Vinny knew exactly what he was doing.
The way he stood just a little too close to Matthew, the casual brush of his fingers against his sleeve, the smirk playing at his lips—every action was calculated. He had spent enough time around Matthew to know what got under his skin, what made those cold, unreadable eyes flicker with something dangerous.
Matthew might have thought he was in control, but Vinny wasn't as easy to break as he looked.
Tonight, that was the point he planned to prove.
They were at some upscale lounge, the kind of place Tom would drag them to when he wanted to show off. Dim lighting, velvet couches, expensive liquor—filled with people who talked too much and meant too little. The whole group was there: Tom, perched on the armrest of a chair like he owned the place; Kieran, sipping his drink with detached amusement; Eliza, flipping through her phone while eavesdropping on every conversation; and Noah, the unwelcome presence that soured Matthew's mood the second he walked in.
Vinny, however, was only focused on one person.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, tilting his head as he slid onto the couch beside Matthew.
Matthew barely glanced at him. "Not particularly."
Vinny hummed, taking a sip of his drink before setting it down with a deliberate slowness. He stretched, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal a sliver of skin. He caught the way Matthew's eyes flickered downward for a fraction of a second before looking away.
Good.
He could feel Tom's gaze on them, sharp and knowing. Tom always had too much to say about Matthew and Vinny's "situation," always watching their interactions with an expression that danced between amusement and something more possessive.
Vinny didn't care.
At least, that's what he told himself.
"Lighten up," Vinny drawled, leaning in closer. "You look like you're about to kill someone."
"Maybe I am," Matthew muttered, his voice lower now, edged with something darker.
Vinny smirked. "And here I thought I was your favorite person."
Matthew turned his head slightly, finally looking at him. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick—like a wire stretched too tight, one wrong move away from snapping.
It was a dangerous game, but Vinny wasn't planning to lose.
He reached out, brushing his fingers against Matthew's wrist. A test. A challenge. He half-expected Matthew to pull away, but instead, he did something far more interesting.
Matthew caught his wrist, gripping it with just enough force to make Vinny's breath hitch. His expression was unreadable, but his hold was firm, grounding.
"You think you're playing me?" Matthew asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Vinny raised an eyebrow. "Aren't I?"
Matthew's grip tightened for a split second before he let go, leaning back like the moment hadn't just happened. "You're not as clever as you think."
Vinny's smirk didn't waver. "And yet, here you are—still looking."
Before Matthew could respond, Tom's voice cut through the tension.
"What a lovely little moment," Tom said, swirling his drink in his hand. His tone was light, but his eyes weren't. "Should I give you two some privacy? Or are we pretending this isn't happening?"
Matthew's jaw tensed. "Shut up, Tom."
Tom grinned. "Why? I think it's cute."
Eliza, always one to add fuel to the fire, smirked as she glanced between them. "I have to admit, I didn't expect you two to be so…close."
Vinny leaned back, making a show of stretching again. "Jealous?"
Tom let out a short laugh. "Hardly. Just enjoying the show."
Vinny knew Tom well enough to hear the edge beneath his words. The amusement was real, but there was something else laced within it.
Possessiveness.
Tom had been the one to push Vinny into this game, the one who had encouraged the manipulation, the one who had told him how easy it would be to break Matthew down. But now? Now, there was a crack in his perfect façade.
Interesting.
"Anyway," Tom said, taking another sip of his drink. "I say we take things somewhere more exciting. This place is getting boring."
Kieran sighed. "Why do I feel like you're about to suggest something stupid?"
Eliza grinned. "Because he is."
Tom ignored them both, turning his attention back to Vinny. "What do you say? Think your new favorite person is up for a little fun?"
Vinny's lips curled into a smirk. He didn't know what Tom had planned, but he wasn't about to back down.
He glanced at Matthew, noting the way his expression remained carefully neutral. But Vinny had learned to read him by now.
And Matthew wasn't saying no.
"Let's do it," Vinny said, eyes gleaming.
Whatever happened next, he was ready.
Later That Night
They ended up at some underground club, the kind of place that blurred the line between luxury and danger. Bodies moved under flashing lights, the bass shaking the walls, the air thick with sweat, alcohol, and something unspoken.
Vinny could feel Matthew's presence behind him—watching, waiting.
Tom had disappeared into the crowd, dragging Kieran along with him. Eliza was already causing trouble at the bar. Noah was somewhere nearby, lingering like a ghost.
But right now, none of that mattered.
Vinny turned to face Matthew, stepping close enough that their bodies almost touched. The heat, the tension—it was suffocating.
"You don't dance, do you?" Vinny asked, voice teasing.
Matthew's lips twitched. "Not with people like you."
Vinny tilted his head, his smile sharp. "Coward."
Something in Matthew's gaze darkened, and before Vinny could process what was happening, Matthew's hand was on his waist, pulling him forward.
Vinny's breath hitched.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't soft.
It was possessive.
"Still think I'm a coward?" Matthew murmured, his lips close to Vinny's ear.
Vinny swallowed hard, but he refused to back down.
"If you're trying to intimidate me," he whispered, "you're going to have to do better than that."
Matthew's grip tightened. "Careful what you wish for."
The music pulsed around them, drowning out everything else. The game had shifted again, and for the first time, Vinny wasn't sure if he was the one pulling the strings.
But damn, did it feel good.