Page 52 of A Life Betrayed

“Make me regret it,” Rayan said.

Mathias gave him a look that would have set the fear of God in any man but flooded him with an arousal so intense his cock strained against his pants.

“Oh, I will,” Mathias said, his voice deadly serious.

Mathias stood on the balcony, a cigarette perched between his fingers, the smoke curling from its tip as he stared out across the city below, a tapestry of tiny lights in the darkness. Rayan was inside, asleep.

Mathias had been furious to find Rayan at his door, knowing just how dangerous it was for him to be seen in Montreal. But Rayan had wanted to make his protest clear, and the only way to do that—with the little agency he currently possessed—was to go against Mathias’s direct instruction. He was beginning to see that Rayan had grown tired of being sidelined in his own life. As infuriating as his actions were, it was difficult for Mathias to fault him.

What followed had been reminiscent of earlier times—rough and ruthless, a mutual frustration fueling their arousal. Mathias had fucked him face down on the mattress, one hand gripping Rayan’s wrists behind his back, the other clenched around his throat. Rayan’s usual reticence disintegrated as he pleaded in a low murmur for Mathias to let him come. But Mathias remained true to his word. Only when Rayan was moments from release did Mathias reach for the man’s cock, slick and arching, to finally provide him relief. He envied the way Rayan gave himself over completely, wielding his submission with a strange power that was both thrilling and frightening, like free-falling.

Mathias sucked in a lungful of smoke and exhaled, his mind replaying the conversation afterward. They’d been splayed out, the bed a mess of twisted sheets. Rayan lay beside him, his skin still flushed from their exertions.

“It’s strange being back here,” Rayan said, taking in the room, which hadn’t changed much since he’d last been in Montreal.“I used to think if I went through everything in this place, I’d somehow figure you out.”

Mathias’s mouth twitched, amused. “Nothing’s stopping you. But you won’t figure out shit.”

“Yeah, that would be too easy.” Rayan frowned pensively, as though the subject hadn’t been far from his thoughts. “What happens when the cop investigating both of us turns up dead?”

If they weren’t under enough scrutiny as it was, they would be then. “Now’s your chance, Rayan,” Mathias said soberly. “You can disappear for real this time. I won’t stop you.”

“That’s where we’re at?”

Mathias recalled Giovanni’s thinly veiled threat. “It’s not good. Any more heat, and the boss’ll cut me off.”

“What exactly does that entail?”

“I’m not in a hurry to find out.” He’d tried to keep Rayan out of this, but the larger implications of the investigation were coming for him, which was one reason Mathias had found himself entertaining Truman’s suggestion, as unhinged as it was.

“And if you end up in prison instead?”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Rayan gritted his teeth. “What was it you said about doomed promises?”

“It’s not a promise—more a prediction.”

Rayan’s eyebrows pulled together, and his lips flattened into a grim line. “I’m tired of losing everything. I can’t lose you too.”

He looked at Mathias, his eyes betraying the depth of his feeling. No one had ever looked at Mathias like that. The sheer weight of emotion pressed against his armor, causing it to crack. Unable to hold his gaze, Mathias turned away.

“So you’re just going to stay here and take your chances?” Rayan asked.

Mathias didn’t see what other choice he had. Run like a coward? Abandon everything he’d spent his life building? Butthe thought niggled:what have I really built?Once he took his foot off the city’s throat, someone else would just take his place.

“Disappear with me,” Rayan said softly.

“I can’t do that.”

“Then I’m not going anywhere,” Rayan had said.

On the balcony, Mathias pulled out his phone. He punched in a series of numbers and raised it to his ear. There was a click as the line connected, and Mathias spoke into the receiver. “I want in. Your takedown of our little friend—I want a piece.”

Truman chuckled. “I knew you’d come around.”

“What are we looking at?” Mathias continued. The stream of smoke from his cigarette contrasted with the black sky.

“She’s meeting me tomorrow night at the auto-parts warehouse on Chantier Naval Road, around eight. Don’t worry—I’ll take care of preparations.”

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