"What the hell!? Are we supposed to risk our meeting place like this?!" shouted the man whose shadowy figure was outlined by the thin strip of light that fell from the ceiling.

"Calm the fuck down Rex" said the Captain who was sitting in front of him. At the head of the table sat Madame LaVerè and to her left sat Donghae's mother, looking at them with her hawk- like gaze.

"how can I calm down?" growled the first man, "when will Cosa Nostra have their base back?"

"we will soon have it" grunted the Captain without much conviction, and the other man just nodded, apparently having second thoughts about funding Cosa Nostra. He gave a wary glance at LaVerè.

"This is your organization madame! aren't you concerned about not having a stable enough base for these secret activities?"

Lady LaVerè gave a small smile and looked at the man, clicking her long nails but refusing to answer. Sure the room looked dirty, but it's elegance of old times still hung around the place. She had particularly liked the old winding staircase.

A few moments later, the door opened and a young boy walked in wearing a dark Zegna suit, his dark brown hair was pulled back and he slowly walked inside, cautiously taking in every individual sitting on the table.

He stopped and looked at the new face, but didn't comment. Rex gave the boy a piercing stare and his hand slowly went towards his pistol that he kept in his pocket. But he suddenly stopped when he heard a bullet clicking into place infront of him.

"You can try that again" growled the Captain with a smug smile.

"good you are here Donghae we can start" the lady who was sitting next to LaVerè smiled.

Although he was used to seeing men suddenly pointing pistols at him, Donghae's body gave an unnatural shudder. Without saying a word, he sat down at the only empty spot on the table, right opposite to his mom. Donghae gave a her a watery smile and she returned it.

"We need to get Antonio away from here as quickly as possible" said LaVerè curtly, "Rex, it's all on you"

The man gave a single nod.

"who is Antonio?" asked Donghae, trying hard to look as if he knew nothing. LaVerè looked at him for a second and then she relented after a short nod from his mother.

"Antonio Galway is someone who worked for Cosa Nostra from the very beginning. We put up a rumor saying that he died, but he is very much still alive. Until recent times we've used him as a spy but" she continued, "last week one of his sensors went off when he was in his hotel room, unless I'm very much mistaken, it's the Falcons"

"so" said Donghae gazing directly at LaVerè, "why are we shipping him off suddenly?"

"Donghae" said his mom half exasperated, "don't you understand? If Falcons catch him, it'll sure be the damn end of us all! He knows too much about Cosa Nostra and so much about you"

Donghae gulped, so this is why...

"He is scheduled to fly this evening" grunted Rex. "we also need to take some precautions though, so I'm suggesting that we keep motion laser guns trained at the jet"

"agreed" said the Captain slamming his fists on the table, making the ash at the end of his cigar tumble down onto the table.

Donghae didn't know why he was keeping his mouth shut like this, he wanted to yell at them to stop, he wanted to scream that Falcons already knew what was going on but for some reason his mouth felt like it was padlocked.

This would be a great opportunity to kill Jake...imagine a life without him Donghae! You don't have to hide anymore! You can become the leader of Cosa Nostra without having anyone to fear! Why aren't you telling them?!

Donghae didn't know what to think... Imagine a world without him... Imagine a world without having him looking at you...

Donghae stayed silent.

"All agreed then" said LaVerè silkily, "Rex, you are allowed to fire if something happens, if we can't have him, then no-one can"

"Understood my lady" grunted Rex looking pleased, "a pleasure to work for you"

LaVerè gave a small amused laugh, "For me? Oh no Rex you got it wrong" she said, "you are working for him" she said pointing at Donghae who in turn looked at Rex directly in the eyes.

"Meet the upcoming leader of Cosa Nostra Rex" she said still amused, "Aiden Luciano, son of Alexi Luciano. Please show your respect hereafter."

Donghae saw, with some satisfaction, Rex looking really uncomfortable and a little fearful at the same time.

****************

Luca took a quick glance at at Jake and Donghae sitting at the back of the white Defender. Jake was looking at his watch just like a toddler looking at his favourite toy. Donghae was looking out of the window, apparently lost in his own thoughts. Luca grunted.

'That kid seems to be having lots of stuff to think about these days' he thought as he smoothly cut through the roundabout.

"Jake" said Luca, his eyes fixed on the rear mirror, "are you serious about this plan?

Jake tore his eyes away from the watch and looked at him for a second.

"I am" he said in a bored voice, "always right" he added after thought and went back to admiring his watch.

