“Absolutely the fuck not,” Alessio replied.
Theo wasn’t deterred, turning his attention on me with Benoit sidled up beside him, just as interested.“I’m dying to know how long this has been going on. Were you secretly making out in the confessional all this time?”
Alessio opened his mouth, surely about to say something he’d regret, and I clapped my hand over his lips and said, “The lattice doesn’t open.”
“Well, there goes one fantasy,” Theo told Shep, his husband winking in return. “What about how it happened? Did Alessio confess his undying love? Because we all saw it, even though he never admitted it.”
“Actually…” I looked at Alessio, who arched a brow at me. “Yes.”
There was heartbeat of silence, and then, “Wait, really?”
“Really. Showed up on my doorstep and everything.”
“After you showed up on mine,” Alessio pointed out.
“Oh, now thatisinteresting,” Theo said. “You couldn’t resist Alessio’s charms, is that it, fath— Rafael?”
Alessio glared in his direction, but I leaned in to kiss his cheek, recapturing his attention. “Actually, that’s exactly it. He’s been charming me since we were boys, and let’s just say his game only improved as an adult.”
Wolf whistles exploded all around us, to the point I thought we might be thrown out. But I was too busy looking at Alessio to care. His eyes had softened, and a wide smile replaced the tight line that had been there seconds before. The pure joy that flashed across his face made my entire being light up.
For years he’d played second fiddle to my calling, tomypurpose, waiting in the shadows for someone to publicly claim him and love him out loud, and as I stood there in this lobby surrounded by his brothers, I wanted to give that to him. I didn’t want any more doubts between us. No more lingering thoughts of what-if-he-changes-his-mind. I’d loved Alessio since the moment I met him, and while our paths might’ve veered off course for a moment there, we’d found our way back.
“Damn,” Lachlan said. “I knew it. It’s like you’re star-crossed lovers or fated mates.”
Alessio scoffed and glanced at his closest friend. “You didn’t know shit.”
“I knew that you two kiss?—”
“King’s party?” the lady behind the desk interrupted Lachlan, which was a shame, because what he was about to say, I wouldn’t have minded hearing. I’d suspected Lachlan knew somethingthat day we all ran into each other at the coffee shop, and now he’d pretty much confirmed it.
As we headed toward the open door, the guys up ahead started ribbing each other on how fast each of them would be able to break out of the room, throwing down time challenges that sounded impossible considering the sign in the lobby had read,The most difficult escape room in the country.
But I was more than aware of whom I was dealing with, and it wasn’t an everyday, “normal” crowd of men. I was about to step into a vault-like space with a group of guys who could likely break their way into Fort Knox and just as easily escape.
I’d spent years hearing their confessions through a screen, learning about them in pieces. I knew each of them were highly skilled in different ways that helped better our nation, and in turn, the world.I’d heard regret here, and guilt there, admissions never meant for the ears of casual acquaintances, ones that were supposed to stay hidden in the dark. But seeing them like this—casual, loud, teasing, and obviously close—was enlightening. It wasexcitinglearning about this part of Alessio’s life.
I wanted to see him among his brothers. To learn how to be a part of his world. It had been so long since I’d been around others like this, as anyone other than a devoted minister. I was having to change lenses. But this was a whole new adventure, one I was looking forward to taking, as I started to understand the way they all fit into each other’s lives. I only hoped that I, too, could find a place there.
Alessio’s brow furrowed as he leaned in by my ear. “Are you okay? We can leave.”
“No, I’m fine,” I said, and moved with him off to the side of the room, noticing the way he scanned it like a laser. “This is all just a bit…strange.”
He snorted. “They are, aren’t they?”
I chuckled and ran my hand down his arm, his muscles flexing beneath my touch. “They are, but they’re also wonderful. They’re your family, your brothers, and I’m so happy to be here with you today. With them.”
That had a smile splitting Alessio’s lips as he dropped his forehead to mine. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, don’t get too comfortable with them.”
“Why’s that?”
The door to the escape room slammed shut and a lock followed, and as a bright red timer flashed up in the corner, Alessio threw down his own challenge.
“Five minutes or less,” he shouted before crushing my lips in a hard, fast kiss. “Then I’m taking you the fuck home.”
