Morning sunlight bled through the blinds, striping the hardwood floor with amber lines. The apartment was quiet, except for the soft rustling of sheets and the faint sound of fingers tapping a phone screen.
Vinny sat at the edge of the bed, hoodie thrown loosely over his bare shoulders, eyes narrowed as he scrolled through his phone. His curls were a mess—soft and wild, just like the night before—but his expression wasn't as playful as usual. He was focused. Alert.
Behind him, the bathroom door clicked open.
Matthew stepped out in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, his skin still glistening from the shower. His hair was wet, dark curls sticking to his forehead. Vinny didn't turn around immediately, but Matthew's eyes found him anyway, taking in the slight tension in Vinny's shoulders.
"Up already?" Matthew's voice was still husky from sleep.
Vinny didn't look back, but a teasing smirk tugged at his lips. "You snore, you know."
Matthew raised a brow. "I do not."
Vinny finally turned, lazy gaze trailing down Matthew's torso before snapping back up with deliberate slowness. "You do. Loud. Like a pissed-off bear."
Matthew gave him a look. "You didn't seem to mind last night."
"I'm generous like that," Vinny said with mock pride, standing up and tossing his phone onto the bed. "But next time, I'm charging rent."
Matthew walked closer, towel hanging low on his hips. "If I'm paying, I want full service."
Vinny's lips twitched, eyes flickering with heat. "Is that a request?"
Instead of answering, Matthew grabbed his wrist and pulled him in. Vinny landed with a soft grunt against his chest. Their noses were inches apart, breath mingling.
"I'm warning you," Matthew murmured, voice low, "you keep playing with fire, I'm gonna burn you."
Vinny grinned. "Is that a threat or a promise?"
Matthew kissed him hard.
It was fast, hungry. Vinny's fingers curled into Matthew's wet hair, the other hand pressed flat against his chest. When they pulled apart, Vinny didn't step back. He slid one leg between Matthew's, letting it rest just enough to tease.
"You're getting clingy, Matt," he whispered. "Dangerous for a guy like you."
"You're calling me dangerous?" Matthew said, smirking. "You're the one who tied me up with my own shirt two nights ago."
Vinny looked scandalized. "Allegedly."
Matthew leaned in close. "There was video."
Vinny bit his lip, clearly unbothered. "Well, delete it before I go viral."
They both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt normal—dangerously normal. But then Matthew's phone buzzed from the nightstand.
He reluctantly let Vinny go and picked it up. His expression shifted almost instantly.
Kieran.
1 Missed Call. 1 New Message.
"We need to talk. Something's off with Tom. Don't ignore this."
Matthew's jaw clenched.
Vinny watched him carefully. "Who is it?"
Matthew slipped the phone into his pocket. "Just Kieran. He's being paranoid again."
Vinny stepped closer, tilting his head. "About?"
Matthew hesitated. He didn't want to lie, but the last thing Vinny needed was to know the full extent of what was brewing under the surface.
"Tom. He thinks something's up," he finally said, careful with his tone.
Vinny snorted. "Of course he does. Kieran thinks everyone's one bad breakup away from burning down a building."
"Sometimes he's right."
Vinny shrugged and leaned against the dresser, arms crossed. "And what? You believe him?"
Matthew's eyes didn't leave his. "I think Tom's unpredictable."
Vinny's jaw ticked. "He's my friend, Matt."
Matthew stepped closer. "And I'm yours. So let me do what I need to do."
The tension crackled, but not in the usual way. This was heavier. Vinny sighed and looked away first.
"You're not gonna let it go, are you?"
"No."
Vinny turned back, slowly. "Fine. But don't go getting yourself killed again."
Matthew's lips quirked. "You worried about me?"
Vinny stepped forward, fingers brushing against Matthew's collarbone. "I just don't want blood on my couch again."
Before Matthew could respond, Vinny shoved him back lightly onto the bed. Then, with infuriating confidence, Vinny climbed into his lap, straddling him. His fingers played with the edge of the towel, just enough to make Matthew's jaw tighten.
"You're not the only one who likes control, Matt," he whispered against his ear. "But I let you win sometimes. Makes it more fun."
Matthew's hand slid up Vinny's thigh. "You let me?"
Vinny smirked, teeth grazing Matthew's jaw. "Mmhmm."
Their lips collided again. Slower this time, but no less intense. The room warmed, breaths tangled, and the taste of want lingered in every bite and touch.
But then, the air shifted.
Matthew pulled back, heart still pounding. "I need to go see Kieran."
Vinny groaned and flopped back dramatically onto the bed. "Ugh. Buzzkill."
Matthew grabbed a shirt and his keys. "I'll be back later."
Vinny tilted his head. "Promise?"
Matthew leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his temple. "Try not to miss me too much."
Vinny rolled his eyes. "Go before I change my mind."
Kieran's apartment was a quiet contrast to the chaos bubbling beneath the surface. He handed Matthew a mug of coffee and pointed toward his laptop screen.
"Look at this," Kieran said.
Matthew leaned over and saw surveillance footage—grainy but clear. Tom talking to two unfamiliar men. They were standing outside what looked like a shuttered nightclub.
"Recognize them?" Kieran asked.
"No," Matthew said. "Who are they?"
"Mercs. Paid muscle. Not the kind you hire for anything legal."
Matthew's blood ran cold.
"Tom's planning something."
"Looks that way."
Matthew straightened. "We can't wait for him to make the first move."
Kieran watched him carefully. "You're in deep, aren't you?"
Matthew didn't answer.
"I'm just saying," Kieran continued, "you and Vinny… it's not gonna be clean. Whatever happens next."
"I know."
But knowing didn't make it easier.
That night, Tom sat in a dark room, watching footage from the warehouse. His jaw was tight, knuckles white from how hard he gripped the edge of the desk.
Matthew had walked out alive.
Barely, but alive.
Tom's reflection in the laptop screen looked almost ghostly. There was something feral in his eyes.
"You always ruin everything," he muttered under his breath. "Always have to be the hero."
He closed the laptop and turned to the man standing in the corner.
"Next time, don't miss."
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Vinny was sprawled on the couch in one of Matthew's shirts, scrolling through Kieran's texts that Matthew had left open.
He paused on one in particular.
"If Tom finds out about Vinny's involvement, it's over."
Vinny's lips parted, pulse spiking.
"What involvement?" he whispered.
The question echoed in his mind, growing louder with every second.