For the Love of Flowers

by Kelsey Hodge

  “Sorry, but I must not be hearing things right. I swear I heard you say that you’re going home?” Marco says to me in disbelief.

  “You did.” I watch as the terror appears on Marco’s face.

  “No, Lorenzo, please don’t. Just don’t. Have you thought this through?” Marco’s voice pleads, full of anguish.

  “I’ve thought about nothing since Dad left the shop.”

  I can understand the anguish considering what happened with the last meeting I had with Dad, but I must make him understand. I know what I’m doing.

  Looking over to Wyatt and Liam, I say, “I need to talk to Marco alone for a minute.” I signal with a nod of my head towards the bedroom. We make our way into our room, and we sit on the edge of the bed, with one leg bent underneath us and the other bracing the floor.

  “Lorenzo, be honest with me. Is Wyatt forcing you to do this?” Marco asks, and I almost burst out laughing.

  “No, Marco, he isn’t. In fact, before he knew about Dad coming into the shop, he was talking about trying to get into the family himself,” I reassure him.

  “Holy shit, that’s either brave or stupid. You know, I still find it hard to see the monster behind the man who was a dad to me.” I can tell he’s almost embarrassed to say this to me, but Dad was so much different with him than me.

  “I know. It’s hard to see a monster when you’re acting like an angel, but you believe me, right?” If he has doubt about Dad, what I’m about to tell him won’t go down well.

  “Yeah, I believe you. No one would make that stuff up about their dad if it weren’t real. The cell call and your attack are too much of a coincidence to ignore.”

  “Marco, I need to tell you something, and I want you to hear me out before you say anything.” I see he’s confused, but he agrees all the same. “I have another plan. Yes, I’ll get the information Wyatt needs, but I plan to kill Dad.” There’s an audible gasp from Marco, but as agreed, he doesn’t say anything and lets me continue, “With Wyatt’s plan, he would end up in prison. But that means he can get out, and he would be a shadow over both of our lives. We would never be free to be our true selves and more importantly, love who we want to love. This is a permanent solution, one that frees us completely.”

  Once I finish, I sit there and look at him. I watch as he opens and closes his mouth a few times. He’s obviously trying to find the words. What do you say to the brother who told you he plans to kill his dad? It’s not like he can slap me on the back, saying, ‘Good for you,’ like I got some job promotion. I sit and wait. He’ll find the words in the end.

  “Are you planning on telling Wyatt?” he asks, but he doesn’t me in the eye. I guess he’s still processing everything.

  “I’m not sure now. He didn’t take the others too well.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I realize what I said. Fuck! I think as I look up at Marco, whose eyes are now homed in on me. I had forgotten that I hadn’t told Marco about my involvement in the killing of people. I now hope he didn’t hear, but by the looks of him, he heard me loud and clear.

  “Others?”

  “A slip of the tongue. Ignore me,” I say, trying to deflect, but it hasn’t worked. The anger travels up his face, getting redder by the minute.

  “That’s bullshit. Now, tell me what the fuck you mean by others?”

  I could try to throw him off the scent but considering I told him I was planning to kill our father, I must tell him my involvement in the other murders, including Tony. If my brother is still sitting in front of me at the end of this, I’m going to be surprised. I proceed to tell him everything. I also explain that Wyatt knows everything and has confirmed that because the deaths aren’t reported as suspicious, in the eyes of the law, no crime has been committed.

  “But couldn’t Wyatt reopen these cases? Get the bodies exhumed? Saying there’s new evidence,” Marco asks.

  Shit, I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve taken it as gospel that because it looks like no crime has been recorded, it would be the end of it. Of course, I gave him all the evidence to get these cases reopened. All it would take is for another independent coroner to look at the bodies to know what happened, so why the fuck didn’t he do that?

  “I hadn’t thought of that. Yes, he could have. Especially since he has my gun,” I say, feeling like the biggest fool on the planet.

  “Jesus Christ, Lorenzo, how much is there? Why the fuck do you have a gun and why does Wyatt have it?”

  This conversation hasn’t gone as I thought it would. We were supposed to talk about Dad, not the mini monster in me who has killed people. I go on to explain about Dad giving me a gun and teaching me how to use it. That’s when Wyatt comes back to me, how I gave him my gun to him as a symbol, that I was one hundred percent honest that I wanted out of the family business.

