by K. L Mann
While I’m waiting, brushing my orange vodka soda, I bump into a familiar face.
Angelo. Such a pretty face, but much less appealing now that I have my men. We greet each other quickly with cheek kisses and start to catch up as best as we can over the music.
“I saw Lorenzo and Katherine are home, you here with them?” Angelo asks over the loud beat.
“Actually, I’m here with Luca and Gio,” I admit, sipping my cocktail lightly. “They’re just in the office at the moment.”
His features morph into shock, brows furrowing slightly. “With them, with them?”
My face warms immediately. “Yeah.”
He blows air from his mouth, shaking his head in a sort of disbelief. “Wow.”
It’s not a judgmental wow, just a surprised one. Angelo isn’t a judgmental kind of guy.
Still, I ask, “What?”
“I didn’t think you’d forgive them so quickly,” he says in disbelief.
“Forgive them for what?”
His eyes search mine for an understanding he can’t seem to fine. “I overstepped, never mind.” His body shifts to walk around me, but I cut him off before he can escape.
“What do you know that I don’t?”
He sighs, like maybe he actually wasn’t trying to spring this on me. Maybe he isn’t trying to get under my skin. I think he’s actually being genuine. “I shouldn’t have said anything, I figured you must know. It’s not my place. I really need to stop talking and drinking, it’s a hazard.”
“Tell me what I don’t know, now.”
He pauses, thinking about how to respond. “You gotta be able to ensure that I don’t get jumped for telling you. I hadn’t intended to be spilling some kind of secret. I liked kissing you and all but I’m not out to make you mine, okay?”
I don’t hesitate. “Deal.”
“I just thought that you knew about them helping isolate you while you were away at school. Everyone knows not to talk to you or even look at you funny and they were a part of it. I thought maybe they groveled and you just forgave them already. The only reason I can even talk to you is because of Marco.”
My ears ring as the sound of the club music dies around me. Surely it’s still going on because people are still dancing but I can’t hear it. Betrayal I’ve never felt so deep sinks into my stomach. It can’t be true, but Angelo isn’t that good of a liar. No one is.
“I really shouldn’t have said anything,” he curses absently.
“Thank you,” I murmur and turn on my heels, striding toward the office.
The man standing guard at the door nods and lets me in quickly. Luca and Gio move their eyes from the desktop and take me in.
“We’re almost done, are you–” Gio doesn’t have a chance to finish his question before I yell.
“Tell me you were responsible for how I was treated on campus!”
Their expressions immediately shift. The guilt on Luca’s face makes me nauseous.
I need to get out of here.
Before I can get my hand on the door nod, Luca captures my arm. “Who said that?”
“Does it fucking matter!?”
Squirming out of his hold, I’m able to pull the door open and inch before he slams it shut.
“Just let us explain,” he pleads.
Gio
“Just let us explain,” Luca’s words break, as if he’s terrified.
Angelo. Had to be. Gonna kill that kid.
Fuck she’s angrier than I’ve ever seen her. Of course, she knows so fucking little of the story that I can’t blame her. I'd be pissed too.
Arianna isn’t privy to how our lives work and how important secrets are. We’d known that there would be things like this to throw a wrench in our perfect little world together, but I hadn’t expected it so soon. There’s so much we want to tell her and so much we can’t.
Not yet anyway.
“Fuck, babe. Stop walking away,” he urges, wrapping his hand around her arm cautiously to hold her in place.
“Let me go, I'm leaving,” she hisses, pulling her arm from his grip.
“You have to let us tell you our side,” he argues, stepping in her path again.
Her nostrils flare and she clenches her fists, making her knuckles go white. “You lied to me!”
Luca is officially panicking. He thinks we’ve lost her, but we haven’t. I know we haven’t. “We didn't lie, princess, please just listen.”
“You isolated me on purpose! You, you hid things from me, that’s the same as lying, Luca,” she argues, and her face twists from anger to sadness.
