“How is she?”

He stared out the plane’s window into darkness, phone to his ear as he asked the question.

The caregiver sighed before answering. “The past few days have been pretty tough, sir. Her mobility has decreased substantially. Getting her to rest—” She cleared her throat. “It’s easier when you’re around.”

“I know.” He did, and staying away when she needed him felt foreign. That action went against every instinct in him. “My business will keep me away for the foreseeable future, but I am a phone call away if anything changes.”

“I know that, sir. We can handle it.”

“Gracias, Charlie.” He ended the call, and closed his fist around the phone.

Being there with her, taking care of her, sometimes felt like home. And other times, it felt very much like a prison. Someplace he couldn’t wait to escape.

Funny thing was, he wanted a home again. His life would never be same as before, how could it be? But he wanted a home, all the same. How could he have one? She’d be gone soon. The illness would eventually win, and she’d leave Daniel behind.

Petra gone.

Antonio gone.

The one thing he’d always had, he no longer did. Family. Home. He was a creature of habit. Never straying too far from what he knew and loved.

Right now, he was on the plane headed for New York. Because he was comfortable there. Because the house in Brooklyn was the closest he had to stable. It was the house where he’d kept Stavros. He slept in the bed Stavros once slept in.

Those moments.

He couldn’t forget it. Every word, every breath, every touch, he relived.

The kiss.

He rubbed the middle of his chest. It was supposed to fade. But if anything the craving was getting worse. He’d stopped waiting for it to make any sense.

Fact was, he was attracted to Stavros Konstantinou, and it wasn’t going away.

His phone went off, and he glanced down at the device he clutched in his palm. “Levi,” he answered with a smile.

“Stavros has Levi,” Van blurted into his ear.

Daniel lurched upright. “What?” He didn’t just hear—

“That unhinged son of a bitch has Levi,” Van yelled. “He took him from his office, just marched him out the door with a gun at his back.”

“Tell me what happened.” Stavros had Levi. He wanted to die, he had to know how Daniel would react. He had to know—

Round two.

His belly tightened. “Do you know where he took him?”

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be on the phone with you,” Van growled. “He wants you, and he’s using Levi to get you. You realize this, right?”

“I am aware.” He squeezed his eyes shut briefly. “I have to make a call. I will call you back.”

“Hurry the fuck up,” Van barked. “I’m not good with sitting on my hands. Especially not now.”

“Sit tight.” Daniel hung up and dialed Toro. The phone rang twice.

“Hello there.”

Stavros’ voice settled causally in Daniel’s gut, heating him up instantly. “You have Toro’s phone?”

“Noticed that, did you?”

“Where is he?”

“Unavailable. Next question.”

“Are they hurt?” he asked. “That is my family, and if you hurt them…You must know how this will end.”

“The Riverton Hotel. Twentieth floor. Room two.” The cool smoothness in his voice gripped Daniel.

His body responded to just that, hardening despite the circumstances. “You have my attention,” he murmured. “That is what you wanted, yes? But you must know, Stavros…”

Stavros inhaled.

“You must know you had it from the very beginning. You never lost my attention.”

“Five hours. You for them.”

His body liked every single thing about this. Daniel dug his fingers into his seat, gripping hard. “I’m on my way.” The call disconnected and the sensation of loss was swift.

He fisted the phone and pressed his knuckles to his mouth. “Dios.” He waited until he could breathe normally again before calling Van.

“Talk to me.”

“He wants to do a swap. I have it under control.”

“Make fucking sure you do. I’m not playing this sick game with that bastard.”

But that sick game? Daniel wanted to play it.

He arrived in Seattle in just under five hours, and by the time he made his way through the hotel’s busy lobby and up to the twentieth floor, he had mere seconds to spare. He’d met up with Van downstairs, forcing Levi’s husband to wait, and not do anything.

He suspected it was one of the hardest things Van had to do, and Daniel understood. But this was his fight, and Levi and Toro were already caught up in it. He couldn’t let things escalate for the people he cared about.

The truth of Levi’s identity was known to only a small few, so he had to question how Stavros knew about Levi and Toro’s connection to Daniel. He’d be sure to ask when he saw his former captive.

In front of door number two on the twentieth floor, Daniel paused, fist resting against the door. His belly was in knots. He’d felt like this only once before.

With Petra.

The truth of it made him grunt. No escaping this. He took a deep breath. Knocked once, and the door opened for him.

