by Ana Night
Rome clenched his teeth and glared at Alvaro for a few seconds before turning on his heels and walking back to the car. He opened the door to the backseat and helped Marco out. Marco held his hands together behind his back to make it look like he was tied up and his gun was tucked into the back of his pants for easy use.
Rome walked Marco closer to Alvaro as he glared at the asshole. When he stopped, he kept a hand around Marco’s arm.
“Now Juno,” Rome growled.
The smile spreading on Alvaro’s face had Rome’s pulse skyrocketing. That couldn’t be good.
“Did you really think I’d be stupid enough to bring my bargaining chip?”
Rome gritted his teeth. He’d hoped, really hoped, Alvaro would bring Juno, but they’d planned for if he hadn’t. Bones and Hawk were ready to leave at any second to go get him.
Alvaro pulled out his phone and shortly after, Rome felt his phone buzz in his pocket.
“I just sent you a live feed of Juno.”
Rome gave the man a glare before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. He unlocked it and opened the message, then clicked the link. A video feed popped up and what he saw made his heart freeze in his chest. No. Nonono. Juno was sitting, unconscious, in what looked like a tank that was filling up with water. There was blood at the corner of his mouth and a bruise on his cheek. Those fuckers had hurt him.
“What the fuck have you done?” Rome yelled and took a step toward Alvaro, only stopped by Marco digging his heels into the ground.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Alvaro said with a cruel smile on his lips. “He’ll be fine. If you get to him in time.”
“That wasn’t the deal you piece of fucking shit.”
Alvaro shrugged. “It’s the deal now. Take it or leave it.”
“Give me the location.”
“Serrano first.”
“No,” Rome snapped. “Location first. Then you get Serrano.”
Alvaro tilted his head to the side and pursed his lips. Then he shrugged and said, “If only you had something to bargain with. Guess Juno’s gonna drown after all.”
Rome barely managed a breath before Alvaro’s men had their guns out.
“You don’t wanna do that,” Rome said, his voice icy.
Alvaro let out a loud sigh. “And why is that?”
“Because it’s gonna be the last fucking thing you do,” Marco growled and pulled his gun.
There was a loud pop and then man to Alvaro’s right fell to the ground, making the rest scramble while blindly shooting toward Rome and Marco. Kings appeared from everywhere, closing in on Alvaro and his men while the snipers kept Rome and Marco alive.
Alvaro managed to get himself behind the car door, but he wouldn’t be safe there for long. Rome was gonna make fucking sure of that. He had to trust King’s men would have his back as he made his way to Alvaro. King’s snipers weren’t placed where they could get a clean shot at Alvaro.
Rome shot at one guy who was then riddled with bullets by the Kings. He made it to the car and found Alvaro climbing through it to the other side. Rome grabbed for him but didn’t get a hold of him. With a growl, he ran around the car. Alvaro was out of the car and with a glance over his shoulder at Rome, he took off running. Rome set after him and caught up with him in seconds. He tackled Alvaro to the ground, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and lifting him up to slam his fist into his face.
“Where is he?” Rome yelled.
“You’ll never find him in time,” Alvaro said and laughed.
Rome growled and raised his fist to hit Alvaro again but the sound of running feet had him jerking his head up. One of Alvaro’s men was heading toward him, wielding a huge knife. Rome pushed off the ground and narrowly avoided the first swing of the blade. The next time the guy came at him, Rome grabbed him by the wrist and wrenched his hand back. He nearly reveled in the man’s pained cry. He more than deserved what he was getting for what they’d done to Juno. He turned the knife and rammed it into the man’s stomach, making sure to twist it once it was through flesh. A gurgling sound came from him before he went limp. Rome let go and watched him fall. His chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath.
“Goodbye, Romeo.”
He whirled around to see Alvaro standing with a gun aimed right at him. The gunshot rang out, Alvaro’s head snapping back and his body crumbling to the ground.
“No,” Rome yelled.
He turned to see Marco standing behind him with the gun still raised. Rome charged toward him, grabbing a fistful of his shirt as he croaked out, “What have you done?”
