Take Me Apart (Vitale Brothers Book 1)

I want to keep him.

The words were on repeat in my head like a catchy jingle from a commercial as I pictured coming home to Tex. Seeing him every night in my bed. Every morning as he moaned around a mouthful of coffee.

“What now?” Tex asked.

We cleaned up the kitchen after eating. I normally checked in on what he was doing before getting back to work. I was no closer to finding out who was double-crossing us. There were multiple cops and feds on our payroll. As far as I could tell, none of them had an influx of money coming in. Still, if they were bold enough to fuck my family out of money, then they had to be smart enough to cover their tracks.

I couldn’t exactly ask Tex to help or get him involved. It was best if he stayed clear of it all. At least then Benito wouldn’t have me eliminate him.

“What do you normally do on your days off?”

“Lately?” Tex looked nervously at me. “Not much.”

“You’ve been investigating me on your days off, haven’t you?”

“What do you do?” Tex asked, avoiding the question.

We sat there in silence, neither one of us willing to answer. I stood up. “We can watch a movie or read.”

“Movie first,” Tex said.

He was up and headed to the living room, only to stop short. “Ummm, where is a tv in this place?”

“You didn’t have time to check out all the rooms?” I asked as I turned right and headed down the hall. The laundry room had a door next to the dryer that looked like a cabinet, but it was a passageway to another room.

“I did,” Tex said, hot on my heels.

I opened the doors and stepped through into a secret room.

“Holy shit.” Tex moved past me and plopped down on the soft double recliner. “You have your own movie theater. Damn, money really does buy happiness.”

I hit a button on one of the walls, and the computer that controlled what we watched appeared. “What did you want to see?”

“Horror? Or something actiony?”

I looked through my collection, trying to pick the perfect movie. Tex materialized behind me. Before I knew it, he was scooting me over.

“Oh, a Bond movie is always good.”

Were they?

“Please tell me you’ve seen them,” Tex said.

“No.” I hadn’t been into movies as a kid and wasn’t into them as an adult. There were a few good documentaries I enjoyed. It was the only reason I’d allowed Giancarlo to talk me into the movie room in the first place.

“That’s it. We’re watching all of them.” Tex shoved me to a seat, and we plopped down.

“You know what would be perfect?” He licked his lips as if he was still hungry. “Popcorn.”

I stood up and pulled out the popcorn machine from the back closet.

“This place has everything,” Tex said wistfully. His phone rang, breaking the moment, and I was tempted to snatch it back away from him. Tex checked the screen and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

“Hurry up. Your mind is about to be blown.”

I doubted it, but I couldn’t help but be pulled into Tex’s excitement. Settling in next to him, I watched as the movie started. My gaze skirted to him, looking at the excitement that lit up his face as he shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

“Stop staring at me and pay attention,” Tex said, elbowing me.

I turned my attention back to the screen and forced myself to pay attention. As the movie went on, I stole little glances at the man beside me. I can’t believe I’m doing this. 

The ending credits rolled on the screen. By the third movie, I had fewer questions.

“It’s getting late,” Tex said but made no move to leave.

Turning off the screen, I stood up. “Come on, we should check on Penelope.”

Tex nodded. He sat there for another second before he got up and grabbed the containers that had held our popcorn.

“You don’t want to vacuum the place before we go?” Tex asked.

Most people would have rushed me along, telling me I could clean it later. “Yes.”

Tex nodded. “Is there special cleaning equipment in here?”

“The cabinet next to the closet door.”

Tex went over to it and pulled out the cleaning supplies. He handed me the vacuum as he used the lint roller on the recliners, even those we hadn’t used.

“Stop watching me. I know you saw my place while it was a mess, but I know how to clean.”

“Why are you cleaning now?”

Tex’s black brows dipped, and his nose scrunched up. “Because I can tell it was bothering you. During the last movie, you kept looking to the floor where some popcorn had fallen.”

I had, but I hadn’t thought he noticed.

“There, all done,” Tex said.

He put the stuff away but in the wrong spot. I went behind him and fixed it.

“Noted, everything has a spot. You know it’s impossible to memorize them all. Get a label maker or something.”

“I don’t mind going behind you and fixing it.”

