When Alessio said he would handle Caio, this was not what I had in mind. I was supposed to be with Andrei and Nikki, but Luca had alerted Alessio he couldn’t take the club rounds tonight because Theo and their daughter had the flu and he wanted to be around to take care of them. Alessio, being the doctor he is, allowed Luca that. And I was alright with that. It was the fact that the only other person willing to take the club on short notice was Caio. Hence why we were in his truck on the way to the club. 

“When were you going to mention your plans for this evening?”

“If I knew about the plans or made the plans myself, I would have told you. Alessio made them for me, and I only found out a couple hours ago, and he wouldn’t let me refuse them.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. He said something about it and that he offered up as a sacrifice and Nikki was very accepting of it.”

“Try not to get wasted, please.”

“Relax, I’ll have a shot or two. I don’t want a hangover.”

Caio didn’t look like he believed me in the slightest. I wanted to ask him if he was alright around all this alcohol and drinking, but I trusted that Caio wouldn’t have offered unless he was sure he would be alright.

“Caio?”

“Hmm?”

“Meet back up with you just before closing?”

“Yes, I’ll come find you.”

We pulled into the parking lot at half-past nine and Caio and I headed inside. Caio didn’t get carded, but I did. 

“He’s with Andrei and I.” Caio said, after the bouncer gave me back my ID. I felt pretty exposed when we headed inside. I had let Alessio dress me with things out of his closet that he claimed needed to be worn. A pair of black ripped jeans, a burgundy button up t-shirt with cuffed sleeves. I could do not much in the shoe department, since I had a broken foot. Alessio had left the top buttons undone, and I felt like a piece of meat. 

Caio had looked over the outfit a few times when we were getting in the truck, but didn’t say anything. I figured he also thought I looked like a piece of meat. Nikki was at the bar, and Caio left me there with him.

“Don’t get shitfaced.”

“Understood.”

Nikki pulled me up to the bar and ordered shots right off the bat. He handed me one and looked around for Caio, or Andrei, before he spoke. 

“Ignore them. They aren’t always watching. Just try to have a good time, ok. Alessio said it was my duty to make sure you had at least that, cheers!”

Tossing back the shot, I followed his lead. He pulled me behind him to the dancefloor and we meshed into the large crowd dancing to the music. We did this for a little while until Nikki yelled over the music. 

“Hey, I’m going to use the bathroom. Get us another round of shots?”

“Yeah sure!” 

Nikki shoved a couple of bills into my hand and went off to the bathroom. Heading to the bar, I ordered another two shots and waited. I bent down and adjusted my foot in the boot. Standing back up, a man bumped into me. 

“Oh shit, sorry. Let me buy you a drink to apologize.”

“Alright.”

“Anything in particular?”

“No, surprise me?”

He ordered a drink, and Nikki came back and I gave him the shot, and we downed them. The guy passed me the drink, and I thanked him. 

“Who was that?” Nikki asked.

“Just some guy that bumped into me and wanted to apologize, so he bought me a drink.”

“Don’t let it go to waste.” Nikki said. I tossed back the whole drink and followed Nikki back to the dancefloor. Looking up at the second floor, I spotted Andrei and, not too far away, Caio. We danced for a few more minutes before Nikki spoke. 

“Let’s grab a table up on the second floor and give your foot a break, then we can come back down. They have drink service upstairs, too.”

“Thanks, my foot is a little sore.”

We were ID the minute we got to the stairs. The guy went to grab my ID and Nikki spoke. 

“This is Matteo Concetta. He’s Alessio’s younger brother. He’s on the list.”

“I need to verify that.”

He took my ID and looked at the last name, gave it back, and apologized. Nikki laughed as he pulled me up the stairs. 

“Does my brother hold weight here?”

“Oh shit, right you don’t know, So Maddox bought these clubs from your mom, but then I guess they decided they wanted to do some moving and tweaking of stuff. The clubs are co-owned by both families now. Alexi says it changes little for his workload, but is a better way for the clubs and club rounds.”

“I had no clue.”

“Yeah. It’s been like this for a year or two, maybe longer.”

 “I missed a lot.”

“Yeah. You have time to catch up with all the changes, though.”

We sat down at the table, and Nikki called over a drink runner. 

