Page 79 of Mortal Sins

but it might work!”

Snod didn’t understand a word.

“Mother of God,” Frankie murmured, his eyes wide in amazement. “Lorenzo... you really are a

genius.”

“I know,” Lorenzo said, holding his head proudly. He made a sour face suddenly, visibly shuddering

as he mumbled, “Aaaand I’m gonna puke.”

“I’ll hold your hair.” Frankie smiled affectionately, guiding Lorenzo around the side of the club to

revisit the colorful collection of drinks he had been chugging down all night.

Snod followed at a respectable distance, cringing in sympathy. He could relate.

When Lorenzo had finally finished, Frankie carried him back out to the street to find the car. The

whole ride home, Lorenzo was rolling around the backseat and babbling about iron and hemoglobin

capsules. Snod thought it sounded like total nonsense.

Frankie seemed to understand most of it, and Snod began to tune them both out. He was still pretty

tipsy, but definitely not as bad off as Lorenzo was. He was proud that his second night of drinking had

ended with much less disastrous results than his first. He enjoyed the cool feeling of Frankie’s skin,

smiling when he felt their hands intertwine.

Back at the apartment, Frankie tried to steer Lorenzo toward the couch to crash. Guided by some

Pavlovian response, he resisted and stumbled into the guest room where Snod was supposed to be

staying.

“I can totally carry him and put him out on the couch,” Frankie said apologetically, Lorenzo’s loud

snoring already audible through the door.

“It’s okay,” Snod said, shaking his head. The apartment was spinning a little, and he desperately

wanted to lie down. He stumbled toward the couch, kicking off his shoes as he went, saying, “I’m

gonna watchAladdinagain.”

Frankie seemed surprised, but smiled as he said, “All right.”

Snod stretched out, glancing up when Frankie had blinked beside him to offer him a blanket and a

pillow. He reached for Frankie’s wrist, tugging him down to steal a kiss. The thrill of his theft was

lost knowing Frankie could have easily stopped him, but it was sweet all the same.

Frankie petted Snod’s cheek, saying, “If you need anything, my door is open.”

“And the chances...?”