Cleaning was the one thing I had completely under my control. There was no extra thought that went into it.

Once everything was cleaned up, we headed to the parking garage. Tex was silent the entire time, his shoulders slumped. I expected him to continue talking during the drive, but he was quiet until we pulled up to his apartment complex.

“Well, I guess I wi—” Tex hopped out of the car. “Where are you going?”

“Inside,” I said, pointing to his door.

Tex opened his mouth, but I placed a finger over his lips. “Don’t waste your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

A heavy sigh left Tex as he gave in. Keys in hand, he jammed into the lock in seconds. He put in a code on the wall, and I eyed it.

“New security?”

“Someone broke into my place,” Tex said, giving me a pointed look.

I hummed as if it hadn’t been me. I found Penelope weaving between my legs, meowing for attention.

“How did you come up with the name Penelope?” I picked the beautiful orange cat up, scratching behind his ears as he purred in my arms.

Tex moved closer and began to pet Penelope. My chest tightened, and I tried to grasp onto what made me feel that way. It was tangled up in the webs of emotions that I constantly tried to untangle.

“It’s a boring story.” He tapped his finger on the cat’s nose. “Isn’t that right, Pen?”

A soft smile graced Tex’s face, and I was instantly hit with the desire to chain him up. I wanted him to smile at me like that, only me.

“Why are you staring at Pen like that?” Tex took the cat from my arms, and I couldn’t help but glare at the orange fur ball. “Enzo, you hurt my cat, and I swear there is no jail cell that will keep me from killing you myself.”

The corner of my mouth quivered as I attempted to keep from laughing. “So, there is a line you’re willing to cross.”

Tex shook his head. “Hurting a man’s fur baby is asking for it.”

I lifted my hand and placed the other over my heart. “I swear I will never hurt a single hair on Penelope’s head.”

Tex shook his head as he placed the cat down. He slowly rose, and his blue eyes focused on me. “Do we need to go over a list of people you aren’t allowed to hurt?”

“Will you try to leave me if I hurt any of the people on said list?”

“Yes,” Tex shot back. He crossed his arms and let out a groan. “This is insane.”

“You can give me the list once we get home.”

Tex’s arms dropped to his side. “What? I am home.”

I was already shaking my head before he could finish his sentence. “We are here to get a few of your things. We can even take Pen.”

“You don’t have anything for him at your place,” Tex argued.

I walked past him toward his bedroom.

Tex was right behind me. “Are you even allowed to have pets at your place?”

I went through his closet, picking out what could go and what I’d replace.

“Are you listening to me, Enzo?” Tex asked.

“I own the building.”

“Fucking rich asshole. Of course, you do.”

Tex attempted to grab things out of my hand. I pushed him down to the bed and gave him a stern look.

“I didn’t say I was staying with you.”

I grabbed a bag and began neatly filling it with clothes. “I don’t recall asking.”

Tex’s mouth opened and closed. I stepped over to him and pushed his chin up to close his mouth.

“Grab whatever you absolutely need.”

Tex looked ready to argue with me and I placed a finger over his lips.

“Again, I wasn’t asking. Either do it, or I will.”

He glared at me, and I was seconds away from tying him up and tossing him in the trunk of the car. He must have seen it in my face because Tex got up and started grabbing things while muttering curses under his breath.

We left his place and headed back to mine within two hours. Plenty of time for what I had being delivered.

Penelope meowed the entire ride on the elevator.

“I know, Pen, we’re getting kidnapped, but don’t you worry. Enzo has a nice-looking couch for you to scratch up.”

My back stiffened just as the elevator doors slid open. Tex practically skipped out of the elevator and headed for my door.

“Remember you said—” Tex stopped in his tracks. “What the hell is all this stuff?”

A mountain of boxes were stacked on both sides of the door. A few had the brand names on display. The moment Tex read them, he turned to me.

“You bought him a cat tree?”

I shook my head. “I bought him four cat trees. Two can go upstairs, one in the living room and the other is mounted on the walls.”

Tex’s jaw dropped as he continued to stare at me. I squinted, trying to decipher if it was a good or bad thing. Is he upset or possibly annoyed?

