The Russos 9 Read online

  Published by Mojocastle Press, LLC

  Price, Utah

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  The Russos: Episode Nine

  ISBN:1-60180-056-8

  Copyright © 2007 D. J. Manly

  Cover Art Copyright @ 2007 April Martinez

  All rights reserved.

  Excluding legitimate review sites and review publications, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Copying, scanning, uploading, selling and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without permission from the publisher is illegal, punishable by law and will be prosecuted.

  Available online at:

  http://www.mojocastle.com/

  Also By D.J. Manly:

  Connor's Storm

  Melting Ice

  The Russos: Digital Soap

  Dedication:

  To my readers.

  The Russos:

  Episode Nine

  D. J. Manly

  Previously on The Russos...

  Angelo came home for his Mother's wedding with Matt, a hot reporter. When he arrived unexpectedly at his father's house, he saw Tony kissing Drake in the bedroom. Drake gave Johnny an ultimatum to choose between being his brother...or his lover.

  And Now...Episode Nine of The Russos

  It felt as if today was the day he had been reborn. He felt like singing and dancing, taking off all his clothes and running through the streets, screaming, "Drake...Drake...I love you...I love you!"

  Instead, Johnny sat on his veranda, eating his usual breakfast of brown toast and coffee. The only thing unusual about it was the time. It was after one in the afternoon, and Drake hadn't even come down yet.

  They had talked almost all night long. There had been bouts of fighting, some crying and finally after all these years, they found a solution that they could both live with.

  By the time a new day had dawned, Drake was kissing him and they spent the good part of the morning making love. For the very first time, Drake put up no resistance. There were no inhibitions, no holding back and no excuses. When they looked at each other as the sun rose in the sky, they both understood that they had no choice. There was no longer anything that could separate them, no more excuses to be made. The power of their love frightened them. Perhaps it always had, but they would just have to deal with it, face whatever came. It was strange how the very thought of losing someone could keep you apart and it had somehow.

  They were lovers first, but that would not negate those feelings nurtured through the years as they grew up side by side as brothers. Those feelings of kinship and brotherhood could only enhance the physical side of their relationship. There was no reason to see it as a problem. They would have to learn how to balance those feelings. It was either that or they would go their separate ways, putting everything behind them, including their careers. But they knew that there was too much at stake to do that. The people they loved had already suffered enough because of this passion---or at least, because they had denied it for so long. They had suffered enough. It was time to make everyone happy by making themselves happy. It was a completely new thing for both of them and it wouldn't be easy.

  When Drake came downstairs finally, he gazed at Johnny with sleepy eyes and gave him a tender smile.

  Yes, he was happy, but this was new. It was real, and that frightened him a little.

  He sat across from him, wearing a pair of Johnny's sweatpants. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes. Johnny reached across the table and took his hand. "I love you," he mouthed.

  "I know," Drake replied softly, smiling at him. He squeezed his hand and then released it. He looked away from Johnny for a minute, overwhelmed by emotion. He cleared his throat and when the trembling inside him died, he looked at him again.

  "You know what I forgot?" he said softly.

  "No." Johnny shook his head. "What did you forget, my love?"

  Drake smiled at him. My love. How could everything seem so new to him suddenly when he'd known this man all his life? "I forgot to invite my son to Mac's party tonight."

  "Shit. I guess you'll have to ask his friend to come along as well." Johnny tried not to sound miffed every time something about Matt was mentioned, but he did anyway.

  Drake hid a smile. "Well...yeah. Tony knows, doesn't he?"

  "Yes, I told him last week. I hope he doesn't forget."

  "Where is he, by the way?" Drake looked around.

  "I don't know. Do you want some breakfast? I'll call for..."

  Drake shook his dark head. "No. I think I'll go and take a shower."

  Johnny smiled at him. "I think I need one too."

  Drake stood up. "Well, come on, then. Who goes first?"

  "You are teasing me," Johnny complained as they climbed the stairs side by side.

  "No, I..." Drake gave him an expression of innocence. "I had no ulterior motive but to really take a shower," he said, keeping his voice deep and sincere.

  Johnny followed him into the bathroom with a smirk.

  "There are several showers in this house," Drake turned around and met his eyes, then gave him a wicked grin. "Unless, of course, you're attached to this particular shower."

  "Take off those pants," Johnny demanded. He made a point of running his gaze over him and added, "Pants that, by the way, belong to me. I don't recall giving you permission to borrow them."

  Drake took off the sweatpants and threw them at him, giving him a cocky grin. He was just about to turn on the shower when Johnny grabbed him around the waist, wrestling with him like when they were boys.

  The wrestling quickly turned into something else, something filled with urgent need and raw desire.

  Johnny backed him up against the wall, his hands wandering down the length of him. He kissed Drake's mouth hotly, took Drake's cock in his hands. "Oh, God," he muttered, sinking to his knees. "You are so beautiful, Drake. I want to---"

  The phone rang, shattering the mood.

  Johnny placed his face against Drake's thigh and groaned. "Shit. I can let the answering machine get it."

  "Answer it," Drake muttered, giving him a playful push.

