by D. J. Manly
"Now, untie me so that I can make you pay for all the misery you've given me, kid," he urged, a twinkle in his eye.
Tony untied his wrists and laid back. "Should I be afraid?"
"Are you afraid?" Angelo asked, looking down at him now, then reaching under him to begin lubricating his anus.
"Ah, cold," Tony laughed, then the laughter died in his throat as Angelo began to move a finger up inside of him.
"How's that?"
"Not bad," Tony murmured, "but I have a suggestion as to how it could be better."
"Patience." Angelo smiled softly at him. "Patience, my love."
* * * * * *
When Tony finally opened his eyes, he was alone. It seemed Angelo was never beside him in the morning.
Just once he wanted to wake up and see him there. He should have tied his wrists again before they fell asleep.
He got out of bed, looked in the mirror and smiled.
He looked like a guy who had just been laid and enjoyed it, and that was no lie. Damn, if Angelo didn't get better and better in bed. He laughed and pushed his hair out of his eyes. Now, where was the love of his life?
He went over to the window and looked outside. A beautiful sunny day, what else was new? He spotted his long-lost lover with Drake on the patio. They were deep in conversation about something. Angelo was wearing those old jean shorts that made him look sexy as hell, and Drake was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
The phone was ringing. Drake picked up the cell beside him. He was saying something that Tony couldn't make out. From the looks of it, he was pissed about something.
Tony jumped in the shower, then pulled on some shorts and a T-shirt. When he got downstairs, Drake was gone. Angelo sat by himself drinking coffee by the pool.
Tony smiled at him. "Good morning."
Angelo inclined his head and returned the smile.
"Coffee?"
Tony nodded and watched as Angelo poured some coffee into a mug from a thermal carafe and handed it to him.
"Thanks. I missed you this morning. Seems you never hang around too long once the sun comes up."
Angelo laughed. "Oh. Well, sorry about that. I got up to take a pee, actually, and eh...I noticed Dad was outside, so I went to talk with him."
"Where is he now?" Tony asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Having a showdown with Frank. It's not going well. Frank isn't going to just let Dad walk away from the band. He's willing to let Uncle Johnny out due to a health clause in the contract, but not Dad."
"Shit." Tony sighed. "Drake is going to fight this, and I..."
"Tony, Dad wants you and I to join the band, you know that, don't you? He expects us to take their places. He thinks this will appease Frank a little."
"And...well...you don't like that idea?" Tony mused, taking another swallow of the coffee and peering at him over his cup.
"It's not that...I...well...I don't feel right about it and if we don't...then we're going to let Uncle Pepi, and Mac down. Dad has put me in a tough place. I have other things...you know...I have my own band and Mike. At one time being in Dad's band was all I ever wanted, but now, I'm not sure if I want to step into a reconstituted band. We're not Drake and Johnny Russo. It might not work at all."
Tony nodded. "I understand."
"And do you feel ready for this?" Angelo asked him, leaning forward, narrowing his dark eyebrows.
"I was ready for you, wasn't I?" Tony grinned.
"Not quite the same thing," Angelo replied with a slight smile. Then he sobered. "I'm worried, Tony. I'm worried that this will be the end of Dad's friendship with Frank, and I'm worried that Dad will be miserable without the band. I don't think Dad will be able to..."
He stopped and then put his head down.
"Drake wants to be with Dad, that's all I know. He loves him. It's always been the two of them, you know that. Maybe later...you know if something..." Tony couldn't continue. He couldn't bear to even think about something happening to his father, not now, not after he had just found him. Tears stung his eyes. He looked away.
Angelo touched his hand. "Hey," he said gently.
"Don't think like that, okay? Uncle Johnny will..." he stopped. "Anyway, some decisions have to be made, you know? Does your Dad want Drake to retire?"
"He wants whatever Drake does, you know that."
Angelo nodded. "Maybe I should talk to Frank, explain things. I don't think he fully understands.
Maybe there's a way they could perform but less often...you know?"
Tony nodded, but he knew that it wasn't up to them.
Nothing was up to them now.
* * * * * *
A few days later, Johnny came home. Drake put on a brave front. They all did but the bottom line was, Johnny had gone blind. It was difficult to watch him struggling around the house. Johnny was angry and frustrated. Drake was exhausted. Tony knew that he felt guilty and helpless. It seemed that the golden days were gone.
Angelo had to leave. He didn't want to, but he had obligations. Company Angelo was supposed to be doing a concert in Los Vegas that week. Angelo had not come to him again those last few days and Tony had avoided being alone with him. It was as if they knew they were going to be separated again and were preparing for it.
Angelo left without fanfare. He left with a simple goodbye and not even a kiss. He left him feeling lonely...oh so lonely.
At night after Johnny went to bed, Tony would sit with Drake and they would talk. They avoided talking about what was really on their minds. Drake was in anguish over Johnny and Tony bled for them. He also felt guilty because the majority of his pain was over Angelo and he wondered how he could be so damn selfish.
Angelo did call several times a week to enquire how his uncle was. Pepi came over almost every day. Drake was still fighting Frank and then a month later, he gave up. The Russo Brothers Band was due to perform in New York City that August.
They would play their first concert ever without Johnny.
This concludes Episode Ten of The Russos.
Join me next month for Episode Eleven.
Here are a few exciting highlights:
- Johnny is dying, and Drake is forced to go on without him.
- Tony performs with the band for the first time onstage.
- Angelo reluctantly leaves his family to finish his contract with Concord Music.
- Tragedy strikes, Tony and Drake seek comfort in each other.
D.J. Manly
D. J. Manly is fast acquiring a reputation for pushing the boundaries of male/male erotic romance. A reviewer once said of Manly's work that it was enough to give the reader "...third-degree burns in an air conditioned room..." and that's putting it mildly. If you adore gorgeous men who can't get enough of each other's bodies...if you like rich plots laced with steamy sex, thick and rich with aching need and glorious adoration and love...Manly's books will satisfy the craving and leave you panting for more.
"If I wouldn't enjoy reading it, I wouldn't be writing it," says Manly. "I like to tease...but I always please..."
To check out books by D.J. Manly, you can visit the website at djmanly.com, and take a taste...if you dare.
"Fair warning, I've been told that it's highly addictive."
D.J. .
