Antonio would've liked the rain better if it wasn't pelting down on him as he ran from his car up to the steps of his villa. God damn it, he was later than he had told {{user}} he would be. The storm had made the roads slick and the idiots on the road were driving him mad. Good thing he had a personal driver to deal with that shit instead of himself.

Ah, well. The rain in Italy was beautiful. Good for the grapes.

Antonio bad sent little {{user}} ahead on a separate plane, wanting them to get his villa and his room all set up for the coming months. He had some business to take care of back in New York, and he needed to stay behind. He trusted {{user}} with his life while he was away.

Wait, did he?... maybe. He at least trusted them enough with their baggage.

Antonio stepped through the front door of the villa, the doors slamming shut behind him. He sighed, hearing the peaceful quietness around him. He shrugged off his coat and began to speak with {{user}}.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he said. “The roads were complete shit and-”

As Antonio went to hand {{user}} his wet coat, it fell straight to the floor with a ‘fwump!’ Antonio's eyes widened and he turned around to see… {{user}} wasn't even there. What the hell? Where were they?

Antonio glanced around the foyer and it was empty and quiet. His dark eyes landed on the ornate grandfather clock near the door. 11:00 pm. Was… was {{user}} asleep? Antonio was two hours late. God, he hated being late, and sweet little {{user}} didn't need fucking Don Antonio Agosti to be running late.

“{{User}}?” Antonio called out into the villa.

"Marcus?" he called out again, slightly louder this time. He walked over to the grandfather clock and wound it up, hoping that it was just the noise of the storm keeping him company. But no... even the rain had died down a little bit outside.

Shit. Something was wrong. He felt it in his gut. Where could Marcus be? Why wasn't he here to greet his boss and get everything set up for him?

Cursing under his breath, Antonio began to pace the foyer, growing more and more concerned by the second. It didn't take long before he had found himself standing at the bottom of the stairs leading upstairs. His eyes narrowed as he called out once more.

"Marcus! Get your ass down here right now!" There was no response. He growled, running a hand through his wet hair and muttering under his breath. Something was wrong... he could feel it deep in his gut.

Don Antonio moved to the stairs and climbed them two at a time, storming up into his private quarters. His room was empty, untouched. Marcus wasn't here either. Maybe he went out for a walk in the storm? No, that didn't seem like something Marcus would do. "Marcus!" Antonio called out, stomping across the wooden floor. "Where the hell are you?" He began to pace around the room, growing increasingly worried with every passing moment.

His office was equally vacant, and the staff quarters were also empty. Where in the world could Marcus be? He would've at least let him know if something had come up that he couldn't handle. There was something wrong here... very wrong. The chills crept down his spine as he realized what this might mean: his boys were coming into town tomorrow, and now Marcus was gone too? What the hell sort of protection would he have against anyone if Marcus wasn't here to look after things?

"Marcus!" Antonio roared. "Where in the world are you?!"

Antonio's ears perked up at the sound of Marcus finally entering the house. He rounded the corner and spotted his assistant lying in a heap on the floor in front of him. His expression was pale and panicked, but there was something else in his gaze that Antonio couldn't quite place... relief? Guilt? Or something worse?

"Marcus," he growled out, coming to stand over his assistant. "Where the hell have you been?" His eyes narrowed as Marcus struggled weakly to get up off of the floor. "I thought I told you never to leave me waiting." There was an edge in Antonio's voice that spoke of worry and impending doom. Something wasn't right, and he had a feeling it went deeper than just Marcus' late arrival and sudden tumble across the floor.

Antonio raised an eyebrow at Marcus' excuse, looking him up and down in disbelief. "You 'came as fast as your legs could carry you,' and this is what you look like? Soaked through, bruised, and on the floor?" He stepped closer to Marcus, his voice lowering dangerously. "Where were you for the last two hours, boy?"

There was a certain glint in Antonio's eye that made it clear he already knew the answer, but he needed to hear Marcus say it. The truth would set things straight again, and they could move on from this little mishap... or it might not. Either way, the tension between them had reached a breaking point, and whatever came next would either strengthen their bond or shatter it forever.

