the books looked lik
Vito picked up a cigarette from Gianna's box on the desk and lit it, taking a long drag before speaking."Get the girl," he said, exhaling smoke.Gianna waved her hand dismissively at one of her men, who immediately hurried off to do her bidding."You need to go torture your other brothers, Gianna," Vito said, leaning back against the desk.Gianna laughed, the sound sharp and amused. "I can torture all three of you at once. It's called multitasking, brother."Vito scoffed, shaking his head. But there was something he needed to know. Something that had been eating at him since he'd walked in here."Who sold me out?" he asked, his voice dropping lower.Gianna raised an eyebrow. "Straight to the point. I like it.""I'm serious, Gianna. As cunning as you are, you're not usually able to pull out dirt on me like this." He took another drag of the cigarette. "Can't say if I'm that feared or that respected. Either way, I like it like that. So who talked?"Gianna smiled, that cat-like smile th
Aiden was pacing back and forth in the large office room, his footsteps echoing against the hardwood floor. Back and forth. And back and forth. He counted the steps… twelve one way, twelve back, trying to keep his mind occupied, trying not to think about Vito.Or what they'd done.Or the way his body still felt warm and used.Or the hickey on his neck that was probably going to be there for days.‘Don't think about it. Don't think about any of it.’But it was impossible not to. Every time he stopped moving, his brain went right back to that desk, to Vito's hands on him, to the way he had moaned Vito's name like– The door bolted open with a bang that made Aiden jump.One of the men walked in… the same one who'd pointed a gun at him that first night, the one who'd looked at him like he was already dead."The ride is ready," the man said, his voice flat. "Let's go."James was his name. Aiden had heard one of the other guys call him that before. He seemed to be another of Vito's right ha
Aiden was still laying on the desk, his body slack and trembling, when he heard the bathroom door open.Vito stepped out, already fully dressed, looking completely composed like nothing had just happened. He was drying his hands with a napkin, his movements casual, and unhurried.Aiden could hear the tail end of a phone conversation… Vito must have taken a call while he was in there."...yeah, make sure it's handled. I don't want any loose ends," Vito was saying into his phone. "Good. I'll be there in twenty."He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.Then he turned to Aiden, his expression unreadable."Get dressed," Vito said flatly. "James will come pick you up."Aiden blinked, still trying to catch his breath, trying to make his brain work again."Don't worry about the mess," Vito continued, gesturing vaguely at the desk. "The maid will come clean up."Aiden sat up quickly, his mind scrambling to catch up with what was happening.Wait– was Vito really leaving? Just l
Aiden's legs gave out almost before the word was finished. He dropped to his knees in front of Vito, looking up at him with wide eyes.Vito looked down at him, his expression dark and hungry. "Take it off."Aiden's hands trembled as they moved to Vito's waist. The last time he'd been in a situation even remotely like this, it had been with his ex-girlfriend. She had wanted to go down on him, and he had let her, but he'd hated it. Hated every second of it, actually. He'd felt nothing but discomfort and the desperate wish for it to be over.He'd never understood why people made such a big deal about sex. It had all felt wrong, awkward, like he was supposed to be feeling something he just couldn't access.But right now
Aiden's brain stuttered to a halt."W-what?""You heard me.""I... I don't..." Aiden's hands were shaking now. He gripped the edge of the desk behind him, his knuckles going white. "Here? Now?""Yes. Here. Now.""Vito, I–""Oh." A wicked smile grew on Vito’s face and Aiden’s blood ran cold. “You’re bold enough to call my name now?”Shit. Aiden could feel tiny sweat forming on his head despite the cold room. He had been so distracted that he forgot who his boss was. Who Vito was. "No, I’m sorry. I-""Strip, Aiden."Aiden's mouth went dry. He looked around the room, even though he knew they were alone. The door was closed. Locked, probably. No one was coming to save him.Not that he wanted to be saved.That was the worst part. The part that made his stomach twist with shame and want in equal measure.He didn't want to be saved.Aiden's hands went to the hem of his shirt. They were trembling so badly he almost couldn't grip the fabric."Look at me," Vito said.Aiden's eyes snapped up."