Marco’s gaze was unflinching as he met Rome’s eyes.
“He would’ve killed you.”
“He was the only one who knew where Juno is. I can’t…” His voice broke and he shook his head. “I can’t lose him.”
Juno
Something wet splashing on his face woke him up. He groaned when pain spread across his face from the lovely bruise he knew he had there. He blinked his eyes open. He was cold. Why was he cold?
“Shit,” he mumbled as he tried to get his bearings.
He sucked in a sharp breath when he realized he was sitting in water, more of it pouring in from a hose above him. There were small holes in the top of whatever he was inside where light was coming through. He pushed up, trying to get to the top, but was yanked back down. He had chains around his ankles. Fuck.
“Help,” he yelled, hoping, but not expecting anyone to hear him. “Hello?”
He yelled some more but wasn’t surprised to find he was shit out of luck.
He pulled on the chain, then ran his hands along it to find where it was secured. The chain was pulled through a ring attached at the bottom. Maybe he could get it loose?
He pulled as hard as he could, but it made no difference. It was probably bolted down. He got his shoes off only to realize he couldn’t get the cuff over his ankle. Fuck. He yelled and slapped his hand against the wall.
The water seemed to pour in faster or maybe it was just because his heart was trying to beat right out of his chest? There weren’t many things that scared him, but being trapped in this shit-can, knowing if he didn’t manage to get free, he’d drown, now that scared him shitless.
He breathed in deeply, knowing if he let the anxiety take hold, he was as good as dead. He needed to do something. Try something else.
He stood and stretched as far as he could, trying to reach the holes. If he could get his mouth close enough to breathe through them maybe he could hold on long enough for someone to find him. He could fit a few fingers through the holes and pulled himself up as far as he could. His mouth was an inch from the hole.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” he growled.
There was nothing to do but hold on and hope. Hope Rome would change his mind. Hope he’d told the Kings. Hope he’d get to see Rome again. He didn’t want this to be the end. That was the worst of it; the thought of never seeing Rome again, of never getting to hold the man, kiss him, love him. It was worse than knowing he was about to drown. So much fucking worse.
He loved Rome and he might never get to tell him.
Why the fuck was it always in situations like this when you realized something so fucking important? Something that should’ve been so obvious? Honestly, maybe he had realized? Maybe he’d hid it from himself because the thought of Rome not loving him back hurt like hell? Maybe he was an idiot. Correction. He was an idiot. And Rome was an asshole who’d better love him back because otherwise… He didn’t even know what he’d do.
The water was reaching above his shoulders now. He tried to pull himself further up, but the damned chain was taut already. He yelled for help one last time while the water rose to his chin.
He heard something that sounded like tires on gravel, but he couldn’t be sure. The water was starting to get into his ears. It was probably Alvaro coming back to watch him drown but that didn’t stop him from yelling some more. Just in case.
He thought he heard his nam
e being called but that was probably wishful thinking. He sucked in one last deep breath and then the water covered his face. He let go of the top and used his arms to stay close to the surface. There was a loud sound and then he was blinded by a bright light.
Rome
Someone small came running past Marco and him, making them both turn toward him. He realized it was Auggie as the man bent down and patted Alvaro’s pockets while mumbling something in a language Rome didn’t know.
“Aha,” Auggie exclaimed and straightened, a phone in his hand.
“Please tell me you can find him,” Rome said.
Auggie met his gaze and nodded before saying, “Doesn’t matter what it takes, I will find him.”
Neil walked up to Marco and they moved a bit away from everyone, talking low to each other. Rome pulled out his phone, his heart squeezing painfully when he found the feed of Juno. As much as he hated looking at it, he needed to see what they were dealing with. How little time they had left.
Juno was awake now, struggling against something under the water. Chains, Rome realized.
“We need bolt cutters,” Rome yelled.
“What do you take us for?” someone said while walking past Rome.
Rome glanced up, a frown on his forehead when his eyes landed on Stiletto.
