Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 12

Bellicostic
Aggressive, belligerent, warlike.

The rooms at the top of the the hotel were exquisite. The four would be sharing the penthouse at the very top. Everything was glass just like the hallway. There was a small cozy kitchen nestled on the right and a floating glass staircase that led to the two en-suite bedrooms on the left. A black vintage piano sat under the staircase.

But the main attraction was the wall-to-wall sliding door which led to an on-deck pool and a massive balcony overlooking the ocean. The view was breathtaking. The water glistened as the moon shone brightly in the dark night not a single star in sight. As if the starless night sky was playing the perfect background to fit into this glass paradise.

Ransom sat with his feet in the cool pool water, staring in awe at the ocean's peaceful waves. Aria sat beside him, her scarlet dress pooling around her, a shiver ran through her body as her feet made contact with the water.

"Ever since I was little I remember thinking that the bravest thing in the world was the moon. It stands all alone in the night sky and yet it burns so brightly and so beautifully," Aria exclaimed staring up at the moon.

Ransom was mesmerized by the girl next to him. The way the moonlight contoured the features of her face and created a sort of halo around her raven hair.

"Beautiful, " he whispered under his breath.

"Very beautiful, but remember we're still here on business, " she smirked at the man with piercing eyes, not really catching on to what he meant.

Ransom couldn't help but notice how she was the most observant person when it came to her job but she would always miss a straight-out compliment.

"Well you're here for business. I'm here only for this beautiful girl in my arms."

Ransom snaked an arm around Aria waist pulling her closer, his thumb gently caressing her cheek, he kissed her softly. His lips just touching her lips. He slowly pulled away and gazed into her coffee eyes. She smiled as she held his gorgeous face between her hands.

"I hate you, " she laughed.

"Well, I hate you more, " he replied with a goofy smile.

Who would have thought that Ransom Drysdale could smile as much as he did nowadays? But here he was in this humid Spanish town, under a starry sky staring at this breathtaking girl and for the first time, he realized that one's heart could live outside the body.

Standing up, Aria basically yanked a huge Ransom up and out of the water, pulling him through the penthouse and into the elevator.

"Where are you taking me?" Ransom asked tiredly.

The journey and the long night was taking it's toll on Ransom.

"Let's go meet the rest of the family." Aria expressed, excited by the thought of the family meeting Ransom.

She had never before brought anyone to meet them let alone a handsome blue-eyed boy who happened to be the first mark she hadn't eliminated.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, revealing some sort of underground fight club. In the middle of the dimly lit room was a giant boxing ring. In it was one very large man with a buzz cut and heavily muscled. The second man was of medium height with long dark brown hair that clung to his sweaty forehead, he was well built but not as big as the man before him.

Ransom looked at the smaller man and thought that was no way he was going to take out the larger one. The sound of cheering and shouting filled the room.

"Spooky!"
"Spooky!"
"Spooky!"

Ransom turned to Aria to ask which one was Spooky but she held her hand stopping him, before pointing back to the fight. The man looked back to the ring where he noticed the smaller fighter mouthing something and then in a swift liquid motion, he chopped the larger man's neck and then landed two punches in his ribs. A bone-crushing sound rang through the room before the large man fell to the mat out cold. The crowd erupted in cheers and praise as the fighter exited the ring.

"Spooky!" Aria screamed running to the man flinging her arms around his neck.

"Vipera, you're back, " Spooky wrapped his arms around the girl.

"And I brought someone with me, " she said motioning towards Ransom.

Spooky eyed Ransom up and down before calling him over with a gesture of his hand.

"This is Ransom, " Aria smiled a proud smile, placing her hand on Ransom's bicep.

"I'm Oscar but everyone calls me Spooky. Welcome to the family," Spooky held out his hand which Ransom shook.

"Break her heart and I'll break every bone1 in your body, " Oscar warned in a low voice.

"I have no intention, " Ransom replied smiling down at Aria.

Oscar smiled content at Ransom's answer.

"What brings you around Vipera?" Oscar inquired eyeing the girl.

"What? Can't a girl miss her family and come to see them?" Aria laughed lazily.

"I've known you since you were born Chica. Now spill."

"How do you feel about playing chase with Alba Cabrera?"

Oscar and Aria smirked at each other causing Ransom to stifle a shiver that wanted to run down his spine.

'What did I get myself into?' he thought.

"I'd say let's hunt us down a Cabrera, Chica!"

~~~