He stepped inside, and was immediately shoved into the wall. Quick hands patted him down, removing the gun in his waist, and the knives in his boot. He didn’t speak, and he kept still, eyes glued to the white wall.

He didn’t hear Stavros, but Daniel felt him.

Close by. Stavros had to be close because the hairs on Daniel’s body were already standing on end as though pulled by magnets. The men yanked him around, and Daniel found himself facing the opulent hotel room.

Stavros stood at the windows, his back to the room.

Dios. Daniel stared at him, the dark hair brushing his collar, the white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his forearms covered in dark hair. He was everything Daniel remembered, and more. Tall and built, powerful standing there in the silence, against the sheer drapes at the windows.

“Bruce,” Stavros spoke without turning around. “Please accompany our visitor next door.”

Before he finished speaking, a gun was at Daniel’s head. Bruce—he remembered everything about Bruce—waved a hand, and Daniel started walking. He bided his time, until he knew Toro and Levi were safe, then he and Stavros would talk.

He fisted his hands. All the things Stavros did to get Daniel here and now he wouldn’t even turn around to look him in the eye? They definitely had to talk.

Bruce opened an adjoining room, and motioned Daniel inside. He rolled his eyes and stepped over the threshold. He stopped short when he spotted the three figures, hands tied behind their backs, tapes over their mouth.

Damn it.

Levi spotted him first, and his eyes went wide. Daniel reached him in two strides and ripped the tape off. Levi winched.

“Fuck! That hurt.”

“Are you all right?” He turned to Bruce who just stood there, gun in hand. “I kept up my end of the bargain. Untie them.”

Bruce just stared at him.

“Untie them, Bruce,” Stavros’ voice came from the other room. “The man is right. He did keep up his end of the bargain.” He was cool. This Stavros was the one Daniel got to know first. The one he’d watched from the shadows.

He’d never dealt with this Stavros before though.

He looked forward to it, but first…

With everybody untied, Levi jumped to his feet, grimacing as he rubbed his chafed wrist. “What the fuck, Daniel?”

“Lo siento. I—”

“Tío.” Toro walked over, jaw set. “Is it true?” He jerked a thumb toward Levi. “He is family?”

“He is.” Daniel nodded. “But now is not the time for explanations.” He turned to Toro’s mother, taking both her hand in his. “How are you, Patricia?”

She slapped him, eyes flashing her familiar contempt. “You put my son in danger,” she snapped. “Again.”

“Mamá.”

Daniel smiled, ignoring his stinging cheek. “You look beautiful,” he told her. “As always.”

She rolled her eyes. “Get me out of here.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He motioned to Levi and Toro. “Go.”

Toro narrowed his eyes. “And you?”

“I have business with Mr. Konstantinou.”

“Jefe, I don’t think—”

“Take your mother and get out of here, Toro. Let me handle this. It’s an order.” He turned to Levi. “Van is downstairs. I had to threaten to shoot him to keep him from coming with me.”

Levi pursed his lips. “How is he?”

“Worried about you.” Daniel threw an arm around Levi’s shoulder and guided him away from Toro and Patricia. “I’m sorry about this.”

“What are you going to do?”

He had no clue, so Daniel simply shrugged.

Levi watched him closely. “He doesn’t hate you, you know.”

Daniel didn’t know anything anymore, not when it came to Stavros.

“I don’t think you hate him either.”

“I don’t know what I feel, hermanito.”

“Don’t you?” Levi’s lips curved. He looked the most like their mother. Her eyes, the oval shape of her face. “I think you know how you both feel, and you’re afraid.” He nodded toward the door. “You and him.”

He wasn’t dignifying that with a response. Mostly because he didn’t have one. “Go. They won’t touch you.” He hugged Levi, pressed a kiss to his temple. “I can handle him.”

Levi searched his face before finally nodding. “Okay, but we’re going to talk about you not telling me I have a nephew.”

“Sí.”

He walked away, and Toro approached Daniel. “Tío, are you sure about this?” He cocked his head. “What is going on here, really?”

How could Daniel explain when he didn’t fully understand it himself? “Take care of your mother,” he told Toro. “I’ll contact you soon.”

“But…”

“Go.”

His nephew went, but with great reluctance. Daniel stood in the middle of the room, hands at his sides, as Levi, Toro and Patricia exited the room. When the door closed behind him, he realized fully what he’d done.

He had weaknesses again.

He had somethings, so many somethings to lose again, and he hadn’t even realized it until now. When silence greeted him, he made his way to the room next door. The one where Stavros waited.

