Ezra was exhausted. He had just been through a hell of a 10 hour shift at his bakery job. As the store’s assistant manager he was in charge of most of the planning, designing and making of each product, each display and maintaining the satisfaction of the customers. At 20 years old, he already had years of experience under his belt due to working since age 14. The store’s manager Kathy loved him and saw his potential, as well as the bruises scattering his skinny pale body and just knew she needed to lend a hand. 6 years ago, she found him shivering out in the rain, barefoot and cold. The underdeveloped boy's body shook harshly as shivers racked his freezing form, his body desperately working to maintain equilibrium. Kathy had been closing up the shop before she spotted him right outside her red and glass door. She surely couldn’t have homeless children by her storefront, it would surely run the customers away. On that rainy Sunday afternoon, the older woman took a chance and decided to be a good Samaritan, inviting the young boy in for warm coffee and a donut. That day history was made and jump started Ezra’s long career at Kathy’s dine and bakery. 

“Excuse me!” one of his coworkers, Darren shouted before sliding between a chair and customers, holding a large tray in his hand as he picked up trash and dirty dishes from the patron tables. It was a busy Wednesday afternoon during one of the hottest summers in existence, the workers at Kathy’s were booked and busy trying to satisfy each customer. The influx of people from the city streets coming in were causing the bakery to be overfilled and swamped with hungry humans. Ezra could barely keep up, as he and everyone else was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. His shift would be over soon, he just had to power through his last 30 minutes of the day, packaging sweets, cleaning the workstation and keeping an eye on all transactions. He was so young, yet determined as years of training in the bakery prepared him for great teamwork and customer service skills. In other areas, Ezra was lacking and not because he wasn’t smart but because he could be shy, quiet and reserved. He didn’t have many friends his age growing up, his only friends were his co-workers and they were almost 10 years plus his senior. He didn’t complain though, he learned so much from them and they always supported him. He couldn’t count how many times one of them had brought him leftover dinner the next day to make sure he was fed. Ezra knew they pitied him, he could tell by their stares and sympathetic gestures. It wasn’t really a secret that Ezra was struggling, in more ways than one. The only reason Ezra still worked at the bakery, although he loved it dearly, was because he wasn’t able to afford college upon graduation. His goal was to save up and put as much as he could towards community college but it was to no avail.

 Late in the night, his father, Jeremy Hayes decided to raid his closet and take his stash of money to spend on gambling and booze. It broke Ezra’s heart but one hard strike to his ribs kept him from speaking up any further. He cowered in his bed, afraid, hurt and confused. He prayed for the day he could escape his hell. He could barely provide enough time, energy and money to keep his dad and he afloat. There was just so much debt and one person worked  while the other squandered his disability checks on his addictions.

 It was stressful but Ezra still put his best foot forward every morning regardless of the circumstances. Once he was able to get a break from packaging his 4th batch of cupcakes that day, he wiped his hands on a towel and shook off the flour from his yellow apron. He was covered in work and was surely ready to go home to take a shower. As soon as his hands were cleaned, he reached into his pocket grabbing his android phone, it was all he could afford with his current paycheck, especially with no help from his father. His mom had been dead for years now, he missed her but he promised her he would keep going and make the most of his life. 

Ezra opened his phone with his password, he checked his messages to see if he had any recent texts, specifically checking the chat with his dad. It revealed his last message, of him asking his father what he wanted for dinner tonight. That was 2 days ago, at 6:27pm near the end of his shift. There were no responses. Ezra used his thumb to swipe upward, hoping there would be some type buffering preventing his father’s message from reaching him. He wanted to know due to fearing the day his dad would return and he had nothing prepared to his liking, resulting in a beating. Mr. Hayes was verbally abusive as well, belittling any of Ezra’s efforts to support their household. He felt guilty for Ms. Hayes’s death, having often fought with her and introduced her to drugs and alcohol, this being something Ezra saw often. Ezra closed his phone before shoving it in his pocket, “almost time to clock out” he thought before pushing through the double doors, exiting the breakroom. As soon as he reappeared in the kitchen area, his name was being called. 

