by Ana Night
“I’ll fucking beat you,” Marco growled.
The corner of Neil’s mouth quirked and the way he looked at Marco told Rome to get the hell out of there. Those two kept switching between wanting to kill and fuck each other. It was sure to give Rome whiplash one of these days.
Before Neil had put down his book, Rome was out the door. He walked through the living room, out the patio door, and was greeted by a delighted squeal. He made his way to the pool where he found Dante getting out of the water and running up to Juno who was ready to catch him and throw him back into the water. Rome stopped by the gate to admire his man for a moment. Juno’s shirt was just wet enough to show off Juno’s abs. Juno laughed when Dante splashed water up at him. Seeing that smile on Juno’s face was worth anything he’d have to endure to be able to see it every day.
He opened the gate and walked in. Juno turned, his gaze catching Rome’s. There was a spark of mischief in those green eyes.
Dante got out of the pool and ran up to Juno, yelling, “Again. Again.”
A wicked smile spread on Juno’s lips for a second before he crouched down in front of Dante and whispered something in his ear. Dante nodded vigorously before turning toward Rome. It didn’t take a genius to figure out those two were planning something that involved him.
“Juno…”
Juno’s smile only widened. Rome took a step back and dug his phone out of his pocket. He put it on the sunchair he was next to, knowing better than to take that chance.
“No,” Rome said, his voice firm but it had no effect on those two.
They came at him from both sides, Dante grabbing him by a leg while Juno wrapped his arms around Rome, trapping Rome’s arms against his body. He tried to dig his heels in, but it was hard to do with only one foot. Rome cursed at them as they dragged him to the edge of the pool. He managed to get one arm free and grabbed a fistful of Juno’s shirt. Then he stopped resisting and let himself fall. He pulled Juno with him into the water and wasn’t surprised to see Dante willingly jump in with them. They hit the water with a big splash.
Shit. Juno. Water.
He pulled Juno up and the second their heads were above water he asked, “Are you okay?”
Juno looked shocked for a moment but that was it and when he nodded, it was with a smile on his lips. Juno wrapped his arms around the back of Rome’s neck and pushed close against him.
“Always when I have you,” Juno purred.
Juno’s legs wrapped around Rome’s hips and Juno lowered his head to take Rome’s lips in a hard kiss. Rome groaned against Juno’s lips and pulled back.
“Dante,” he gasped out.
“He’s a bit too young to participate, don’t you think?” Juno asked with a cheeky grin on his face.
Rome snorted and shook his head. He looked over Juno’s shoulder at Dante who was trying to climb onto his unicorn floatie. Half the pool was filled with the kid’s floaties and he somehow kept getting more. He was beginning to suspect Neil as Dante’s supplier. He always seemed to have more stuff after the spook had been there.
Lips against the side of his neck had his attention returning to the man in his arms. He grabbed Juno’s ass, pulling him closer as desire thrummed in his veins.
“Dante,” Marco yelled from way too close.
Rome released a groan and pushed Juno away. Or, at least, he tried to. Juno’s legs were wrapped tight around him. He gave Juno a stern look that didn’t affect Juno whatsoever. Juno lowered his head and ran his nose along Rome’s before pressing a kiss to Rome’s lips.
“We’re gonna be late,” Rome said against Juno’s lips.
“I know,” Juno said and bit into Rome’s lower lip.
A growl rumbled from Rome’s chest and he turned to push Juno against the pool wall. He grabbed Juno by the ass to pull him closer and pushed his tongue into Juno’s mouth.
“No,” Marco snapped, pulling them apart. “If you wanna fuck in a pool you’ve gotta go find someone else’s to do it in.”
Rome dropped his head back with a groan while Juno chuckled. Rome looked up to find Marco standing by the pool, a disapproving look on his face. He narrowed his eyes at Rome and shook his head, then turned. He walked away while asking, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
Rome turned his gaze back on Juno who was biting his lip, an expression on his face that told Rome he wasn’t sorry at all.
“You’re gonna get me in so much trouble, aren’t you?” Rome asked.
