Chapter 6: But Brush Your Teeth First
The car was silent, the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sharp intake of breath from Luca, who clutched his shoulder, blood seeping between his fingers the only noise that filled the car. Alex gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white, heart racing, mind swirling with unanswered questions. He stole a glance at Luca, who leaned back with his head against the seat, eyes half-closed but alert.
"I'll have to dig it out." He commented.
"What?" Luca turned his head to Alex, wincing.
"There's no exit wound." Alex answered. "I'll have to dig the bullet out." "Oh." Luca groaned.
Alex started to laugh. It was like a damn burst. He turned the car down another road to his apartment. He laughed, and then laughed again.
There's a bullet in my boyfriend. Someone shot my probably mobster boyfriend.
Alex cackled.
"What's so funny?" Luca asked Alex, he was confused. Alex simply looked at him and then went quiet.
What
was
funny?
It got quiet again as Alex pulled into a parking lot. They'd arrived home.
"Tell me the truth," Alex demanded, breaking the silence. His voice trembled with the weight of all the questions that were about to follow. "Who was that? Why did they shoot at you?"
Luca exhaled slowly, the pain making him wince. "Alex, maybe the less -"
"I said tell me the truth!" Alex snapped, killed the engine. He ripped the keys from the ignition and slammed them into the cupholder. "You got
shot
, Luca! I just told you I loved you, and five minutes later, someone tries to kill you!" His chest heaved, breath uneven. "Tell me what the fuck is going on or so help me god I will leave you in this car to fend for yourself!" He placed a hand on the door.
Luca turned his head slowly, eyes dark and calculating. He studied Alex for a moment, as if weighing how much to say -
what
to say. "Not here." He started. "Let's get inside and I'll tell you everything."
Alex nodded and they both got out of the car. Alex with a huff and Luca with a groan and wince. The walk to Alex's unit was somehow even quieter than the car ride. There weren't even crickets. No hum from the lampposts. Nothing. It was like even the world wanted to hear what Luca was going to say.
"Sit in the kitchen. I don't want blood on the carpet or the couch," Alex said, locking the door and gesturing toward the kitchen. Luca nodded, his movements sharp and controlled. He checked the windows, then used his jacket to close the curtains and blinds, ensuring no one could see inside. Alex watched him, the tension thick in the air, and realized Luca wasn't just closing the blinds--he was searching, scanning for any sign they'd been followed.
Luca could feel the heat radiating off of Alex. He was somehow more terrified of him than he was of any mobster he'd ever met.
"I'll get my med-kit." Alex went to his hall closet and grabbed it.
He's pissed.
Luca thought to himself as he sat in a chair in the kitchen.
Alex walked into the kitchen slowly, "Take off your shirt." He approached Luca and held his hand out as Luca obliged. He tossed it into the sink. The questions started to flood back, building like a pressure cooker in his head. He didn't know what question to ask first. Alex didn't know what to do, how to start.
"What
do
you know?" Luca asked for him, when he saw the way Alex froze. "Just rumors really." Alex answered, shifting into paramedic mode. He saw the
blood slowly running down the bullet hole in Luca's shoulder. He went to action. "This'll sting." He said as he poured the isopropyl on Luca, not tenderly. He let his pettiness win.
Luca sucked in through his teeth, grinding them. Alex put on gloves.
"And this will hurt." He warned. Luca was lucky. Alex could see the bullet; it didn't go very deep and there wouldn't be any real damage. He'd be tender for a few weeks, then there'd be a nice scar.
"What rumors - Ah! Fuck!" He groaned as Alex used his forceps to enter the gash and grab the bullet. Luca knew what rumors though.
"Sorry." Alex apologized.
Alex didn't mean the apology, not really. The bullet was small, but Alex's hand was steady as he carefully maneuvered the forceps deeper. He was silent for a moment, focused on his task, but Luca could feel the questions radiating from him like heat off asphalt in summer.