𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝐵𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 // 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑘

10.

☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽

☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽

-Dereks pov-

"Yo, I think we should get going. It's really late." I said whiles yawning, we were all setting on the couch in Kobe's living room watching TV. Most of the people from the party were gone, only the people drunk or passed out were left.

Kobe just nodded whiles rubbed his eyes a little, waving me off. I shook Mike slightly to wake him up, he whined and rubbed his eyes. "What...?" I smiled a little, "we gotta go babe."

He wrapped his arms and legs around me and I picked him up, carrying him to my car. I opened the door and sat him down, buckling him in. Then I shut the door and got in the drivers seat.

As I pulled off and drove us home I couldn't stop thinking about Mattia, the way he looked at Mike a few hours ago still lingered in my mind. It wasn't a sexual look, nor a angry one.

He looked worried, like he knew something bad was about to happen. But, why? What was about to happen? I'm sure nothing happened to Mike while he was upstairs, I didn't see anyone go upstairs.

Only person that did was Nico, Mattia's older brother. But I've known him since I was a kid, he wouldn't do anything, and besides, he just went upstairs go use the bathroom.

I chuckled and shook my head, pushing my unnecessary thoughts back down so I could focus on driving. When we got home I carried Mike inside an upstairs, laying him down on the bed.

He immediately cuddled onto his teddy bear and I cooed at the sight, he was so adorable. But my thoughts were distracted by the sound of my phone ringing, I immediately answered it, not even looking at the caller ID, I just didn't want the ringing noise to wake Mike.

"Hello?" I said in a mellow tone, "Derek, can you open the door? It's freezing out here." I heard Mattia's voice, it was shaky like he'd been crying but I knew it was because he was just cold.

I walked downstairs and opened the door, letting him inside, "Uhm, when were you gonna tell me you were coming over?" I asked as I shut and locked the door.

"...that's not important right now." His voice sounded like he was scared or worried about something and it made me get anxious. "What's wrong? You had that same look on your face at the party."

He took a deep shaky breath and started to speak again, "I-it's Nico." I raised an eyebrow, "what about him?" He sat down on the couch and I sat next to him.

"He's after...Mike." I scrunched my face up in confusion, "fuck does that mean?" Mattia looked at the floor before continuing. "One of Mikes uncles is a Mafia leader, and so is Nico. But they're rivals, so...Nico wants to get at Mike to scare his uncle away."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, well I mean I could about the Nico being in a Mafia but someone from Mikes family? Really?

"How did he find out?" He just shrugged, "I'm not very ejected when it comes to shit like that but, I do know Nico's not gonna stop still he gets Mike."

Mattia's face slowly changed from sadness and worry to anger, his fists balled till his knuckles turned white and tears started to run down his face.

"And that asshole tried to get me of all people to do it." My face softened at the tone of his voice, it was filled with pain and regret, but also anger.

"What did you do...?" He started to fidget with the rim of his shirt, signaling that he was nervous. "I didn't do anything, I couldn't. He asked me at the party to try and abduct him since he was upstairs sleeping but I just couldn't."

His voice got shakier with every word his spoke, "I love Mike like a little brother, including you. So I refused, but when I did he just rolled his eyes and went upstairs, saying he had to use the 'bathroom'."

"I don't know what he did to Mike while he was up there but I know it wasn't good." His fists clinched tighter and I placed my hand on his, rubbing my thumb against it lightly.

"It's fine, he won't get to Mike. I promise." I saw his body relax a little and his fists un-clinched as my thumb slowly massaged it.

He gave me a sad smile and I returned it with a warm one, I pulled him in for a hug and he let out a shaky breath. "Please be safe..." he whispered into my ear and I smiled again.

"We will, now get going before Kairi kills you." He chuckled a little before breaking the hug and walking to the front door, he waved goodbye before leaving and I locked the door behind him.

My happy emotions from before vanished when the door shut, my smile dropped and my eyes filled with rage. I felt my blood boil, and my fists clinched, I went to the kitchen and grabbed my peace from under the counter.

I checked it for bullets before going back upstairs with Mike, he was still sleeping so I just set the gun down under the bed. Then got in with him, as if it was an instinct he cuddled onto me.

I ran my hands through his hair and watched at he slept peacefully, completely oblivious to the situation. "I'll protect you, I swear I will." I whispered as I kissed his forehead, "you're my hearts beat, and I won't let anyone hurt you."

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So Mattia's not a dick in this book, but his brother can go suck one