3. Vito

3

VITO

I showed up for a meeting with my cousins. Lucien hadn’t arrived yet, and Devil and Angelo were looking through the new season lineup for the Boston Badgers. I sucked in my breath when a picture of Zeke Balogh came up on the screen.

“Damn, he’s hot.” Angelo said.

Devil nodded. “I’m going to enjoy the hell out of watching him.”

I snarled. “He’s mine.”

Devil and Angelo both whistled as they turned to look at me.

“Staking your claim, are you?” Angelo asked.

“You both have your men.”

He huffed. “Doesn’t mean I don’t like to look.”

“Right,” Devil said. “I could get lucky. Joe might decide he’s all for a three-way if it’s with a gorgeous hockey player.”

“Should I ask him about that?” Angelo asked.

Devil glared at him. “Fuck no.”

“Exactly,” I said. “I’m the only one who’s free. Balogh is mine.”

Devil raised his brows. “You sound very sure of yourself.”

“I am.”

“What are you going to do? Show up at training and stake your claim on him?”

“Maybe.”

Devil laughed, but Angelo looked me up and down. “You’re fucking serious, aren’t you?”

“I need a distraction.”

“Uncle Dominic not giving you enough work?”

I snorted. “You know he doesn’t trust me like he does Val.”

Devil laid a hand on Angelo’s arm. “Let Vito have his fantasy.”

“It’s no fantasy. You care to place a bet on how fast I make him mine?”

Devil laughed. “Fuck no. You’re a Marchesi. When one of us wants something badly enough, we get it.”

Angelo winced as his boyfriend Cam walked in and glared at all of us. “What do you want now?”

“Nothing,” Angelo said, pointing at me. “It’s all him.”

Cam looked up at the screen where Devil had brought up another picture of Zeke and his stats from the team’s website. Then he looked back at Angelo. “I should hope you’re not planning to make any moves on this young man. You have all you need right here.”

Angelo’s smile was so big and genuine that it made my chest tighten. He loved Cam, and they fit together perfectly. I couldn’t imagine ever feeling like that. Val and his boyfriend, Liam, were the same way. I could barely stand to be around them, even though I missed my brother and all the shit we used to do together.

Maybe Val’s not ignoring you like you think. Maybe you’re just as guilty of avoiding him.

He could make time for just the two of us.

“You all right?” Devil asked me.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I wasn’t about to let them all know how pathetic I was. I really did need a distraction, and Zeke Balogh was going to be it. I’d wanted him when I was in Vegas, and I hadn’t forgotten him. I’d had every intention of tracking him down the next time I was out there, but now he was right here in my city. It had been a while since I’d chosen a man to pursue. I had a hell of a lot of confidence in my charm. I had no doubt I could easily get him in my bed, but I didn’t want easy. I wanted a long, drawn-out game that would hype up both of us until we were ready to explode.

Operation Take Down Zeke was going to be the best thing ever.

I’d been at the arena for all of the Badger’s practices. Until now, I’d stayed high up in the stands and kept my hoodie and sunglasses on. Most people probably thought I was a bodyguard for one of the players, and I was fine with that.

I couldn’t see Zeke well from my position, but that didn’t matter. I had his image emblazoned in my mind. His long, dark hair and his damn smile that held both wickedness and uncertainty, a combo that never failed to do it for me. I’d learned everything I could about him online, and when I lay in bed, I fantasized about how he’d looked stripped out of all his hockey gear, ready and waiting for me to do whatever I wanted with him.

I continued to have plenty of time on my hands since Val rarely called me anymore. He’d been my best friend my whole life. I’d always counted on him when I wanted a drinking buddy or someone to come over and watch a game on Sunday afternoon. Our upbringing hadn’t allowed us to have many friends outside the family, not when the two of us were on the streets together or after our father, Dominic Marchesi, brought us into the family.

I knew Val wasn’t maliciously ignoring me. He deserved time with Liam, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t lonely and restless. I’d never been good at sitting still, but without focus, I’d really go off the rails. That’s why I needed a game to amuse me.

The more I watched Zeke, the more certain I became that he was meant for me. He was going to be mine for more than just a night or two. The time had come for me to move closer to the ice. I wanted to catch his attention. I was ready for him to know I was watching him.

He was a damn fine player when he wasn’t distracted like he’d been at the start of practice today. I had every intention of finding out what had upset him and fixing the problem. Once he’d gotten over whatever had him making mistakes, he threw his whole self into playing. I could feel his passion for the game, and I could only imagine what he would feel like under me, or over me, sharing that intensity.

