Vinny stared at the glass Matthew had placed on the table between them. The amber liquid inside caught the dim light of the apartment, swirling like liquid gold.
He wasn't drunk. Not yet.
But his thoughts were tangled, and Matthew sitting across from him, watching him like he was prey, wasn't helping.
"You don't have to keep me here," Vinny finally muttered, fingers tracing the rim of the glass.
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "You keep saying that like you're in a cage."
Vinny glanced up, smirking. "Aren't I?"
Matthew leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "If you were, you wouldn't be drinking my whiskey, sitting on my couch, acting like you belong here."
Vinny exhaled a quiet laugh. "Maybe I do."
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Matthew's eyes.
Dangerous.
Something about that look made Vinny's stomach twist—not with fear, but with something just as addictive.
Matthew took another sip of his drink, eyes never leaving Vinny. "What's Tom planning?"
Vinny rolled his eyes. "What makes you think he's planning anything?"
Matthew set his glass down with a soft clink. "Because Tom doesn't like losing."
Vinny's smirk faltered.
Because Matthew wasn't wrong.
And that? That was a problem.
Meanwhile – Tom & Noah's MeetingTom tapped his fingers against the table, eyes scanning the crowded bar. He wasn't in the mood for distractions, but the hum of voices, the dim lighting, the faint scent of alcohol—it was grounding. It kept him from acting too impulsively.
Noah slid into the seat across from him, all lazy confidence and sharp arrogance.
"This better be good," Noah muttered, signaling for a drink.
Tom didn't waste time. "Vinny's getting in too deep."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "With Matthew?"
Tom nodded.
Noah let out a dry laugh. "Well, yeah. That was the plan, wasn't it?"
Tom's jaw tightened. "He was supposed to play with him, not fall for him."
Noah hummed, tapping a finger against his glass. "And you're worried why? You don't actually care about Matthew, do you?"
Tom's fingers curled into a fist.
Noah grinned. "Oh, you do, don't you?"
Tom scowled. "This isn't about me."
Noah leaned back. "Sure. But you're acting like a jealous ex."
Tom exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to stay calm. "I don't care who Vinny screws around with. I care that he's forgetting how this started."
Noah tilted his head, studying him. "And you want me to… what? Pull him back?"
Tom smirked. "You're the only person who gets under Matthew's skin. If anyone can shake things up, it's you."
Noah chuckled, amused. "So you want me to make Matthew jealous?"
Tom shrugged. "I want you to remind him that he doesn't own Vinny."
Noah took a slow sip of his drink, eyes glinting. "That," he murmured, "I can do."
Back at Matthew's ApartmentVinny lay sprawled on Matthew's bed, his phone in his hands. No messages from Tom. No calls.
It wasn't like Tom to go quiet.
Matthew walked in, towel slung around his neck, hair still damp from the shower. "You're thinking too hard."
Vinny arched an eyebrow. "Didn't know you could read minds."
Matthew smirked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I don't have to. You're predictable."
Vinny clicked his tongue. "That's rude."
Matthew shrugged. "It's true."
Vinny propped himself up on his elbows. "Then tell me—what am I thinking about?"
Matthew leaned in, eyes flickering down to his phone. "Tom."
Vinny stiffened.
Matthew smiled, slow and knowing. "He's getting desperate."
Vinny frowned. "You don't know that."
Matthew traced his fingers over Vinny's wrist, featherlight but possessive. "Oh, I do. And he's going to do something stupid soon."
Vinny swallowed.
Because Matthew was right.
Tom wasn't the type to sit back and lose.
The Next Day – At Eliza's ApartmentEliza sat cross-legged on her couch, watching Kieran scroll through his phone like the world's most uninterested spectator.
"So," she drawled, "what do we think of Matthew and Vinny?"
Kieran barely glanced up. "Trainwreck."
Eliza grinned. "I know, right?"
Kieran sighed. "They're going to ruin each other."
Eliza's smile widened. "That's the best part."
Kieran finally looked up, unimpressed. "You're the worst."
She winked. "And yet, you still hang out with me."
Kieran shook his head, but there was amusement in his eyes.
Eliza stretched, yawning. "Anyway, Tom's been acting weird. I mean, weirder than usual."
Kieran hummed. "He's plotting."
Eliza's eyes sparkled. "Good. This was getting boring."
Kieran sighed. "You love chaos too much."
Eliza grinned. "And you pretend to be above it, but we both know you love watching it unfold."
Kieran smirked. "Maybe."
Eliza laughed. "This is going to be so fun."
At a Club – That NightThe music pulsed, neon lights flickering over bodies moving in the dark.
Vinny didn't want to be here.
But Tom had texted, telling him to meet up—and Vinny wasn't about to ignore him forever.
Tom leaned against the bar, watching as Vinny approached. "Took you long enough."
Vinny rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"
Tom sipped his drink, eyes sharp. "You tell me."
Vinny frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tom smirked. "You think you're in control, but you're not. Matthew's winning, Vinny."
Vinny tensed.
Tom leaned in, voice dropping. "Do you even remember how this started?"
Vinny clenched his jaw. "Of course I do."
Tom tilted his head. "Then prove it."
Vinny exhaled slowly. "And how do you suggest I do that?"
Tom's smirk widened. "By reminding him that he doesn't own you."
Vinny hesitated.
And then—
A familiar voice cut in.
"Well, isn't this interesting?"
Vinny turned—
And there was Noah, leaning against the bar, watching him with a slow, predatory smile.
His pulse skipped.
Because suddenly, he wasn't sure if he was playing the game anymore—
Or if the game was playing him.