  “That’s one hell of a symbol. You realize you were also giving him the evidence to put you behind bars for a long time,” Marco says, and he seems a little calmer after hearing everything, so I hope this is a good thing.

  “That was the point—other than the evidence thing. I hadn’t thought of that. Do you think I should talk to him about it?” I cannot quite believe I asked my brother for advice on whether I should ask my boyfriend why he didn’t take me in after confessing to the murder. I chuckle to myself, and when Marco gives me a strange look, I say, “You couldn’t write this shit for a soap opera—no one would believe it.” Thank God he sees the amusement there too and gives a little chuckle himself. “Now, back to Wyatt, should I tell him my plan? How do you feel about it?” I ask.

  “Regarding Wyatt, considering you told him about the others, I think you should tell him about the plan with Dad. You should remain honest with him. How I’m feeling—that’s harder to answer. My brain is asking if this is a good thing, for the reasons you’ve said, but my heart doesn’t quite agree. Regardless of this, I’m behind you one hundred percent.”

  The relief I feel is indescribable; knowing my brother is behind me is a beautiful feeling. I’ll also have to get Wyatt’s approval. I’m not sure he’ll condone the murder of someone, even if it’s Dad. “Will you stay while I tell him, to show him you’re with me? It might help,” I ask.

  “If that’s what you need,” he says, and I nod. We get up from the bed, and stretch out the legs we’ve been sitting on. We’ve been talking so long, they’ve gone numb. I don’t think either of us had realized the length of time that has passed. As we walk into the room, Wyatt looks up and smiles.

  “You guys were gone a long time. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, there were some things I need to talk to him about, and I need to do the same with you and Liam. Is he still here?”

  Confused, he replies, “Yeah, he went to the bathroom.” He points down that hall and as if on cue, we hear the toilet flush and the sound of water running. I make my way back over to my seat on the couch, and Marco takes the chair next to me. We keep our eyes trained on the hallway. As he appears in the living room, he stops dead in his tracks because of all the eyes looking at him.

  “What? Is there something on my face or in my hair?” He wipes his face and runs his hand through his hair to find the cause of the stares.

  I put him out of his misery. “Liam, there isn’t nothing on your face or in your hair. We were waiting for you. I need to talk to the both of you.” I point a finger at him and Wyatt.

  “This doesn’t sound good,” Liam replies as he walks over to the kitchen chair he had pulled over and sits.

  “That’s my thinking too,” Wyatt adds.

  I look over to Wyatt. “I wanted to talk to Marco before talking to you. I wanted to make sure he is with me, and thankfully he is. Know I want to tell you because I made a promise to never lie to you again.”

  “This sounds bad,” Wyatt interrupts.

  “Will you shush and listen? Even if it’s only for a few minutes,” I tell him and then continue, “I’ve come up with an addition to your plan. Going to prison is no longer enough. I need to make s
ure that both Marco and I have the lives we deserve. That won’t happen if Dad is in prison.”

  Wyatt has understood what I’m implying with that statement, but Liam hasn’t been so quick. Wyatt looks to Marco and asks, “You agree with him?” I like the fact that he answers him truthfully.

  “My heart doesn’t, but my head does. Lorenzo’s argument is right. This will be the only way we can live our lives open.”

  Liam, still looking confused, asks, “Sorry, but I’m confused. Why does the new plan affect Marco too? He has nothing to do with the business.”

  “Liam, I’m gay, and we’re talking about my father never accepting that.”

  “Okay, but didn’t you say that your father was different with you?” he asks.

  “Not about this. He’s too traditional to see past this,” I explain.

  “So, how does Lorenzo’s plan affect this?” Liam still asks.

  At this question, Wyatt looks over to me. I wish I could read him, but he has closed off his features to me, and I hate it. Then he still looks at me dead in the eye and says with stone-cold clarity, “Because Lorenzo is planning to kill his dad!”