“Ezra Honey! ”Kathy hollered. 

He shrank back at the volume, it startled him so bad  he clutched his shirt. Realizing his only support system needed him, he appeared in front of her. She looked at him with her sharp blue eyes. “I need you to serve one last customer before you leave today.” she informed him. He nodded in response, not needing much to say but simply being obedient. He was good at that. “I have to leave as well, I got a call from my baby’s school asking to meet, talking about how she cut some girl’s hair off.” she explained, clearly frustrated at the situation and having to leave work in the middle of a busy day. She grabbed her white coat before swinging it around her shoulders and grabbing her purse from a chair. “You take care, you hear!” she said with a southern twang in her voice, as she ran out of the shop’s back door. “Yes ma’am!” he shouted, knowing she most likely didn’t hear him. He sighed before bracing himself to return back to work, squeezing the last drop out of his enthusiasm and energy to labor.

 He opened the door again and was met with chatter and chaos. He eased his way back into the mix before turning to Patricia who had been manning the counter. She was new and a little sassy but she did her job with ease, never posing a problem. At his new found presence beside her, she snapped her head from the cashier to meet Ezra small stature, her red ponytail swinging. “Yes, small fry.” she teased before grinning, showing off her teeth and the gum she had been chewing on. He blushed slightly before speaking up. “Um…who was the customer who needed assistance?” he asked politely. At the question, she visibly scanned the room before landing on the patron in particular. In the far corner of the shop, sat a man. He had on business professional attire and wore dark shades. His face held a little stubble, a sharp jawline and plump lips. On his hands, he had rings that glimmered and shined with his movements. On the table sat his phone, as the man had nothing else in his possession. Ezra gazed at the man across the room, his presence piquing his interest but he shoved his curiosity down for the sake of work.

 Patricia pointed her finger, red nail polish adorning her nails. “Him right there.” she confirmed. The two watched the man for a moment, he seemed to be observing the room. He then came across the two workers stalking him and Ezra felt like he had been caught red handed. However, the man’s eyes were covered with shades hiding where he truly looked but making Ezra feel like they had made eye contact. Ezra then quickly grabbed a notepad at the instruction before heading in the mysterious costumer’s direction. Ezra arrived at the table and stood nervously in front of the man. The man acknowledged him by turning his attention to the skinny boy in front of him. “What can I get for you today sir?” the young boy asked while bringing up the pen to the notepad. He looked at the man expectantly with a slight smile, hoping to come off friendly and welcoming. Customer service skills had been drilled into him. The man cleared his throat before responding. “A black coffee, please.” he spoke, voice deep. Ezra quickly wrote down the man’s order on the ticket. He swallowed his nervousness before bringing his attention back to the man at the table. “Will that be all?” he asked, wanting to be sure. The man peered at him over the dark shades, brown eyes flashing. “That’ll be all.” he said looking at the boy's name tag before picking up his phone. Ezra took that as confirmation to leave, before navigating his way back to the counter. He slipped the ticket to the drink makers before checking the clock. It was 6:32, time to clock out. He grinned before quickly peeling off his apron and heading to the back through the swinging doors. He walked to the lockers before grabbing his bag and jacket from inside. He quickly put the jacket on and tossed the tote over his shoulders before looking into the mirror one last time. 

His bright green eyes stared back at him, his pouty lips, thick eyebrows and messy bed hair. He took note of the bags under his eyes, a sign that he was tired. Ezra signed before closing the locker. He would get paid again soon and then he would have to pay the light bill and fix the broken sink upstairs. He barely made enough to eat but he tried his hardest to provide. His dad hadn’t been around enough to support him and now being truly left alone was taking a toll on Ezra. The young man headed back towards the front after clocking out on the computer in the back. He re-entered the bustling area before informing his coworkers he was leaving. “Have a good night!” he said before walking through the glass door, not feeling the pair of eyes watching him. 