“I have a vodka shot, and Matteo will have—-”

“No, thank you. I think I’ve already had too much. I’m not feeling the greatest, if anything, a water please.”

The drink runner left, and Nikki leaned across the table. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel far drunker than I should be.”

“Could be mixing the alcohol. You did have the mystery drink.”

“Yeah, maybe.” 

The longer I sat here in the booth, the higher I felt. I spent enough nights drinking and partying back home to know this wasn’t alcohol alone. 

“Nikki?”

“Yeah?”

“Get Andrei or Caio for me?”

“Why, what’s going on?”

“I don’t feel right. I think I might have been roofied.”

“Relax, you probably just had one too many drinks way too quickly.” Nikki said, panicking. 

“Freaking out isn’t going to help either of us, Nikki.”

“Your brother is going to kill me if—--”

“Calm down.”

The drink runner set the drinks on the table and left. Caio and I met eyes. He started to make his way over. 

“Hey Nikki, go dancing. I’ll be alright.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, positive.”

He got up and spotted Caio coming and took off back to the dance floor at double speed. I set my head in my hands. Closing my eyes and taking deep breaths. 

“Matteo?”

“Call Alessio. Ask him what I should do. I think I’ve been roofied.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t feel well. I feel high, Caio.”

“Did you take any pain medication before you left?”

“No. I didn’t want to drink with it.”

“Are you sure that you’re just not tipsy?”

“Caio, I am sure. I took a drink from a stranger and I’m telling you, I have felt right since shortly after drinking it.”

Caio left the table and went and got Andrei. Andrei called Alessio, and I could hear them speaking. 

“Caio’s going to take you home, and he wants me to suspend all drink service.” He said. Andrei disappeared, and a woman came out with him. He gave her the rundown. 

“Caio, you don’t have to—-”

“Why would you take a drink from a stranger?”

“I didn’t even think about it.”

Caio cursed me out in Italian as he shoved me in the passenger seat of the truck. 

“Caio, I feel really high.”

“Do you feel like you’re getting higher?”

“What?” I said, looking at him, feeling slightly foggy.

“Do you feel higher?”

“No, yes. Maybe. This is different from the stuff I took before at a nightclub with friends from college for fun.”

“You’ve taken drugs before?”

“Once or twice. No big deal.”

“Tell me about college?”

“It was a private college. I did work, drank a bit, went to some night clubs, slept with a few guys, nothing impressive. Wow! I am way drunker than I thought.” I said. 

“That’s the drugs, not the alcohol.”

“I feel bad, Nikki—--”

“He’s fine.”

“But–”

“He wouldn’t have allowed you to take that drink. One of you should have been smarter.”

“Woah, woah, woah. My head is spinning. Listen here—---I need to puke.”

Caio slammed on the brakes, and I opened the door, barely remembering to unbuckle, before I threw up the contents of my stomach onto the shoulder of the highway. Puking twice more, I got back in the truck and he offered me a bottle of water. 

“Caio, I don’t want it. Give me your hand. You can drive with one.” I said, grabbing his hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Shh. I understand you don't have any feelings for me, and that's okay, but I still wish to keep this for a bit.” I said, taking his hand and slipping my fingers into his and holding his hand tightly.  

“Why?”

“It makes me feel better. I think.”

“Alright.”

Caio was quiet the rest of the ride back and he let me hang onto his hand. When Caio stopped, it was in front of the medical building, and Alessio was making his way over. I opened the truck door and tried to get out. 

“Matteo? My hand.”

“Huh?” I said, feeling tired. I looked at my hand, and then let go of Caio’s. I was able to get out properly then. 

“Shh. That was a secret.” I said, before leaning over and dry heaving, before throwing up stomach acid. “Oh, that burns.” I whined. 

“Let’s go.” Alessio said, grabbing my upper arm.

“With you? Caio!” 

“You can go home, Caio. I’ll deal with Matteo.” Alessio said. 

“Don’t tell him what to do. He doesn’t like it. He… e is mine.” I said. Looking right at Alessio. “Caio, Tell him!”

“Let’s go.”

“No! Don’t let me take him! Caio!” I yelled, trying to pull away from Alessio. 

“Matteo. Enough.” Alessio said firmly, yanking me inside against my will. He gave me a bucket and watched me.

“I’m so tired…” I groaned, before vomiting into the bucket again.