Vinny adjusted the strap of his bag, glancing at his reflection in the hallway mirror. Loose beige trousers, a soft lavender button-up left slightly undone at the collar, and a leather choker snug against his throat. It wasn't his usual Saturday robe and slippers look, and he knew that wouldn't go unnoticed.
Sure enough, his mother's voice rang from the kitchen.
"Vinny, where are you off to?"
He hesitated, fingers twitching against his bag strap.
"Just meeting a friend," he murmured, barely above a whisper.
His mother emerged, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. "A friend?" she echoed, skepticism thick in her tone. "Is this the same kind of friend that got you into trouble before?"
Vinny flinched, shame coiling in his chest. Liz, seated at the dining table, merely raised an eyebrow, her silence heavy. Her expressions always spoke louder than words. The slight downturn of her lips, the flicker of disappointment. It was enough to make his throat tighten.
"It's nothing like that," he tried, forcing a small, reassuring smile. "Just someone from university. We ran into each other at work and he asked to catch up."
His mother folded her arms, her gaze softening just a fraction. "You know I worry about you, Vinny." She sighed. "After everything, I just don't want to see you hurt again. And frankly, I don't want to see this family embarrassed again."
He swallowed hard, the sting of her words sinking deep. He wanted to tell her that he had changed, that he wasn't that reckless, desperate version of himself anymore. But deep down he wondered if they saw him as anything more than a walking mistake. Could they ever?
His chest tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He had fought so hard to be better, to move past everything that had happened. But it never seemed to be enough. It didn't matter how much time had passed; the stain of his past clung to him like a second skin. He blinked rapidly, forcing down the lump in his throat.
"I'll be fine," he whispered, though he wasn't sure if it was for her reassurance or his own.
He shared his intended location with his mother and then turned to leave, avoiding Liz's piercing stare. He could feel the weight of their lingering doubts as he stepped out the door.
On his way to the bar, Vinny kept his eyes on his phone, double-checking the location Lamar had sent. His fingers hesitated before switching apps. Fipfop. Just a distraction.
A video from Griffin popped up immediately.
Charismatic as always, effortlessly drawing people in with his smile and his confidence. Vinny's chest tightened. If things were different, if he wasn't so broken and messed up, would Griffin see him as more than just the quiet shop helper? Would he even be in this situation at all?
He thought back to university. To who he used to be. Reckless. Unapologetic. Self-destructive. If he had been better back then, if he had made different choices, would Griffin have seen him? Not as Madam Grace's helper. Not as a mistake. Just as Vinny.
A bitter laugh slipped past his lips. Wishful thinking.
Shaking the thoughts away, he stuffed his phone back into his pocket and stepped inside the bar.
Lamar spotted him first, lifting a hand from across the room. The easy grin, the relaxed posture—it was like nothing had changed. Like they were still in university, like there hadn't been years of silence and unresolved tension between them.
Vinny hesitated before walking over, sitting in the seat Lamar motioned to. The music thrummed softly around them, a hazy atmosphere settling over their conversation.
"You look good," Lamar said, signaling the bartender. "Better than good, actually."
Vinny shifted in his seat, feeling the familiar heat of embarrassment creep up his neck. "Thanks," he muttered. "You too."
Lamar chuckled. "Hmmm, shy? That's new. Some things change, I guess."
A drink was placed in front of Vinny before he could protest.
"I'm not really drinking much these days," he said, glancing at the glass.
"One won't kill you," Lamar countered, resting his chin on his hand as he studied Vinny. "So, tell me, what's life been like for you?"
Vinny hesitated, then sighed. "Just working. Living. Trying to be better."
Lamar's gaze softened. "You always were too hard on yourself, Vin."
A humorless laugh escaped Vinny. "Maybe. Maybe not hard enough."
Lamar didn't push. Instead, he launched into his own stories—work, travel, exaggerated anecdotes that made Vinny shake his head but smile nonetheless. For a moment, it almost felt normal.
Then, the conversation shifted.
"I'm not with Clair anymore," Lamar admitted, swirling his drink. "Didn't work out."
Vinny glanced up. "Oh. Sorry to hear that."
"Don't be," Lamar said, a strange glint in his eye. "You know, seeing you again made me realize something."
Vinny tensed as Lamar leaned in slightly. "I really did love you, Vin."
A lump formed in Vinny's throat. "Lamar—"
"I know, I know," Lamar interrupted, raising a hand. "We can't be that. I get it."
Vinny exhaled slowly, nodding. "Friends," he said firmly.
"Friends," Lamar echoed, though the word seemed to taste different on his tongue. He raised his glass. "Then let's drink to that."
Vinny hesitated, but under Lamar's expectant gaze, he gave in. One drink turned to two, then three. His thoughts grew sluggish, his body warm and heavy. When Lamar's hand brushed his, he barely registered it.
"You're looking a little out of it," Lamar murmured. "Let's go somewhere quieter. Don't want you embarrassing yourself."
Vinny nodded, too hazy to argue.
The back room of the bar was dimly lit, the door left slightly ajar as Lamar guided him inside. Vinny barely had time to register the shift in atmosphere before Lamar's hands were on his waist.
"Why did I ever let you go? You're so damn sexy," Lamar whispered, lips ghosting over Vinny's ear. "I can't control myself around you."
Vinny shivered, suddenly uneasy. "Lamar, wait."
"I mean it," Lamar continued, pressing against him. "After you, no one else compared. You wrecked me, Vin."
Vinny tried to push him back, but his limbs felt sluggish. "No. I don't—"
Lamar's grip tightened. "I need you."
Panic crawled up Vinny's spine. "Lamar, please stop."
Before Lamar could react, a shadow loomed behind him. Then came a sickening thud.
A sharp inhale.
Lamar crumpled to the floor, his body limp.
Vinny barely registered the figure standing over him before his vision blurred into darkness.