“We can’t make decisions like that baby; we didn’t have a choice. Please just hear me out, it’s me. Fuck, it’s me baby, you know I wouldn’t hurt you like that.”
Abruptly, she stops trying to maneuver around him. The office goes silent for a second and she crosses her arms. “Do you know what it felt like to be completely alone, three hours away from my safety net? All my life I’ve dreaded being the center of attention. Hated birthday parties, dinners, and any other time where I had to act like a prim and proper young lady. So imagine my brain's reaction to the polar opposite of my fear. I couldn’t have one friend? One person to talk to?” A single tear strains down her cheek.
“For an entire year of college, I couldn’t have felt more alone or empty and you knew. You allowed it.”
Luca opens his mouth to reply, but it’s my turn to cut in. “Do you remember when I asked if you trusted me?” Her sad eyes meet mine. She pauses, probably suspicious of my motivated question, but soon she nods. “You said yes, immediately. I understand that right now you’re blinded by what must feel like betrayal, but it’s so far from that, baby girl.”
Her shoulders soften only a touch, as if she’s adjusting to my words, absorbing the comfort.
“When your father gives an order, we obey it. That’s how our lives work, Arianna. The only person who even gets to work around him is Lorenzo and he won’t. There are too many factors in play and too many people with stubborn minds. It killed me to see you struggling all alone, but I couldn’t help you. We were working on wagering a deal to get you a friend or two, we even have proof of that if you want it. I just need you to understand that there are things we can’t tell you.”
She sucks in a breath, letting another heavy tear fall slowly. “Papa loves me, why would he do that to me? Doesn’t he know me at all?”
My heart constricts in my chest. My precious girl, of course he knows you.
“You’ve almost died twice, baby girl. The man was terrified of you going to college, he almost didn’t allow it. We were all scared for you and he acted in a way that I’m sure he’ll regret when he understands how it affected you. I think he overestimated how well you cope, and he shouldn’t have. I wish we could have helped you sooner.”
“Princess, I promise you that we tried to help,” Luca adds, pulling her hand into his cautiously. “When Lorenzo said you were staying with us, we were fucking relieved for you. You didn’t deserve it, but we couldn’t stop it, I’m so sorry.”
“I know it won’t make you feel better because you felt ripped away from your safety net, but you were living in the safest way possible. There were no threats even remotely close to you, and even though it hurt you, it was never meant to.”
“Does Marco know?”
Sighing, my hands run through my hair. “Yes and no. He knew you weren’t making friends but not the extent of your father’s involvement. He couldn’t have helped either, baby.”
“I’m mad at you both,” she admits, wiping her face with the backs of her hands.
“Hit me or something princess because I can’t stand the idea of being the reason that you’re crying. You’re anger I can take, even vengefulness, but those tears are gonna kill me,” Luca pleads, sadness painting his face.
“I don’t want to hit you,” she breathes, placing her palm around his cheek. “I want to go home, and I want both of you to sleep with me. No waking up early and going
to work. I want 10 hours of you both, just in bed, sleepy and all mine.”
“Done,” Luca answers first.
“Whatever you need,” I agree as well.
“And I want you to kiss each other.”
Well that’s a new one.
Luca chuckles and she narrows her eyes. “I’m serious. You let me be embarrassed, I want you to suffer a little too.”
“Princess, I’m not laughing because I thought you were joking. I’m laughing because you don’t think we’ll do it.” Shock splashes across her face. “Have you not figured out that we’ll do anything for you yet?”
Her cheeks flush and she shakes her head. “You’ll really kiss him?”
“Ugh, babe. It’s just a mouth. Sure, it’s got Gio’s face attached to it, but I’ll fucking rock his world with my lips to make you happy.”
“You wish you could rock my world,” I retort to lighten the mood. “What I’m interested in is how long little miss vengeful, over here has been thinking about the idea. You get turned on thinking about it, don’t you baby girl?”
Her cheeks have gone from a light pink to a full-blown red flush. “Maybe.”