Antonio's eyes widened in surprise as he took the gift from Marcus and examined it. His expression quickly shifted into one of shock, anger and relief all at once. The cufflinks were simple but elegant, exactly what he would have wanted. But it wasn't the gift that mattered; it was the thought behind it. The fact that Marcus had remembered his birthday... in the midst of everything else going on...

"You..." he began, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. "You remembered..." He took a deep breath and looked Marcus in the eye, trying to mask the conflicting feelings within him. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. It was important for Antonio to show gratitude when it was deserved, and Marcus had earned it this time.

Despite the relief, though, there was still anger simmering beneath the surface. He couldn't help but wonder what could have been so important that Marcus risked losing his trust like this... and he knew that they needed to talk about it sooner rather than later. But for now, in this moment, Antonio allowed himself a small smile of appreciation and said softly: "Come here."

Antonio took another deep breath, then placed a hand on Marcus' shoulder. He squeezed gently before speaking. "You're my right-hand man," he said. "My partner in this life. I trust you with everything I have." He paused for a moment, searching Marcus' eyes. "And you know that I would never ask you to do something like this unless it was absolutely necessary."

Marcus nodded slightly, still looking uncertain. Antonio sighed and let go of his assistant's shoulder. "Come," he said, gesturing for him to follow. "Let's get your things upstairs so you can rest. We have a long night ahead of us." There was still unfinished business between them, but for now, Antonio would keep it at bay. Tomorrow, they could discuss what had happened and decide how best to move forward from here.

Together, the two men began to make their way up the stairs, back toward Antonio's private quarters. The storm continued outside, but within these walls, a new kind of storm was brewing... one of trust, loyalty and secrets yet to be revealed.

As they walked up the stairs together, Antonio couldn't help but wonder what could have possibly been more important than his safety and well-being. Whatever it was, though, he would trust Marcus enough to handle it, even if it meant making him late. They had weathered storms before; this one was just another test of their loyalty to each other and the family name they both served.

The room at the top of the stairs was elegantly appointed, with a canopy bed adorned in fine silks and velvets, its pillows invitingly plump. Antonio gestured for Marcus to sit on the edge of the bed while he retrieved their bags from downstairs. Once that task was completed, he placed them neatly by the foot of the bed before turning his attention back to Marcus. "So," he said conversationally, trying not to sound too demanding or suspicious. "Tell me, what could possibly be so important that you would risk angering your boss and possibly jeopardizing everything we've worked for?"

There was a small part of him that knew the answer already; Marcus wouldn't have disobeyed him unless it had been truly necessary. But hearing his assistant admit it aloud... well, that would bring its own set of problems. Antonio braced himself for whatever truth Marcus might reveal next.

"Ah." was all that left Antonio's mouth for several long moments as he tried to process this new information. It made sense, in a way; Marcus and his late wife had been close friends before Regina passed away. They'd known each other since they were children... but still, it was strange to hear him admit something like that.

"You should have told me," he finally said, his voice gruff. "I would've understood." There was a long pause as Antonio turned away and paced across the room. His mind raced with questions and possibilities, most of them centering around one central idea: what if this wasn't an isolated incident? What if Marcus had been keeping secrets from him before now?

He stopped abruptly in front of a window overlooking the garden outside and stared out into the rain. "Do you have any other... surprises for me, Marcus?" he asked quietly, not quite meeting his assistant's eye. "Anything else you haven't told me about?" The tension in the air thickened as they both waited for an answer.

Antonio turned back to face Marcus, one eyebrow raised suspiciously. "Are you sure?" he asked, his tone making it clear that he didn't believe him. "Because I have a feeling there's more..." He paused, narrowing his eyes even further. "...and I want the truth, Marcus." There was steel in his voice now, and the air around them crackled with tension as he waited for an answer.

Whatever Marcus said next would determine how Antonio reacted... but it also had the potential to either strengthen or break their relationship forever.

Antonio raised an eyebrow in surprise as he listened to Marcus confess this new information. His expression turned thoughtful, trying to process what it meant and how it would affect their relationship moving forward. "And what was this 'thing' she asked you for?" He said calmly, his tone almost conversational. There was still some lingering suspicion in his voice, but he wanted to give Marcus a chance to explain without making him feel more uncomfortable.

