Eli Bell is the only son of a police chief inspector and a forensic scientist. He's grown up wonky in a world that only deals with the straight and narrow -- and his new boyfriend isn't helping. Rob Hawkes is six feet of muscle, tattoos, and arrest warrants. A career criminal and a former guest of Her Majesty's Prison Service, he'd rather hit Eli's parents than sit down to dinner with them. One wrong move, and Rob could destroy Eli -- and his family -- without a second thought. But this isn't what it looks like. Rob's not in control here -- and Eli's the one to blame.

What It Looks Like

Yeah. Its wot u want n best get it over with.


Eli headed halfway down the stairs and leaned over the banisters like he was a teenager again to yell, “Mum!”


“Your father said something about Italian.”


“I’m not sure if Jenny’s coming over. Why?”


Eli chewed on his lip, then thought, To hell with it. “Rob says he’s free to come over tonight.”


The armchair creaked, and Mum appeared in the living room doorway, peering up at him anxiously. “Is that a good idea?”


Eli shrugged. “Might as well get it over with?”


Mum nodded slowly. “Alright. Alright, I’ll ring your father…tell him to come at seven, that’ll give us a bit of time, and…”


She wandered into the kitchen, muttering to herself, and Eli headed back upstairs. Come at 7. It’s Italian food. Bring a bottle of whiskey or something for Dad, he added, deciding to give Rob all the help he could get.


I’m sorry about blowing up, but you were being a dick.


Chapter 33