  Johnny stood up and walked into the adjoining bedroom, swearing under his breath. He picked up the phone. "Hello. Be brief."

  Drake came into the room, wrapping a towel around his waist.

  "Johnny? It's Janet. Hope I'm not bothering you. I tried earlier, but no one answered and I tried calling Drake, but---"

  "Drake is here." Johnny rolled his eyes at him. "Do you want to talk to him?" Drake walked over to the bed and shook his head. He pointed at the bed with a suggestive smile.

  Johnny placed a hand over the receiver. "It's Janet."

  Drake narrowed his eyes.

  "I can talk to you," Janet said.

  "Oh...okay," Johnny replied, shrugging at Drake, who was standing there in front of him with that stupid towel around his waist. It was driving him crazy. He turned his back on him. "What is it?"

  "Did Tony come home last night?"

  "No. I don't think so. I haven't checked his room, but after he dropped Drake off, he said he was going to sleep at Pepi's."

  "He didn't go to Pepi's. I just called there. He came here last night. In fact, I don't even think he wanted to come in. He was sitting in his car down the street and a security cop brought him to the door. He was upset. Did he have a fight with somebody yesterday?"

  "You'd have to ask Drake that. Look, Janet, Tony is a big boy. I wouldn't worry," Johnny muttered, but right away he thought abou
t this guy Matt that Angelo had brought with him. "Maybe he went to a friend's house for the night."

  "Well, let me know if he shows up, okay?"

  "Sure. Thanks for calling," Johnny replied and hung up. He looked at Drake. "Tony was at Janet's last night. She said he was upset. One of those fucking security cops picked him up and brought him to Janet's door. He's not at Pep's, Drake. Are you sure he said he was going there? What happened at your place last night?"

  Johnny stood up from the bed and paced a little, rubbing his chin the way he always did when he was stressed out about something.

  Drake uttered a sigh. He was far too happy to talk about last night, but he supposed he should tell him what happened before he heard it from someone else.

  "Angelo and his boyfriend showed up at my place shortly after Tony did. Tony and I were talking in my bedroom. I was drunk and upset and I told Tony that Angelo had come back from Phoenix already, but he wasn't alone. I didn't want him to be surprised at the wedding, so I told him about Matt."

  "And?" Johnny insisted, holding his breath.

  "We kissed."

  Those two words hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't speak.

  Drake saw the look on his face and he took a step towards him. Holding his shoulders, he forced Johnny to look at him. "It wasn't like that, Johnny. It was a kiss meant to comfort...console...we were both hurting. It didn't go anywhere. It was stupid, and we both knew it as soon as it happened. Unfortunately, Angelo walked in on us sometime before we separated. I was drunk, I was in my robe, the bed was unmade and he assumed what anyone who saw us would assume...the worst. I knew what it looked like. It was ugly. We were upset, all three of us at that point." Drake let him go and walked over to the bed.

  Johnny watched him as he sat down.

  Drake looked over at him. "Please...I'm begging you. You have to believe me. After this morning...how can you doubt...I mean...don't let this come between us, Johnny. I swear to you, tragic as it seems, Tony is in love with my son and I love you."

  Johnny smiled at him. He walked over to the bed and sat down. He put his arms around him and held him. "I believe you, Drake. What about Angelo? Is there any chance he loves Tony?"

  Drake gave Johnny a kiss on the forehead. He released him. "I don't know. He...I think he did love him or he came damn close to it. Tony hurt him a lot, and my son still believes Tony and I are lovers."

  "That's my fault...because of the video. I should have thought more about it before I insisted on..." Johnny shook his head.

  "Stop kicking yourself, Johnny. I should have just said no, and maybe I should have asked my son to join the band. I made a mistake. Parents should make things easier for their children. Why should he have to struggle the way we did? I didn't want to spoil him, and now he's miserable...playing songs he doesn't want to play with a guy he doesn't want to play with. Angelo would be an asset to the band. I know that, you, Mac and Pep have been telling me that all along, but I was just too stubborn to---"

  Johnny laughed.

  Drake looked at him, surprised. "What?"

  "You're thirty-seven years old and in all these years, this is the first time I ever heard you admit that you're stubborn."

  Drake smiled, then sobered. "I'm worried about Tony."

  Johnny nodded. "Me too, but I'm sure he's fine. He's licking his wounds somewhere. If he really loves Angelo, he shouldn't give up."

  "That's what I told him, but Angelo is my son, and he's---"

  "Stubborn?" Johnny suggested comically.

  Drake grinned. "Yeah."

  "Speaking of your stubborn son, why don't you call him?"

  "Oh, shit, I should have told Janet to---"

  "Come on, let's take that shower, get dressed and take a ride over to Janet's. Maybe your stubborn son is around somewhere."

  Drake nodded with a grin and headed to the bathroom.

  * * * * * *

  Angelo was a little taken aback at his mother's tone of voice when he walked into the house at a little after two. As soon as he walked in the door, she jumped on him.

  "Where in hell have you been?" she demanded.

  He blinked at her. "What in hell is your problem?"