  Chapter 24 - Wyatt

  “That’s right,” he confirms, but I had for some reason been hoping he would deny it. The look of his and Marco’s faces tells me this won’t happen, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck go up. I’m a mess of emotions. My cop head tells me this is wrong, and we should allow the legal system to work, but my heart tells me this will finally give him the peace he so desperately desires. Not just that, but he’s doing it so his brother can have the same. My eyes haven’t left his, and when he tilts his head to me and gives me a slight smile, I know he understands the struggle I’m facing.

  “Please try to understand, Wyatt, this isn’t something I’ve just jumped to. I haven’t decided if I’ll kill him myself, or if it will be done another way.”

  I almost laugh at this statement and can’t help the sarcastic tone in my voice as I reply, “Is that supposed to make me feel better? My boyfriend can’t decide if he should kill his dad himself or organize a hit—both of which are still illegal.”

  Lorenzo is taken aback by my reply. He honestly thinks this would somehow make him feel better about everything. In either situation, he’s still killing his father, whether he pulls the trigger or not. Liam and Marco pipe up that they should leave us alone, and I agree to walk them out. Marco gets to the door first but before he leaves, he asks Lorenzo to let him know when he’ll be moving. He promises if he hears anything from his parents, he’ll let us know. He wishes us both a good night before rushing out the door. Liam, on the other hand, hovers for a second and whispers to me so Lorenzo can’t hear, “Think about what Lorenzo has said tonight. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  He then shouts good night over to Lorenzo who returns the gesture. With me, he gives a nod of the head and is gone. I make my way back over to Lorenzo and sit, staring at him. I wonder if after everything that has been said today, I take him in my arms and hold him, which they’re craving to do. When the eyes staring back to me reveal the same need in them, I pull him into me, turning him as I do so his back is flush against my chest, and I wrap my arms around him.

  “Can we forget about everything for the rest of the night? We only have a limited amount of time together, and I sure as hell want to make the most of it.” I kiss the back of his head. I swear that I feel him smiling.

  “I like the sound of that,” he says.

  That’s how we stay, enjoying being in each other’s arms. Eventually, I feel that Lorenzo has fallen asleep in my arms. I pull him in tighter to me, make sure I memorize every inch of him, and how his weight feels against me. I even inhale his scent, smelling the spicy undertone of body wash with a mixture of flowers. It’s so distinctly Lorenzo, and for the first time in a long time, I close my eyes and say a simple prayer, “Please Lord, keep this man safe. He’s my everything.”

  I must’ve fallen asleep because next time I open my eyes, the room has gone darker. When I look out the window, dusk has arrived. The sky is a beautiful combination of yellow, orange, and even pinks. I feel Lorenzo stir in my arms, and I kiss him below his ear. I follow that with another one a little lower. He leans his head to the side, exposing more of his neck. I follow his lead and place more kisses down his throat. I pull his shirt out of his pants, slowly unbutton them, and pull them open.

  I flatten my hand over his abs, taking my time to commit every delicious bump to memory. These are the memories that will carry me through our time apart, so I’ll make sure I cover every inch of him. Running my hand over his firm pecs and rub over his nipples, I feel them get hard under my ministrations.

  I push him forward an inch so I can remove his shirt, throwing it on the floor. Then I undo the top few buttons of my shirt and pull it over my head. I pull Lorenzo back into me, feeling the heat of his naked chest seep into my own. Kissing his neck, I’m gifted with a moan as he leans further into me, if possible, and rests his head in the curve of my neck and shoulder. My hand moves down to the crotch of his pants, and I feel his hard cock already straining against the zipper. I cannot resist but caress his cock even though it’s covered by the material of his pants. From the noises erupting from Lorenzo, he’s enjoying it all the same. I unbuckle his belt and pull it open. I drag the zipper down, enough to expose his boxer-covered cock.

  Now that it’s no longer trapped behind the zipper, I can see the head peeking out of the waistband of his boxers. There’s a small droplet of pre-cum glistening, and I collect it with my thumb and suck it off, tasting the sweet bitterness on my tongue. I return my hand to his cock and rub him over his boxers, loving the feel of the soft cotton over his cock. Soon, this isn’t enough, and I need to feel his skin on skin. With that, I slip my hand under the waistband of his boxers and take a firm grip of his cock, loving the feel of soft velvet skin in my hand. I apply the right amount of pressure, to cause a sweet mewling sound to come out of Lorenzo. Another drop of pre-cum appears, which I pick up with my fingers and rub all over his cock to act as lube. I then stroke him in slow up-down movements, tormenting him with every stroke, drawing out his enjoyment. Tonight won’t be a quick session; tonight will be a moment to commit every movement and moan to memory—and it will be so much fun.