Juno pretended to think about it for a moment, then said, “Yes.”
Rome shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. As long as it was with Juno by his side, he’d gladly get into trouble. He cupped Juno’s cheek and leaned in to kiss him.
“Now, Romeo,” Marco yelled.
When Juno began to laugh, Rome let loose one of his own.
Yeah, Juno was trouble. So much trouble. He didn’t want him any other way.
Juno
He pushed open the door to the clubhouse and held it for Rome to enter first. Rome gave him a suspicious look and Juno had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. They’d barely stepped inside before Scar was in front of them, her eyes narrowed in a glare.
“You’re late,” she grumbled.
“Sorry, babe. We had a little swimming pool accident,” Juno said, tongue in cheek.
“Accident,” Rome said with a snort.
Scar’s brows hit her hairline but before she could say anything, Juno asked her, “So, have you gotten your Kitten to marry you yet?”
“Oh please,” Grizz, Wildcat’s father said as he stopped behind Scar. “Take her. I beg you. She’s a menace.”
Scar gasped and whirled around to face him. “How dare you. My Kitten is no such thing.”
A round of disbelieving snorts sounded around her. Even from people walking by them.
“Clearly, someone’s got the rose-colored glasses on,” Juno said.
Scar flipped him off.
The door opened behind them and then they heard Saint ask, “Why the hell are you all standing in the damned doorway?”
Juno turned to see Saint, Nash, and Auggie standing there, all looking somewhere between confused and curious.
Juno pointed at Scar and said, “Her fault.”
Scar mock-gasped and pointed right back at him. “It’s not my fault you’re late.”
“Wait, there was a set time?” Nash asked, sounding worried about it.
“No,” Saint said, took Nash’s hand, and dragged him away from them.
Probably smart.
“Dick,” Scar said to Juno.
“Vagina,” Juno responded, and when she glowered at him, he said, “What? I thought we were naming each other’s attributes.”
“Dumbass. Immature,” Auggie said and when both Scar and Juno gave him a dirty look, he added, “Scary.”
Juno laughed and put a hand on Auggie’s head to ruffle his hair. Auggie batted his hand away while growling at him. Not that he was scary. In the least. He was cute, though.
Juno turned back to Scar and asked, “So what’s the plan with Wildcat?”
“Well, I’ve officially claimed her. She doesn’t know yet, of course. Now I’m just waiting for her to show up so I can tell her,” Scar said.
Juno cocked a brow at her and motioned behind her. “She’s right there.”
Scar whirled around, then glanced over her shoulder at Juno, saying, “See ya, boys, I’ve got a kitten to bag.”
“Good luck.”
She was gonna need it. Not that she thought so.
“Here kitty kitty,” Scar sang as she headed toward Wildcat.
Grizz shook his head and said, “If she was anyone else, I’d fear for her life.”
Juno snorted. “She’s the only one who can get away with calling her Kitten because Wildcat doesn’t want to fight her.”
“She doesn’t want Scar that close,” Grizz said with a teasing smile on his lips.
“Ah. I can smell the denial,” Auggie said.
Juno arched a brow at him. “You sure that ain’t just sweat and beer you’re smelling?”
Auggie gave him a deadpan look and said, “Unless it’s you I’m smelling, then yes, I’m sure.”
Juno flipped him off just as Russell appeared behind Auggie and one look from the guy and Juno was grabbing Rome’s hand to pull him toward the bar. They got on the barstools and Juno flagged down Jordan who was miraculously still behind the bar. Usually, it didn’t take long before Stiletto lured him away from his duties. He never got into trouble for it, of course, because Stiletto was the one upholding the bylaws and, well… counterproductive to punish her own boyfriend for doing what she wanted.
“What do you want?” Juno asked Rome, a smile on his lips as he met Rome’s gaze.
“Don’t really care as long as there’s alcohol in it.”
Juno turned to Jordan and said, “Two gin and tonics, please.”
Scar got onto the barstool next to Rome and let out a big sigh.
“I’ve never been rejected that hard and still felt like it wasn’t actually a rejection,” Scar said.