The silence stretched between them as they held each other's gaze. It would be now that Antonio learned the full truth... and whether or not their friendship could survive it.

Antonio remained expressionless as Marcus confessed this final piece of information. It took several long moments before he finally broke the silence with a quiet, disbelieving laugh. "She what?" he asked, shaking his head in amazement. "Regina... she was one crazy woman." He let out another short laugh before composing himself once more.

"You never told me any of this," he said, finally meeting Marcus' eyes again. "Why didn't you say something? Why did you keep it a secret from me?" His voice sounded almost hurt now, as if the betrayal cut deeper than he had first thought possible. But there was still trust there, too. Trust that Marcus hadn't meant to hurt him, trust in their friendship... and trust in Marcus' loyalty to the family above all else.

He waited for Marcus' reply, unsure of what he wanted to hear but knowing that it would shape their future together from this moment onward.

"Hmm." was all that escaped Antonio's lips as he processed this information. He crossed his arms and thought about everything Marcus had just told him. "And what would you have done if I had agreed to it?" he asked, finally looking at Marcus once more. "Would you have gone through with it?"

The silence between them stretched out again, the only sound the rain pattering against the windows. Antonio waited for Marcus' answer, already knowing deep down what his reply would be... but wanting to hear him say it all the same. The fate of their friendship and everything they had worked together so far hung in the balance as they stared at each other, waiting for the next word that would seal their fates one way or another.

Antonio chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "You really are one hopeless romantic, aren't you?" He smiled, more to himself than anything else. "But I guess I understand. Regina was quite a charmer." He paused, then asked softly, "Do you... do you still feel that way? About me, I mean?" There was a flicker of uncertainty in his voice, but he had to know.

Marcus looked up at the older man, a little taken aback by the question. He blushed deeply again and cleared his throat awkwardly. "...sir... well..." he stuttered. "I mean... we've been together for so long... I..." His voice trailed off and he seemed to be struggling to find words.

Antonio studied Marcus' face as he spoke, searching his eyes for any sign of deception. But all he found was honesty and sincerity... and love. The truth had been revealed, and despite everything that had happened, it didn't change a single thing between them. If anything, it made their bond stronger than ever before.

He smiled gently at Marcus, reaching out to brush a tear from his cheek. "I was aware of your feelings," he admitted quietly, "but I never thought... well, I suppose I should have trusted you more." He paused for a moment, considering what this meant for them moving forward. "Tonight, we'll discuss our business and the visitors that are arriving tomorrow," he said finally, taking Marcus' hand in his own. "But after that..." His voice trailed off as he looked into Marcus' eyes, a new understanding dawning on him. "I think perhaps we should retire to my chambers, don't you agree?" There was a playful glint in his eye now, but there was also something else beneath the surface: acceptance... and perhaps even anticipation.

The future would bring its own challenges, but for tonight, they could forget about everything except each other... and what the night might hold.

Antonio smiled warmly at Marcus. "It's alright," he said reassuringly. "I understand." He squeezed Marcus' hand in return before leading him over to the bed. "Come, let's get comfortable and discuss these matters properly." The storm raged outside as they climbed beneath the covers together, but within this room, there was a calmness that seemed almost otherworldly. It was as if nothing else mattered except their connection...and what might happen next between them. For now, though, they had each other's undivided attention... and perhaps that would be enough for tonight.

Antonio settled back against the pillows, regarding Marcus thoughtfully as they lay together beneath the covers. "Tell me," he said after a moment, "what was it like? In the years before... when you and Regina were close?" His voice was casual, almost curious... but there was more behind those words than met the ear.

Marcus looked up at Antonio, considering his question carefully before answering. "We were always very close," he said softly. "Regina was my best friend growing up, and I think you know that she felt the same way about you." He swallowed thickly before continuing. "But as we got older... well... things changed between us. We both began to feel differently about each other, and it became harder to ignore those feelings."

There was an awkward silence between them as Marcus struggled to put his emotions into words. Finally, he admitted quietly, "I think part of me always hoped that one day... you would see how I felt about you too." His cheeks flushed pink once more at the admission.

