In It for Life

His mind was just as much a wreck as his body, as he walked inside the house he shared with Karl. He needed to tell Karl everything and then just tell him that they should run. Even though there was a chance that Don was just making fun of him with such a crazy plan, there was always a possibility he wasn't joking. And that was what Francesco was afraid of the most.

His skin was clammy and his entire body hurt in unusual ways as he climbed the stairs to the master bedroom. Maybe Karl wasn't still awake, and they would talk in the morning. Right now, he needed to sleep, and, supposedly, Don would let him say a proper goodbye to Karl before...

No, Francesco didn't even want to think for a moment about what would come next. No, there had to be a way.

The bedroom door opened in front of him, and Francesco staggered for a moment.

Karl gave him a long look. "Done already?"

"Yeah, like that's a thing," Francesco replied in a hoarse voice. He hadn't come back with Morgan, but with someone else Don had called in the middle of the night.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Karl questioned him.

Francesco walked past him into the room and sat on the bed. Fuck, he needed a shower so fucking bad. "Tonight, your daddy forced me to fuck myself with the biggest dildo ever made on the entire planet, then fucked me, filled my ass, and..." He stopped for a moment and kept staring down at the carpet. "Your dad's off his rocker, Karl. He told me to come here, tell you we're through, and then move in with him. Because he just discovered he's gay and wants to marry me or some shit."

Karl's laughter took him by surprise.

Francesco gave him a hard look. "Yeah, what a fucking joke, right? He seemed pretty serious, though, and pulled out his favorite blackmail card. If I don't say 'yes', you're off to your buddies in the army to become their cum dumpster."

"Hmm," Karl said like he couldn't care less about that. "Well, I wasn't expecting that from him."

Francesco tried to read his husband's eyes, but they looked nothing short of an impenetrable wall. "Is that all you have to say? Karl, I can't take this shit. I'm leaving, and no, not to go live with your batshit crazy dad, but anywhere else he's not. Come with me, or stay. I don't give a shit anymore."

Karl moved closer until he was standing right in front of him. Francesco didn't look up and didn't move, either. The unexpected gentle caress on his head surprised him. "Cesco, I'm close to fucking him up. So, go live with him a little--"

"Are you fucking nuts? My ass feels like it got fucked by a freighter train! And he promised that we'll have some really fucked up orgies. He's bent on destroying me, don't you get it?"

At least that seemed to give Karl a pause. His caress stopped. Then, he plopped himself down on the bed by Francesco's side and took his hand. "I thought he'd get bored with you. I mean, I hoped. I know that it's impossible for men who fuck you to get bored with you since you're that good."

"A good whore? That's all there is about me, isn't it?"

Karl wrapped one arm around him. "Let's wash you and put you to bed. Since he didn't keep you from coming here, that means that he's sure you'll do as he says."

Francesco didn't have the strength to fight him, and he needed a shower anyway, so he let himself dragged toward the bathroom.

***

"Back on the island, I was afraid of you many times," Francesco said in a toneless voice, his back to Karl. "But I somehow grew out of it. I thought you loved me."

"Loved? I love you now and always," Karl said with a snort. "Don't tell me you want me to say cheesy stuff just so that you can go to sleep."

"No, you fucking moron," Francesco continued. "I want out of this. I want to be far from your dad and you."

He tensed as Karl remained silent.

"Well, you know that's not going to happen. My dad will never let go of you if he's so fucked up over you. I'm fucked up over you, and I've been for a long time. So, you cannot leave. I cannot let you."

"Really? Last time I checked, I was a free man."

"Freedom is relative, Cesco. Since we're reminiscing, I hated you on the island because you made me fall for you."

"I didn't do anything. Whatever you think you feel, it's on you."

"Fair," Karl admitted. "That doesn't make it less true. So, this is what it's going to happen. You'll play nice with my dad. You'll live with him and help him come out." At that, Karl chuckled. "I wasn't expecting him to contribute to his own ruin like this. But hell, I'll take it."

