Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

ERICH

The first time I saw Luca Meier, I thought Wolfgang Suarez had decided to drain me after all.

And he still may, if he discovers who I’m obsessed with…

The Hand of Death liked to remind me he could kill me, but I had his number. I suspected Wolfgang was a big softie beneath his intimidating, black-suited exterior, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for those he cared about.

A short list that inexplicably includes me.

I hope…

The first time we met, he’d drained a group of muggers kicking the shit out of me in a Berlin back alley. He later materialized at my hospital bed like some angel of death, offering me a permanent position on his payroll in exchange for my silence and my name on the dotted line of one of his infamous contracts.

I hadn’t needed the money at the time, and I still didn’t, but I was more than happy to pledge loyalty to the man—the so-called villain—who’d saved my life .

Wolfgang wasn’t the most forthcoming person when it came to sharing personal information—which was very ‘German’ of him, in my opinion—but I’d gathered enough over the years to know Luca was the closest thing to an actual father Wolfgang and his siblings had.

In other words, he’s so off-limits, he may as well live on another planet.

Resisting temptation shouldn’t have been a problem. While my touring days were behind me— thank fuck —my famous name and weekly set behind the decks of Benediktion’s 360 Bar meant club-goers of all genders regularly found their way into my bed.

It was all in good fun—a steady stream of meaningless experiences that kept me satisfied until the next batch came along. It was enough, or… it should have been. I shouldn’t need to spend my time pining after a buttoned-up, middle-aged supe, no matter how conventionally attractive he was.

Yet… here I am.

My Oma was a hopeless romantic when she was alive, but despite her half-cocked prophecies about my future, I had no illusions about meeting my prince on the sweat-soaked dance floor in a flash of blinding light.

Then, Luca happened.

When Simon rang last spring, asking for help with planning an impromptu kidnapping disguised as a wedding for Wolfgang, I’d jumped at the chance. My secretly softhearted friend finally finding a ‘tiny tyrant’ who could handle him exactly how he deserved meant there wasn’t a chance in hell I wouldn’t want to be involved in his Happily Ever After.

What I didn’t know at the time was that by agreeing to help, I was about to meet the one person who felt like my missing piece.

Even if the pieces don’t seem to fit.

Yes, Luca was a statuesque specimen—tall and fit for his ambiguous age, with the icy Nordic features I favored—but that was surface level. What I couldn’t decipher was how a man who seemed to know nothing about music could get under my skin.

While I was fine with others following whatever path called to them, there was no good reason for my path to intersect with Luca’s. Much like Wolfgang, his days no doubt consisted of covert meetings behind closed doors, interrupted by the occasional murder.

EDM—specifically, minimal techno and deep house trance—was my life. Beats and rhythm were my currency. The stripped down elements, dreamy resonance, and predictable repetition soothed something inside me.

Music was my first language—the words I used when my speech took longer to develop than my fellow kinders. That natural affinity never left me, and I never questioned it. For lack of a better word, music resonated with my soul, and it was the language I used to relate to others as well.

Luca and I simply don’t speak the same language.

Case in point: When Luca first heard me play during the Suarez twins’ graduation celebration at their Berlin gallery, that arschloch had the balls to ask me how I’d produced such “noise.” He’d seemed genuinely confused, as if my carefully crafted set was nothing but a child banging pots and pans.

Never mind that I’d created every song for him.

Because yes, I was already obsessed with him at that point, and it all started the fateful day we came face-to-face at Wolfgang’s wedding-kidnapping. My vision swam, my knees went weak, and my chest grew so tight, I feared I was having a panic attack .

Like a glitch in the multiverse.

Back in the present, I was experiencing the same terrifying symptoms all over again. My shaking finger was currently hovering over my phone screen, poised to send a desperate text to the very man I couldn’t get out of my head.

Hallo, Luca! If you’re not terribly busy doing important yet mysterious council things, perhaps you would consider a proposition?

My family has a little cottage in Schrocken, but none of those stinkstiefels are available to play in the snow with me.

Before I could continue overthinking—the text and the inexplicable interest I had in this man—I hit send.

Then, I immediately panicked and sent another message in a futile attempt at levity.

I’m operating under the assumption that you, being Swiss, do, in fact, ski.

With the damage done, I had no choice but to toss my phone to the mattress and flop onto my bed beside it with a pained groan.

Perhaps I should permanently relocate to the Alps.

The better to hide from The Hand of Death and these… emotions.