The door closed behind him as he was met with the warm summer time air and took a deep breath. “Everything is going to be okay”, he thought before starting his journey back home. Nearby, was a bus stop and at 6:40 transportation would arrive, making its route in 20 minute intervals. He trotted over before sitting down on the bench. There was no one waiting with him, so he began to hum an unfamiliar tune. It was random and made up but it made him feel better. A few moments later the bus arrived with the driver opening the door for the boy. Ezra quickly rose from his seat before climbing up into the vehicle, inserting his money, greeting the black male bus driver and sitting down. The conductor closed the doors after waiting for any other passengers and pressing the pedal to begin his route. There weren't many people on the bus, just an older woman sitting in the back. Ezra sat near the window, tilting his head towards it and closing his eyes. Exhaustion filled his bones, he was tired and stressed. He made sure to not fall asleep, in fear of missing his stop so he reopened his eyes and looked out the window. He took in the lights of the city, secretly hoping and wishing for more. After a while, the bus driver stopped the vehicle and opened the door. They had arrived in Ezra’s neighborhood and he began to stand up, ready to lay down in his bed after a long day. On his way off, he told the bus man goodnight before heading towards his house across the street. It wasn’t a luxury home, almost 30 years old and the paint was chipping but it’s where he and his neglective father stayed. He trudged up to the front porch before digging in his jacket pocket for the keys. 

He inserted it into the key slot before successfully opening the door and heading inside. He quickly slipped into the house and closed the door behind him, locking it. He turned before calling out toward the stairs. “Dad!” he shouted, voice carrying through the entire house. He was met with no response. He sighed again, realizing his dad hadn’t been back. He didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing but he figured his dad would show up hungover on their doorstep again asking for money. Ezra decided to head to the living room, taking off his coat and bag before plopping down on the coach. He grabbed the remote off the coffee table and pressed the power button. The tv screen lit up with a rerun of Criminal Minds. Ezra relaxed into the couch with his eyes enjoying the action packed episode. Due to his exhaustion, he found his eyelids closing and feeling heavy as he drifted off to sleep, laying his head on the couch cushion. He slept soundly for a few hours, dreaming of he and his mom spending time together again. 

A few hours later, during Ezra’s nap there was a sharp knock at the front door. This pulled the boy out of his slumber. He hadn’t planned to fall asleep as soon as he got home nor on the couch. He was startled awake at the noise coming from his door. He arose, fully waking up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He yawned and stretched his hands above his head before standing and heading towards the front door. He quickly glanced in the direction of the clock on the wall seeing that it was almost 12 am. He wondered who it could be at this time of night and thought that maybe his dad had finally come home. He didn’t bother to look through the peephole and made the unconscious decision to yank open the door.The guest appeared, staring intensely at Ezra’s small form. Ezra looked up at the stranger taking note of their drastic height difference and the muscles bulging out of the man’s suit. The attire reminded him of the man at the coffee shop…. who happened to be standing right next to the towering man on his front porch. Ezra was taken aback. “Oh my” he exclaimed, startled by their arrival. They never had visitors, except for the regular drug dealer or pizza delivery guy. Ezra analyzed the man in front of him. He was tall, dark and handsome. The man stared at him, seemingly stoic and unphased by showing up to a random house. Ezra then noticed the rest of the company and nearly freaked out. “Can I help you?” he questioned the two, gulping and shrinking back, afraid he was in danger. “Why had the coffee shop man followed him home?” he thought silently. This must be a set up. The two men outside, observed the boy and took note of his nervousness. The tallest of the bunch, cleared his throat before speaking. 

