Page 48 of The Sicilian Bastard
Araceli
Iwoke up the next day in bed alone. Luciano never came back to our room. My heart ached at the fact that he left me all by myself. I was ready to leave this place. I didn't want to leave Luciano, but I might not have a choice. There was nothing I could do about the cartel fixating on this family. The only thing I could do was lead them away. I hopped in the shower to think through my choice. The door swung open, and I shot a smile at who I thought was Luciano. I looked over, wetting my hair, and saw Rose leaning against the bathroom door frame.
"Can I help you?" I wiped the water out of my eyes and stared at her.
"Meet me in the gym," she barked out at me and left as quietly as she showed up.
"Fucking bitch," I muttered.
Rosalina Picone pissed me off. I wasn't entirely sure what her story was, but she took her anger out on the people around her. While I understood the anger, I didn't understand why she lashed out at the people who loved her. I would flip on my husband if he treated me the way Nick treated Rose. I washed quickly so I could see what Rose wanted with me. We weren't on the friendliest terms. I gave her some advice, but I doubted she would take it. There were just some things people couldn't see because they were too close to the situation. I dressed in an oversized shirt and yoga pants and threw on a pair of jogging sneakers since I wasn't sure what we would be doing.
Rose was in the gym sipping water. She looked up when I walked in and nodded her head in my direction. I nodded back and then we stood next to a pair of mats she rolled out for us.
"Let's stretch," she suggested.
I agreed and we rolled out our bodies slowly. This was reminiscent of getting prepared for dance practice. I missed dancing. It was the only way to lose myself. I didn't choose the occupation, but I felt free when I was on stage. When I learned new tricks, I felt giddy with joy. There was a lot dancing gave to me. I didn't enjoy the patrons or the way people looked down on me when they found out my profession. Even worse, I hated the way men acted when they saw me outside of the club.
"When do you think you'll go back to Vegas?"
I shot her a look. Either she was good at keeping her face blank or she was curious. I'd like to think I knew how to read people, but Rose wasn't easy to read at all.
"I'm not going back."Right now. I wasn't going to say that, but I hoped she knew it was implied.
"If you don't leave, the cartel will come after us all. They'll kill us all." She covered this conversation by getting into a downward-facing dog.
So, we were going to play at exercise, were we? I got into the lotus position. I had so many questions. How did she know the cartel was after me? It seemed Nick was also a loose-lipped man. That was something that could get you killed in this life. Loose lips sink ships and all that. I counted to ten in my head and changed positions. I was trying not to beat this bitch's ass.
"Look, I'm sure the sex is great, but Luciano is legit crazy. I'm his sister; I would know. When we were kids, I saw him torture animals in the woods. Animals! Like it was normal or something. I begged him to stop, and do you know what he told me?" She didn't wait for me to answer her rhetorical question. "He told me he was practicing."
"He was a child. You can't hold that against him." I stretched my legs out so I could start my splits. No need to let myself go lax with flexibility. I never knew when I needed to dance again.
"I sure as fuck can. You don't know. You can't possibly understand. You didn't grow up with him. When he was born, he had that creepy stare. He would look at us like we were cattle or something. There's no way he could be in a relationship and it be healthy. For fuck's sake, you were screaming yesterday."
It irritated me that she knew what we were up to and that she was using it against me in thisfriendlyconversation. "I'm not leaving. I've told you to respect him. It's almost like you want me to kick your ass." I baited her. She deserved it. She lured me out here under the pretense ofworking outand then started bashing my man. Her brother. She should know better. There was no way her father, the Don, allowed her to run around here walking, talking, and acting any kind of way. Rose had forgotten her place. It could be because of issues with her husband. It could be issues with her brothers. Either way, someone needed to remind her. She kept on.
"You got in a lucky shot. You didn't kick my ass. If it were us fighting right now, you wouldn't stand a chance. Eunji has been training me for a while now and I'm confident in my set of skills," she boasted like a proud peacock.
"You want to go? Let's go."
I stood up straight. I bounced in place, getting the blood flowing through my body. There was a ring in this gym. Nick had his house tricked out, that was for sure. I wasn't nervous to fight her. I was scrappy. She might train, but I had formal training with my father and then street training on top of that. While she might get a few hits in, there was no doubt in my mind I would be able to take her down. If she respected me, then she would respect Luciano.
We got into the ring and walked around each other, looking for weaknesses. I could smell her anticipation. It rolled down her body like sweat.
"You won't get a hit in," she sneered.
Then everything slowed down. My vision funneled and all I focused on was the fight in front of me. Any background noises died. She came at me. Her arms were swinging a little too wide for someone who had been training. Her form was a little off. I body checked her and gave her two jabs to the sides. I wasn't out to hurt her. I wanted her to yield and stop verbally attacking my man. I heard a sound from far away, and it distracted Rose enough for me to get another hit in her solar plexus. She sucked in a breath. She was trying to breathe through the pain. If I wasn't so focused, I'd giggle.
"Big bad Rosalina Picone. Always instigating but can't back the bullshit that spews from that gaping hole in your face. If you want, I can take my knife and give you a permanent smile." I taunted her sweet as pie. There was no reason to be rude. I could pick at her flaws and make her angry until she let loose a ton of rage. Then she would make a bunch of mistakes, like charging me.
"Fuck you, Araceli Castello. You're a spic and a whore."
I saw red. There was nothing left to say. What started as a way to get her respect, became much more. Now, this bitch had to pay. A Castello would never allow someone to disrespect them as much as Rose had done to me. No, this bitch was going down. I hit her, over and over again. All over her body so I could throw off her balance. Eventually, she crumpled into herself and I took full advantage. I climbed on top of her childlike body and held her down with one hand while I waled body shots on her from the other. I heard the voices from a distance, but I didn't stop. I fed the rage. Large hands tried to pry me away from her, but she went too far. Not only was she a racist piece of shit, but she was also a bratty bitch who needed to learn a lesson. She wasn't an alpha woman here. She would never be on top. Ever. Not with me around.
A familiar pair of hands wrapped themselves around me and I leaned back, smelling a hint of woods and mint. Luciano was holding me. He didn't try to pry me off Rose, but he did cup my breasts before he slid his hands down my chest. His erection pressed against my ass.
"Violence turns me on,mia fiore." His husky tenor brushed against my ear.
I giggled and hopped off the princess.
