TONY: Book 1 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

33:

I knew the gang mansion was filled with gang members (no shit), but I didn't anticipate just how many people there was. When we first came/exited the mansion just the other day, it was quiet because most of the members were either visiting family, going on holiday or had business due to Gufo's near death experience. Yet today is different. Men and women zip around the house, the entrance hallway is crowded with a hectic buzz of bodies and phone calls, activity and sound, laughter and serious discussions. Yet it all changes once people spot Toro.

More specifically: Toro with me.

The crowd somewhat parts away from Toro, allowing him to easily reach he grand staircase, holding onto my hand with a tight grip. It's honestly surprising the different people that surround, some are the stereotypical biker, leather baddies with tattoos and scars, whilst others are more business and proper. However nobody judges anybody.

"Come on, this way to our rooms," he murmurs, heading to the right. We walk down modernised, intricately designed hallways, climb up marble staircases before walking down even more corridors until we finally reach a specific oak double door that leads into a circular lounge room, fit with a massive television, couch, stocked kitchen and bar and dining table. Three doors are obvious on the left, right and centre.

"My bedroom's to the right," Tony confirms. "Gufo's to the left and Leone's is straight ahead."

"Oh," is all I reply. "Where are we meeting a Gufo?"

"He said to meet him here," Toro replies. "I have a sneaking suspicion that he's in his room though..."

A girl suddenly tumbles out of the room to the left, her ginger hair crazed with sex and her rouge lipstick smudged up her pale cheek. Her blue eyes glisten with lust as her cheetah print, body-con dress seems hastily out on, revealing her red bra underneath. She bites her lip as she spots us, nods her head at Toro before silently slipping out.

Following behind her is the familiar face of Gufo. Like the random girl, he has sex hair, his cheeks are rosy and he's got a smug expression on his lips with a satisfied glint in his eyes. His shirtless with his jeans pulled up and unzipped, revealing his briefs evidently. He runs a hand through his longish hair and shrugs, "I have needs."

"That are inconvenient. Come on, you asked for us to come here, have a conversation with my boyfriend," grumbles Tony, already heading to the settee. I meekly follow, about to sit down on the other end until he grips my wrist and tugs me down, falling onto his lap.

"Love birds," he sings. "It's so nice to see my fratello with a guy! As in a relationship- how's the conversations? Must be pretty one sided, huh?"

I frown, "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Y'know," he edges. "With how quiet and brooding he is, barely says anything if he's not punching a guy."

I scoff, "Sure thing."

Toro squeezes my thigh and I squirm under his touch, my cheeks blushing a furious red. I elbow him lightly in the gut as warning, but he only tightens his hold on me. I don't put much fight, instead giving in and gently lean backwards against his solid chest.

"I've never understood relationships," Gufo butts in, interrupting a moment. "They're just so... demanding. You have to put time, effort and support them unconditionally. Plus, you have to stay committed! Like how stupid's that? You can't be with one brunette then with one blondie; or both!"

I wrinkle my nose, "I don't want to hear about that."
"But no, seriously listen to me. Why can't you two be like friends with a high sex drive? Like, bang each other on the counter for ten minutes and then the next second you're like Toro's support via friends."

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?" I question.

"Nope," he pops his lips. "Not planning on it either. Too needy, too restricting."

"You need a reality check," I mutter and Tony chuckles. "The whole reason relationships start in the first place is because of feeling- emotions that are too large or too different from friendship. It's like wanting a connection to the person."

"With yo d—"

"No," I ground out. "Well, partly, but that's lust. There's the whole 'like' and 'love' scenario that blossoms overtime and before you know it, you want their presence."

Toro gently takes my hand and intertwines our fingers together, squeezing it in silence as he presses his forehead into my shoulder, relaxing. I smile lightly and glance at Gufo, his brow furrowed and a pensive, almost vulnerable look flickers across his face. He realises I'm looking before switching it to that cocky grin. Interesting. "Nah, seems too cliche for me."

I huff and roll my eyes, "Cliche is writing letters to all your crushes and hiding them in a fancy box. Cliche is making a kissing booth and falling in love with your best friend's older brother. Cliche is dancing in sprinklers having a picnic on a golf course, where your supposed to be working. Emotions are often related to cliches, however the actually emotion itself is natural."

"Is it bad that I got all of those references?" He whispers, eyes wide with faux fear.

"Girls and some guys dig that—"

"WOAH, woah, woah," he stands up. "Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. Hell no, that's your two lovebird's story, not mine. Mine will be with a stunning blonde woman, with a perfect tan, long legs and a model figure. She'll have a high sex drive- 'cause I ain't living with no prude- and she will worship the very ground I walk on."

"Um," I clear my throat. "You have a very unrealistic imagination."

"Eh, that's why I'm single," he beams.

"So Toro tells me you like computers?"

"Yup, my specialties rely on it."

"So like, what do you actually—"

"Ah, ah, ah," he chuckles. "Unless you're officially apart of the gang, you're not finding out what I do. I don't know you, nor do I particularly trust you. Unless you get the tattoo, you're not one of us."

I frown, "Apart of the gang?"

"Uh, Yeah," Toro clears his throat. "I was going to ask you about that."

Furrowing my brows, I swivel on his lap and stare at him lonely, "Why didn't you beforehand?"

"Since your mom, then you walked out, then even more drama..."

"You could have told me last night," I mumble.

"We were a bit busy," he whispers and I flush bright red.

"R-right," I cough. "Is there anything else you wants know Gufo? Otherwise I think we should go."

Gufo pouts, "Seriously? You've only just arrived."

"You smell of sex," Tony growls. "I don't want to be around you unless you've showered."