“Is this the Hayes residence?” he said, voice deep and serious. He also stood in business professional attire, with no shades but an expensive watch adorning his wrist. This man clearly had money, Ezra concluded. Ezra’s eyes widened at the stranger knowing his last name. Who were these men? He felt their threatening aura and figured it was best to cooperate, not wanting to get in trouble. “Yes… it is.” he replied quietly. He stood still, waiting for an adverse reaction from the men.  The man with the sunglasses spoke. “You must be Ezra Hayes,” he pointed out. Ezra's eyes widen once again at them knowing his name. “How did you know….. how to find me?” he asked, hands gripping the door in case he had to slam it shut and run away. The man from the shop began to explain. “Your father… owes my boss a lot of money. He spent months borrowing  from us and racked himself up tons of gambling debt. We were looking for him all over the city just to discover he fled the country.” he deadpanned. Ezra's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the new revelation. “What?” he questioned in disbelief. That’s why he hadn’t heard from his father, he was on the run! He looked at the two men, frazzled by the news. He cleared his throat before speaking. “H-how much was it?” he stuttered, secretly dreading the answer. “Half a million dollars.” the man with the rolex spoke, his eyes dark, dangerous and hungry? Hungry for something Ezra could not quite put his finger on.

 Ezra gulped at the amount. “Goddamn.” he whispered to no one. The tall man took a step forward and Ezra cowered, feeling suffocated by the man’s dominating aura. “We came here… to take you as collateral, for the money he owes us.” he admitted, staring intensely at the younger man. He was so close to Ezra that he could feel the man’s breath on his forehead and stood face to face with the man’s hard chest bursting through his freshly pressed button up. Ezra looked up at the man in shock and fear. Take him for collateral? Who knows what they had planned for him. “No, please” he spoke, beginning to take a step back and looking for the nearest escape. The tall man watched the boy closely, waiting to pounce on his prize if it dared try to run from him. Ezra tried to slam the door close but the man’s large hand reached out to push the door back open as he stepped through the threshold of the house. Ezra was startled and backed up quickly at the unwanted guest entering his home. The man kept a composed demeanor as Ezra panicked. “I am Stefan Alfonso,” he said. “The money your father owes me is too drastic for both of you to pay on bakery salary. Instead I am willing to take you and your services in exchange for both of your lives.” he explained, darkly.

 Ezra sputtered. Services? What did the man mean? “I-I can’t.” he responded, bewildered at the stakes of the situation. “My job, my life I can’t just aband—-“ he said worriedly before being cut off. “You will”, Stefan interrupted with finality in his tone. Ezra whimpered at the harshness. Stefan stared at the boy, taking him in. He was frail and small, seemingly very frightened but he interested the mafia boss at the same time. Despite the circumstances, Stefan found the boy's demeanor attractive and wanted to harass him more. “I’ll meet you at the car, Matteo.” Stefan spoke, turning his head to the man with the sunglasses. Matteo just rolled his eyes, already bored with the situation before he nodded and headed back to the sleek black vehicle they pulled up in. Stefan was now fully in the house and closed the door behind him, leaving he and Ezra’s anxious form alone. He turned his attention back to the boy, sizing him up and wondering if his nipples were as pink as his cheeks right now. 

Ezra was still taken a back by the intrusion and the dominance radiating off of Stefan, he was at a lost for words. They stood there for a few moments, in the foyer of the decades old house staring at each other. “Your father abandoned you.” Stefan said, breaking the silence. “You either pay up now or I am taking you against your will.” Ezra was at a loss, there was no way he could supply 500 grand in a few hours, or in a matter of days, weeks or months. “Please.” he begged, sounding like he was about to cry.“I don’t have the money.” “I didn’t know he did this. I had no idea he left me. Please don’t hurt us” he pleaded. Stefan just looked at him, becoming aroused by the tears swimming in the boy's eyes and his reddened cheeks. He wanted to make the boy cry more. 