Imaginary threats of bodily harm aside, this situation was doing a number on me. I’d always believed myself immune to such things—had always been completely upfront with my partners to not expect anything beyond sex and platonic affection. Unfortunately, what I felt toward Luca was suspiciously skirting the edge of… romance.

What on Earth is happening to me ?

Despite my history, here I was, obliterating my entire sense of self for a superpowered man who would probably take one look at my texts and go about his corporate day.

“Schei?e!” I exclaimed as my ass started vibrating.

By the time I’d wrestled my phone out from under me, I could only stare in horror as my traitorous finger pressed accept on an incoming call.

Yet more evidence of our incompatibility.

“H-hallo?” I stuttered.

“Bonjour,” Luca replied in clipped French before switching to the English he used outside of council business in Geneva. “You are well, Erich?”

I briefly closed my eyes and took a moment to compose myself, pathetically struggling to form basic words upon hearing his voice say my name.

It’s like a drug.

The best drug…

“I am well,” I replied like a broken automaton. “And you?”

Luca made a small, amused sound. “Better than I was a moment ago, trapped in a meeting discussing important yet mysterious council things.”

I grimaced. “It was a joke…” I weakly muttered, feeling like a naughty child who’d been summoned to the schoolmaster’s office, preparing for punishment.

Not that I would mind punishment, coming from him…

This time, Luca openly chuckled. “It was quite accurate, although I would’ve added ‘tiresome’ to the list of adjectives provided. However, your well-timed interruption gave me good reason to excuse myself. It appears you are inviting me to escape to the Alps, no? ”

Is he… asking me?

I quickly scrolled through my recent texts, sighing when I realized I never outright invited him.

The Swiss and their precision.

“Ja,” I replied before reminding myself English was our best bet for communication. “I would like you to join me at my family’s cottage for the…” I trailed off before glancing at my phone again, eyes widening in horror. “Ah, schei?e! I forgot it’s a Tuesday. Of course you can’t simply leave your job to?—”

“I can,” he brusquely interrupted, making my dick twitch. “If you tell me the coordinates… the address, rather, I shall meet you there later today.”

My breath caught and my eyes crossed at not only Luca’s strangely sexy, business tone, but that he was agreeing to this plan in the first place.

I may need to lie down again.

Placing the call on speaker, I switched to the tab I already had open for his prospective journey.

“Swiss Railway departs every hour to Zürich. From there, you would travel on to Bludenz, and I could pick you up from the train station once you arrive…”

What am I doing?!

Luca released that vaguely amused sound again, and I leapt to my feet, scrambling to redirect from the fact I was planning his trip like some kind of…

BOYFRIEND!!!

“Obviously, you are more than capable of researching this on your own.” I ran my hand through my disheveled hair while pacing my closet-sized bedroom, already wondering how I was going to survive days in this man’s presence. “And you can grab a taxi from Bludenz, if you prefer, but a train would be the quickest and easiest way to travel?—”

That amused little chuckle blessedly interrupted my rambling. “Would it now?” Luca mused, almost to himself, before continuing. “I rather like the idea of you collecting me from the Bludenz train station like a piece of lost luggage. Why don’t you select a departure time for me as well? Simply text me the details, and I will pay for the ticket at Will Call. I need to tie up a few things here for the next hour or so, but otherwise, I am at your disposal.”

My mouth dried up at the thought of Luca truly being “at my disposal,’ but I managed to coherently wrap up the conversation so I could get started on my marching orders.

Including buying my own ticket…

Twenty minutes later, I was packed and texting him yet again, feeling oddly energized.

Councilman, a seat has been secured for you on the 13:15 for Zurich. There will be a bit of a wait before your next train arrives, but I’ll be waiting at Bludenz to collect my luggage.

Before I could start spiraling over how I’d just referred to Luca as mine —even in luggage form—he replied.

Luca: Perfect. What time am I scheduled to arrive?

Precision required.

19:30. Upon arrival, look for the rustiest Volkswagen driven by the handsomest chauffeur. I’ll be the guy next to him.

I could almost feel Luca’s amusement from miles away .

Luca: Here’s hoping my journey feels like a quick hop. See you tonight, Erich.

I was thankful he couldn’t see me now, as the smile stretching across my face was practically shameful. After one last check of my apartment, I donned my heavy coat and slung my duffel over my shoulder, practically vibrating with excitement for the adventure ahead.

Even if I’m staunchly determined to keep that to myself.

Since I wouldn’t want to scare off the councilman…