Alessio was cleaning up around me when I opened my eyes and looked to see what he was doing. My head was pounding like an angry man with a drum.

“Ugh, how much did I drink last night?” I groaned.

“Not as much as you feel like you did.” Alessio said, rolling over on his stool and he blinded me with his penlight.

“Could you fucking not?”

“You got roofied last night, Matteo.”

“That explains my fucking headache, and maybe the hangover?”

“Nikki says you took a drink from a stranger last night. We are pulling the cameras—-”

“Did I do anything stupid last night?”

“Honest answer or?”

“Oh god. I did. Alessio, tell me it wasn’t to do with Caio?”

“Calm down, I’m sure he will recover from holding your hand.”

“Thank god.”

“It’s when you claimed he was yours that I’m not sure he will recover from.”

“Fuck, I have to get up and apologize.”

“No, you need to stay here at least until I'm done taking all your vitals and we have a conversation about drugs.”

“Why?”

“You told Caio you tried drugs in Italy?”

“It was once or twice. I didn't like them, so I didn't do it anymore.” I said truthfully. “I knew it was a shitty idea to begin with, but I was drunk.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“I’m not ashamed of it. But why would I tell Caio?”

Someone cleared their throat in the doorway, and I looked up to see Caio was standing there.

“You told me it was different from the other party drugs you tried.”

“Ugh. My head is killing me.”

Alessio did all his tests and felt confident about letting me go. Caio and I walked back to the complex, and he was pretty quiet until we got inside his wing. He closed the door, and as I took off my shoe, he spoke.

“What do you remember from last night?”

“Not enough. Alessio told me I forced you to hold my hand, and um…. that I claimed you were mine.”

“Yes.”

“I really didn’t mean to say that. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to throw myself at you and—--”

“You're fine Matteo. I know it was the drugs.”

“But—-”

“Go rest. You’ve had a rough night.”

“But Caio—”

“Let me get you a drink of water, then you can go lay down.”

“Are you not going to let me properly apologize for my behaviour last night?”

“There's nothing to apologize for. You were unknowingly drugged, and your behaviour is from that.”

“Why are you so sure about that, huh?” I said, my head pounding like a drum solo.

“You openly expressed your feelings last night with me. You wouldn’t have done that if you were under the influence.”

“I did not!”

“Are you sure about that? You held my hand for almost an hour last night, and you said it made you feel better, Matteo. I have no reason to lie about what happened.”

My cheeks heated in embarrassment, and Caio got me some water. Holding it out to me. I looked at the glass, trying to figure out where I could grab it now to avoid our hands touching again.

“Just set it down. I'll get to it in a moment.” I muttered.

Trying to remember what happened last night was spotty and frustrating. Caio was closer, the glass still in his hand.

“Take the water, drink it, and go rest.”

Realizing he wasn’t going to stop until I took the water and went to rest, I grabbed it from the rim and pulled it up out of his hand. I took a few sips before setting it back on the counter and heading to the spare room.

Laying down on the bed, I covered my head with one of the two pillows. I was so tired, and just wanted to sleep. Trying to sleep in the clothing that Alessio gave me was horrible. Sitting up, I undid the velcro on the boot and pulled my foot out. Unbuttoning the pants, I tried to figure out how to get them off, but alone, I couldn’t. Alessio had helped me into the pants. I already shamed myself last night with my behaviour. It really couldn't get any worse.

“Caio?” I mumbled. I was hoping he wouldn't hear me, but when he opened the door, I was regretting calling him for help.

“Did you need something?”

“No, just seeing if you were still here.”

“Are you stuck in those?”

“No. Of course not.” I said, trying to shove them down even harder.

“Here, let me help.”

“No, thank you. I’ve got this.” I said, my face heating again as I struggled. Caio just stood there and watched me until I finally laid there in defeat. “Help me.”

I lifted my hips and Caio yanked them down my legs and off my good foot before dragging them off the broken foot.

“Do you need a hand with—--”

“Go! Just leave me in shame!” I yelled, covering my face. Caio left the room, and I didn’t move. I just laid there, in my shame. I was going to give Alessio his just desserts for those terrible pants. There was no way even without the broken foot I would have been able to get them fucking things off on my own.

