Luca: Open Wounds, #5

By Michelle Frost

Life hasn't always been kind to Luca Barlos. His second chance came in the form of Rourke MMA and a brother who refused to give up on him. Now, he has a job he enjoys, friends, and a crush he can't ignore. Luca may be shy, but he knows what he wants—the gorgeous detective with chestnut hair and a kind smile. 

 

Clark hasn't always been a tough-guy detective. In school, he was the nerdy, chubby kid. Now he's all grown up, living his dream of being a cop and working up the nerve to ask the object of his affections on a date. 

 

Luca is the first novella in the continuation of the Open Wounds series. The series is best read in order.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Frost
• Release date: Nov 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223481669

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Thwump.

Luca Barlos stood by his kitchen window, coffee cup in hand, and watched silently as Clark’s big form squatted down, fitting his fingers under the edge of the large tractor tire and lifted. Once Clark had the tire upright on its side, he pushed it over, letting it fall to the pavement of the gym’s back parking lot again. The late September air was chilly enough that Luca could see a puff of steam with each heavy exhalation.

Thwump.

Luca would never admit how often he’d stood there, peeking out from the safety of his second-story window, watching the shift and play of muscle beneath the long-sleeved t-shirts Clark always wore. Detective Clark. Luca didn’t even know the man’s first name, and even though he could have asked Roc, one of his brother Niko’s boyfriends and Clark’s good friend, he didn’t dare draw attention to his crush that way. Clark had joined the gym, Rourke MMA, several months ago. Luca had noticed him right away—tall and thick with chestnut hair that shone in the sun. He also had the bluest eyes Luca had ever seen in the few times he’d let himself get close enough to actually see them.

Luca, you home? Niko’s voice called from his apartment’s back door. The space used to be both of theirs until Niko had gotten with Vidar and Roc, and they’d decided to live together in Vidar’s house. Luca thought Niko had put off moving out, afraid to leave him alone. He shouldn’t have been. There had been moments, especially at night when the fear that had held him hostage for so long had tried to take him by the throat and bend him to its will, but he’d fought back using techniques he’d learned from his therapist—reframing his thoughts and learning to trust himself. He was stronger now and could handle anything that came his way with a calm, logical mind. Anything except actually speaking to Clark one-on-one, apparently.

I’m here, Luca said, turning away from the window and walking to the sink. He took one last drink of his coffee and dumped the rest down the drain. It was his day off from Viridian, the club where he was a barback, and he had a whole list of errands to attend to. Niko had come up the stairs from inside the tattoo shop, Open Wounds. Rourke MMA and the tattoo shop were housed in the same renovated warehouse. It was the only place Luca had ever truly felt at home.

Are you still going to the store today? Niko asked, coming into the kitchen.

Thwump.

Luca grimaced, his back still to Niko. He’d hoped Clark was done for the day. He knew his brother meant well, but he had a habit of trying to push Luca to come out of his shell. Nothing made Luca more uncomfortable than that. Luca turned in time to see Niko’s eyes light up as he moved to the window and looked down into the parking lot.

You should hurry up and get down there! Niko said, coming to Luca’s side and pushing him toward the door that led to the outside stairs.

Didn’t you need to talk to me about something? Something you want me to pick up for you?

Oh, no, don’t try to change the subject now! Niko had managed to get behind him and had both hands flat to Luca’s back as he pushed him along. Stepping to the side, Luca laughed as Niko stumbled, shooting daggers out of his dark eyes at Luca before righting himself. Dude!

They had such similar features, olive skin, dark eyes, and hair. They were built much the same as well, short and compactly muscled. The differences came in their personalities and the fact that Luca was a couple years older and a couple inches taller.

Niko, Luca said, calmly standing his ground. Remember how you weren’t going to push me so much anymore?

Niko sighed. Sorry, I know. But he’s not working out with Dagen today. It’s the perfect time to chat him up a little.

His brother looked so earnest that Luca let out a little sigh of his own. I know. What did you want me to get for you? Dagen was the youngest Rourke brother and Clark’s trainer. He also made a great buffer for all the times Luca had run into them working out in the parking lot.

Huh? Oh, the shop’s almost out of coffee. Niko pulled some folded bills from his pocket. If you don’t mind? I can grab it later if it’s too much trouble.

It’s no trouble. Luca took the money Niko handed him and carefully put it into a slot in his wallet, separate from his own money. A sense of pride filled him at being trusted with the shop’s money, even so little of it. He knew the things he’d done while a captive of the Crossmen Motorcycle Gang were the only reason he was still alive, but he wasn’t proud of any of it. It had taken a long time for the shame he’d carried out of that situation to not be a constant pressure on his chest and for the