Hyukjae took a quick glance at Donghae who was sitting motionlessly next to him. Something seemed off in the way he was behaving recently. Although he'd rather die than never admit it, Jake had never felt more alone since the day Donghae had stormed off away from him. It was clear that Donghae was obviously avoiding him.

Luca finally parked on the crowed car park of the Galway Skyscraper. He pulled the brakes and looked back at the two boys sitting on the back seat. Both of them were wearing casual. Although denims and T-shirts easily looked satisfying on Donghae, Jake didn't look very comfortable in them. Or maybe he was imagining it.

The three of them went stalling through the automatic double doors. Inside of Galway Cooperation looked like a mini technology based amusement park. Various displays were featured with the world's best technology and families and random people were gazing at them, talking and laughing while generally causing an indistinct chatter which was a perfect condition for their mission. Luca walked in front while Jake and Donghae trailed behind him like a pair of bored kids.

All three of them stopped at the reception desk where a middle aged lady was smiling at them with a set a shockingly brilliant white teeth.

"Welcome to Galway industries!" she said, still smiling manically, "Do you wish to take a tour? We are a bit busy at the moment but if you can wait-"

Luca cleared his throat while Donghae looked amusedly at the woman, wondering why in the world anyone would recruit someone like this into their company.

"good afternoon madame" said Luca a falsely well British accented voice, "we are not here for a lovely tour unfortunately but to a very important meeting for my son and his friend with Mister. William DeKins"

"Oh" faltered the receptionist, her smile shrinking by a couple of teeth. "I'm afraid that is not entirely possible, Mr. DeKins usually does not take guests"

"What annoyance!" said Luca loudly in a highly offended voice, "We were promised that our meeting would be scheduled at 7.15 today!"

Some people were starting to look at them now. Donghae gulped uneasily, this was more publicity than he wanted to have at the moment.

"I'm sorry Mister?" she stopped in question,

"Wayland, Kenneth Wayland" grunted Luca.

"I'm sorry Mister Wayland but it must be a mistake"

"Well" sniffed Luca looking at both of them, "We must better take the tour then shouldn't we boys? Or it'll be an entire waste of a day"

"yeah dad" said Jake sarcastically. All three of them walked back to the row of chairs and sat down.

"Since when did we plan on having you as my father?" hissed Jake and Luca just looked the other way, pretending not to listen. Donghae gulped down a smile.

Jake started tapping away at his phone after smirking at Luca.

"Avian" he said quietly and the dial lit up "erase us from the footage now and take down the link from here and Air Force One"

"that's why you made me act like an idiot up on the front desk!" hissed Luca viciously.

"obviously" said Hyukjae, "how the fuck is Avian supposed to wipe us out if we didn't get recorded on the cameras in the first place? It's a risk I'm taking"

Finally a man started calling all the newcomers towards him for the new tour to start.

"Luca start timing now" said Jake getting up, "lets take a ride"

*****************

Miles above the NY skyline...

Antonio Galway. A man in his late 50s, greying hair and owner of Galway Cooperation with an unmistakable record of being dead for more than 14 years.

'that's who I am' thought the man with a grim smile, looking out at the glittering lights of the New York city through the small window of the air Jet.

'I'm not done with you yet Maranzano!' he thought, 'I will hunt your son down too and destroy Falcons for good'

He took another sip from the red wine and gazed back at the sky.

"Soon when I go back to Denmark, I will join with the new leader of Cosa Nostra" he muttered to himself. "Then you will know my worth Leonard, even from your grave you will know"

Thoughts like these obviously needed more celebration. Antonio looked at the wine glass and smacked his lips.

"I need more wine!" he said loudly but to his surprise no-one answered. That's when he realized that there was barely a sound inside the jet.

"Pietro!?" said Antonio loudly, calling his personal bodyguard. Still there was no sound.

"what the hell is going on here?" he muttered getting up.

Suddenly the door of the cockpit opened and a boy stepped out pointing a revolver at his chest. His dark hair was swishing down onto his forehead and he flicked it back looking unconcerned. That's when Antonio saw his eyes.

The same eyes...

"L-Leonard?" called out Antonio, horror struck although his brain new it was not him.

"oh you got it wrong" said the boy and shot him on the gut.

Antonio screamed and fell back onto his luxurious seat. His face was contorted with pain and blood was gushing out from his wound.

Jake came close and sat down in front of him. "Leonard was my father" he said stroking his gun, "I'm Jake Maranzano"

"You little-" started Antonio but Jake silenced him with just one look.

"I think" said Jake, "that you're supposed to be dead aren't you?"

