CARL'S POV

Worry gnawed at my insides as I waited for the door to be opened. I swiftly typed a text on my phone and sent it. Three other texts followed but there was no reply. Worst case scenarios played in my mind like a theatrical performance on Broadway. I shook my head, along with the thoughts as I pressed the doorbell repetitively, nerviness gobbling my senses.

"Jeez, chill. I'm coming." Relief splattered on me when I heard his voice. The door flew open to expose his form. "Carlito...what are you doing here?" Surprise was painted on his face. I didn't miss the puffiness of his eyes or the redness of his nose and abrasiveness of his voice.

"You texted me, remember." I riposted, my eyes examining him like a specimen on a microscope slide.

"I did?" He quizzed. A stench of whiskey emanated from a gust of his breath.

"Yes. Told me that something happened and you needed me, so I came. Are you going to let me in or?"

"Sure. Come in." He stated, granting me entry into the mansion.

"When I got your text, I was worried that something really bad happened to you. I called and texted but you weren't picking up or replying to my texts." I acknowledged.

"Nothing happened, Carlito. As you can see, I am perfectly fine." He retorted, avoiding my gaze. "You hungry?" He changed the topic then before I could answer, he started heading to the kitchen. Something about his walking style had changed. My fear was confirmed when my eyes landed on fresh cuts on both his legs.

"My God! Gav, your legs." I rushed to him, shock and fear brimming in my being.

"Nothing." He dusted off my concern.

"It doesn't look like nothing. Your legs have bruises which could get infected. I'll go get the first aid kit..."

"No. I don't need you or anyone else pretending to care for me, Carlito." He hurled, his jaw tightening with each syllable.

"Okay Gavin, what the fuck is going on with you? A few minutes ago, you texted and called severally saying that you needed me. Now that I am here, you are throwing tantrums and acting like a real piece of shit." I addressed him, annoyance bubbling inside me like a geyser.

"The texts were a mistake. I don't need you or anyone else. I am fucking better off alone, got it?" Tears that had choked his eyes began cascading his cheeks. He grabbed a vegetable knife from the cutlery basket and began dicing carrots.

"Gav, I don't understand what is going on right now." I swallowed a painful lump that had formed in my throat. A lump that had resulted from his declaration.

"What is hard to understand? That I never fucking needed you in the first place? I think it's pretty fucking clear." He spat the venomous words which rendered my heart lifeless.

"You are joking right?" The situation was far from humorous but somehow I couldn't control a chuckle that skated from my pharynx.

"I have never been serious my whole life, Carlito. I don't need you... I never fucking did." His confession pierced through my heart, inflicting immense pain which pricked my lachrymal glands resulting in a familiar hot liquid which vamoosed from my eyes.

"Gavin...why are you saying this? Did I do something wrong?" Sniffles sped past my trembling lips as hot tears scalded my cheeks.

"No. I am the one on the wrong for thinking that you were special. But you aren't. You are just like everyone else. You just want to use me like everyone else. You don't care about me Carlito. Nobody cares about me....not even my own mother." He broke down, his body shaking as loud sobs departed his mouth. He mentioned his mother, did all this have to do with her? Did she do something to hurt him?

"She sold me when she didn't need me and now after all these years, she wants me back. How dare she think that she can walk back into my life like she has a right over me? Who the fuck does she think she is?" He cried out, dicing the carrots furiously. The knife sliced his finger causing him to hiss in pain." Fuck!" He yelled, blood spurting from his index finger.

My feet carried me to him and reflexively, I took his hand in mine, examining the bleeding lesion. "You need first aid." I decreed.

"I don't need anything from you or anyone right now!" Angrily, he spat the words.

"Your wound will get infected..." I started.

"I don't fucking care, okay?" He cut me off, swiftly sweeping the tears from his eyes using his other hand.

"But I care because I love you, Gavin. I can't stand to see you in pain like this and I don't understand why you are pushing me away." The words spilled from my mouth.

"You---love me?" He inquired, his sore eyes gazing into mine. The resentment that had resided in those gorgeous emerald pools a second ago withered away, like a plant deprived of water.

"Yes I do. I fucking love you with every cell and nerve in my body." The confession absconded my voice box, earnestness engraved in each word.

"Carlito...I..." The words caught in his throat.

"It's okay if you are not ready to say it back." My lips stretched into a small smile.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you... I shouldn't have taken it out on you." Remorse inhabited his features as he addressed me.