"What do you have on him? And you know, he's going to introduce me to the world as his... whatever. How does that sit with you?"

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me, right?" Karl replied.

"How can you be so fucking chill?" Francesco revolted. "Are we getting a divorce? A very public one?"

"No, we won't."

"That's not going to fly with him."

"It will, because he's impatient, and I'll refuse."

"It doesn't matter that you refuse."

"You forget something here, Cesco. He's my dad. I can play a few cards myself."

"Like what? Are you going to cry so that he doesn't take your toy away from you?"

"I could."

Francesco turned toward Karl. "This isn't the time to joke."

"And I'm dead serious." Karl pulled him into his arms and kissed his forehead. "It's not so long now, Cesco. And then, we'll be free for good."

Karl had to be delusional. Francesco could argue until morning, but he didn't have the energy for it.

"I miss Mouse," he said as his eyelids grew heavy.

"I talked to him. He'll be here in a couple of days."

Francesco lifted his head to look at Karl. "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was supposed to be a surprise. And he's going to be here to help."

"So, he's on it, too. But you still don't want to tell me about your plans."

"You're the one who needs protection the most. And I cannot risk my dad suspecting that you know even the slightest thing. His eyes are on you. That gives us freedom to move around."

"I hate it," Francesco said. "I want to go to sleep and wake up in my shitty apartment, without knowing any of you."

Karl laughed and kissed his forehead again. "You're just saying, Cesco. I'm not the kind that gets his feelings hurt easily, but don't tell Mouse anything like that. He's going to flip a lid."

Francesco snorted. "He's not the same boy from the island. He's tougher now."

"He's always been tough," Karl retorted. "Just because he fell for you like a fool, he got all soft and that."

"Fool, huh?"

"I didn't say I wasn't one, too."

Francesco didn't know what to add to that. Was it too much what Karl was asking of him? Could he do it? Or was it just better to cut and run? Not that he knew where, and a life spent looking over his shoulder didn't sound like fun at all, but he had no real alternatives here. Don was giving him the willies, and this last encounter had left him with a deep aching fear in his bones. What kind of orgies was the fucker talking about? It couldn't be anything good. Or normal. He didn't even want to go there.

***

After a few days, Francesco was starting to wonder whether he hadn't imagined that conversation with Don. The fucker had to be so full of himself that he believed that Francesco would just run into his open arms? He feared to guess what the hell that silence meant.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't realize that someone was in the way as he tried to walk into the house. When he was hugged all of a sudden, his first instinct was to kick the attacker in the face and only stopped in time.

"Don't you dare hurt my pretty face," Mouse said with a grin and kissed him.

"So glad you're here," Francesco said and hugged him back. "I have no idea what Karl told you, but I'm deep in shit."

Mouse followed him inside. "I know enough. So, you're going to live with your daddy-in-law now?"

"He even told you that? And he didn't care that I wanted to talk to you, too."

"Don't worry. I was on my way here, anyway. I wanted to see you both again so badly."

Francesco relaxed as Mouse embraced him from behind and pushed him against the kitchen table. "Same here. How's army life?"

"Pretty damn good. I got bent over by the captain and he gave me some pretty good dicking."

"What? But I thought you were saving your ass for me and Karl," Francesco joked.

"What can I say? He's a persuasive man."

"Really? What's the deal here?" Francesco was no longer in the mood to take things at their so-called face value. If Mouse was here, that meant that he somehow played a role in Karl's plan, and he didn't like it at all.

"Didn't I say that I missed you?"

Francesco pulled away from Mouse's hug, as good as that felt. "Karl is planning something and keeps quiet about it. I have a feeling that you're on it, too, and that pisses me off."

Mouse sighed and leaned against the table. "It's for your own good. Me and Karl, we're made of sterner stuff, Kekko. We get caught, we say you were innocent and unaware of our plans, which you basically are. We're doing this because we don't want anything to happen to you."