Alarms.
Loud, ear-piercing alarms sound, echoing inside the office. My ears scream in protest and my hands slam over them.
“What the fuck is that!?” Arianna screams, wincing as the loud noise continues. The cadence of the high-pitched alarm is too quick, not giving her any headspace to think.
“Fire alarm,” Luca yells, picking her up and rushing out of the office with me only inches behind him. The office is only steps from the back exit and security is already rushing people out of the building. I can see the smoke, but the flames are nowhere to be seen. My mind blanks, clearing for only one thought.
Get Arianna out safely.
Luca is laser focused on the same task, leading the way out as quickly as he can.
The alarms are quieter as we step into the parking lot. The fire is obvious now. The top of the building I know so well is up in flames. Anger orange blazes that are producing a black smoke.
Lorenzo and Katherine come into view and fuck he’s struggling.
I never thought I would see this building in flames, but I can't think about it. I can only think about getting my family the fuck away from the burning club. Luckily, we got out fast before the fire moved further down the floors.
Arianna is squeezed in between Luca and I as we run out further into the street. Katherine is holding Lorenzo up and he stares into the burning hot redness, clearly traumatized.
So much is fucking happening at once.
The burning building is loud and distracting amongst the small crowd of people yelling.
“Where’s Marco and Jules?” Arianna yells, whipping her head around to search.
Luca and I look around to and I don’t fucking see him.
Shit.
Marco, Jesus Christ she can’t lose Marco.
Luca slowly pushes Arianna closer into my body and his eyes lock on mine.
Damnit. Don’t do this. I plead with my gaze, reading his mind.
“Don’t let her run after me,” he commands and my arms wrap around her tightly.
“Luca,” I start to bargain with him, but he’s looking at our girl.
“I’m so, so sorry baby. I love you, okay? I love you big time, princess. I’ll bring Marco back to you.” Luca doesn’t let her process or reply, he takes off, running back into the burning building.
“No!” Arianna screams and wiggles in my arms. “Luca! Don’t you fucking dare! You promised! You promised, you bastard!” Her voice breaks and her nails dig into my skin as he disappears into the smoke. “Don’t leave me, please! Gio! Don’t let him go! He’s going to die! Oh my God, oh my God. Please!”
Her begging is breaking my heart so easily. I swear I can hear my soul cracking into pieces as she thrashes and screams louder for him. Her voice cracks as she continues to yell, struggling in my hold.
Out of the corner of my eye, Katherine looks like she’s going to do something stupid but I glare at her immediately. Lorenzo needs her and I can hold her and Arianna both back. “Get him to stop looking at the flames, kiss him or something, Katherine.” Expressing concern for Lorenzo snaps her back into reality and she takes his face into her hands and starts to soothe him.
“It’s okay baby, look at me, just me,” she coos, tearing his eyes away from the flames. Her lips meet his and his eyes slam shut, leaning into her embrace.
Good, he’s okay.
Luca, the martyr, still hasn’t come out and the firetrucks haven't arrived.
If she loses him, she’ll never recover. I won’t recover either, not from feeling the loss myself, or seeing her grief.
Come on, Luca. Fuck.
“Luca!” Arianna sobs, screaming for him to come back. “Oh my God, I never told him I love him. I have to tell him, Gio,” she whimpers and her body goes partially limp in my hold.
“He knows, baby.” I can’t think of anything else to calm her because I’m freaking the fuck out too. Luca is my goddamn brother and Arianna loves him. We love each other and he better not be fucking dying. I’m seriously considering going in after him, but there is no one to hold Arianna. I have to hold her.
Shadows emerge from the smoke and my damn heart beats so hard I flinch.
Luca is carrying Marco and Jules. One over each of his shoulders and he’s coughing up a storm, choking on the smoke. Sirens and emergency lights break out behind us. Arianna must have closed her eyes because she doesn’t seem to notice that Luca is alive, even as he gets closer.