"I will accept your apology on one condition. You'll tell me exactly what's going on Gavin."

"Okay." Was his reply, accompanied by a slight nod of his head.

We relocated to his bedroom, where he was seated at the edge of his massive bed while I knelt before him, tending to his bruises. A painful hiss erupted from his throat when the methylated spirit made contact with his wounded index.

"Sorry..." I whispered, blowing some air on the wound to ease the pain. I then dressed his finger using a clean bandage.

"Thank you for sticking around despite my tantrums." He said.

"You are welcome, my love." I stated, cleaning a wound on his leg.

"My love?"

"Yes. Don't you like it?" I inquired, my gaze shifted to his face.

"I mean...I don't understand why you would love someone like me." He opened up, his face crowded with a mixture of emotions.

"What is there not to love about you?" I fired the question at him.

"Everything. I am a fucking mess Carlito. I don't deserve your love."

"And I love you just the way you are. With every imperfection and perfection. You are worthy of love, Gavin. Let nobody ever make you feel otherwise, okay?"

He nodded, tears flowing from his eyes like a flume. I drew him into an embrace, his head sinking on my shoulder as soft sobs emanated from his throat. "She didn't want me right from the moment she realized she was pregnant with me. I don't understand why she wants me back now after all these years. Does she even know what I went through growing up in this house? The nights I lay sleepless, crying and wishing for a mother? And now I find out that she didn't want me in her life. That she sold me off for some millions..." He spilled the words which left me shocked to the core.

"Carlito, I hate her so fucking much." He cried, his body convulsing as he deepened the embrace.

"I am really sorry Gavin." Was all I managed to say, as I run my hand comfortingly along his muscular back. I couldn't begin to imagine the pain he was going through at the moment and I knew that no amount of words could extinguish his anguish. The only thing I could do was be there for him. I listened to him open up, anguish and pity tugging at my chest at his confession. How dare she hurt him like this? What kind of mother sells her son even before he is born? Does she have any idea of the damage her actions have inflicted on Gavin?

"Gav, did she give a reason as to why she did what she did?" I inquired, stroking his damp hair. We were lying in bed, his head on my chest and arms wrapped around my waist.

"She sent an email saying that she did it because she needed money for her father's treatment."

"Do you believe her?" I raked my digits through his strawberry scented hair, savoring his scent.

"Yes. But that doesn't change the fact that she sold me off."

"Gav, maybe you should hear her side of the story. Try to understand her point of view." I suggested.

"I don't know if I have the strength to face her again."

"Wait, have you already met her?"

"Yes. The first time I met her was at the café you used to work at. Remember that day we went to have coffee in the afternoon? That's the day I first saw her."

"What's her name? I mean, who is she?" Curiosity overpowered my senses.

"Nora Marino. The Café owner."

"What? Lorenzo's aunt is your biological mother?" Bewilderment was evident in my voice.

"Yup. I was just as shocked. Guess that makes me Lorena's cousin. Who would have thought that the guy I can't stand is my cousin by blood."

"That explains why your lips almost looks like his..." I explained.

"What?" He swiftly sat up in bed.

"Yes. Now that I think about it, you guys have almost the same eye color, same hair, lips...even your voice is almost similar to his." I made a comparison, not missing the glares that Gavin was shooting my way.

"Don't you fucking compare me to that piece of shit! I look nothing like him."

"Why do you hate Lorenzo? He has done nothing wrong to you." I pried.

"I can't stand the guy because I hate that he makes you laugh. Whenever I see you guys together, I am consumed with jealousy. Carlito, I want to be the only guy that makes you laugh. The only one that brings a smile to your face. My name is the only one that I want to hear coming out of your mouth. I know that the guy is important to you for some reason but Carlito, I want to be the only guy in your head and heart." He cupped my small face, running his thumb sensually along my bottom lip. My breath grew ragged, hastening with each drag of his thumb on the fleshy skin of my lip.

"I can't lose you too, Carlito. Promise me that no matter what, you won't abandon me." He requested, his voice drizzled with emotions.

"I promise, Gavin." A whisper skidded past my lips which he claimed into a slow, sensual kiss that prompted my body to melt in his arms. In that moment, I knew that he was mine and I was his. Nothing would ever tear us apart and if an obstacle ever came our way, we would face it, together.