Page 77 of The Silence Lies

Finally, I feel like I’m in a place where all the puzzle pieces are starting to align. Luca has let his guard down fully, Levi and I are starting to find a happy medium between business and pleasure. I know I have a long way to go when it comes to both men. I don’t think for one second it’s going to be easy but I’m hoping they understand that I can’t choose between them. I won’t. It’s not conventional in the slightest, I know, but for the first time since Luciano, I’m finally in a place where I am happy to share myself, not just with one man but two.

A sense of contentment puts a spring in my step as I make my way to the kitchen, switching the coffee machine on and pulling out extra mugs. The tell-tale sign of footsteps approaching has me smiling, and when arms wrap around me, that smile widens.

“Somebody’s happy,” Levi hums against my neck.

“Coffee?”

‘Hmm…” his deep tenor rumbles against my back. “I had something else in mind.”

In one swift move, Levi spins me around, slamming his mouth to mine. Even though we only saw each other yesterday, he still surprises me with a kiss that steals my breath and leaves me wanting more.

His tongue slides against mine in a bruising kiss, his body caging me between him and the kitchen counter. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way Levi kisses. He can go from gentle to demanding in a matter of seconds, and it’s the unknown of which he’s going to choose that leaves me breathless.

A guttural sound passes Levi’s lips, his hunger palpable as his hands roam my body. I can taste his desire, his excitement pressing against me like a promise. I’m so reactive to him that I can’t even suppress the shiver that crawls up my spine.

A throat clears behind us, and I’m the first to jolt away from Levi, feeling heat flush my cheeks.

The room falls silent, and an awkward tension settles over us. Luca is locking gazes with me, while I feel Levi’s confused and wondrous stare darting between us. When Luca finally steps into the room, I let out a steady breath. Some part of me had hoped this wouldn’t be awkward at all, but then again, I’ve been in a daze since Luca and I had sex.

Luca’s blue eyes bore into me, like he’s minutes away from imploding. I don’t know why I feel so guilty—I’ve already made it clear to him what I want—but I guess seeing Levi and I like this isn’t exactly an ego boost, especially after last night. He didn’t stay much longer after our time together. I don’t know if it was because we would probably end up arguing over me getting involved with the Vultures or if it was something else. By the time I started to question it, he had already kissed me goodbye and left.

“Morning,” Levi sings to Luca.

He grunts, storming past us to grab one of the coffees I just made. Luca takes a sip, not even flinching at the scalding temperature of his drink. “Raf is on his way over here.”

“What for?” I ask, brows knitting together.

“To help with this Vulture issue that you insist is necessary.” I don’t miss the sharpness of his words or the sly dig he makes, even after last night. I thought we were past this argument. If we aren’t, it’s about time to get there because I’m getting a little sick of the lack of respect. Sex or not, I’m still their leader.

“Who pissed in your cereal?” Levi teases.

“Ask Bianchi,” Luca snarks as he walks past us. He barely meets my gaze after that, opting to ignore us both entirely before storming out of the kitchen.

Worrying my lip between my teeth, I stare at the space he just vacated, hoping he’s not too pissed off with me. It’s not like he doesn’t already know about Levi and I. And he knows that I’m going to talk to Levi about it, I just haven’t done so yet.

Though, the longer I take to do this, the more it’s going to hurt them both. I just don’t even know where to start. How do I tell the guy who has had a crush on me for years that I slept with someone else, and I don’t regret it? I can already see how this is going to go down, and while I’m hating the thought of hurting Levi, I have to be honest. I have to rip off the proverbial band-aid.

“Why does he have to be so moody all the time?” Levi huffs, returning his gaze to meet mine. “I swear he needs to—“

“We slept together,” I blurt, the words pouring from my lips before I can stop them.

The room seems to stand still, a frigid silence enveloping us both as Levi stares at me dumbfoundedly. “What did you say?”

Fear sluices through me that he might up and walk away because of this, but I can’t let that emotion hold me back. “Luca and I… we slept together.”

Levi shudders, like my words make him physically want to hurl. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I’ve just thrown a grenade into a rabbit cage and hoped that they wouldn't get hurt.

Levi takes a deep breath, his nostrils starting to flare the longer he registers my words. It’s so goddamn painful to look at him, like his world is slowly crumbling and I’m the reason. But whether I told him gently or not, it’s not something to take lightly. Why was this so much easier with Luca?

“I—“

“Don’t!”

I flinch at his sharp tone, that one word saying more than he verbalizes.

Levi raises a finger in the air, effectively stopping me from talking. It’s rude, but I get it. He needs to process what I just said and decide how he’s going to deal with it. With the way he’s looking at me, though, I don’t think it’s going to be good.

“You fucked Luca?” he eventually clarifies.

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