The smoke in the room has begun to fade as the cigars have burned down to buds. The laughter dies down at the men turn their attention to the masked women on their laps with groans and grunts. The mood has turned to one of bored relaxation, all except for me and the man who I sit upon.
Our backs ache from sitting straighter than a right angle, our necks stiff and sharp. I just want to run out of the door but I worry that my legs have forgotten how to move.
Terror has taken the place of the blood in my veins and I am slowly becoming accustomed to its shivering presence.
"I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we all have other matters to attend to." Iago's gruff speech breaks the murmuring of the rest, as they speak words of approval, looking to their women once more.
Luka's back begins to curve finally, and I swear I can almost hear his spine cracking with the broken tension.
"As we conclude this meeting, I, Iago, will band you all to secrecy as we always have, and to the brotherhood of DQ." And with his final words, he stands up, the women on his lap quickly jumping off his lap with slight giggles. His large arms surround them, and he walks off without even a second look to either of his present sons.
Luka exhales deeply, and is about to stand when a hand claps onto his shoulder, causing him to jump slightly.
"Cuidado, hermano." Marcel's slippery tongue whispers to Luka, his eyes dark and thick with drink. He looks over at me, an unreadable expression passing his face.
"You know, I think I'd like to have a word with your mujer." He says, his eyes still on me.
Luka stiffens, his arms wrapping around my waist protectively. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't comforted slightly by his touch.
"I trust you can get your own woman, Marcelo." Luka replies, danger and threats dripping from his tone.
The two brothers glare intently at each other, each not willing to relinquish control to the other.
"Maybe next time. I expect you to bring her when we meet, Vincenzo. Those eyes of her's aren't possessed by other's. And I'd like to get to know her more, fully." Marcel drawls, reaching his hand forward and touching my chin. I freeze at the calloused texture of his hands, the smell of smoke and tobacco wafting up from his pores. He leans closer to me, and I tighten my nails into the skin of Luka's back.
"Adios, hermosa." Marcel whispers to me, his lips millimeters from mine. I shudder silently, and his smiles wickedly.
And then he's gone into the night.
"Let's get out of here." Luka whispers to me, and quickly stands up, keeping a vice-like grip around my back, as he escorts me out of this nightmare.
~~~~~~~~~
"Where are we going?" I whisper to him and he hurries me down the steps of the condominium, my heels clicking painfully against my skin.
"Back to Roman's. That's where we'll be staying." He says sharply as he walks briskly to his car, pulling the door open and practically shoving me inside the passenger side.
He drops into the driver's seat and starts the ignition, racing away without even caring about his seat belt.
"Luka, calm down, we're out of there." I say quickly, not wanting to get into an accident.
His jaw tightens, and he doesn't respond as his grip on the steering wheel turns his knuckles to bone.
I don't speak again, just settle back into the plush leather of the seat, and removing my heels from my now blistered feet.
YOU ARE READING
Guns & Roses (WATTYS 2017)
Romance| Snow White vs. A Poison Apple | .... Katya Emerson's worst fears had been realized: her no good father gained custody after her mother's sudden disappearance. Now living in inner city Chicago, she crosses the one person who could tear her life...