“Arianna, he’s out,” I whisper into her ear and her body jolts. Her eyes open and tears fall harder down her face.
Paramedics race by us to get to him, taking Jules and Marco on to stretchers and then fussing over him. He waves them off and walks over to us. He clearly has a burn on his left shoulder and definitely needs to go to the hospital for it but he needs to see her first, and I understand. I loosen my hold on her and she jumps into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and crying even harder.
“You fucking asshole,” she cries, her back shakes and she hugs him tighter. “I love you too, you reckless promise-breaking fuckhead.”
“I couldn’t let you lose Marco, baby” he murmurs, hugging her back and wincing out another cough.
“You can’t let me lose you either,” she hisses, choking a bit on her sobs.
“Alright, you need to let the paramedics help you now. I’ll kick your ass for scaring her when you’re not injured.”
“Just a burn, they need to focus on Jules. Marco was trying to drag her out when I found them, she was already unconscious. He inhaled too much smoke and almost fainted on the way out.”
After some pointed threats of violence, Luca agrees to go to the hospital. He’s taken care of quickly and released to wait with us after his burn is treated. It was worse than I thought it was, but it’ll heal up soon enough. He jokes about having it tattooed to match Lorenzo and I, which earns a little laugh from both Katherine and Arianna.
Arianna is obviously shaken while we wait for an update on Marco and Jules. Her parents storm inside of the hospital like Gods and she visibly relaxes.
Luca
An hour passes.
An hour of tears, yelling and fear. Lorenzo is back to normal, seemingly completely recovered from seeing the fire. Gio’s father is handling the building so luckily all this focus can be here. My arm hurts like a bitch but I’ll be fine, though I’m hoping the smell of my own burning flesh fades sooner than later. Marco is fine too. He had a dislocated shoulder, some smoke inhalation and a few minor burns on his hands, ones that might not even scar.
Jules had a harder time waking up, but she’s conscious. Marco and his father are with her, organizing her treatment and plan for discharge.
At one point, Arianna needed a minute alone. Reluctantly, Gio allowed it because Vito watched her back. We’re pretty sure she just wanted privacy to cry, but now
we can all go home.
Marco has to tell her that seven times before she listens, but she does listen. She lets us take her home and clean her up, washing away the smoke scent from her skin. She eats and after a small protest, falls into bed with us, this time, only to sleep.
Chapter 15: A Sense of Normalcy
“Beware the wrath of a patient adversary.”
–John C. Calhoun
Gio
The Colombo family, although intertwined with the Vitales, have a few of their own traditions. One being our family's favorite poem, A Poison Tree by William Blake. It speaks of wrath, revenge and possession. While we have yet to find out what caused the fire that took down Club Lucifer, we will. The wrath inside of me has cooled, but it is being protected for another day. I will have my vengeance and Club Lucifer will stand tall once again.
For now, I’m going to savor the peace that has fallen into my lap. For now, my wrath can be caged in favor of love. For now, I am complete.
It takes a week. A week after the fire for Arianna to allow this night. A night of fulfilling her desire. Luca isn’t completely healed yet, so naturally I’ll be leading this scene, keeping an eye on him and his arm. We’ve booked a room at one of my father’s hotels in leu of making this affair as private as possible.
After some secret deliberation, we decided to keep Arianna free from restraints. Tying her up, though hot as fuck, would make it harder for her to end the act if she needed to. As we get into the room, Luca sits her down roughly in a chair we placed in the corner of the room. Her eyes are hot with fire and fabricated anger as I rip off Brooke's top. I’ve already decided I’m not putting my dick inside of her. I don’t want it inside of anyone other than my future fucking wife.
Arianna claims she wants this and I’m sure it seems hot in her mind, but Luca and I are going to make her crack before we fulfill the fantasy fully. She’s ours and I don’t plan to share her with anyone other than Luca. The idea of her getting off with another woman is erotic sure, but after discussing it with Luca, we’ve concluded that we’re too selfish. We own her and her body will not be touched by anyone else, ever.