My interest in him went beyond lust. He intrigued me in so many ways. I learned plenty about his hockey career, but not much about his childhood. I considered having my hacker friend do some digging for me, but I’d decided I wanted to hear Zeke’s story from his own lips, preferably while lying in bed naked after I’d made him come so hard he couldn’t move. I’d bring him water and a snack to replenish himself, then hold him while we talked.

Val thought I didn’t know how to take care of myself, much less someone else, but that wasn’t true. It was true that normally I didn’t give a shit about eating regular meals, getting up on time, or cleaning my apartment, but I knew how to take care of someone else. I’d learned that from the way Val had taken care of me when I was a kid and what he did for Liam now. He thought I didn’t pay attention, but he was wrong.

He and our father thought I would never really grow up, but I wanted to be a person someone else could count on. I’d never been one to lead or take charge, except in bed. I’d gone along with what Val or our father said, even if I often ignored them afterwards and did what I wanted to do. I was ready for more now, ready to take charge of my own life. I couldn’t live in Val’s shadow forever.

My pursuit of Zeke wasn’t going to go over well with the family. An NHL player was too high profile for someone in my role in our business. I needed to stay off the radar, not be splashed all over social media. And worse—one thing I did know about Zeke was that he had a gambling problem and a hell of a lot of debt back in Vegas. He owed money to men the family wouldn’t want trouble with, but I could fix everything if they’d let me.

I caught Zeke’s attention several times while he was on the ice, but he’d looked away quickly. When practice was over, I was ready to turn things up. It wasn’t time to approach him yet, but it was time to let him know what I wanted.

I could already hear Val scolding me, telling me I was stalking the guy, and I needed to either ask him out or back off, but what was the fun in that. I deserved some entertainment.

I usually got what I wanted by being charming. I could smile and compliment my way into most anyone’s pants, but this time I wanted something different: I wanted to let him see the dark side of me up front. Because if he fell for that me, for the man who could stab you while he pulled you close, the man who never hesitated to shoot first, the man who always got what he wanted, then the charming side would be a nice surprise.

He looked my way as he pulled off his helmet and took out the tie in his hair, shaking it free. Even damp with sweat, his hair was beautiful. I couldn’t wait to run my hands through it and watch his curls spring back into place. All those dark curls would look great wrapped around my wrist as I pulled his head back, holding him still so I could fuck him.

The thought had my dick starting to swell. Now wasn’t the time for that, so I pushed my mental images of Zeke away. Right now, I needed to focus on luring him in, making him curious, and also a little wary. I wasn’t afraid to let him know I was a predator, and I was coming after him.

I stared at the spot where he stood, willing him to feel my eyes on him.

When he finally turned around, his eyes locked with mine, and I smiled.

He looked away immediately, like a frightened little rabbit. He recognized what I was even if he couldn’t explain why. I knew he wasn’t afraid of attention, but he saw something in me that let him know I wanted a hell of a lot more than he usually gave to the men who wanted him.

I leaned forward, rested my elbows on my knees, and waited for him to look at me again. He kept his back to me, but his teammate, Lou Johnson, star player and out gay man, looked up and openly studied me.

Was he asking for something?

As delicious and available as Johnson was, I wasn’t interested in him. I pointed to Zeke and made it clear that I wanted him to look at me.

Moments later, he finally did. Our eyes locked a second time, and I waved.

Zeke looked away, spoke to Johnson again, and scurried off. I wanted to follow him. Security would try to stop me, but I was sure I could talk my way into the locker room if I really wanted to. My family name gave me privileges, especially since we were a major donor to the team thanks to Devil and his husband’s love of hockey. They attended every game they could, and this season I’d be right there with them.

I waited as Zeke walked away, and I was glad I did because he looked back. When I made a heart sign and smiled at him, he hurried away again. I loved how fucking jumpy I made him. What did he think I wanted from him?

I wanted to know, but not yet. That would spoil the game.

I’d keep him guessing as I kept watching him. I would draw this game out until he couldn’t stand it anymore, until he needed to confront me, then I’d show him how things were going to go between us.

You’re fucking crazy . I could hear Val’s voice in my head.

But Val had what he needed, and he wasn’t around to keep me sane anymore. I was going to indulge myself, and he couldn’t do a fucking thing about it.