Stefan said nothing for a moment. His thoughts swarming with nefarious ideas. “I will make you a deal.” he spoke slowly, voice deep. He took a few steps forward, purposefully entering Ezra’s personal space. He observed the boy, the frightened demeanor made him feel like a predator about to devour his prey. Ezra's eyes slightly lit up at the possibility of a solution. Stefan, not caring for the boy’s consent, grabbed him with his strong wide hands at the waist. The younger man gasped at the firm touch before he was sternly turned around and facing the living room mirror. Stefan towered behind him and held him firmly in his grip, not letting go. Stefan grabbed Ezra’s chin before tilting his head backwards and exposing the younger Hayes, pale neck.

“What are you doing!?” Ezra squealed, having not been so close to someone so handsome and fit. The older man leaned down, taking a deep breath of Ezra’s scent, as he dragged the bridge of his nose down the boy’s neck and pressed himself in the small of his back, claiming his newfound property. He spoke, “You can pay me with your body”, whispering into the shell of Ezra’s ear, imagining himself stripping the boy naked and devouring him. There was innocence dripping off of Ezra. At the revelation, Ezra went beat red, he was a virgin and the implications of being defiled caused him to blush. He had never been held before, certainly not by a man, nor had he kissed a girl. Even though he thought women were really pretty, his loins burned at night when he thought of other boys. Stefan desired the boy in his arms. His plump lips, innocent green eyes and messy hair drew him in and he wanted to play with his new toy. “I-I-“ Ezra stuttered, clearly at a loss of words. “Every time you please me, I will take $10,000 off your debt.” Stefan explained. Ezra attempted to struggle out of his confines but failed as he wasn’t nearly as strong as the bigger man entrapping him.

 “I can’t sir!” he replied. “I don’t have any experience, I don’t know how to please.” he admitted. Stefan nearly smirked at the admission, he liked that Ezra was untouched. “It doesn’t matter,” he responded, continuing to caress the boy through his clothes. “I can give you a taste of experience.” he said as his veiny hands reached toward Ezra crotch and began to fumble with the boy's belt. Ezra flinched, as he realized what was happening. “Wait!” he squeaked, slightly knowing but not being entirely sure what was going on. It was too late though, Stefan had already begun his assault and he quickly unbuckled the smaller man’s belt and pushed down the jeans revealing Ezra’s half hard cock in his boxers. Stefan eyed Ezra’s blushing form and stared at the boy in the mirror. “You were saying?” he taunted the boy, who was clearly turned on. He began to palm at Ezra’s leaking crotch. The sensations were getting to the 20 year old as he faltered slightly in the large man’s arms.  Stefan’s warm hands were roaming his body and breaking his resolve. He had never been touched so intimately by someone so hot and domineering, it was clearly too much to handle. At Ezra’s relaxation in his arms, Stefan continued toward his goal of pleasuring the boy. He noticed the small wet spot, leaking into the fabric of the boxers. He took this as a sign to push the last garment off the boy to reveal Ezra’s pink and shaved cock. It was bulging hard at this point after enduring relentless assault from someone other than its owner. Stefan kissed Ezra’s neck as a distraction before engulfing his penis in the palm of his large hand and stroking him from root to tip. Ezra gasped and moaned, head hitting Stefan’s shoulder at the pleasure that racked through his smaller body. This man had barged into his house, intent on claiming him and was now assaulting his body in the most pleasurable way he ever felt.