“What about the rest of the boxes?” Tex asked.

I opened the door, and he walked in with Penelope in his cage. He sat him down and helped bring in the boxes.

“I read that cats enjoy small places to nap. I don’t want boxes littered around the place, so I got a few alcoves for Pen to sleep in. To avoid him ruining my furniture, I got six scratching posts.”

Tex whistled. “That’s a little overkill, don’t you think? Pen is one cat unless you’re thinking about getting your own.”

I shook my head. “It has never crossed my mind.”

He stopped moving and I was forced to work the large box around him.

“What… what about when, you know.”

My head tilted as I tried to come up with the answer. “I don’t know.”

Tex groaned. “Whatever this is.” He pointed between us. “Is… I don’t know, done.”

I ate up the distance between us in four easy strides. My hand circled his neck as I pulled him close. “I thought I made myself clear; I am no longer giving you chances to leave me.”

Tex’s eyebrows dipped. “And when you go to jail?” He cleared his throat and stood up taller. “I’m a cop. You’re the bad guy.”

I stared into his eyes. “You weren’t very good in school.”

He blinked at me. “What, why would you say that?”

I let him go no matter how much I wanted to march him upstairs and ruin him until he couldn’t think of anything but being under me.

“You’re shit at listening.” I grabbed another box and handed it to him. “I’m never letting you go, Tex Caster.”

“Okay, got the last piece up. What are you making?” Tex asked.

He peeked over my shoulder as I stirred the food.

“Fuck, it smells good.” He groaned in my ear.

My body heated instantly, my cock stiffening. His chest was pressed against my back and I could make out the hard ridges of his body through the thin t-shirt.

“Step back,” I said.

Cool air greeted my back, and I almost asked for him to come back. Black hair flopped over Tex’s eyebrows as he moved to the side. His gaze was heavy on the side of my face, and I fought not to react.

“Why?”

“You distract me, and risotto is a delicate dish.”

“I’m distracting you? How?”

I sighed. “You being so close makes me want to bend you over the counter and fuck you as I hold a knife to your throat.”

Tex sucked in a sharp breath, and I glanced his way momentarily. His pupils were blown, and he looked more than ready for that to happen.

“I’m not against it, but I’m a little shocked you’d use your kitchen knives.”

My mouth turned down in a frown. “I wouldn’t. I have a knife on me at all times.”

“That’s… Fuck, that’s hot.”

“Go check on Penelope,” I ordered.

“Fine, he’s never been a lock-me-away cat. He hates that shit.” Tex headed toward the downstairs bathroom, and I heard the tinkling of a bell shortly after.

“He’s free and zooming around the place,” Tex said.

I made a mental note to order more lint rollers and an air purifier. I kept an ear out, listening to Tex whisper to the cat and cheer him on to try his new scratching posts. It was strange to have someone in my personal space that wasn’t family. Even then, I sometimes waited for them to leave with bated breath.

Tex and Penelope playing relaxed me further, and I found myself engrossed in the dish I was making.

I dried my hands and placed the plates on the table before heading to the living room. Tex tossed one of the silvervine balls up on the cat tree, and Penelope chased after it. I watched him for a moment longer.

“You being a creeper?” Tex asked.

“Dinner is ready.”

He smiled and got up. “Good, I’m starving.” He stopped short of entering the kitchen. “If you want me to move any of the setup, let me know. I wasn’t sure if anything would feel out of place for you.”

It was new, but I found I was more accepting of it. “I’ll let you know.” It took my brain a little longer to tell me if something wasn’t right sometimes. Part of me enjoyed the fact that Tex was concerned about my comfort.

We both got washed up and sat at the table. Tex’s face lit up as he took in the creamy shrimp risotto with mascarpone, a dish I’d perfected over the years.

“Can’t believe you made this,” Tex said.

“There are a few things police files won’t teach you about me.”

Tex paused with the spoon halfway to his mouth. His blue eyes flicked up to me and widened. “Did you just make a joke?”

I shrugged and spooned my food. “I can make them on occasion.”

He reached across the table and touched my forehead. “Are you sure you aren’t sick?”

I smacked his hand away. “Eat.”

