13

Andrew’s fingers went numb, holding the cold can in a brown-paper sleeve. Without warning, hands surrounded his narrow waist, yanking him into the alley.

A mouth pressed to his lips as his back collided with the rough brick. Clutching the beer can tight, he swung out.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he screamed at Niko, who stood there with widened eyes and flushed skin. “Never grab me like that!”

Niko pressed his back to the opposite wall, more baffled than usual. It certainly wasn’t the first time Andrew lashed out at his overt physicality, but months had passed since the last incident.

Andrew calmed. “Don’t ever do that again, okay?”

Niko nodded with an unrelenting gaze.

“Andrej,” he said, arms open. “Come back with me,”

Still unsettled, Andrew stepped into his embrace.

“I’m sorry you dropped your drink,” Niko whispered, kissing his head.

On the Q back to Brighton, he listened as Niko talked about something he’d seen on one of his driving shifts. The subject of Dmitri and Cyril remained unspoken.

At the place, Samil and Radek lay on the couch together, watching television. Radek jumped up when they entered.

“We need foods,” he said to them.

“You want food?” Niko asked as Andrew stepped to the kitchen table.

Samil joined him. “Chinese,”

“You got money?” Radek asked Niko.

Niko turned to Andrew. “You got money?”

“I ain’t buying you bitches dinner,” he said.

“Broke again, Niko?” laughed Sam.

“I’m plenty fixed,” the man defended, then flashed his puppy eyes. “Please, Andrej,”

Andrew pulled out a ten-dollar bill. “I want sesame chicken,”

“That’s not enough for us both,” Niko said, brow bent.

Andrew stared at him. “Make it enough,”

The taller man frowned as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of twenty-dollar bills. Unpeeling two, he eyed Samil. “What do you want, fat girl?”

“Chicken lo-mein, no veggies,” said Sam.

Niko curled his lip. “They won’t make that,”

“They’ll make anything,” Andrew said. “That’s how they get your money,”

Niko kissed Andrew on the head. “You’re lucky I like you.”

Once the brothers were gone, Andrew met Samil’s stare.

“How’s life going?” Sam asked with a grin.

“Still working the Tea Room,” said Andrew.

Sam set his elbows on the table. “How is it working with Dimi?”

“How did you know about Dmitri?”

Sam cocked his head. “Niko came back here to get Cyril.”

“That was drama I didn’t need,”

“You hang out with Dimi yet?”

“I don’t know him that well.”

Sam grew quiet then. He spoke little to anyone these days, perhaps sensing the distrust of his brother.

“Is everything okay?” Andrew asked.

His demeanor brightened. “Do you know the saga of Dmitri and Cyril?”

“Niko wouldn’t tell me,” said Andrew.

“It’s very juicy,” said Sam, eyebrows jumping.

“I’ve got a half-hour to kill,” Andrew grinned.

Sam laughed. “Dmitri Boscov was fifteen when he showed up here with some boys from Williamsburg,”

“I’m sure the menfolk were buzzing around like flies,”

“Dmitri was definitely the belle of the ball, but hotties got pissed when he only flirted with Cyril,” Sam revealed with a smirk. “He hooks up with Cyril that night and every night after that if you catch my drift,”

“Drift? More like a gust,”

“A week later,” said Sam. “Cyril takes Dimi to Atlantic City, and that’s when poppa Boscov loses his shit,”

“I get that, I guess.” Andrew shrugged. “It’s his fifteen-year-old son,”

“The cops showed up here,” Sam said, smiling wide. “Looking for him,”

“You’re way too happy telling this story,” Andrew teased.

“Dmitri got this idea in his head that he would move in here and live with Cyril, but when he tried, his parents charged Cyril with sodomy.” Sam’s finger tapped the table. “Boy, they even got Sash deported,”

“Are you serious?” Andrew’s mouth opened. “Poor innocent, Sash?”

“Okay, listen. One night, this guy comes for Cyril, and Sash steps up and kills him.” Sam took a swig of his beer. “Turns out he was Dmitri’s cousin,”

“Sash murdered a man?”

“That fucker had a gun,” Sam defended. “He would’ve killed Cyril.”

Andrew didn’t know how to respond.

“Dmitri wasn’t happy seeing Cyril tonight,”

“Get out?” Sam’s head swung. “That bitch got some nerve being mad. He came back here after Sash got deported. Got drunk and then centered a gangbang,”

“That cannot be true,” Andrew argued.

“I was here,” Sam declared. “Cyril got him all worked up in the bedroom, and when he came out, the others went in and fucked that bitch until morning.”

Andrew felt sick to his stomach. “Did they rape him?”

“Fuck no,” Sam said, laughing. “That twink slag came out here, got a drink of water, and went right back to it,”

Andrew’s imagination ran wild. “Did Niko take part?”

“Nikola was the first one in his ass,” said Sam.

The apartment door opened as Andrew kept focusing on Samil. Moments later, two brown bags of Chinese take-out dropped onto the table between them.

“Me and Niko will be back in a few hours,” said Radek, departing.

Sam called after him. “Hours?”

Andrew carefully opened the bag closest to him and pulled out a pint container of lo-mein. He handed it to Sam after confirming that his food sat beneath it.

“You’re not eating?” Sam watched as he folded up the bag.

“I’m eating.” Andrew took the bag in hand. “I’m just not doing it here.”