CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AYA
“Where are we going?” My question was almost lost in the gusts of wind that blew through the open car windows, and I clutched my seat belt tightly. Luciano drove so fast I was being pressed into my seat; it happened every time, and I couldn’t help but peek at the needle as it came closer and closer to the neon 100 marker.
I’d never liked highways.
“You can’t go to the Stadium looking like that, Aya.” Furrowing my brows at Luciano’s grumble, I pursed my lips together before he glanced at me. “The Stadium is one of the one places people like us go no matter who they’re affiliated with. The Russians- the Italians- powerful street gangs- high end slavers- everyone gets together for one thing. Blood. Think Roman gladiators.”
Luciano slowed as he spoke, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Reaching for the center console, he rummaged for a moment before tossing me his pack of cigarettes. My fingers worked absently to pop the top, easily pulling out a thin, heavy cylinder.
“But you hate the Russians…” Across the center console Luciano snorted roughly at my grumble, and I flicked on a lighter. The tiny flame danced in such high winds, threatening to go out completely; but it was resilient. Determination colored the lick of fire as it burned the end of the cigarette.
“I hate a lot of people that go there, not just the Russians, Aya. But this way I can kill them without worrying about retribution or innocent people getting caught in the cross hairs.” Reaching across the car, I held Luciano’s cigarette as he slowed down the vehicle even more. His answer surprised me; I didn’t think he cared about that kind of thing.
It’s honorable. Tiny, the thought bubbled up in my mind as he took a deep drag of his cigarette. My mind drifted as Luciano took an off ramp. Sure he does kill people… but- but it’s not like he kills the wrong people…
Furrowing my brows, my face scrunched up and a sigh flowed from my mouth. Cigarette smoke slithered over my tongue, but I simply ignored it.
“Tell me what’s bothering you.” Luciano’s hand appeared before I had time to react, snatching his cigarette from between my fingers. His demand wrapped around my brain; his tone forcing me to answer. Licking my lips absently, I flexed my fingers against my seat belt before opening my mouth.
“You only kill bad guys?” To my ears my question sounded small, and I trained my gaze on my lap. The car rolled to a stop, and Luciano exhaled harshly only to send smoke billowing at me.
“I don’t kill people just because I can. Like Trevor- he betrayed us. He played double with the Russians, so he was a dead man walking. It was only a matter of time before we found out, and he wasn’t important enough to do any damage. But…” Cringing at the example, I bit down on my inner cheek. “I do kill people that ask. People that look at me and know I’m a killer, and they have nowhere else to go or no one to turn to. I once killed a woman so her 14 year old daughter could have her life insurance policy.”
Whipping up, my head felt heavy as Luciano spoke so casually, so flippantly, about killing someone. He sucked on his cigarette, his chest expanding underneath his plain, gray wife beater. The muscles in his arms rippled in the sun that beat down through the windshield, and I blinked at his sudden glow.
“W- why did you kiss me, Luciano?” Flying from my mouth, the question was high pitched and bounced around the leather interior. Luciano’s gaze met mine, his eyes guarded and his face set hard and stony. Sitting at the stop sign, his car rumbled beneath me and horns honked behind us, but he didn’t seem to notice. Slowly his hand entered my peripheral vision, and my throat tightened with a strangled whimper. My saliva seeped back into its glands, leaving a cotton behind that stuck my tongue to the roof of my mouth.
Caressing my cheek, Luciano’s soft touch wrenched a gasp from me, and my whole body lurched. The coarse weave of the seat belt dug into my palms, and my abdomen clenched tightly before he opening his mouth.
“Do I need a reason to kiss you, Aya?” My pupils widened as his tone wrapped around me, forcing welts to rise up from my skin. Blood surged to my head, making me dizzy even as Luciano withdrew his touch. Staring as he stepped on the accelerator, my eyes watered slightly as the true implication of what he’d said hit me in the face.
“Y- you… you’re… ask-king…? Y- you’re asking… me?” Stumbling over my own confusion, my tongue was heavy and tasted like paint. Am I dreaming? But not even then… Luciano would never ask me a question…
“Yes.” My heart dropped as if a hundred pound weight had been hoisted onto it. Luciano’s affirmation was tight, hard, almost uncomfortable, and I sucked in air through my teeth. The scenery of the town over passed me by in a blur, but his silhouette was perfectly clear. Gulping harshly, my throat throbbed, and blood rushed in my ears, drowning out the sound of the speeding vehicle.
“N- no…” Every drop of blood that flowed through me filled my cheeks at my own murmur. Across the center console Luciano tightened his grip on the wheel, causing the leather to creak and groan softly. He seemed to shrink slightly; it was a barely noticeable relaxation of his muscles. The veins spider webbing his arms sunk into his flesh, and he tossed his head from left to right.
