Page 2 of Gluttony

“You told him all of that? Is that why you wanted to know who I was on the phone with?” Bruno said. “How could you betray me like that, Gino?” he whispered.

“I haven’t told him anything. In fact, I’ve made up things about what we did every day. He must think that you’re either the dumbest or most boring person on the planet. As far as he knows, you haven’t had any contact with the other syndicate families, even though we both know that’s a lie. So, which family member were you talking to in the bathroom?” he asked.

“That’s none of your fucking business,” Bruno shouted. “Especially since I now know that you’ll just report what I tell you back to my father.”

“I wouldn’t do that, Bruno. I’m on your side,” he shouted. “Why won’t you just let me in? Why can’t you trust me?”

“Because I don’t trust anyone,” Bruno admitted. “I learned that lesson the hard way, a long time ago. If I let you in, it will put us both in danger and I can’t do that to you, Gino. I care too much about you.” Gino reached over and took Bruno’s hand into his, and he wasn’t sure if he should let him do it or pull his hand away.

“I won’t hurt you, Bruno. Just let me in, please,” Gino begged.

“What exactly are you asking me for?” Bruno breathed.

“Whatever you’re willing to give,” Gino said. “I’ll start with your trust, but I plan on working my way up to your heart.”

Gino

“My heart?” Bruno questioned. The poor guy looked shocked, and Gino couldn’t blame him. He was surprised that he had worked up the nerve to finally say something to his partner. It had taken him almost two years to come to terms with his feelings for Bruno. He was in love with him—of that, he was sure. But telling Bruno about his feelings wasn’t something that he could do. Not in his line of work. Bruno was his boss and if he turned Gino down, he’d never be able to face him again.

“I don’t want to play games anymore, Bruno. I see how you look at me, and I’m done pretending not to want you,” Gino said.

“You want me?” Bruno questioned. Gino pulled Bruno’s hand that he was holding in his own down to his cock and loved the way Bruno’s fingers wrapped around his erection.

“Yeah, I want you. I’m just hoping that you feel the same way about me, man,” he breathed as Bruno’s fingers continued to explore his shaft.

“I do,” Bruno admitted. “I’ve wanted you for a long time now. I just couldn’t figure you out, Gino.” He felt about ready to explode out of his pants and he knew that if he didn’t stop Bruno from touching him, he’d do just that. Gino pulled Bruno’s hand from his cock and up to his mouth, gently kissing his knuckles.

“Why’d you do that?” Bruno asked.

“Because I don’t want to come in my pants like a fucking teenager,” Gino said. “I want you naked and with me when we both lose our loads. Is that something that you want too, Bruno?” he asked. God, he felt like he was holding his breath waiting for Bruno to give his answer. If he said that he wasn’t on board for everything that Gino wanted, he’d not only lose the man he had wanted for a damn long time, but he’d also lose his best friend and partner. Bruno had become that to him, he just wished that the guy would trust him and let him in for once.

“That is something that I want,” Bruno whispered. “But you have to know that being with me won’t be easy,” he said. They had already been on the run together once this year. When Bruno’s younger sister kidnapped Victor Sloth to keep him safe from old man Gluttony putting out a hit on him, she sent the syndicate into an uproar. Bruno’s father was going after everyone, including his own children. He had put out a hit on Trisha for helping Victor and then, he killed Victor’s father when he turned his back on their alliance. Bruno was worried that his old man was trigger-happy and would come gunning for him next, so he and Gino disappeared to one of Bruno’s safe houses for a couple of months, until things died down at home.

The Gluttony Syndicate had cut itself off from all the other families. The other six families had formed an alliance and had promised retaliation if the Gluttony family came after any of them. It was something that Bruno had been trying to avoid, but his father had led them right into danger. Bruno was constantly looking over his shoulder. He worried that his father would find out that he was trying to work with the other families to oust him from the head of household position. Gino knew that Bruno would make a fantastic leader for the Gluttony family, and he’d back him no matter what. It’s part of the reason why he never gave old man Gluttony any information when he asked.

Mr. Gluttony had called him into his office, just as Gino told Bruno, but he asked him for so much more than information about his son. He had asked Gino if or when the time came, he’d take Bruno out for him. He gave him some song and dance that Bruno was a threat to the syndicate. He told Gino that killing Bruno might be the only way to protect the family and the old ways that old man Gluttony clung to so fiercely. Gino hated the old ways, and he hated that the man could even ask him to kill his only son. Refusing Mr. Gluttony wasn’t an option, so, of course, Gino lied and agreed to his plan. He told his boss that he’d be happy to kill Bruno, for the well-being of the family. He convinced him that he was a team player who wanted to help the old ways flourish for the next generations to come. He lied his ass off to get Mr. Gluttony to believe him and then, he high tailed it out of his office, thankful to still be alive.

Gino debated whether or not to tell Bruno, but then everything went down with Trisha, and Victor Sloth, and all Gino could think about was keeping Bruno safe from whatever his father had planned next for him. They left town, and Gino was sure that the two of them would be able to find some connection while they were hidden away at the safe house, but he was wrong. Bruno only pushed him further away while they were there. He’d shut himself away in his room and only come out for meals that Gino cooked for them. And Gino foolishly let Bruno push him out of his life, believing that it was for the best because falling for his boss wasn’t really the smartest idea he had ever had. No, wanting Bruno Gluttony wasn’t the best plan, but he just couldn’t help himself any longer. The cat was out of the bag, and now, he was relying on Bruno to help him figure out his next step.

“I understand,” Gino said. “Hell, I’ve been your partner for almost two years now, and nothing about you is easy, man,” Gino teased.

“Shut the fuck up,” Bruno growled. God, he loved his man growley and pissed off. That was when he found Bruno to be at his sexiest. “Let’s go,” he ordered. “I have to talk to my father and then, I plan on taking you back to my place for the night. You good with that?” he asked Gino. He damn near swallowed his tongue trying to get his answer out.

“I’m good with that,” Gino agreed. He was sure that he had been given his answer. Bruno wanted him and that was all that really mattered. They’d just have to figure out how to keep their relationship under wraps from the rest of the family members. The old ways that Mr. Gluttony clung to so desperately wouldn’t allow for the two of them to be together and Gino was sure that Bruno’s father would put an end to their relationship, one way or another.

Bruno

They pulled up to the Gluttony Syndicate building, and he knew that asking Gino to wait for him in the car wouldn’t go over well, but he really needed to talk to his father alone. Bruno just hoped that asking Gino to give him some space wouldn’t end with him not wanting to spend the night back at his place.

“Would you mind hanging out here to wait for me?” Bruno asked. Gino looked at him as if he lost his damn mind.

“Why the hell can’t I come in with you?” Gino asked.

“Because I need to talk to my father, and I’d like to do it alone.” He was going to confront his father with the truth and that might not end well for him. He didn’t want Gino around if things went sideways with his dad.

“You’re going to tell him that you know that he’s got spies watching you, right?” Gino asked. That was just one of the things that Bruno planned on talking to his father about.

“Basically,” he said. “I have a few other things that we need to discuss too, but I’m not going to constantly look over my shoulder to see who he has watching me next. Don’t worry, I won’t blow your cover or rat you out. He’ll never know that you were the one to tell me about him spying on me.”

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