Tex laughed as he dug in. The most alluring moans came from Tex as he ate. I wanted to hear them all the time. They were better than jazz. My cock stiffened, and I was forced to adjust as we sat there and ate.

Ringing broke the moment between us. Tex reached for his phone, and his smile dimmed slightly. He chewed on his bottom lip as he stared at the screen.

“Who is it?”

“My friend.”

I peaked at the name Chelsea. “That’s her third time calling today.”

Much like the other times, Tex forwarded the call. His shoulders slumped the moment he put the phone away.

He was silent for a long bit, and I let him be. Something was bothering him, but I couldn’t figure out what. I bet Giancarlo could. He was fantastic at reading people. Even Benito could understand other people. People’s actions and words were nothing more than a constant jigsaw puzzle for me to put together. I never had all the pieces, and it left me confused and guessing.

“She’s calling because the other day, I was kind of spirling.” Tex shook his head. “Maybe a little longer than that.”

I grabbed his plate, and he followed me over to the sink. He leaned against the counter, not looking at anything in particular. I kept my mouth shut, waiting for him to finally tell me what happened the night I picked him up off the dirty floor of the bar’s bathroom.

Tex rubbed his arms as he spoke. “I’ve been wild my whole life.” He let out a dry laugh. “That’s an understatement. I was the kid other parents warned their children to stay away from. The ultimate fuck-up.”

I handed the rinsed plate over and he grabbed it and placed it in the dishwasher.

“I got into everything, and I mean everything. Soon I found alcohol wasn’t doing it, and I got into drugs.”

My back stiffened. Brycen’s face fluttered to the surface of my psyche for a second, but they were so different from each other. Brycen had never told me about his problem. Tex didn’t need to. I hadn’t asked for anything specific, but he was giving it to me all the same.

“Nothing on your record indicated that you were that bad. A few graffiti incidents but nothing more.”

Tex laughed. “Why am I not surprised you looked into me?” He didn’t sound upset. “My dad was a big-shot detective, and he pulled strings anytime I got caught.”

“The same dad that left a mark on your body?” I barely contained my rage. My hand tightened around the glass cup. Before I knew it, pain erupted over my fingers.

“Shit, Enzo.” Tex grabbed my hand, jerked it over to the other side, and turned on the water. “The fuck is your problem? Be careful.”

The cuts were shallow, and I’d had worse. Tex yanked me around the kitchen anyway until I was forced to sit down. No one had ever cared if I got hurt besides my brothers.

Tex ran around the kitchen, grabbing paper towels. “Where is your first aid kit?”

“Top right cabinet.” I was so stunned all I could do was answer him.

He grabbed the first aid box and was in front of me in seconds. I held out my hand for him, and he meticulously inspected it.

“It’s not too deep,” I said.

“Are you a fucking doctor?”

I blinked at Tex’s anger and the worry rolling off him in waves.

“No, but—”

“Then shut it. I’ve taken a first aid course.”

Warmth blossomed over my chest, and I found it hard to breathe as Tex checked over my hand. He picked out tiny pieces of glass. With every piece he pulled out, he stopped and stared up at me. I was too lost in the overwhelming possessiveness and want trying to consume me.

“Tex.” My voice was soft even to my ears. What was he doing to me?

“Does it hurt?” Tex asked, his blue eyes scanning my face as if he’d find the answer.

It didn’t hurt but something felt strange and it only intensified every time Tex was near me. I shook my head, my mouth too dry to speak.

“I’m almost finished.” Tex went back to cleaning the wound before bandaging it. “All done.”

The moment he dropped my hand, I gave in to the screaming voice in the back of my head. I grabbed Tex and crushed our mouths together in a heated kiss. Tex groaned, submitting to me.

I pulled back, my heart racing as the need to be inside of him dragged me further into the abyss of desire.

“And now?”

“And now what?” Tex asked breathlessly.

“Are you still spiraling?”

He stared at me for a long second that felt like an eternity. “Probably.”

I audibly swallowed. He wrapped his arms around my neck, and his fingers wove through my chocolate brown strands.

“But I’m not craving drugs or even alcohol.” He licked his lips as his eyelids lowered and his pupils dilated. “I found something far more intoxicating and just as deadly.”