He Died for His Lover, Then Returned to Win His Trust novel · Chapter 25 of 40
Chapter 25: The Roof
Javier read the message twice and then held the phone out to Dante.
"Read it," he said.
Dante read it, lying bare on the bed with the tie still loose around one wrist.
The lamp burned and the room stayed warm, and everything inside him went cold and careful.
"It's from my cousin," he said.
"Rodrick."
"He has no seat and no men and no money, and he still has a phone."
Javier sat against the wall with his knees drawn up.
"Is it true?" he asked. "Do you kneel in the church of San Marco?"
"Yes."
"What do you do there?"
"I kneel. I have done it since I was a boy." Dante made himself hold Javier's eyes. "I did it again the night before I came to this college. I will tell you why. I will tell you my whole name. Friday of exam week, the way I swore."
"I know what you swore."
"I won't make it a day later."
Javier looked at him for a long moment, and Dante could not read his face.
"He wants me to ask you tonight," Javier said slowly. "He wants me angry, with the door locked."
"Yes."
"Then he doesn't get it."
He turned the phone face down on the blanket.
His hand was not quite steady, and he saw Dante see it.
"Where will you be tomorrow?" he asked.
"Here."
"Good. Stay where I can find you."
On Saturday night Daniel came back from his aunt's with a bag of dumplings, took one look at the two of them, and left again with a look of great tact.
Javier locked the door and stood with his back against it.
"It's yours," he said. "I'm not taking it tonight."
Dante did not move.
"I have rules," Javier said. "Do you want them?"
"Yes."
"You lead. You choose everything. But your hands go only where I tell you, and you stop when I say stop."
Dante's pulse beat hard in his throat.
"Come on," Javier said. "I want to see the stars."
They climbed the service stairs to the dormitory roof with the blanket from Dante's bed.
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