And I Will Consume You

43

"Are you never not horny?" Pete grumbled sarcastically, rolling his eyes before he let Venice run off again pretending to shoot whoever came into his line of sight. If this phase kept up much longer, they'd have to make sure the boy never found out about bb guns or they'd all be covered in bruises. "Yes, but not when I'm with you" Vegas smiled to himself, liking that Pete was both strong enough to fight back, but obedient and submissive at the same time. He wasn't the ladder often, but when it mattered, Vegas could count on Pete to deliver. Sometimes you're just in the mood to fuck someone senseless without much foreplay or convincing. Other times, however, Vegas liked the challenge. Someone stubborn and independent and cute. Someone like Pete. He was the perfect match for Vegas, and if that wasn't true, nothing in this world was; that much he knew.

"Do you think it's true?" Pete started, getting a surprised and questioning look from Vegas, who'd turned to face him completely now. "About the Yakuzas, I mean. Do you think they did it?" Pete brought his knees up to his chest, letting his feet rest on the sofa cushions as he looked at Vegas intently. He, however, seemed somewhat hesitant in answering. "They're my direct competition in the casino consession this weekend. They probably knew I'd win so they decided to preoccupy me with another issue whilst they bought the politicians and officers. I half expected them to do something, but embezzling money? That seems a bit trashy, even for them." Vegas said, the last part more of a note to himself as he looked around at the handful of bodyguards he could see wandering around. "They probably bought someone to make it happen too. I'm having a discussion with the boss this evening anyway, so I'll ask him about it then." Vegas said sternly, his eyes meeting those of Pete once more before firmly staying "You're staying here for that. It's going to be a lot more dangerous than visiting the main family."

Pete's face went pale the second he heard the wird dangerous. So he couldn't go, but Vegas could? What would he do if something where to happen? That was hardly fair. "I know what you're going to say" Vegas interrupted before a single word of protest could escape Pete's mouth. "I'm taking all of my men with me. I'm expecting it to be a bloodbath. You have no idea what kind of a mess they'll make. Don't worry about me, Pete. The Yakuza are a small clan compared to us here, If I manage to break their clan apart and take over that sector, I could get the upper hand on half the drug sales in Bangkok. This is important for me to do." Pete didn't like this one bit. He wouldn't either way, but this time something felt off. It didn't feel right. It felt almost too easy. Why did it feel too easy?

Since that afternoon Pete had been anxious, and now that the evening approached, he was restless- tapping his food nervously with his brows furrowed and arms crossed over his chest. "Papa?" Venice called, but Pete didn't notice it wasn't until he called out for a third time that he did, his head shooting up. "Yes?"

"Why is his getting dressed fancy? Is he going to a party? Can I go too?" He asked curiously, watching the aforementioned Vegas walk down the stairs in a wine red suit with a simple but ornate pattern on its button up. "No, Venice, you can't. It's a work meeting, you'll get bored quickly." Vegas said, wanting to keep Venice from having any interest at all in his work- at least until he was an adult and he wanted to continue the business. If Vegas was going to be a dad, he wasn't going to be like the one he was born to, he'd make damn sure of that. That is, at least, if he didn't get killed before then. "Oh... Okay" Venice shrugged, pulling at Pete's sleeve gently. "Are you going too?" Pete, however, shook his head with a frown, looking up at his lover with visible concern. Vegas knew that look all too well, waving him over and pulling Pete close, a hand in either side of the boys waist as he looked into those big, innocent, chocolate eyes. "Do you trust me?"

Pete looked at Vegas for a moment, sighing before he nodded, yes, "I trust you". Hearing this, his partner smiled, brushing a thumb across Pete's supple cheek before moving his hand back to the boys waist. "Then trust me when I say everything will be fine, Pete." Sighing again, Pete gently leaned in to lay his head in the crook of Vegas' neck, nestled away safe and sound and basking in his comforting scent. "Come back safe, okay? And don't make too much of a mess... You know how antsy other clans can get when they hear of a commotion."

"I know. And I will, I promise" Vegas smiled, kissing his boyfriend on the cheek and patting Venice on the head semi-dismissively before being escorted out with a group of guards at his side. And while he'd known things wouldn't necessarily be clean nor would they be friendly, he hasn't expected things to turn out quite the way they did. And he certainly hadn't expected the mention of one name in particular after he'd sat down on that black leather sofa. "Long time no see, Khun Vegas. Your fathers passing made quite the commotion around here, I'm sure you heard. You have my condolences" a well dressed japanese man, maybe in his late fifties hummed, his hair slicked back neatly and while he was too wearing a suit, the dragon tattoo he had in his chest and neck was more than visible.

Vegas dismissed the man's greeting and comment, not interested in the pittyful attempt at small talk and even more pathetic excuse of condolence. "You've been making waves. Rather big ones at that. I don't know whether to admire your boldness, or to think you're a fool" Vegas spared no time getting to the point, tossing the dossier of evidence against them on the table separating the two from one another. The man sat in the other side, however, didn't seem to notice it at all, or rather ignored it in it's entirely. "You're father and I were very close for a long time, you know. Ten, fifteen years was it? All to spite the Main family. And now that he's gone... The main family doesn't see you as a threat anymore. Khun Korn is no idiot, and I'm sure he suspects you're revenge is to come, but I think he overestimates your power the same way he underestimated your dad's."

Vegas grit his teeth, smiling through the anger and simply motioning towards the stack of papers to get the man to finally acknowledge them and pick it up. "I had hoped these were all just rumours, Shinoda.   But my patience is wearing thin. Money, in this business, is more than just a commodity. You know that, old friend. It's the very blood and veins of the system. Now, tell me. What does a system without blood in its veins look like?" The man across from Vegas was not blind to the obvious threat, but simply smirking to himself as he set the file back down in the table gently, nursing a glass of fine aged whiskey.

"How's pete?"