Caio returned.

“Can’t you just leave me in my shame?”

“No, I brought you a shirt and pants. Both are loose, and will be easy for you.” He set them on the bed beside me before turning towards the door. “Now I’ll leave you in your shame.”

He left and grabbed the clothing, sitting up from where I was laying in my shame. Bringing them up to my nose, I sniffed the clothing and frowned. They smelled clean, like fresh laundry. But they didn't have the scent I wished they would. Caio.

Unbuttoning the rest of the shirt, I pulled it off and tossed it away. I pulled the shirt on and sighed. I didn’t want to struggle with getting another pair of pants on. Shoving them to the floor, I rolled on my stomach and straightened myself out a little before closing my eyes.

I could hear Caio talking when I woke up.

“Should he have that boot off?”

“He can. He shouldn't really be sleeping in it, anyway.”

“Alright.”

“I hope he wasn't too much trouble for you last night. I shouldn't have suggested that he go.”

“Alessio, It’s not your fault. You didn’t know he was going to get drugged, and you didn't force him to drink the drink. He did that all on his own. Something worse could have happened. But it didn’t.” Caio said.

I rolled onto my back and listened to the conversation.

“We are pulling the cameras. Sasha and Demitri are looking over all the footage. They are sure they will find someone responsible, but Lev had a good point last night. That drink might have been intended for me.”

“Or it could be more simple than that. He spotted your brother, liked the way he looked, and picked him.”

“Whatever it was, I’ll make sure he pays for it.” Alessio said, darkly.

“You're making a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be.” I yelled out from the bedroom, stretching out on the bed. Slipping my foot back into the boot, I did it up before heading out of the bedroom.

Alessio was dressed in a dress shirt and dress pants. I raised an eyebrow at him, not used to seeing him dressed up to this extent.

“Lev and I just got back from a meeting with a couple of other families. Maddox included.”

“What was it about?” I asked.

“Gang related incidents.”

“Hmm, once this damn foot is better, and Vito brings me back my weapon, I can help—-”

“Vito is bringing you back a weapon? This is the first I’ve heard of this.” Alessio said, bringing his cup of coffee up to his lips.

“Yes. I asked for my handgun.”

“I wasn’t aware you owned one.”

"Of course I do." I replied.

“What use would you have for one while you were going to college, and doing paperwork, unless that wasn't the extent of the work you were doing for Emilio, and if that's the case, What the hell do I pay him for?”

I looked at Caio, and Alessio spoke again.

“Don't look to Caio for assistance. You talked yourself into this hole, Matteo.”

"Look, I needed money, and to stay in shape, and Emilio needed a hand. We made a simple trade. I did his work, we split the money sixty, forty, and he didn't open his mouth about where I was. I thought it was more than fair."

"Matteo, do you have any idea what kind of danger you could have been in doing that shit?"

"Yes, Alessio. I am pretty familiar with the risks associated with our family's line of work."

"You couldn't get a job at a cafe or something?"

"Yes, because that is safer, as the grandson of a former mafia don, and now the younger brother to the current head. Yes, that's very safe."

"Matteo, if anything would have happened to you, I wouldn't have been alright. I would be destroyed."

"Nothing did. So don't panic."

Caio finally spoke. "I warned you he wouldn't be happy about finding out."

Alessio clicked his tongue, took a deep sip of his coffee.

"So Caio knew before me, huh?"

"Oh relax. It came up in conversation, that's it."

Wobbling into the kitchen further, I grabbed a coffee cup and added two sugars and a single cream. I poured the coffee in, stirred and took it to the table with me. I grabbed Caio's half-full cup of cold coffee and pushed the hot one back into its place.

Both Alessio and Caio watched me as I brought Caio's cup of cold coffee to my lips and drank it. Setting it back down, Alessio looked disgusted.

"I'm not a fan of hot coffee, and Caio won't drink cold coffee. It's an easy trade." I muttered.

"You were a little creep as a teenager." Alessio groaned, looking at Caio, who just looked at the hot cup of coffee in front of him. He picked it up and brought it to his lips, taking a sip and setting it down.

"Alessio isn't wrong. You were a little creep." Caio said.