LOGIN“You’ve been too quiet for days now, Leo. Did something happen on your trip?” That was Lena’s voice, laced with worry.It had been three days since Leo and his father returned from their trip to Julian’s family home, and since, Leo had been fighting demons.He had been a shadow of himself, always lost in thoughts, always sobbing, zoning out, never truly understanding what was happening around him.His head was filled with all things Antonio.Which was why he had been delaying talking to Lena about the whole situation—with their family being involved with the underworld. Until today, when he couldn’t delay it any longer, because their father literally dragged him out of the house and forced him to go bring Lena home for the big talk.“I’m just… tired,” he muttered.“Really?” Lena raised a brow. “Just tired?”“Yep,” Leo said, popping the p.“Great.”Leo drummed his index finger on the steering wheel, stealing glances at Lena. “So… what did you do while we were away?”“Nothing much.” L
Leo was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark.Not like he was seeing anything per se, he was just comfortable… and also conflicted.For one, he was conjuring and dreading the look of betrayal that would be on his sister’s face once she learned of their family history, their background in the underworld.Yes, after much deliberation, both his father and Julian’s father decided that the best place to start was to tell the truth.Do you know what else was decided? That they’d find a way to get Lena and Julian back together.Leo laughed at that.How could those two possibly get back together? Hadn’t they drifted too farther apart?If anything would ever bring them together, it was Junior, and he was certain Lena was not at that place where she’d willingly open up to Julian about his son.The other thing that pained Leo the most was him—his love for Antonio.He just wanted to be loved in the light.Even though he understood the traditions, he still wanted to be able to hold Ant
By the time Leo and Antonio returned to the library, the air had changed.Not calmer.Just… heavier.Antonio walked in first, his expression set, his face freshly washed but still marked by the faint redness along his jaw. Leo followed behind him, quieter, composed in that way that only made it obvious something had happened.Their fathers noticed. Of course they did. Because they noticed everything. Though they weren’t sure if it was another fight.Luoni set his glass down slowly, his gaze dragging over Antonio before shifting to Leo.At the moment, Pedro didn’t speak, but the look he gave his son was enough to say everything.Disapproval.Disappointment.Suspicion.“Sit,” Luoni said, his voice carrying a firmness that brokered no argument.Antonio obeyed without a word, dropping into his seat. Leo took his place beside his father, back straight, face unreadable.For a moment, no one spoke.And the silence was tense. But the tension was coming more from Leo than from anyone else in t
Their footsteps echoed roughly against the tiled floor.Leo wiped again and again at his bleeding lip, his mouth curled into a snarl. He wanted to be angry about this—he couldn’t. He was angry quite alright but that anger was more for his failed relationship than for the fight that had just ended between him and Antonio.He wondered if this was the end, if the fact that they both brawled like animals meant that whatever was left of them was over.Leo took the left corridor.Antonio took the right.They needed something…Distance.Space.Air.Anything to breathe.But that too didn’t last. As long as their were under the same roof, Leo and Antonio could not bear to keep their distance from one another.“Leo.” Antonio’s voice cut through the hallway.Sharp.Rough.Leo didn’t stop even though every nerve screamed for him to.“Leo.” Antonio’s voice came again.Nothing.Antonio’s steps echoed faster as he made a turn and chased after Leo. He reached him in no more than five steps and grabb
Leo’s fist landed clean against Antonio’s face. The crack against his bone echoed louder than earlier when they stumbled into the kitchen.Antonio barely had time to register it before he swung back, hard, fast, his fist connecting with Leo’s jaw and snapping his head to the side.“Fuck!” Leo staggered, but didn’t fall. He lunged forward with a growl, his eyes darkened more by hurt than by rage.They crashed into the sink, glass rattling, metal groaning under the force of their weight.“Are you out of your mind?!” Leo shouted, grabbing Antonio by the collar again and slamming him back this time.“You started it!” Antonio barked, driving his shoulder forward and forcing Leo back.“That was a warning!” Leo yelled.“Well this is me not listening!” Antonio yelled back.Leo threw another punch. Antonio shoved him again and they stumbled, knocking into one of the doors. The door swung open violently and Leo grabbed it, slamming it shut so that they could continue fighting.Their fists flew
The restroom door barely had time to close before Antonio grabbed Leo by the collar and slammed him against the wall. The impact echoed. Hard. Sharp. Leo’s head snapped slightly to the side, but he didn’t fight it immediately. He just looked at Antonio. Calm. Steady. Infuriating. “What the fuck do you want, man?” He asked finally. “You knew,” Antonio breathed, his grip tightening. “You knew about my brother and your sister and you said nothing.” Leo let out a quiet scoff. “We’ve established that.” Antonio’s jaw clenched. “Don’t do that.” “Do what?” “That thing where you act like this is nothing!” Leo’s eyes flickered, but his voice stayed even. “Because to me, it is.” That hit wrong the wrong nerve and Antonio shoved him harder into the wall. “Our families are about to tear each other apart and you’re standing here acting like it doesn’t concern you?” “It doesn’t concern me,” Leo shot back, sharper this time. “It concerns Julian and Lena.” “They dragged us
Lena returned home hours ago, but as the sun began to set and night fell, she began feeling guilty about how she had left her lunch with Jack.Which led to picking up her phone and dialing his number.Jack answered on the first ring. Though the act made it seem as though he was eager, he did not sa
The night was truly worth every bit of Lena’s time. Physically, at least. Emotionally, however, she felt hollow. Empty. So empty that she in fact began to wonder why she had easily succumbed to sexual temptation.Was it because she was jealous of the chemistry between Rose and Julian? Lena asked he
The door shut behind Rose and Julian with a muted thud.The room was quiet in a way that felt deliberate, insulated from the pulse of the club below. Thick curtains blocked out the city lights. The faint hum of the building’s systems was the only reminder that the night outside was still alive.Jul
The roar of congratulations had settled slightly, and now Lena was with her father, speaking to a few of his friends who attended his birthday party.They spoke of everything and nothing at the same time. Some of the men spoke mostly of Lena’s beauty and carriage and the way they’d like her to meet







