Page 5 of The Sicilian Bastard
Luciano
For fuck's sakes, I need a woman, I thought as I tuned out the bitter bickering of Nicolo and Rosalina Falcone. All the couple did was fight. I was privy to almost all, since they didn't care who was in the room. They wanted to hurt each other. I wanted to get my dick wet. It was the only reason I had suggested we party in Vegas to begin with. Selfish. I didn't give a fuck what Eunji and Vito had planned. They were all over each other on this plane ride. I couldn't figure out who was worse. The almost wedded couple or the married couple. Both made me nauseous when I looked their way. All I wanted was to break one off in some stripper. Hold her down and whip her. Choke her until her eyes rolled back. I might even have time to hook her up into some kind of contraption. I'd have to check ahead of time and see what the Four Palms Resort had to offer. Worse comes to worst, I'd throw some money around and get what I needed sent to my room.
"I want to thank you all for being here," Vito interrupted my musings. "Once we debark the plane, Agosto sent drivers for us. We'll check into the resort and make a plan from there. Who knows how long baggage claim will take."?
"We'll have enough time to catch a short nap and change." Eunji perked up from Vito's lap. Neither would let the other breathe. Sickening. I could vomit from them alone. The whole family that hates my guts partying together screams disaster waiting to happen.
The plane landed with no fanfare and we all headed to baggage claim. Vito slumped over with his hand in Eunji's pocket while she giggled and whispered in his ear. Didn't he know he looked like a complete pussy? He was twice her size. He could pick her up rather than stoop to her level. Then the rest of us got to be uncomfortable while the two whispered whatever sweet nothing bullshit in each other's ears.
I stood at the back of the group. I didn't have a bag. What was in my carry on was all I needed. There were a few syringes that the TSA overlooked, but again, money makes the world go 'round. They asked no questions and I didn't have to tell any lies.
Once the sheep were all ready to go, we headed out of the terminal. Two limousines were waiting for us with chauffeurs and everything. I was hot, huffy, and horny. The three H's of life. My life anyway. So, I jumped into one limo and waited for everyone else to act like they knew what they were doing in this world. There was no reason to separate because the only women were Eunji and Rosalina. No way Vito was letting Eunji out of his sight. Nicolo didn't seem to give a shit about what happened to Rosalina. I wondered if I could stab him in the throat and get rid of him. At this point, he wasn't doing the alliance any good. He was a washed-up drunk with a mommy complex. His father's health was getting better so I could only hope we no longer had to deal with him in negotiations. It was too bad Rosalina had to suffer for it.
I checked out of the conversation in the limo and checked on some things back in Philly. I still had a few men trying to sniff out any more Russians. I wanted to rid the city of Bratva scum. Then Vito would give me a better position. Not that enforcer was a bad position. It was a good one for me, but I also wanted to be in the inner circle more. Vito leaned on me to get things done and it was a taste of leadership that I hadn't known I was craving until now. That was a while back, though.
"Fratello, get your head out of your ass, we are here." Vito smacked me on the head and we all climbed out of the limo. Vincenzo got out of the second vehicle and I hadn't even noticed he was on the plane at all. He was the quietest brother. Although I still resented him. At least he was acknowledged. Not me. Never me. I was the bastard, through and through.
Everyone decided on where to eat after we all crashed and changed. We were meeting Agosto at some kind of restaurant. I tuned out once I knew we were all meeting up in the lobby of the hotel. I didn't need any bonding or details.
I headed to my room, not paying attention. I wanted someone to play with tonight. I shouldn't pull anyone from the club, but that was the spot tonight, so I had no choice. I collapsed on the bed as soon as I set eyes on it without taking my clothes off. My eyes closed before my head hit the pillow.
The ringing of a phone pulled me away from the nightmares that plagued my mind.
"Hello," I barked into the phone on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Get the fuck up,fratello," Vito barked back at me.
I held back a grin. Vito was as dark as me, but he kept it hidden behind nice suits and a stoic face. He was like his father in that regard. I followed orders and got up. I donned a nice suit. Nothing super expensive because I wasn't a Picone. Not according to Father and Mother. Thus, I wasn't an heir to the throne. No, I was the child who should've died. My earliest memory was of my father trying to drown me in a tub. There has never been a time when I felt safe and loved. Not even as a child. Once I was born, that was it. I had to survive by myself. Sink or swim. I wanted to swim with the sharks, but this family wouldn't allow me to do that. Instead, I got to wade through with the dregs of society.
I buttoned the last buttons on my dress shirt and headed out. I had three pieces on me tonight in case anything went down. The shoulder holster housed my Glock 26. I kept my 9mm Smith and Wesson in my ankle holster and my Sig Sauer P365 on the small of my back. We didn't have any real beef with anyone in Vegas, but after the Russian fiasco, we couldn't be too careful. It was easier if I stayed on high alert. Nicolo stumbled into the elevator with me.
"Where's Rosalina?" I peered around him, but she was nowhere in sight.
"She went down with Eunji and Vito," he sneered at me.
I shrugged but felt a surge of protectiveness I'd never felt before.
"Why don't you send her back?" I was a curious son of a bitch.
"She's not a fucking piece of furniture," he snapped at me.
I blinked, shocked at his tone. Someone needed a Snickers bar or a well-placed throat punch. Either would do.
"I thought you wanted out." My jaw clenched saying the words aloud. The bastard didn't deserve her.
"She's mine. I'll never want out." Nicolo looked at me like I was an imbecile.
"Then why do you treat her the way you do?" The elevator doors opened up to the lobby before he could say anything else. I stepped off, completely dismissing him. It wasn't like I knew anything about relationships. I wasn't even sure why I felt the need to step into Rosalina's business. She was only my half-sister. They beat that mantra into me daily. I wasn't anyone to her. I couldn't protect her. It wasn't my place.
"You need to come back home," Vito was arguing with Rosalina when I approached them. She was shaking her head no.
"I agree," I couldn't help but grumble out.
Everyone looked at me, surprised. Color me surprised. I had no say in family affairs. Usually, I let it all slide off my back and ignored anything that didn't affect their safety. For some reason, Rosalina's situation caused an ache in my chest where there had never been an ache before. Since the bitch and their father had passed away, the compound atmosphere was off. Vito was giving me jobs that would never come my way. Almost like he trusted me.
We got to the restaurant without any more arguing. Even though we all knew Rosalina's marriage was out of control, I figured with the subject closed no one would speak about it again until after the wedding at the earliest. I was wrong.
"What if you guys came with us to our honeymoon? Like a couples' retreat?" Eunji brought up as soon as we sat.