  My jeans have gotten tighter and tighter while I’ve been playing with Lorenzo, and I feel the hard edge of my cock resting in the crack of Lorenzo’s ass cheeks. I know when he feels it too; he moves up and down, causing the material to rub against my cock. I feel a damp spot appear on my boxers as he entices the pre-cum from me, and I need to feel him entirely against me.

  “Let’s move this to the bedroom. I need to feel you naked against me.” I don’t have to ask him twice. He stands as quick as a flash, holding his hand out to me to help him up off the couch. I take his offer, but the moment I stand in front of him, I tug on his arm, causing him to fall into me. I pick him up, crushing our lips together in a searing passionate kiss. He instantly wraps his arms around my neck and legs around my waist. I move my arms to cradle his ass, pushing the fabric of his pants into his crack and rubbing it over his hole. I feel his gasp against my lips. I carry us like this to the bedroom, kissing him all the way. I walk to the end of the bed and lean down to deposit him on the edge. When he unwraps his legs, I take them in hand and remove his shoes and socks. Moving a step back, I take the waistband of his pants and boxers, yanking them down and pulling them off in one complete move.

  “Move up on the bed,” I demand and watch as he shuffles up the bed, resting his head on the edge of our pillows. His body looks fantastic. All hard edges and the olive color of his skin stand out against the crisp-white sheets beneath him. With his body stretched out on the bed, his rock-hard cock lays against his stomach, dripping pre-cum onto it, begging to be licked. I kneel on the bed to do just that. I wrap my hand around it, pumping it a couple of times, and I look up into Lorenzo’s face to watch him licking his lips.

  He points
to my pants and yells, “Off!” I smile and stand back up off the bed. At first, his eyes don’t leave mine. As I first remove my shoes and then my socks, he sees me unbuckling my belt. He shifts his eyes lower and watches as I pop the bottom and push my jeans down over my ass and then over my cock, making it spring up from its restraints and stands at attention. His pupils expand with desire, and he licks his lips again. He’s thinking the same thing I am.

  I kneel on the bed and make my way to him before Lorenzo has the chance to move. When I reach his right foot, I kiss his arch and then proceed to his ankle and continue up his legs, kissing every few inches. Once I reach his groin, I stop and move over to the left leg and repeat the kisses every few inches. This time when I get to his groin, I move down and kiss his balls, gently taking one in my mouth and sucking. This makes Lorenzo wiggle and moan. I let go of his balls and finally do what I’ve wanted to do since seeing him lying out on the bed. I run my tongue up his cock, following the prominent vein that’s sticking out against his flesh. As I get to the tip, I lap up the pre-cum, pressing my tongue against his piss slit. I then take the top of his cock into my mouth, and I run my tongue around the sensitive edge. I take more of him until I feel the tip lifting the back of my throat. I back up and let him drop from my mouth. I gently blow on the cock tip before I take him into my mouth again. This time, I grip the base of his cock and use my mouth and hand to pleasure him but at a painfully slow rate. Lorenzo bucks his hips to get more friction.

  I can tell he’s getting frustrated. I’ve tormented him long enough. I up my pace and apply more pressure, and his moans become more breathless. I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation of Lorenzo’s cock sliding in and out of my mouth. He then reaches out and tugs my hair to stop me.

  “Wyatt, I’m close. Please, I want to come with you inside,” he says.

  I look up at him, pull off his cock, and say, “That can be arranged.”

  I make my way up to his chest, kissing and licking as I go. I scrape my teeth over his nipple and suck it while tweaking the other one with my fingers. I’m at the base of his neck, and I lick a trail up his throat to the edge of his chin. I blow on the line, cooling down the heat-sensitive skin and finally, I kiss his lips, my tongue gaining access. The kiss becomes frantic. I grind my cock against his.