The silence was deceptive.
Tom had vanished from the usual circles. No snarky messages, no fake grins. Even Eliza hadn't heard from him. And if Eliza didn't know where someone was, they were really hiding.
But Matthew didn't care right now. He was in Vinny's bed.
Vinny was half on top of him, lips lazy and teasing against the edge of his jaw. His fingers traced mindless shapes along Matthew's chest like he was sketching out a masterpiece with no intention of finishing it.
"You like when I call you mine, don't you?" Vinny murmured, lips brushing against the shell of Matthew's ear.
Matthew's hand slid slowly up Vinny's thigh, resting dangerously close to where it would no longer be innocent. "What gave you that idea?"
"You blush." Vinny smirked, looking smug as hell.
Matthew rolled his eyes. "I do not."
"You do. You try to look all cold and calculating, but the moment I get close, you melt like wax." His teeth nipped at Matthew's lower lip. "Kinda hot, honestly."
"You're annoying." But his hand didn't move.
Vinny leaned in, letting their noses brush. "Tell me to stop."
Matthew didn't.
Their mouths met with a slow burn, the kind that simmered before it exploded. Vinny's hands were in Matthew's hair, tugging just enough to make him groan. He slid into his lap effortlessly, straddling him like he belonged there—which he did.
The chemistry between them was a firestorm now, all tension and friction and barely restrained want.
But they didn't rush it.
Instead, Vinny kissed him like they had all the time in the world. And Matthew—usually so guarded—let himself unravel one kiss at a time.
Two hours later, the sun was bleeding through the curtains and Vinny was asleep, curled into Matthew's side like he hadn't just teased him within an inch of his sanity.
Matthew stared at the ceiling, awake and quiet. Something in him felt… good. Dangerous, but good. Like maybe, just maybe, letting someone in wasn't the worst idea he ever had.
He reached over and brushed a strand of hair from Vinny's face. His chest ached with something heavy. It wasn't just lust anymore.
He was falling.
Hard.
And that terrified him.
Elsewhere, Tom's phone screen glowed in the dark.
He was in a hotel room—cheap, shitty, and off the grid. Perfect. His laptop was open, screens full of surveillance footage, old texts, and documents he never should've had.
A picture of Vinny flashed on screen—laughing, head thrown back, completely unaware of the camera angle.
Tom stared at it like it betrayed him.
"They don't get to take you," he whispered to no one.
He zoomed in on Matthew's face. That smug, perfect face.
"Especially not him."
Tom's hand curled into a fist.
He had a plan now.
Something big.
He just needed to disappear a little longer.
Back at Vinny's apartment, the day moved slow.
Vinny yawned, stretching as he emerged from the bedroom shirtless, hair a mess, lips slightly bruised from earlier.
"You look like sin," Matthew muttered, sipping coffee at the counter.
"I am sin," Vinny replied, grabbing a banana and tossing Matthew a wink. "You just didn't realize it until I sat on your lap."
Matthew choked on his coffee.
Vinny grinned.
"Asshole," Matthew muttered.
Vinny walked over, kissed his forehead, and plopped onto his lap again like it was his throne. "I missed my seat."
"I missed my peace."
Vinny hummed, head resting on his shoulder. "You like the chaos."
And he was right.
But Matthew didn't say that. He didn't need to. His hand settled on Vinny's waist, grounding him, claiming him.
"Tom's been quiet," Matthew said after a beat.
Vinny tensed.
"I know," he said, voice low.
"I don't like it."
Vinny hesitated. "You think he's planning something?"
Matthew's silence was answer enough.
They sat like that for a long time, wrapped in warmth and tension, the calm stretching around them like a fragile bubble.
But even they knew—
It was going to pop.
Soon.
Eliza was the first to stir the waters.
She showed up at their door wearing sunglasses and a grin, holding up a bag of pastries like she was some peace envoy.
"Let me in. I bring sugar and chaos."
Vinny opened the door, rolling his eyes. "What now?"
She walked in like she owned the place, dropping the bag on the counter. "Tom's been missing. I think he's plotting murder. Probably yours."
Matthew raised a brow. "Nice to see you too."
Eliza flopped onto the couch. "You guys look way too well-slept. Gross."
Vinny grinned. "Jealous?"
She shrugged. "Always. Anyway. Kieran texted me. He says he saw Tom at a supply store buying stuff he definitely doesn't need unless he's building a bomb or a secret base."
Matthew stood straighter. "Where?"
"No idea. Kieran tried to follow but lost him in traffic. You know how Tom is when he doesn't want to be found."
Vinny glanced at Matthew, tension building again.
Eliza looked between them. "You guys need a plan."
"We have one," Matthew said.
Vinny raised a brow. "We do?"
"Yeah," Matthew replied. "We act normal. Pretend we don't know anything. Let him make the first move."
Vinny hesitated. "That's dangerous."
Matthew met his eyes. "So is he."
Later that night, Matthew and Vinny lay on the couch, tangled and quiet.
Vinny rested his chin on Matthew's chest, eyes searching his face. "If he hurts you again, I'll kill him."
Matthew smirked. "You're cute when you're angry."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
Vinny kissed him slowly. "I don't want to lose you."
"You won't."
Another kiss. Softer this time. Full of all the things they weren't saying.
The storm hadn't hit yet, but they could feel it building.
And for now, they clung to each other like lifelines.
Because when it came?
They'd need every bit of strength they had.