Sitting in the passenger seat as Luca drives lets me take in the views as we travel along the road toward the busier parts of the city. We already spent time in smaller towns at local stores and boutiques, finding special and unique clothes and jewelry. It's all so beautiful here. Luca finally stops the car, parking on the side of a road, and gets out.
"This is the shopping area. Anything you need, you will find here," he says.
"Okay. Let's do this thing." We walk around, moving from store to store, as I try clothes on, test out outfits, and even ask Luca's opinion on a few items.
"Do you really speak sixteen languages?" Luca asks as I pay for another batch of clothes.
"Yeah, my dad started teaching me when I was really young, so it was easier for me to pick up on the languages faster, and I became fluent more easily."
"What languages do you know?" We step outside, back onto the streets where the sun shines down on the people. Walking a few more shops down, a dress catches my attention in the window, and I step into the store, with Luca following behind me.
"In alphabetical order, I'm fluent in American Sign Language, Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, and Spanish."
"That's actually really impressive."
"I know. I think my eidetic memory helps a lot, but I started learning most of the languages I know before I even started talking. My dad and tutors spoke to me in so many languages that eventually they all became part of my dialogue."
"Was it hard?"
"Learning the languages? I mean, yeah, I guess, but like I said, most of them were engrained in me while I was really young."
"I mean all of it in general. Being locked up; being turned into a weapon."
"Oh. Yeah, I mean, it definitely wasn't easy. And there were days that were worse than others. But I've come to realize that we can't change our past, and while it does, in a way, dictate our future, we at least still have control over how we use our past to dictate our future. I'd rather focus on the changes I can make than the experiences I can't change."
"That's pretty incredible."
"Don't get all soft on me now, Sanchez. We wouldn't want anyone thinking you lost your edge."
"Addressing me by last name? Do you always do that to push people away when they start getting close?"
"I think I'm gonna go try some of these on," I say, before walking toward the dressing room with the items in my arms. After another hour and a half, Luca and I return to the car with fifteen bags.
"I think that's enough shopping to last you for the rest of the year," he jokes.
"Yeah, I think it is."
"Are you sure you want to go to the casino tonight? I don't know that you're ready to see us in our element like we will be tonight."
"I think I'm ready to dance with the devil. Or, should I say, devils?"
"Careful, we wouldn't want to hurt a little bird like you. I mean, a wren, aren't they small?"
"Actually, wrens are known for symbolizing wit and cleverness. Like I said, my dad got lucky with some of my traits and abilities, but he planned to mold me into a weapon from the day I was born. If you think you three will scare me, you're so very wrong."
"Alright," he says as he places a hand on my thigh, gripping the skin with a subtle dominance, "I guess we'll find out just how tough you are tonight."
I leave his hand where it is, surprising him. He probably expected me to throw his hand off of me and scream at him. If he wants to play games, if he wants to tease, then I'll play games too.
"I guess we will," I smile.
YOU ARE READING
Weaponizing Wren
Dragoste"Matteo Brooks killed my father for his power, which means we have a common enemy. You need me if you want to take him down." "Why would we need some spoiled mafia princess?" "Because you want what everyone else wants. Eduardo Patelli's secret weapo...
