It’s no secret Tav and Luca are going out. After the accident, it’s also no secret that new kid Jack Collins has a raging case of homophobia, and is not best pleased about having given the kiss of life to a gay guy. Either Luca quits swimming, or Jack is going to make him.<br><br>Tav favours the tried-and-true method of knocking Jack’s teeth down his neck, only he can’t really afford another school suspension. Luca favours just ignoring him, only ignoring a penknife being held to your throat at New Year’s Eve is downright stupid.<br><br>Thing is, Luca suspects Jack is a victim of something himself. And time is running out for Luca to get through to Jack, before Jack gets rid of him.

The Italian Word for Kisses

“Luca! Basta!” Mamma Alessandra shouted.


“Everyone calm down!” the copper said, in a voice that managed to shout without shouting. “We will conduct a thorough investigation, without the need for anyone to resort to violence. More fighting is the last thing anyone needs.”


“I’ll deal with it!” Luca insisted.


“Oh, like you did before?” Antonio snapped, and jerked Luca away from Tav by the neck of his T-shirt. Suddenly the brothers were nose-to-nose, and both snarling. “You said there was no fucking problem with this kid, you told Mamma and Dad and everyone that that shit at the pool was just a crap row, and he does this? The hell kind of dealing with it you been doing, Luc?”


Mr. Jensen and the copper broke them apart. Luca was grinding his teeth; Antonio looked angrier than Tav had ever seen him, those dark features twisted in an ugly glower.


Chapter 36