"Since when I'm some kind of fragile whiny sissy for you guys? I've been on that fucking island with you!" Francesco moved farther away from Mouse, already sick of his bullshit.

"And you'd have been dead in two weeks if it weren't for me and Karl," Mouse countered. "Leon could hold his own and he was going to protect Ollie, too, obviously, but he couldn't take care of everyone. Anya and Ty, come on, I don't have to say it. And you, as well."

"Thanks for your vote of confidence, fucker." Francesco knew, deep down, that there was some truth in that. But that didn't mean that it pissed him off less.

"You know I'm right. And this is no different. If shit goes down, you're safe. I promised Karl, and he promised me. That's how it is."

"Well, you both suck," Francesco said.

"Really? Even Karl?" Mouse made an attempt to joke.

Francesco wasn't in the mood for that. He walked out of the kitchen without giving Mouse a single look.

***

He had gone for a drive without anyone stopping him, pissed at his husband and his boyfriend, a bit surprised that no one had cared to stop him since he was deemed to be such a fragile thing. Mouse was probably plotting with Karl right now, which meant that he was only in the way.

For a while, he considered driving away, taking off to anywhere, as far as gas lasted. But he just couldn't bring himself to do that. The thought of leaving them behind, as much as they deserved, left a hole in his chest, each time he tried picturing it.

He knew that they could be trusted. But Don wasn't some idiot that wouldn't know something was going on.

His phone rang, and he answered without checking the caller. It had to be Karl, wondering where the hell he was. "Yeah?"

"Francesco," Don said cheerfully.

Francesco felt his jaw clenching.

"By now, I thought you'd be at my place, welcoming me back home like a good wife."

"Yeah, sure," Francesco said, feeling pretty much rebellious at this point.

"Drop the attitude, boy," Don said in a completely different voice. "You know what you have to do. Have you talked to Karl about how you want to ditch his ass to be with me?"

"Funny thing, it hasn't come up," Francesco replied.

A short pause followed. "I see that you like me best when I play rough, Francesco, don't you?" It was so easy to guess the sneer that had to accompany those words.

"I don't like you at all. I hate your freaking guts. But you know what? I'm not going to do what you say. And if you dare to do something to Karl, I'm taking this shit to social media and I'm going to fry your ass."

"Easy, Francesco, you're no fit for playing a big boys' game. If I can do whatever I want to my son, what makes you think I cannot do worse to you?"

"Ah, really? Weren't you in love with my ass or something?"

To his surprise, Don laughed. "You have until tonight, Francesco. Heed my words, and don't play. I won't go easy on you if you try anything funny."

The conversation was cut off without as little as a goodbye. Francesco ground his teeth until they hurt. He turned the car and headed back. On that island, he had been freer than now.

***

The house was dark when he got home. He threw his keys on the small table by the door and walked up the stairs, his head filled with thoughts, and his heart with rage. He kicked open the door to the bedroom, decided to ask Karl about his fucking plan so that he could be a part of it, too.

And in the door, he froze as he took in the scene in front of his eyes.

Karl was on their bed, on all fours, and Mouse was behind him, pounding into him. Or he had been until earlier, because now they seemed frozen in shock just as much as he was.

"The fuck," he hissed, "is this?" By the end of his question, he was shouting. He didn't even know why he felt so hurt and betrayed.

Mouse moved away and Karl pulled from him at the same time. Francesco moved his eyes from one to another a few times. Neither of them was talking, and neither of them looked even in the least contrite. They just stared at him, waiting.

So, they wanted him to say or do something. Francesco took in a few quick breaths. "Anyone care to tell me what this shit is? My dick's no good, Karl? And you?" He turned toward Mouse. "Have you fucked him long behind my back?"

Mouse scoffed and crossed his arms. "Well, it's not like you haven't done it to me before, right?"

