"What kind of auction?"
"The kind where illegal things get sold to people with enough money and power that legality doesn't matter." I felt him tense. "Art. Information. Access. Sometimes people."
"People."
"Not slavery. But influence. Connections. Arrangements." I pulled him closer. "I've heard rumors about these events foryears but never been invited. The Costellos control access. They use it to build alliances and debts."
"And they're inviting you now because...?"
"Because they want something. Or they want to show me something. Or they genuinely want peace and think this is how to demonstrate good faith." I kissed the top of his head. "We'll find out Saturday."
"I'm not sure I want to see this."
"Then don't come. I'll go alone."
"No." He shifted to look at me. "I meant what I said. I want all of you. Even the parts that scare me. Especially those parts."
"Why?"
"Because love means accepting the whole person. Not just the sanitized version. Not just the parts that are comfortable." He kissed me. "Show me your world, Sandro. All of it. I can handle it."
I hoped he was right.
Because what we were about to walk into would either strengthen what we'd built or destroy it completely.
And I wasn't sure which outcome was more likely.
***
Friday morning I RSVP'd to the Costello invitation. Confirmed attendance for two. Received coordinates for a warehouse in Red Hook.
"Of course it's a warehouse," Emilio said when I told him. "Why would it be anywhere normal?"
"Because normal doesn't exist in our world." I pulled him close. "Last chance to back out."
"Not backing out. Just commenting on the predictability of criminal gatherings happening in warehouses."
"This won't be like anything you've seen before. I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
"Whatever you see tomorrow night, don't react. Don't judge. Don't try to fix it or stop it or report it." I looked at him seriously. "Just observe. Process. Decide afterward whether you can live with knowing this world exists."
"I can already live with it. I'm with you, aren't I?"
"This is different. This is the underbelly I've kept you away from. Once you see it, you can't unsee it."
"Then I'll see it." He kissed me. "And I'll love you anyway. Because that's what I do."
I pulled him into my arms and hoped he was right.
Hoped that love really was strong enough to survive the darkness.
Hoped that showing him the worst of my world wouldn't destroy what we'd built.
But I wasn't counting on hope.
I was counting on Emilio's strength.