 It was too much going on, too fast but Ezra’s head was spinning with new found lust. Stefen used his warm hand to tug at Ezra’s leaking dick, using his precum as lube as he steadily stroked him. “I want to make you my slut.” he told Ezra before licking his earlobe and sending a shiver down his spine. Ezra didn’t even know what the older man meant but he was far too vulnerable right now, allowing a man he just met to molest him. Ezra whimpered and moaned at how good his cock felt. He hadn’t jerked off in months, never having the time and just  being too exhausted. He was squirming and leaking as he shook in Stefan’s grasp, enduring the assault. Ezra looked down and watched as the handsome man played with him, using his big hand to engulf his penis and rub him to completion. Ezra babbled and stuttered, feeling himself come to the brink. “Please, sir. I can’t!” he protested at the pleasurable feeling, he was losing it. Stefan just growled low in his throat. “You're leaking all over me, making such a mess. I wonder how you will sound when I have you impaled on my cock.” Ezra moaned loudly at the words. “I’ll keep you as my pet, train you to keep your legs and mouth wide open just for me.” he spoke darkly in the boy’s ear as he rubbed his dick with increasing pace, making sure to ghost his thumb over the tip from time to time. Ezra was unraveling, weak to the pleasure coursing through his body. He was supposed to resist, supposed to run away but something about this man had him desperate and wanting. His cock leaking like a faucet. If this pleasure was a part of the deal, he would happily be Stefan’s toy. He wasn’t thinking straight at the moment. He ignored his feelings over his father’s abandonment as he shook with pleasure, lifting his hips in time with Stefan’s strokes. “Sir.” he whimpered, the title naturally coming to him in the presence of such a dominating man. It turned on Stefan to no end and it took everything in him to not strip him naked and make him scream louder as he deflowered his virgin ass right there on the floor. 

Stefan had a better idea, as he noticed the boy coming toward his peak. He released his hand from Ezra’s hard cock. The young man whined at the loss of touch before panting from the intensity of being edged. Before he could protest further, Stefan picked him up and threw him with ease over his muscled shoulder and took long strides towards the living room couch, Ezra was just asleep on. Ezra was trapped as his pants and belt were wrapped around his ankles, meaning he would surely fall if he attempted to get away. The tv played softly in the background as Stefan removed the man’s pants before throwing them across the room. He forcefully spread his slim legs and looked down at Ezra’s hard and leaking member before taking it into his mouth. Licking, sucking and tonguing the boy’s private parts to bring him over the edge. His dark eyes stared up at Ezra’s as he sucked his cock with ease. Ezra was in heaven as the warm and wet mouth encompassed him, squirming and moaning uncontrollably at the sensations. Stefan devoured his snack, ready to drain Ezra’s dick and pound his tight hole. Stefan used his mouth to begin deep throating the boy, it wasn’t hard because of Ezra’s average size but he could feel it touch the back of his throat before coming up to swirl his pink tongue around its head. This sent Ezra wild as his eyes rolled in the back of his head and he came right into the gangster’s mouth as his body shook. Stefan held onto the boy’s hips as he squirmed and came apart. Ezra panted and whined as Stefan cleaned him up with his tongue, licking the shaft carefully before sucking on the head again for any last drops of cum. The young man was sensitive and it being his first time receiving fellatio left him amazed and spent.

Stefan rose from the boy’s crotch before speaking. “Good boy” he spoke, praising Ezra for his cooperation. Ezra blushed harder at the handsome man before covering his face in embarrassment. This was not how he expected his night to turn out. Stefan backed away before wiping his mouth and straightening his suit. He checked his watch after he stood up, leaving Ezra dazed and half naked on the couch. Stefan took in his work, Ezra lay there, shirt pulled up revealing his hard nipples, abdomen and his spent penis resting on his pale thigh. Ezra looked up at the man that had just devoured him, completely enouromed by his outrageously good skills. Stefan

finally spoke again. “I need you to gather all your belongings tonight as I will be picking you up late afternoon tomorrow. If you agree to this, I expect you to be by my side as much as possible. I have great use for you and do not plan to discontinue my exploration of your body.” he said, truthfully. Ezra listened and just nodded peering up at Stefan. The man truly was a Greek god who was amazing with his mouth and hands. Ezra was so pleased he didn’t even fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. 

