“You’d never make it past the door.”
I stand and walk over to where he is sitting and I lean down, my mouth hovering over his.
“You’re never gonna escape me, little lion.”
“Its a good thing I love my cage then, isn’t it?”
“I love my lion back.”
EPILOGUE
TWO MONTHS LATER - SIMON
I t’s Saturday and I have the day off. I have no plans but to lie on this sofa for the whole day watching shit television. That plan
goes out of the window when the door slams and Carlos unexpectedly walks in. Dima and Lev accepted his proposal and
they have been busy trying to merge the two organizations and work on expansion. He’s been spending more time with them than me, but I can’t complain. I’m seriously considering becoming a man of leisure.
“What are you doing back?” I ask, turning off the TV and walking over to him in the kitchen. He has a box in his hand and I’m hoping it's not another gift from Noah.
“There was something I wanted to give you before I head back out again.”
“Does it happen to be in that box?”
“Open it.”
I pull the small box towards me and it's very beautiful. An old mahogany box with a high shine finish. When I open it up, inside is a black velvet material and three teeth. Two platinum plated teeth and one gold. Oh my god he’s a nerd.
“First question, who and why?”
“Gabriel, Bruno and Enrico. It took a lot longer to have them shipped over. I thought you could start your own collection.”
“Have I said something that makes you think I want to collect dead people’s teeth?”
“No, but it's good to share a hobby. Anyway, I wanted to give them to you, their deaths are my gift to you.”
Looking at Carlos’ face that is stoic and beautiful, he isn’t joking and is being serious.
“In that case, I love them. We can put them next to yours.”
“Liar. But that's okay if you're too stuck up to appreciate them.”
“Why would it make me stuck up not wanting teeth?”
“You don’t see the bigger picture. It’s a token of life.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Don’t forget clever, because I knew you’d react that way and I have got you a real gift. Here,” he says, placing in my hand a medium sized leather box that I’m sure is jewelry. I open it up, and I’m stunned. It’s beautiful.
“Carlos, this is…” I go to say, but lose my words as I pick up the leather bracelet that has a black and clear diamond lion pendant. His little lion.
“You like it?”
“I fucking love it. This may be worthy of a blow job.”
“I’m happy you like it. Now we can tell everyone about the engagement.”