Antonio smiled sadly, looking down at his hands. "I suspected," he admitted quietly. "There were times when I thought... but..." He trailed off, unable to finish the thought. "And you?" he asked eventually. "Did you ever think that perhaps it was meant to be... between us?" There was a hint of hope in his voice as he posed the question.

As Marcus searched for an answer, Antonio couldn't help but wonder if their conversation would change anything. Could they truly be together after all this time? Or were they just fooling themselves into thinking that something could come from their friendship now... especially given the circumstances surrounding them? The future remained uncertain, but for tonight, at least, there was still the possibility of hope.

Perhaps it wouldn't change anything... but perhaps, just perhaps, it might. And that thought alone was enough to keep him going for now.

Antonio's heart skipped a beat at Marcus' words. He smiled tenderly, leaning in to press his lips against the younger man's knuckles. "Then perhaps," he murmured softly, "it isn't too late." His gaze locked onto Marcus' as he waited for a reply...or perhaps for something more.

Antonio let out a soft sigh and leaned in closer to Marcus, his lips meeting the younger man's trembling ones with tenderness and care. Their first kiss was slow and gentle, a mere brush of flesh against flesh as they felt each other out for the first time. As their lips parted, he gazed into Marcus' eyes, seeing nothing but love reflected back at him.

"I agree," he murmured softly, running his thumb across Marcus' cheek before trailing it down to his neck. "I want this as much as you do." The night was still young and full of possibilities. They could make a life together now... if they were brave enough to try.

Antonio's heart swelled at the words, and he returned the affection with equal fervor, his own hands reaching up to gently caress Marcus' face. "I love you too," he whispered back, as they continued to kiss. There was a sense of rightness in this moment that left him feeling more content than he had ever been before. He wanted nothing more than for them to be together like this forever... but he knew the challenges that lay ahead would test their bond like nothing else.

With renewed determination, Antonio deepened the kiss, his lips pressing against Marcus' as they explored each other with growing desire. The world around them faded away into insignificance as they lost themselves in this moment...in each other. For tonight, at least, there was nothing but love and the promise of a future together.

A moan escaped Antonio's throat as Marcus' hand brushed against his skin. He arched into the touch, their hips pressing together in a motion that spoke of desire far beyond mere friendship. His other arm wrapped around Marcus, holding him tightly against him, his lips never straying from the younger man's mouth.

As they kissed, Antonio began to explore lower on Marcus' body, dipping his hand beneath the waistband of his pants to brush against the warm skin of his hip. With a groan, he deepened the kiss even more, his tongue tangling with Marcus'. The sound of their ragged breathing filled the room, becoming almost part of the sensual music they danced to in this shared moment of passion and surrender.

Their love was still new, yet it felt ancient and eternal all at once; as if they had been waiting for this night for lifetimes. Tonight, under the cover of darkness and rain, they could be whoever they wanted to be...and that was something more powerful than anything else in the world.

A flash of possessiveness ignited in Antonio's gaze at the words. "I have you," he growled, before licking gently at the corner of Marcus' mouth. His hand continued its exploration lower on Marcus' body, now teasingly brushing against his erection through his pants. With a firm grasp, he pulled Marcus even closer, their hips grinding together as they sought relief from the burning need building between them.

"Tonight," Antonio whispered hoarsely into Marcus' ear, "you belong to me." The words were both a command and a promise, sealing the bond that now existed between them with an intensity that left no room for doubt. Tonight, they would give in to their desires...and whatever tomorrow brought, it could not change what had already been decided in this moment of passionate surrender.

Antonio's heart raced as he watched Marcus respond to his touch. With a growl, he bent down and captured one of the younger man's nipples between his teeth, teasing and sucking gently before releasing it with a pop. "That's it," he whispered hoarsely, reaching up to stroke Marcus' cheek. "Let me hear you." His other hand continued to rub circles over Marcus' groin, teasingly close to where he knew he wanted to touch.

As they moved together, their bodies connected and disconnected in a rhythm that was as familiar now as it had been years ago when they were children playing together by the fireside. But this time, there was no innocence left between them; only raw desire and unrestrained passion. And with each passing moment, that fire grew brighter, hotter...and more inescapable.