She turned, walking backwards as she cocked a brow at Rome and said, “They’re in the cage.”
“Cage?”
“Car,” Auggie yelled and pointed at the one Rome had driven there in.
Rome didn’t want to waste a second, so he started toward the car.
“Rome,” Marco called after him, but Rome ignored him.
He heard Marco catch up with him and when a hand landed on his shoulder, he whirled around and slammed his palm against Marco’s chest, sending the man a step backwards.
“Don’t,” Rome growled.
“Come on, Rome. What was I supposed to do? He would’ve killed you.”
“At least he’d be alive to tell us where Juno is.”
Marco snorted derisively. “You don’t mean that.”
Rome’s jaw ticked as anger filled him. He stepped into Marco’s space. Marco, of course, didn’t budge, but Rome didn’t care.
“Yes, I do mean that. I don’t matter. Juno does. He’s all that matters to me.”
Marco blinked at him, shock flashing across his face. Rome pushed past Marco, leaving the man speechless. He walked to the car and tried to take a deep breath but the weight of it all, the thoughts of Juno only getting closer to drowning, of Juno suffering, it made it impossible.
“I’ve got it,” Auggie yelled and began running toward Rome’s car.
Rome’s heart did a little jolt as hope began to spread through him. He opened the car door and got behind the wheel, barely patient enough to wait for Auggie to get in before he took off.
“Left here,” Auggie said.
A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed the Kings on their bikes, right behind them. He followed Auggie’s instructions with a steel grip on the wheel and his heart in his throat.
“Almost there,” Auggie said, the tension in his voice matching how Rome felt to a T.
He turned into what looked like a dumping ground with all the shit spread around it. He pulled the handbrake and was out of the car, grabbing the bolt cutters the next second. Then he pulled his gun and made his way along the row of old shit while calling Juno’s name.
A low, “Help,” came from Rome’s left, making him freeze for a moment before he turned and started running toward it.
“There. In the water tower,” Auggie yelled and pointed at it.
There was a small water tower to his left, a water hose connected to it through the top. Rome ran to it and climbed the ladder, grateful it was made of steel because he was sure the damned thing was old enough to collapse under his weight if it’d been tree. There was a padlock on the hatch which he cut off. He threw open the hatch, Juno’s green gaze the first thing he saw. He didn’t waste a second, jumping straight into the water. It was cold but clear, making it easy for him to find the chain. He got the blades of the bolt cutters around the ring holding the chain to the bottom and fought against the water to get it cut. The second the ring was broken, Rome let go of the bolt cutters and swam up, getting a hold of Juno under his arms. He got them both to the surface where he found Hawk and Bones waiting, ready to grab Juno. While they pulled Juno out of the water, Rome pushed himself up, his clothes heavy.
Hawk and Bones carried Juno down the ladder and Rome was quick to follow. They laid Juno on the ground and Bones slammed a fist to Juno’s chest. Juno spat up water and Hawk turned him onto his side to get it all out. Rome got off the ladder and slid to the ground. He crawled his way over to Juno and once he was done coughing up water, Rome pulled the man into his lap, holding on tight as he tried to calm his racing heart. Juno was alive. Juno was safe.
“Rome,” Juno said, his voice croaky and weak.
“I’m so sorry. I was wrong.”
Juno leaned back to meet Rome’s gaze, confusion written all over his face.
“I was wrong, il mio re. In not putting you first,” Rome said with a shake of his head. “I will never do that again.”
Juno’s eyes softened and the hand he put against Rome’s cheek was cold but carried a warmth Rome had only ever experienced from Juno. The love he felt for the man was unlike anything he’d ever felt before. It seemed almost unreal.
He pulled Juno close and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. He held onto his man as tight as he could without hurting him. He was never letting go. Never letting anything or anyone come between them. Not Marco. Not anyone.
Chapter Sixteen
Juno
THREE DAYS he’d been waking up next to Rome. Three days Rome had spoiled him with amazing food from Serrano’s and cuddles on the couch. Three days Rome had avoided talking about what had happened. Juno felt it hanging over his head like a dark cloud that only got darker with each day.
