Page 30 of Cardinal

No matter how much I psyched myself up and told myself to stay strong, I couldn't keep the momentum up when we entered the crowded underground area filled with hundreds of people dressed in formal wear.

I hated how my chest tightened; my own body suffocated me as I hid behind Luciano like a scared child. "I'm sorry." I could see people pointing their crooked, blinged-out fingers at us as we walked down the aisle towards the VIP section.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, Luciano pulled me next to him and kept me tucked against him. Bending his head down, he brushed his lips against my ear with a chuckle, making me shiver. "Ignore them. They are jealous and wish it was them around my arms instead of a beauty like you." He told me in a low voice before continuing to walk unbothered.

Right at the entrance of the VIP area, where I could see Leah, was where we stopped. "Mister Agosti, so glad you made it. It's a full house tonight, and your stage is set like always." A man in black slacks and a matching polo with a familiar symbol of bat wings, a pointed tail, and an L on the back greeted Luciano with a polite smile.

"Gregory," Luciano greeted the man back with a small smile and nod. "Everyone all set?"

"Yes, sir, all the contestants are warmed up and ready. Refreshments and other accommodations for the guest have also been well underway." I had to quickly scan around the area when Gregory said something.

Only then did I notice the scantily clad servers with trays of drinks and…

Holy shit!

Looking up at Luciano, I tugged on his sleeve to get him to bend to my level. "Is that drugs on the trays?"

No, it's fucking sugar, Juliet.

I mentally slapped myself for asking such a stupid question, and I honestly have no idea why I even asked, given the kind of event this was—and who ran the event.

Amused, Luciano chuckled and raised an eyebrow at me with a smirk. "Whatever you think it is, it probably is." It wasn't much of a confirmation or denial, but I could surmise easily based on the devious tone of his voice.

Gently, he curled a finger under my chin and grasped it with his thumb, tilting my head around slowly. "This isn't just some run-of-the-mill underground fight, principessa. This is the highest-end event there is. Only the richest and dirtiest come here to spend their money to watch potential fights to the death." Then, he set my gaze on the bench of fighters right outside the caged ring. "Those who participate are doing it for a chance at fame or wealth, and only the best get filtered through to these final event fights where many big-name scouts are looking for their next champion."

"W-what if this place gets raided?" I mean, it happens all the time in TV shows and movies, and knowing my bad luck, that would probably happen tonight.

Luciano chuckled amusingly and shook his head. "I am much too careful for that to happen. Besides, it's not like I let just anyone into this place. Everyone here has something grave to lose. If one person snitches, then everyone goes down, so they're all more than mindful about keeping these events a secret and keeping others accountable." That seemed rather risky, in my opinion, but I was sure Luciano went about things more complicated than he played it out to me. "Also, I have contingencies for the other syndicate members and me if things go belly up, so don't worry your pretty little head about it."

Exhaling deeply, I nodded my head in response to him and dropped the subject. "Can we sit by Leah?" I asked as Luciano led us behind the roped-off area.

"Of course, but we are also sitting there anyway. I have a special VIP area for me and the syndicate members." He replied with a brief smile before nodding at the guards standing before another set of ropes.

The moment we crossed over, Leah instantly shot up from her seat and came to us, greeting Luciano with a hug and grin. "Finally, I thought you were going to chicken out or not bring Juliet with you." Then, her attention locked onto me, making me smile shyly at her.

Shoving Luciano aside, she wrapped her arm around mine. "Come on, let me introduce you to Aidan and his girlfriend." She gave me little choice in the matter with how she dragged me away toward the couple she sat next to.

"Leah, stop it, you're going to scare her." Luciano scolded with a worried sigh as he took his place next to me, pulling me away from Leah with a jealous glare.

Rolling her eyes, Leah waved a dismissive hand at Luciano. "You have her all to yourself all the damn time with her cooped up at your place. Let us have her for a bit. It's not like we're going to eat her alive." Leah teased with a snicker as she leaned back into me and hugged my arm.

Sighing heavily, Luciano shook his head before running a hand down his face. "How much has she had to drink?" It was hard to determine who the question was shot at because his eyes didn't land on someone until a few seconds after the words left his mouth.

The red-haired man who sat in the chair next to Leah with his arms thrown around an Asian woman's shoulders shrugged and laughed softly. "She was already a little too friendly when I got here not long before you. So, take your guess." It was a little hard to pick up at a distance, but he had a slight Scottish accent.

With a friendly smile etched on his face, he turned his head to me. Tilting his head, he quickly ran his curious eyes over me before holding a hand out. "Aidan Knox. It's finally a pleasure to meet the person who's been getting under Luciano's skin." He chuckled warmly.

Awkwardly, I smiled back as I took his hand in a quick shake. "Juliet." I couldn't bring myself to say my last name.

In all honesty, I wanted to be rid of it. I wanted nothing to do with my dead life the day I packed my stuff up and left my despicable parents' property.

Movement from the female next to Aidan made my eyes snap to her. I watched as she looked at Aidan pleadingly as if she were asking permission without verbalizing it. Aidan chuckled and leaned in close to the woman, whispering something in her ear that made her lips widen in a smile as her eyes lit up. Fully grinning, she kissed Aidan on the cheek before getting up and standing before me with the brightest face I have ever seen from someone in my life.

"Hey, I'm Eve, but I like to go by Evie. It's nice to have another girl in the group finally." She sounded so cheerful and excited that it was a little daunting to me. "It gets so boring with just me, Leah, and Natty. Well, it's just Leah and me most of the time since Natty doesn't like to partake much in the shady side of her father's business."

"You look familiar…" I couldn't help but ponder out loud as I studied her closely.

She seemed to be around my height, but that was hard to tell, considering how we were both wearing heels. Her long, baby-pink ombre hair came down to her lower back in soft curls, evening out her oval-shaped face. Then, her petite box-shaped body was nicely displayed in the long black dress she wore, especially her leg that peaked through the slit of the dress.

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