I stand up straighter, squaring my shoulders. “We rule.”
Matt smiles. “Damn fucking skippy. We’ve earned that right through blood, sweat, and tears. Grady hasn’t earned a damn thing.”
His lips meet mine in a passionate kiss, and bit by bit he inches me back to the tree trunk. Once my back is flush with the trunk, he fumbles with the fly on my slacks. His movements are hasty and erratic, and he groans into my mouth.
“They’re expecting us back,” I mutter into him.
“Let them wait,” he says as he pulls my cock free. “I need this—need you—before I face Grady tonight.”
Matt works my cock hard with a few feverish strokes. I thrust into his hand, moaning as his tongue probes my mouth. He places his other hand on the tree trunk, steadying himself, and before I shrink back inside myself from the early fall cold, he grinds his hips against me, creating warm friction.
“This is why I’ll win,” he murmurs, fondling my balls. “You are why I’ll win. Grady has no one. He has no reason to live. I have every reason to live, every reason to survive, every reason to come out on top.”
“Speaking of being on top,” I pant, “should I turn around?”
“No.” He yanks my pants down, grabs my hips, and hefts me up. I wrap my legs around his waist and moan as he spits onto this hand and fingers my ass, lubing me with his warm saliva.
When he deems me ready, he pulls out his own hard cock and positions for entry. I cry out the moment he spears me, shuddering and clinging to him. His strong arms hold me aloft, and he kisses me hungrily while he works his way inside me. Soon, we’re both shouting our desires as Matt fucks me into the tree. If not for the expensive fabric of my suit, my back might end up as trashed as my hands, though I worry about my ability to sit properly for a while after this. The rough bark scratches my ass cheeks with each thrust.
I realize how dangerous this is, how risky. If anyone from the Syndicate were to find us like this, our secret would be out. There might be some of our members who would side with Matt and me, who would look past the gay sex, but others would reject us. I could easily see a mass exodus of Syndicate employees fleeing to join Javier if we were found out. One witness is all it would take to tip the tides in Dad’s favor.
All this flits through my mind in a heartbeat, replaced instantly when Matt twists his hips and hits a different angle. I shudder and shout, and Matt comes deep inside me, pinning me to the tree with his hard body.
The moment is entirely too brief. Soon we’re disentangling, separating, cleaning up. Matt helps me readjust my clothes since my hands are still oozing.
“C’mon, baby,” he says softly. “I had Jules wait at the edge of the property. We should go back.”
I stiffen at the mention of our senior officer. I’d been so upset that I forgot Matt never goes anywhere alone. Someone had to come with him, which means someone possibly heard us. If Jules tells anyone …
“It’s okay, Aron. Just come home with me.”
“But Jules—”
“Is loyal, and he knows how to keep his mouth shut.” Matt strokes my cheek. “Come on.”
We trudge back through the woods with Matt holding my upper arm, like he’s bringing me in for some infarction. I don’t know what I’m supposed to have done, but if it keeps up appearances, then so be it. I’ll just keep quiet until we’re alone again.
The stares as we reenter the estate are … uncomfortable. I suppose I can’t blame them. My father betrayed the Syndicate not even a week ago, and now it appears that I’m in trouble for something. Do they think I’m a turncoat as well?
I brought this on myself, I guess. I’ll be lucky if someone doesn’t take this as an opportunity to get closer to Matt, to suck up to the don by taking out another traitor.
When we reach the middle of the courtyard at the end of the drive, where most people have congregated, Matt stops. He raises my hand and slowly meets the eyes of every man and woman standing there.
“See this blood? This is the kind of loyalty I expect here at the Syndicate.”
Wait, what?
He continues, and I try to keep my face neutral despite my surprise.
“There was a spy in the woods. Sensors didn’t pick him up, but Aron found him. Hunted him down. Slaughtered him.” He waves towards the woods with his other hand. “Don’t bother going to see the evidence. We’ve disposed of what was left. Let this be a warning to anyone who thinks they can pull a fast one on Don Matteo or on Aron here. We. See.Everything.”
Murmurs and hushed whispers ripple through the small crowd. Gia beams as if in pride, but I find it hard to believe, knowing what I know. She’s probably putting on a face for the rest of them, faking it to build on the rumor of our supposed relationship.
Matt takes me straight to the physicians’ wing, barring anyone else from entering while I’m patched up. Unfortunately, he doesn’t stay. He leaves as soon as I’m in the doctors’ capable hands, claiming the need to get ready for his fight with Grady. He pats me on the back, gives me a “Good job, my friend,” and walks out before the first cut is even clean.
I allow the doctors to clean and stitch my wounds, put a few adhesive strips on them, and inject me with strong antibiotics, but when they start to apply the stark white bandages, I decline.
I want everyone to see.
