Blood for my Rose |• Crimson Rose series✔️

Chapter 6

Italy
Sicily

As the plane descended, Rose instinctively grasped Riley's arms for support, peering out of the tiny window as clouds gave way to sprawling landscapes and clusters of houses resembling tiny boxes. With a jolt, the tires of the plane met the ground as it landed at Palermo Airport in Sicily, shaking both of them.

In that fleeting moment of the plane taxing to a stop, both couples exchanged silent, firm glances. It was a now-or-never moment, and they clasped each other's hands tightly, ready to face whatever awaited them in Sicily. Little did they know the degree of it.

Rose had impulsively planned an early trip, unable to wait until Christmas break as originally agreed. Just after completing her two-week exams, she felt a sudden urgency to proceed. While Riley couldn't contain his excitement, Rose couldn't shake the nagging feeling that perhaps this wasn't the wisest decision.

Their situation was riddled with potential problems, especially with Giovani set to pick them up at the airport. With their relationship no longer a secret to Pedro, who occupied a seat in the row ahead, he was hardly in a position to criticize Rose's actions, even though they might seem like she had a death wish.

The passengers began to disembark from the plane, Rose, Riley, and Pedro following suit, their footsteps echoing in the airport terminal as they made their way to retrieve their luggage. The atmosphere between them was palpably tense, with hardly a word exchanged among them. Rose, in particular, seemed distant and preoccupied, barely acknowledging Riley and Pedro's presence.

Once inside the airport, Rose removed her coat and reached for her phone, dialing Enzo's number. Although it was Giovani who was expected to pick them up, she secretly hoped Enzo would accompany him, and moreover, the second brother was just...easier to communicate with. He had his own arrogance, had his own terrible sense of humor, but not as archaic as the unnervingly arrogant first born.

And, he picked up his phone.

"Please, tell me you're here," Rose asked with a hopeful tone, as soon as Enzo greeted her with a sluggish 'hello'. She sensed a hint of amusement in his response, prompting her to roll her eyes in exasperation. "Brother, tell me you didn't abandon me here to fend for myself!"

"Come on, Rosa. You act like you're on death's door already," Enzo's reply. His thick accent added a distinctive flair to his attempt to reassure her. With a suppressed chuckle, he finally released the laughter he had been holding back.

Rose did a quick scan of the airport, hoping to catch a glimpse of Enzo. "Can you see me?" she asked eagerly, just as a voice came through the public address system, audible both on the call and in the terminal. Her face lit up with excitement, and she turned to Riley, who appeared somewhat bewildered but not frightened.

"Yes, and luckily for you, it's just me and Romero. Giovani had something urgent to attend to."

With a satisfied smile, Rose ended the call and instructed Riley to prepare himself. "They're here," she announced, turning her attention to the entrance.

Romero held a special place in Rose's heart, making it a welcome surprise that he was replacing her least favorite sibling, Giovani. However, like Enzo, Romero was unaware of Riley's presence. Only Sergio had been informed, though his opinion held little weight in the grand scheme of things, as he was considered the black sheep of the family. Any pleas for Riley's inclusion would likely be disregarded, much like everything else Sergio had ever said in his twenty-two years of life.

As they waited in silence for the arrival of whoever was coming, Riley could feel the tension mounting at the back of his neck. This was no time for comedy; the moment of truth had arrived, and it took all of his strength to maintain his composure.