Silence reigned for the rest of the ride, but if Luciano spoke I wouldn’t have heard it. Even that deep, intense voice wasn’t powerful enough to break through my inner ramblings. Staring at my lap, I took a shallow breath while my mind worked at trying to comprehend our exchange. My ears burned, and I reached up with trembling fingers to check for smoke.
The strip mall I found myself surrounded by was bustling, loud, and my skin crawled from the eyes that skittered my form. Mindless chatter became a drone in the background of my scope of comprehension. Sticking close to Luciano, my body was stiff as he pulled me along the sidewalk by my wrist. Sweat beaded the back of my neck, and my breath came in shallow, harsh pants. Combined with all of the people, the sun’s unwavering rays glared down on me to heat up my insides.
Tugging me into a nice looking shop, Luciano released my wrist only to press his palm against my back. The floor was empty of people, and even clothes. Instead, there were small, raised platforms and mirrors.
“Hello, what can I get you this fine day?” The bright, enthusiastic voice gyrated against my ear drums, but there was nowhere to hide. Before me the woman that spoke was dressed elegantly in a long jumper that would’ve brushed the floor if not for her heels. She wore no jewelry aside from the sparkling clip that held back her short, blonde bob.
“I need something for the Stadium.” Nudged forward, I held my breath as this beautiful woman shifted her attention fully to me. For a moment she just stared, and with each passing millisecond my heart rate sped up. Scrutinizing blue eyes scanned my form from top to bottom, her face morphing with thoughtfulness.
“If you’ll give me just a moment, I’ll go see what we’ve got for her. Have a seat and I’ll be right back.” Disappearing deep into the store, the clerk left me to stand stiffly by Luciano’s side. His touch didn’t fall from my back, and I leaned into his hand as a trembling sigh surged from my throat. Licking my lips, my tongue only served to dry my sensitive skin as my eyelids flickered.
It took only three minutes for the woman to come back, and my eyes widened at the fabric that was draped over her arm. Cream colored, the dress was short with only shimmering, transparent sequins at the hem. Carefully the woman held up the piece, and my throat tightened at the sight of it. The skirt was draped in waves that would easily hang at my knees, but it was the top that twisted my insides.
Stiff bones lined the silk fabric from neckline to waist, and a very pale, green ribbon laced down the front. Licking my lips, I tore my eyes from the dress to look to Luciano. His gaze was firmly on my face, his expression blank but for the intensity of his stare. Nerves tingled my toes, and I turned back to the woman to find a gentle, encouraging smile on her face.
“This will be perfect for you. We have it in cream, black, red, purple, and blue if you like it. There’s also another style in stock that’s very similar, but instead of full bones there are halves and silk cups. You have beautiful legs, so I brought out the half dress, but we have cocktail lengths as well.” Instantly my chin touched my chest, and heat flooded my cheeks as I spied my legs. My only semi-serious boyfriend had complimented them once, but only because he wanted sex. Gulping down the lump in my throat, I peeked up through my eyelashes to watch the sales woman stifle a laugh.
“Let’s get you changed and see if you like it. Come with me, please.” On hesitant legs I stepped forward, but Luciano left my lower back feeling cold. Twisting, my neck ached even as he nodded firmly. My gut twisted, but I turned back to the sales woman to inch closer.
Safely behind the curtain of a dressing room, the woman helped me out of my shirt. Standing naked before her, I struggled to breathe as an emotion I hadn’t felt in a long time washed over me. Self-consciousness and ugliness restricted my lungs. The sales woman in the mirror was beautiful, the picture of poise and grace. Next to her, I wasn’t even worth looking at.
“I can suggest a nice lingerie store nearby for panties. You may not want to wear them around Luciano, but in public is a different story.” Alarm rippled through me as she carefully pulled my arms up over my head. My heart stuttered in my chest, and I sputtered slightly before my tongue untwisted.
“Wh- what? Why?” Standing still, tense, I dug my toes into the tiled floor as silk fabric swathed over my face.
“You have sex in public, then? I never took Luciano for that type, but then again I don’t know him very well. Sylvi likes to bring his whores here, and Luciano usually accompanies him. I had heard he was very rough with women.” Gently tugging down the dress, the sales woman spoke with a light tone that threatened to knock my legs out from under me. Once my head was free, she caught my wide gaze in the mirror; my face couldn’t get any redder, and she pursed her lips together. “You’re not having sex?”
Furiously I shook my head, and she hummed softly before bringing my arms down. Adjusting the soft silk against my chest with one hand, she held the back closed until effortlessly pulling up the zipper.
“Well, I suppose you’re lucky for whatever reason. Luciano’s got a reputation with the working women; no one wants to service him because he’s very violent in bed.”