The man growled, and took a sharp breath.

"so.. It was the Falcons!" screamed the man breathing hard. He suddenly laughed out loud. It was almost hysteria.

"of course" Jake heard Antonio mutter to himself vigorously "of course it's them!... It's always them!.. First the father now the son! I will kill him.. I WILL-"

At this moment the cockpit door opened again and Donghae walked out. He took one glance at Antonio's bleeding figure who was staring at him with his with eyes bulging.

Donghae stood behind Jake and looked at Antonio directly in the eyes. The man's threat instantly turned into a strangled whimper. Donghae gave one shake of his head and Antonio seemed to understand it. The dazed man looked back at Jake.

"Great flying, although you don't have a license" said Jake without turning.

"thanks" said Donghae being equally civil. "I put it on autopilot"

"now" said Jake looking back at Antonio, "we need a little help from you, tell us what you know about Cosa Nostra. Are they still active?"

The man looked fearfully at Jake and back at Donghae. He seemed pale with blood loss. Suddenly Donghae noticed Antonio's hand slowly moving toward the pistol hidden on his coat sleeve.

"I don't know what you mean" said Galway feebly and Jake tuttered and aimed the pistol at his forhead.

"I'll give you five seconds Galway" hissed Jake, "that's all you get from my patience. I'm worse than my dad"

The man gulped, his hand was gripping the pistol tightly now.

Jake started counting...

'come on Antonio' thought Donghae closing his eyes, his fingers gripping on his own pistol, 'one shot and it'll be over! Then Cosa Nostra can finally breathe in peace'

At least he didn't need to watch. When Donghae closed his eyes a sudden memory crashed into his mind. He was playing with his father and Donghae pushed him from behind, making him fall face first on the grass. He was laughing...

"If someone helps you to survive, then there will be and invisible bond between you and the person who helped you. Jake didn't let him die once...

Suddenly Antonio lurched forward, aimed and fired at Hyukjae. And everything happened in a split second.

Donghae jumped forward and pushed Jake away while the bullet whizzed past the place where his heart had been seconds ago. It embedded itself on the metal wall of the jet.

"Link between Galway skyscraper and Air Force One restored" said Avian's cool voice from Jake's watch.

Almost instantly, red dots appeared everywhere, including Galway's chest and Donghae's sternum.

"Get down!" shouted Jake and pulled Donghae down onto him, making him fall on top of Hyukjae's chest as the sound of multiple shots filled the air around them. Antonio was not that lucky. Few seconds ago he was standing jubilantly over Jake's figure but the next second he was lying dead on the floor with new blood oozing from his chest. Without him knowing, Jake's arms went around Donghae as he pressed him tightly on to his chest, feeling the intense beat of Donghae's heart.

"come on Donghae" he whispered rather awkwardly when the shooting stopped, "let's get out of here"

As if lightning had struck, Donghae pulled away from him, with his face red.

"fine" he said stiffly and turned away. Jake looked at his watch,

"Avian" he said breathlessly, "call Luca"

After a few rings Luca's anxious voice came through the speakers,

"JAKE!! are you all right!?"

"yeah" said Hyukjae, "send us a shuttle will you?, we need to get out of here"

"Roger that" said Luca and cut the call.

"Is it okay to stand?" asked Donghae fearfully and Jake nodded,

"I made Avian disable the connection again but we don't have much time"

"That's good" said Donghae in a tiny voice.

He looked at Jake sitting close to him with his legs crammed around Donghae's waist. He wondered what would've happened if he hadn't stopped Antonio from shooting Jake, if Jake had died, would his heart finally start beating normally?

Donghae once again felt hopelessly attracted to this jerk who always seemed to be getting into trouble. He couldn't help it. Then he noticed Jake staring back at him, watching his every move, without any embarrassment or hesitation.

"Hyukjae" he whispered and Jake leaned forward and gently fitted his lips onto Donghae's mouth.

It was as if something wild inside them was unleashed. Their kiss became desperate with wanting as Jake moved his lips in perfect sync with Donghae, while trailing his hands down his back until they went inside Donghae's T-shirt. Donghae put his arms around Jake, pulling him more closer until he felt his eyelashes brush against his cheeks. They became total, entangled with each other, breathing each other in until Jake softly took his lips away from Donghae and stared at his eyes.

"Don't ever think of fucking leaving me again" whispered Jake breathlessly and Donghae nodded as Jake started kissing him softly once more. This time his pretty lips breaking all boundaries...

y'all! 🔥🔥💙💙