Chapter 60: Why?

Third POV

"Why did you come to Naples?"

Those were the first words Marco uttered to Fabio face-to-face after six months.

And to say Fabio felt as though the water had turned cold and frozen him in place would not explain it all. The fire that had been burning inside him earlier was extinguished there and then. He stared at Marco without blinking, as if studying his face could help him figure out what the man had in mind.

Noticing Marco’s indifference, without even the cocky smirk he had been expecting so much, Fabio clenched his fists harder beneath the water. He had imagined many possible reactions to their reunion, but this was not one of them. He had expected anger, perhaps a few sarcastic remarks, or even that familiar smile that always made him want to punch Marco in the face. Instead, the man looked at him as though they were complete strangers.

Then Fabio calmly spoke. "You took something of importance to me. I came to get it back."

Fabio watched the other man keenly, paying attention to every movement, though Marco barely moved at all.

Only after a while did Marco quietly reached for his neck and took out the silver chain around it. Hanging from the chain was the Corvino ring.

Without much care, Marco threw it towards Fabio.

And since Fabio was too frozen to catch it, the ring landed in the bathtub instead. The small splash barely registered in his mind. All this while, he had been watching Marco, his own eyes filled with a strange calmness that barely concealed the storm inside him. Marco’s gaze, on the other hand, was blank and cold, unlike anything Fabio had ever seen from him before.

Then Marco spoke again. "I’ll arrange for you to leave from here tomorrow."

Fabio still said nothing, but the trembling in his eyes and the slight shaking of his hands, which sent water dripping onto the tiles, spoke volumes. He had come all this way, risked everything to see Marco again, and this was what he received in return. Not even a proper argument as he hoped for. Just a ring thrown at him and an arrangement to send him away as though he were some unwanted guest.

He suddenly chuckled. It started with a single laugh, but before long, his laughter filled the bathroom. It was dry, without the slightest hint of amusement. He could hardly believe the situation he had put himself in. After everything that had happened between them, he had somehow convinced himself that showing up in Naples would make a difference. Guess it did not.

Barefoot, he climbed out of the bathtub, grabbed a bathrobe, and put it on before returning to stand in front of Marco. They were only a hand’s breadth apart, close enough for Fabio to see every little detail of the man’s face.

Even then, no words passed between them. All Fabio could do was watch Marco act as though he could not care less about his presence, as if Fabio being there was nothing more than an inconvenience. Nothing but trouble, which he undoubtedly was, but Fabio was Fabio. He had never been particularly good at accepting things simply because someone else had decided them for him.

When he had had enough of the silence, Fabio pressed his lips together. With a sudden movement, he caught Marco by the neck and began choking him in earnest.

As always, Marco did nothing more than raise his head slightly, giving Fabio even more room to tighten his grip. He did not struggle or attempt to push him away. Instead, he simply stood there, allowing Fabio to squeeze harder.

Even when Marco began running short of air, he did not beg. He did not even ask Fabio to stop. That only made the situation more unbearable, and in the end, Fabio released him.

A low, controlled breath escaped Marco’s lips as he drew air back into his lungs. His eyes had turned slightly red, but he still said nothing. He merely watched Fabio, leaving him to deal with the uncomfortable silence he had created.

Fabio brushed his hair back and let out a frustrated breath of his own. "I must have been out of my mind to come here for you."

The highly egoistic Fabio admitted defeat, at least for the moment. He gave Marco one last empty look before turning around and walking away. He had no intention of standing there any longer, waiting for a reaction from someone who seemed determined to give him nothing.

However, he had not even taken a second step when Marco’s hand shot out and caught his wrist, yanking him back.

Once again standing in front of Marco, Fabio refused to look at him. "Is there anything else left to say?"

Marco remained silent for a short while, his eyes fixed on Fabio’s side profile. He seemed to be considering something, although his expression gave nothing away.

Then he muttered, "You forgot the ring."

Fabio gritted his teeth and pulled his hand free. Without answering, he headed back to the bathtub and retrieved the ring. He held it tightly in his palm before heading towards the bathroom door, determined to leave without giving Marco another chance to make him feel like an idiot.

He had barely opened the door when he was grabbed again. Before he could react, Marco pulled him back and pinned him on his front against the same door, shutting it in the process. Marco’s warm breath brushed against the back of his neck as he gripped one of Fabio’s hands and forced it behind him, holding him firmly in place.

Marco asked, "You said you came for me?"

This time, it was Fabio’s turn to refuse to speak. He tried to fight his way out of Marco’s hold, but he did not put his full strength into it. He could have made the struggle much harder, yet some part of him seemed reluctant to do so, no matter how much he wanted to deny it.

Then Marco added, "Why?"