Stefan walked across the room to pick up Ezra's boxers off the floor before walking back to the frazzled boy, still coming down from his high. He carefully lifted the boy’s legs before sliding his undergarments back over his cute butt, cock and balls. Ezra just watched with his eyes glazed over, trying to process the recent events of his life. Once his new pet was situated, Stefan checked the time again, realizing he had errands to run and arrangements to make for Ezra’s arrival. “I have to leave, pet.” he explained. “Remember I will be here to pick you up.” he spoke softly as he grabbed Ezra by his waist again and pulled the boy from the couch to meet at their hips. Stefan stared down intensely into Ezra’s green eyes, searching for any fear or uncertainty. What he found was genuine curiosity. Ezra hadn’t put up much of a fight, his guard had been knocked down as soon as the man reached into his pants and left him drunk on pleasure. The boy just looked up at the man, wondering what mystery hid behind Stefan’s stern demeanor. The tension in the room still hadn’t left as they stared at each other's face. Stefan’s eyes sank down to Ezra’s lips before he leaned forward to devour them. Instinctively, Ezra opened his mouth letting the man in, his warm tongue colliding with Stefan’s as they kissed passionately. With Stefan dominating the kiss, Ezra had no choice but to close his green eyes and allow himself to be claimed by the man once again. Their plump lips clashed as Stefan held Ezra’s jaw and opened his mouth wider for him to explore. He wanted to taste every part of the boy. Ezra’s inexperience was turning him on, he could tell by the way he kissed. It was Ezra’s first and he clumsily matched the man’s energy. 

Stefan pulled away before looking at the face of his new pet. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” he said before releasing the boy, giving him one last peck and heading towards the door. Ezra just stood there, weak in the knees and in shock. Stefan turned again to wink at him before opening the door and heading out, closing it behind him. The mafia man made his way from the porch, down the driveway and to his car. He opened the driver’s seat door before climbing his long legs into the expensive sports car. At his arrival, Matteo scoffed. “Took you long enough.” the other man complained, clearly bored of the game on his phone. His shades didn’t mask his annoyance, the sarcasm was dripping from his voice. Stefan just ignored him, intent on cranking up the car and heading back to his territory. Matteo continued. “You devoured him didn’t you?” he questioned, already knowing the answer. Stefan’s lips twitched slightly at the accusation. “I just had a little taste, that’s all.” he replied to his second in charge. Matteo cringed at the admission. “You fucking slut!” he teased, criticizing the taller man. Stefan turned to the man in the passenger seat before pulling out into the street to head to his next destination. “You’re the last one to talk after I walked in on you bent over Alejandro’s desk last week.” he retorted. Matteo went red at the comeback, being reminded of the steamy exchange. He was stunned into silence before he was able to murmur a bullshit response. “Shut the hell up.” he told Stefan who just laughed and continued his maneuvering of the black car. Matteo turned towards the window, choosing not to tease anymore as his dignity was at stake. They took off. 

Meanwhile, Ezra was pacing back and forth in the living room, replaying all the events in his head. He wasn’t sure if he felt regret but now analyzing all the details of his father’s disappearance and the debt he was now left to pay had his heart racing. This was crazy. His options were few, sell his body to this man or work for the rest of his life to pay off this debt. He didn’t have anyone to turn to and no support to alleviate the debt. His dad had left him with all of this. Just abandoned him…. 

At that thought, Ezra got an idea. He stopped his pacing before running up the stairs and beelining for his room. He began to pull out all his clothes, shoes and necessities then stuffing what he could into his light blue suitcase. Ezra then ran to a hallway closet to find the box that carried a small amount of cash. He kept it hidden as long as he could from his dad and this time it worked. He opened it quickly before finding a few 100 dollar bills, put aside in case of emergencies or hard times. It wasn’t much but it was something to give him some support. He quickly shoved the bills in his pocket before leaving the hallway to grab his suitcase from his room. He looked at his bedroom for the last time, remembering the events, good and bad that had occurred in his house. He turned away, feelings of sadness lingering in his chest. On the way down stairs he stopped at a picture of his mother. She was young, beautiful and happy. He and her had booked a photoshoot when he was 4 years old and she held him caringly in her arms. Ezra touched the portrait lightly, almost caressing her 2D face before pulling it off the nail in the wall. He ran down stairs with it and his suitcase in tow before putting it in his tote bag and grabbing his jacket, throwing it over his shoulders. If his father could run away, so could he, he thought before heading out the door.