He remained at the window, arms spread wide as he gripped the railing. His bodyguards had all disappeared. No guns, nothing but them.

“Stavros.” If he sounded unsure, if he sounded lost, if he sounded as unsettled as he felt, Daniel didn’t care.

Stavros turned away from the window. His face was a smooth façade, devoid of anything resembling an expression. But just the sight of him sent Daniel’s senses reeling.

“You for them.”

“Sí.” If he’d doubted it before, there was no denying it this time. Heat pooled in his groin, and his belly tightened with each step Stavros took toward him. He felt awake, after a long time asleep. Alive, after such a long time in that grave with Petra.

Thinking of her cooled him down some, until Stavros touched him. A palm to Daniel’s cheek. He trembled under that touch. So simple, yet so not. The prelude to more.

He wanted more, so he leaned into Stavros’ palm.

“Goddamn it.” As Daniel watched, Stavros’ mask crumpled. “It’s still there.” He grabbed Daniel by the throat, yanking him closer. “It’s still there. You’re still there.”

Daniel didn’t ask him what “it” was. He already knew. “Stav—”

Mouth on him, desperate and wet. An attack Daniel accepted, wrapping his arms around Stavros, hugging him close, and opening for him. Biting back, pushing forward into hardness. Into Stavros, who tasted just like Daniel remembered.

Dangerous. Intoxicating.

Fingers in Daniel’s hair gripped him tight, held him still, as Stavros led. And Daniel followed. Only too happy to give up, give in, and let Stavros take what Daniel had wanted to hand over for so very long.

Something bad couldn’t taste this good. Something bad couldn’t weaken his knees and harden him to stone. Something bad couldn’t feel this right, Stavros in his arms, in his mouth, melting like the best kind of confection on his tongue.

The kiss was full on violent, breath-snatching. Nothing Daniel ever felt before. Nothing he’d ever get from someone else. Only from Stavros.

Only Stavros.

He consumed, and Daniel didn’t mind. He didn’t care. He let it happen: the one hand gripping his hair, the tongue stripping him naked, and the other hand sliding down his torso to cup his erection.

He groaned into Stavros’ mouth and bucked into his hand.

Feeling.

Years since he’d been touched. He didn’t think he’d ever want it again. But he did. He wanted Stavros’ touch. He trembled for it. His mouth watered for it. That it was a man making him feel like this no longer surprised him.

That it was Stavros Konstantinou kept him in a state of wonder and incredulity. But none of it stopped him from placing his own palm over Stavros’ at his groin and squeezing. It didn’t stop him from chasing those wet lips when Stavros tried to pull back, from catching them and sinking his teeth in, keeping him there.

Keeping him close.

On Daniel’s tongue.

Inside him.

In this moment he’d give anything, everything he had, to keep Stavros’ hands on him. To keep their lips as fused as they were. He didn’t hurt as much when Stavros touched him. He didn’t ache so badly. The hollow inside him didn’t seem so endless and all-consuming. The loneliness that battered him and bowed his shoulders retreated, taking the overpowering darkness with it.

Twice in one lifetime.

How could he walk away?

How could he let it go?

Stavros lifted away slowly, their lips making a wet sound when they parted. Daniel opened his eyes and found Stavros watching him. His usually cold eyes now blazed like the hottest inferno.

Their gazes locked.

“I get in the same fucking room with you, and I catch afire.” The words rumbled from Stavros as he stroked Daniel’s jaw. “I underestimated the danger you bring.”

“Diablo—” He lifted a hand, but something pricked his neck. Words tangled all over each other in his throat, and he gurgled, vision dimming. His body locked down and he blinked at Stavros, at his gray eyes, cold and piercing.

One second they were eye to eye and the next, Daniel found himself gazing up. He’d crumpled to his knees. The pounding of his heart, along with the sound of blood rushing through his veins, deafened him. Stavros stood right there, not even an inch away, but Daniel couldn’t make his hand cooperate to reach out, to touch his knee.

Stroke his leg.

Which was something he ached to do suddenly.

Stavros didn’t move, but something dropped suddenly around Daniel’s neck. Rope, looped in the shape of a noose that bit into his windpipe, cutting off his breathing. A sharp tug dropped him backward, and Stavros moved then, legs planted on either side of Daniel’s twitching body.

He was going to die, he understood and accepted that. Still, he regretted not getting to kiss Stavros Konstantinou again. And as his vision blinked out, he wondered what he’d say to his wife when they finally met on the other side.