  "I've been looking all over the damn place for you," Janet snapped. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She had no makeup on, and was still in her housecoat.

  Matt, who had come in behind him, gave Angelo a questioning look. "Maybe I should go upstairs," he whispered.

  "Mom, you're making a scene. I know you're stressed out because you're marching down the aisle tomorrow, but take it easy, okay? I told you that I was taking Matt to lunch at Morton's Restaurant, where all the stars eat."

  "Well, that's all well and good, but I could have used your support today," she called back over her shoulder as she walked away.

  Angelo looked at his companion and then Matt pointed upstairs. When Angelo nodded at him with a reassuring smile, he began to creep silently up the stairs. Angelo held up a hand to him and mouthed the words, "I'll come up and join you soon."

  Matt raised his eyebrows a few times.

  Angelo laughed quietly and went looking for his mother.

  * * * * * *

  Janet stood in the middle of the living room, trying to light a cigarette. She flicked the dry wick a few times and swore.

  "Mom...what are you doing?" Angelo scolded her, walking over and taking the cigarette out of her mouth.

  "You told me you'd quit smoking. You were doing so well. What happened?"

  "Don't treat me like a child, Angelo!" she snapped, grabbing the cigarette out of his hand. "I'll smoke if I want to. It's my body, my lungs." Her blue eyes were blazing at him.

  He knew it was time to back off. "Okay, you're right." He sat down on the sofa.

  He was wearing those old jean shorts he had when he was sixteen. They were too short for him now and just a little tight. The T-shirt, on the other hand, was an expensive one from some exclusive shop on Rodeo Drive. She had bought it for him on his birthday last year. It was royal blue with little red stars bordering the neck and the sleeves. It would be just like her son to wear shorts that were almost five years old with a three-hundred-and-fifty-five-dollar T-shirt.

  "Mom, are you just going to stand there or what?"

  Angelo asked her. "I thought you had to go to the hairdressers?"

  "Tomorrow," she murmured, sinking down in an overstuffed armchair.

  "Are you okay? What is this stuff about needing my support today? Support for what? You're not having second thoughts about the wedding, are you?"

  "No," she replied with a smile. "I love Mac. I am a little tense, that's normal, but it's not that." She looked over at him. How handsome he was, his long dark hair tied back at the nape of his neck. He had hands like his father, strong and lean with long fingers. He had Drake's eyes, too.

  "Mom?" Angelo leaned forward. "Do you want a drink...something strong?"

  Janet laughed. "No. I want a smoke but you won't let me." She laughed again, the unlit cigarette still in her fingers. "Did you know that Tony is missing?"

  He raised a dark eyebrow. "Missing? What does that mean? I saw him last night."

  "He never went to Pepi's, and neither Johnny nor your father has seen him."

  Angelo sighed. "Mom. Tony is an adult now. He could be anywhere. I didn't think he'd go to Pep's last night. It's too far to drive. He probably stayed with---"

  He stopped.

  "Your father spent the night with Johnny," Janet stated before her son could continue.

  "Oh," he muttered. "Well...whatever."

  "Angelo, Tony was upset last night. Did you have a fight with him yesterday?"

  Angelo shrugged.

  "Did you have a fight with Tony yesterday?" Janet demanded.

  "Not a fistfight, just a little...disagreement."

  "What kind of little disagreement?" She let the question hang in the air.

  The doorbell rang.

  "Ah...saved by the bell!" Angelo sprang up f
rom the sofa to answer the door.

  "God, look at me. I hope it's not Mac," Janet grumbled.

  "It's Dad and Johnny. Go get dressed, Mom," Angelo clicked his tongue.

  He guessed that joining Matt for a little afternoon delight was now out of the question. He might as well let him know after he let his father and Uncle Johnny in.

  He opened the door and gave them each a little bow.

  "Unexpected guests. Come on in."

  Drake gave Angelo a dirty look. "What's wrong with you? You don't look happy to see us."

  Angelo closed the door behind them. "I'm thrilled," he remarked dryly and then turned to Johnny. "I am happy to see you, Uncle Johnny," he said, giving him a hug. He saw no reason to stop referring to Johnny as Uncle. He had done it all his life.

  Johnny smiled and squeezed his shoulder.

  "Is your mother here?" Drake asked, walking through to the living room.

  "She'll be down in a minute," Angelo replied.

  "So, where's this boyfriend of yours?" Johnny enquired a little tensely.

  "Upstairs. I'll go and get him. Help yourself to a drink," Angelo waved his hand at the bar.

  "Wait," Drake said. "Before you bring Matt in, Johnny and I have something we would like to say to you."

  Angelo sighed. "What now?"

  "Maybe we should wait until..." Johnny began hesitantly. "Angelo seems a little..."

  "Pissed off?" Angelo suggested, glaring at his father.

  "There is nothing going on between Tony and I!"

  Drake protested, placing his hands on his hips.

  "Actually, we came here to tell you that Johnny and I...well...we're together now...together as a couple."

  "...the way it should have been a long time ago," Johnny added with a smile. "We've worked it all out. We hope you can be happy for us."