“No means no, Scarlett,” Rome said with a cheeky smile.
Scar snorted. “Not if they don’t mean it.”
Jordan put a drink in front of Rome and Juno, then turned to Scar and said, “We’ve talked about this. You need to give her some space and let her come to you when she’s ready, instead of going around and claiming she’s your old lady.”
Scar narrowed her eyes at him. “My plan will work just fine, thank you.”
“Just saying, you’ll fuck it up before it’s even begun,” Jordan said. “I do have some experience regarding stuff like this.”
“Sounds like solid advice,” Rome said with a cocked brow at Scar.
Scar huffed and pulled a face at Rome before turning back to Jordan, “Honey. I might—might—consider your advice once your cut doesn’t say prospect anymore.”
Juno wasn’t the only one who sucked in a breath. Jordan gave Scar a bored look, as if she’d used that line one too many times and, knowing Scar, she probably had.
Jordan glanced over Rome’s shoulder, a smirk finding his face. He glanced at Scar.
“Guess you’re about to find out if it worked.”
Rome
He’d barely taken a sip of his drink before a woman with red, curly hair walked up to them. Scar slid down from her stool and Rome, along with Juno, turned on their stools to watch. The woman had to be Wildcat.
“What the hell have you been telling people?” Wildcat snapped.
“What? That you’re mine?” Scar asked, blinking her eyes innocently at Wildcat.
“I am not yours.”
Scar shrugged. “Let’s agree to disagree on that.”
“You are a pain in my ass,” Wildcat growled at Scar.
Scar arched a brow at her and put her hands on her hips. “Sweetheart. You’re afraid to let me be a pain in your ass.”
Wildcat huffed and said, “I am not—”
Scar obviously had enough as she cut her off with a kiss. Wildcat froze for a second, then she grabbed Scar and pulled her closer. Rome shook his head and turned to Juno, only to find Juno with his head tilted to the side as he watched the two of them going at each other like starved women.
“Really?” Rome asked.
Juno blinked, then glanced at Rome. There was a cheeky smile on his face as he shrugged.
“Fuck yeah,” the older man Rome thought to be Wildcat’s father yelled as he walked past them. “Please take her. Keep her. No refunds.”
“Anders,” a smaller woman with graying hair snapped and slapped Anders with her purse.
Juno’s laughter had Rome looking back at him with a smile on his face.
“Oh, trust me, Grizz, Scar ain’t ever letting her Kitten go,” Juno said.
Rome chuckled and turned to look at Scar and Wildcat just as Scar broke the kiss. Wildcat looked stunned for a moment as she blinked at Scar who was gently rubbing her thumbs over Wildcat’s cheeks. Wildcat pulled Scar’s hands down but kept a hold of one. She turned, taking two steps before freezing. Her eyes went wide when she realized everyone were looking at them.
“We need to, err… talk,” Wildcat said and dragged Scar with her up the stairs.
Anders let out a snort. “Talk. Is that what they call it nowadays?”
Laughter filled the room and Rome felt his lips quirk. These people weren’t at all what he’d expected, and he couldn’t be happier about it.
“Aaand we’ve lost him,” Juno said with a sigh.
“Huh?” Rome turned a frown Juno’s way. “Lost who?”
Juno glanced at Rome and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Him.”
Jordan was on top of the bar, swinging his legs over onto the other side to jump down and run after Stiletto who was headed for the dancefloor. Once he reached her, he took her hand and spun her around.
“Well,” Juno said and got down from his stool. “Somebody’s gotta do it.”
Rome didn’t get to ask Juno what he meant before Juno was between his legs, pulling him down for a quick kiss. Juno pulled back, giving Rome a smile before walking away. He watched Juno get behind the bar and start pouring drinks. When Juno caught Rome’s gaze on him, he threw him a wink before getting back to work.
“So,” Bones said as he slid onto Juno’s vacant stool. “Would you still save Serrano over Juno? ‘Cause, man, Juno deserves more than that.”
