Page 10 of He is Poison
“For fuck’s sake,”grumbled Domenico. He pulled Seth out of the bush and opened the door to takehim in.
“I’m managing!” Sethmoaned, but let Domenico help him up. His body was as hot as a radiator. “I’mfucking capable.”
“In every department,”growled Domenico, leading him toward the staircase. It was late enough that thehouse seemed empty, and all he wanted was to eat a decent meal and go to sleep,instead of babysitting a baby bull.
He still had no ideawhat had to be going through the Don’s head to make the decision he had.
“You havenoidea.” Seth grinned and let more of his weight fall on Domenico.
“I’ll give you somethingto deal with what you now have in your bloodstream.” Domenico slid his handsaround Seth’s mid-section, surprised at just how thick he was without beingoverweight. He was a meaty lump of a man, and it was hard not to notice hisnatural musk below the smell of liquor as Domenico dragged him up the stairs,step after painstaking step.
“Will it make me puke?”Seth raised an eyebrow and gave him a suspicious look but wrapped an arm overDom’s neck, pulling on his hair in the process. The whole ordeal made Dom wantto scream in anger. This undeserving prick didn’t know what to do with power,even when it was handed to him on a silver platter.
“I have no idea, I don’tdrink like a pig,” he grumbled as they finally reached the second floor. Seth’sroom was at the very end of the corridor.
“’Cause you don’t haveto deal with the shit I have to. I have ambitions, you know.” Seth pushed awayand swayed, but didn’t fall over.
Domenico counted to tenin his mind. If there was anyone in this house who had lots ofshittodeal with, it was him. “If I were in your place, I’d make staying alive mynumber one ambition. And now, that’s on me.”
The fucker actuallylaughed, as he held on to the wall by the door. “Sucks to be you then.”
Domenico’s mind produceda vision of those perfect, strong teeth breaking on the marble windowsill, butall Domenico could do under the Don’s scrutiny was to dig his fingers intoSeth’s arm and push him forward. “Stop being a baby.”
Seth pushed on thehandle of his door and stumbled inside with a pained groan. “There. Done. Youcan go.” He stood inside on swaying legs and started taking off his shirt soviolently that a few buttons snapped off.
“Not until you swallowyour pills.” Domenico entered the dark room and went straight for the deskwhere he knew the maid would have left something to drink. In the dim light, heopened the glass bottle and poured some water for Seth.
The man looked up athim. His half-lidded and unfocused gaze only reminded Domenico why he didn’tallow himself to drink too much alcohol.
“Ha. I know where thisis going.” Seth threw his shirt onto the armchair and pointed his finger atDom.
Domenico stared at himwith the glass in one hand and pills in the other, but couldn’t help his gazefrom discreetly straying to the meaty pecs on Seth’s chest.
Seth snorted. “You wannadrug me. You want to embarrass me at my mother’s funeral. That is beyond low.”He sat on the bed and pushed off his shoes.
“If anything happens atyour mother’s funeral, it’s your own damn fault.” Domenico dropped the pillsinto the water and as soon as he heard the fizzing sound, he walked towardSeth’s huge bed. The whole room was almost as big as Domenico’s apartment backin town.
In contradiction to hisearlier accusation, Seth held out his hand for the glass. Domenico gave it tohim, discreetly casting down his gaze, all the way to the breathtaking, hairystomach. If this weren’t Seth Villani, he would be all over him. In every senseof the word.
He crooked his head,watching the powerful muscles of Seth’s chest work. Slap on one of thoseridiculous wrestling outfits, and the guy would look the part. AlthoughDomenico would definitely lobby for reinstating the historical wrestlingattire. Naked skin and olive oil. They still did that in Turkey.
“Thank you, UncleDomenico,” Seth said and passed him back the glass. “How did you get soobedient anyway?” He scanned Dom’s face with a drunken squint.
“I’m obedient to my Don.And now sleep,” muttered Domenico, watching the delicious skin in the sparselight from the corridor. It would be just so easy to push him on the mattressnow. Too risky though.
Seth didn’t answer andcrawled into bed, showing Dom his wide back.
“Right, now sleep like ababy and be fucking well tomorrow,” growled Domenico, hurrying for the door. Hedidn’t have the time to stare at a cake he couldn’t eat.
Seth didn’t honor himwith a reply, but in his state it was hardly an insult. Domenico hadn’t seensomeone this drunk in a while. He left the room, but when he closed the door,he realized there was someone standing behind it.
His eyes darted to thefloor first and he was relieved the shoes weren’t Frederico’s. Slowly, helooked up into the stern, badly aged face of Luigi Tassa. It was this man whohad set him on the path Domenico was now on. It was thanks to him that hebecame so successful at his work.
“If you’re done playing,come with me,” Luigi said and put his hands behind his back.
“Good to see you too,”sighed Domenico, but followed his teacher without question. Throughout theyears, he’d become more familiar with Luigi than with his own mother, and eachtime he came back, he could recognize new lines in the man’s face.
Despite the coldwelcome, Luigi patted Dom’s back and handed him a cigarette as they made theirway down the stairs. The garden was the best place to talk, and Dom imaginedthat after today’s events, this wouldn’t be a casual chat.