When Nash had shown up, he’d yelled at them and promptly ordered Juno to the hospital. He’d gone through tons of tests over the day he’d stayed there and, fortunately, the doctors said there weren’t any signs of brain damage. When the first doctor had mentioned the possibility, Rome had lost his shit, and Bones had had to drag his stubborn and loud ass out of the hospital until he’d cooled off. Then he’d come back and apologized for having left Juno there alone. He hadn’t been alone, of course. Half the Kings had filled up his room and the waiting area. But it didn’t surprise him that of all the things Rome could apologize for right then, he’d chosen that.
Juno could hear Rome walking around so he got out of bed and grabbed a pair of sweatpants to put on. He walked into the living room where he found Rome pacing while he spoke on the phone. Juno watched him closely. Alvaro had been dead for four days and by now the cartel had to have found out. But nothing had happened. No word from the cartel. No nothing. It kinda scared him. The not knowing. They had no idea what would happen, how the cartel would react, how they may retaliate.
He heard Rome say goodbye and took a breath, waiting for Rome to lower the phone before walking toward him.
“Have they heard anything?” Juno asked.
Rome glanced up at him, a smile spreading on his lips for a second before he shook his head.
“No. Nothing.”
“That a good or bad thing?”
Rome let out a sigh and walked the last few steps to Juno, wrapping his arms around Juno’s waist and pulling him close.
“I don’t know,” Rome said.
He ran his nose along Juno’s, then pressed a kiss to Juno’s lips and Juno felt his resolve slowly start to melt away. Rome moved his mouth down the side of Juno’s neck.
Juno groaned, then said, “We should talk.”
“More fucking, less talking,” Rome growled.
Juno snorted, then chuckled. Rome wasn’t having it, though. He grabbed a fistful of Juno’s hair and tugged his head back,
the bite of pain making Juno moan loudly. Rome’s other hand found Juno’s hip. Rome walked him backwards until he hit the dining table, then Rome lifted him up on it. Juno wrapped his legs around Rome’s hips and pulled him closer. Rome’s mouth came down on his and he parted his lips for Rome’s tongue. Need coursed through him as the kiss got rougher.
When Rome pulled away, Juno put his hands behind him on the table and leaned back, his gaze running over Rome’s face. Rome started unbuttoning his shirt and Juno watched him with his lip between his teeth. Rome slid the shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Juno couldn’t help himself. He just had to touch.
He ran his hands up Rome’s chest, loving the muscles and heated skin under his fingers. He met Rome’s dark gaze, then lowered his head to press his lips to the spot between Rome’s neck and shoulder. He trailed kisses across Rome’s tattoo, taking his time to admire it.
Rome
Juno seemed hellbent on driving him crazy. With his tongue. With his hands.
A groan rumbled through Rome as Juno’s tongue licked at the seams of his lips while pulling on Rome’s belt, unbuckling it slowly. His hard length pressed against the zipper of his jeans. Juno freed Rome’s cock and broke the kiss, meeting Rome’s gaze for a second before looking down.
Juno wrapped a hand around Rome, stroking him once before brushing his thumb over the head. Rome’s hips jerked and a hiss escaped him. He pulled out of Juno’s grip and chuckled at Juno’s disapproving glare. He grabbed the waistband of Juno’s sweatpants, tugging them down. Juno lifted his hips to help and Rome pulled them all the way off, then turned his gaze on the hard cock between Juno’s legs. His mouth watered at the sight and he couldn’t help himself as he bent down to lick a path up Juno’s cock, then swallowed it down. Juno groaned and grabbed a handful of Rome’s hair, holding on as Rome took him to the back of his throat.
He dug his fingers into Juno’s ass, pulling the man closer and deeper. Juno tugged hard on his hair, making him pull back to let Juno’s cock fall from his lips. He straightened and when Juno pulled him close, he lowered his head and pressed his mouth to Juno’s. He took his time to explore Juno’s mouth, Juno’s nails digging into his back spurring him on.