Rome straightened and met Bones’ gaze, completely serious as he said, “I would kill Marco to save Juno.”
“I hope the fuck not,” came from behind them.
A smile teased Rome’s lips as he said, “Sorry, boss.”
Marco snorted, pushed between their stool to get to the bar and took Rome’s drink. “I get it. Fuck, do I get it.”
Rome looked behind Marco but didn’t see the man he was looking for.
“Where’s Neil?”
“Fuck knows,” Marco grumbled and downed what was left of Rome’s drink.
“Ah. Touchy much?” Bones asked.
Marco turned to him and Rome didn’t have to be a psychic to know the man was glaring at Bones.
“Man, nice try but my girlfriend scares me more than you.”
“She should,” Juno said as he leaned across the bar from the other side, putting a new glass of gin in front of Rome. “She’s Saint’s sister, after all.”
Marco made a sound between a chuckle and a choke. He put his glass on the bar top and slid it toward Juno, motioning for a refill.
“You have a death wish or something?” Marco asked Bones.
“No more than Joker,” Bones said with a shrug, a teasing smile on his lips.
Marco snorted, then said, “Yeah. I heard. The guy must have balls of steel.”
Rome saw Gabe and Joker walking toward them and from the look on their faces, they’d caught Marco and Bones’ conversation.
“Something like that,” Gabe said as he stopped next to Bones’ stool, a barely hidden grin on his face.
Joker let out a huff but didn’t comment which Rome found a bit funny.
“Serrano,” Joker said and shook Marco’s hand. “Glad you decided to come.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“I hate to say it, but you’re always welcome,” Joker said.
Marco opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Joker was pulled away by Gabe who was saying something about his mother. A quick glance showed them heading toward Polly, King’s wife, who looked like she’d just arrived with snacks.
“What he meant is that Rome is family now, thanks to Juno’s less than ideal taste in men,” Bones said to Marco with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “You’re both more than welcome here. As you probably know, we don’t discriminate and we’re also good at keeping secrets.”
“Excuse me?” Marco said, his whole body going stiff.
Juno snorted. “Babe. You’re surrounded by people with great gaydars. Trust me, they know. Besi
des, we,” he said and motioned between him and Bones, “have seen you with your man. You’d have to be blind not to notice.”
Rome could feel how tense Marco was, and put a hand on the man’s shoulder to try and calm him down.
“No one here cares, and, as Bones said, we’re good at keeping secrets. Obviously,” Juno said with a warm smile. “You and King may have some issues but you were willing to put your life on the line for one of us, so trust me, you’re good enough in his book to be called a friend.”
Marco relaxed under Rome’s hand. “I would like that. Friend. I don’t have too many of those.”
A wide smile spread on Juno’s lips and there was a gleam in his eyes as he said, “Lucky I fell in love with Rome, huh?”
“I doubt luck had anything to do with it,” Marco said, wearing a teasing smile.
Be it luck or fate, Rome didn’t care. All he cared about was that Juno was his now. It wouldn’t exactly be easy for them. No one could know about them besides the Kings and Marco because you just weren’t gay in the mafia. He and Marco had always had each other and would always keep each other’s secrets but no one else could know. There was a reason Marco preferred not to have any men at his house and it wasn’t because he wanted to give Dante as normal an upbringing as possible. He wanted that, too, but mostly it was so that he could be himself. So Neil could come and go without anyone questioning it, he was sure was a reason as well.
No, it wouldn’t be easy, and they had to be careful. Except when they were around the Kings, and that was a gift he would’ve never expected. A gift he knew he’d always be grateful for.
Juno
Bones had joined him behind the bar as people got drunker and wanted more drinks faster. He kept half an eye on Rome who seemed to be enjoying himself with some of Juno’s brothers. It was clear they were trying to get Rome drunk, but Rome wasn’t taking the bait. He was, however, getting them plastered.
He went to grab a new bottle of vodka and found they were out of it. He let out a groan and dropped his head forward. He knew he had to go get some. It was a bit hard to make drinks without it. He raised his head, his gaze landing on Rome, then a smile spread on his lips.