Francesco blinked. "Really? You're bringing up old history? For the fucking record, I have nothing against you two fucking each other in the ass, and pissing down each other's throats, or whatever, but why the hell would you two hide from me? What did you think I would do?" He set his eyes on Karl. "Well, do you have something to tell me?"

Karl grimaced and avoided his look. "I'm not your bitch, Cesco."

"Oh, is that so? No problem being Mouse's bitch, though, huh?"

He got no answer. "Fuck it. I don't care. I'm going to sleep in another room. You two better come up with some apology for this juvenile shit."

"It's been a while now." That was Mouse.

"What?" Francesco looked at him.

"I've been fucking your husband behind your back for a while now."

"Bullshit. Is there a reason why you want to piss me off?"

"Thing is," Mouse continued, "we realized that we're basically the same. While, you're kind of, how should I put it? You're an outsider."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Mouse sighed and looked at Karl, who continued to keep his head turned. "We don't really care about this threesome situation, Francesco. We're both kind of tired of you."

"No shit." Francesco stared at Mouse and he was met with a cold stare back. It hit him right in the gut. It had to be some kind of bad cruel joke. "Karl?" he asked. "What's Mouse saying?"

"The truth," Karl said bluntly. "Nothing but that."

"What?" Francesco tried to laugh, but the sounds leaving his mouth were anything but that. "Is that why you kept pushing me into your father's arms? To get rid of me? There's no plan? Is that what you want?"

"Yeah," Karl confirmed.

Francesco clenched his fists. "You're talking shit. You two are just trying to 'protect' me, right? Well, it's not working."

Karl finally looked at him. Francesco recoiled from the icy stare. It was even worse than how Mouse had looked at him earlier. "Tell whatever lies you want to yourself. I finally got over you. Did you think I'd still have feelings for you while you come home, your ass dripping of my dad's cum?"

"Like I had a fucking choice!" Francesco took a step forward.

"There's always a chance, Francesco," Karl said gravely.

Francesco saw red in front of his eyes. The sharp pain in his fist when it connected with Karl's jaw told him he landed the hit, since otherwise he was as good as blind. Mouse grabbed him and threw him a few steps backward. Francesco landed on his ass. When he tried to get up, Mouse pushed him back. "Listen here, Francesco, you may think that we're playing, but we're not. Frankly, you're too much work. I just wanna fuck. Karl, the same. So, it's a fucking blessing that daddy-in-law wants to take you off our hands."

"You're lying," Francesco growled, his eyes in tears.

Mouse shrugged. "Whatever. It's not like I care. Or Karl. Right?" He turned toward Karl, who was looking at them, his whole body tense.

Francesco pulled himself to his feet and clapped a few times. "Bravo, awesome performance. Well, good luck with your fucking plan. There's no coming back from this, just so that you two know. I'm out of here, and I'm out forever."

No one hurried to stop him as he walked out the door and down the stairs. They had to be playing him, there was no way they weren't. That didn't make it any better, though. All he wanted right now was to be as far from there as it was possible.

***

He stopped the car and turned off the headlights. It had been a while since he had slept in a motel, but it wasn't like he had been born for luxury, anyway. He got out and headed for the reception. The little cash he had on him had to be enough for a few days. Then, he'd see.

The quick steps approaching him from behind didn't let him enough time to react. He tried to turn and throw at least a punch, but the gorilla was quick and grabbed him before he could react.

"Scream if you like," the man said with a sneer.

Francesco looked around in search of an escape. But when his eyes landed on the dark limousine, his heart sank. One option was to kick and scream, but that could only end up with him getting a good beating. Or he could go willingly, and plan his escape later.

He went limp in the man's grip.

"Good boy."

Seconds later, he was on the backseat of the car, Don by his side. "Francesco, you never cease to amaze me," the senator said without any introduction. "But that's what makes you so desirable. Let's go," he ordered the driver. Then, he pulled him close and kissed his cheek. "Now, suck my cock until we get home. You've neglected your wifely duties for too long."

tbc