18. Juliet
Chapter 18
Juliet
No matter how much I psyched myself up and told myself to stay strong, I couldn't keep the momentum up when we entered the crowded underground area filled with hundreds of people dressed in formal wear.
I hated how my chest tightened; my own body suffocated me as I hid behind Luciano like a scared child. "I'm sorry." I could see people pointing their crooked, blinged-out fingers at us as we walked down the aisle towards the VIP section.
Wrapping an arm around my waist, Luciano pulled me next to him and kept me tucked against him. Bending his head down, he brushed his lips against my ear with a chuckle, making me shiver. "Ignore them. They are jealous and wish it was them around my arms instead of a beauty like you." He told me in a low voice before continuing to walk unbothered.
Right at the entrance of the VIP area, where I could see Leah, was where we stopped. "Mister Agosti, so glad you made it. It's a full house tonight, and your stage is set like always." A man in black slacks and a matching polo with a familiar symbol of bat wings, a pointed tail, and an L on the back greeted Luciano with a polite smile.
"Gregory," Luciano greeted the man back with a small smile and nod. "Everyone all set?"
"Yes, sir, all the contestants are warmed up and ready. Refreshments and other accommodations for the guest have also been well underway." I had to quickly scan around the area when Gregory said something.
Only then did I notice the scantily clad servers with trays of drinks and…
Holy shit!
Looking up at Luciano, I tugged on his sleeve to get him to bend to my level. "Is that drugs on the trays?"
No, it's fucking sugar, Juliet.
I mentally slapped myself for asking such a stupid question, and I honestly have no idea why I even asked, given the kind of event this was—and who ran the event.
Amused, Luciano chuckled and raised an eyebrow at me with a smirk. "Whatever you think it is, it probably is." It wasn't much of a confirmation or denial, but I could surmise easily based on the devious tone of his voice.
Gently, he curled a finger under my chin and grasped it with his thumb, tilting my head around slowly. "This isn't just some run-of-the-mill underground fight, principessa . This is the highest-end event there is. Only the richest and dirtiest come here to spend their money to watch potential fights to the death." Then, he set my gaze on the bench of fighters right outside the caged ring. "Those who participate are doing it for a chance at fame or wealth, and only the best get filtered through to these final event fights where many big-name scouts are looking for their next champion."
"W-what if this place gets raided?" I mean, it happens all the time in TV shows and movies, and knowing my bad luck, that would probably happen tonight.
Luciano chuckled amusingly and shook his head. "I am much too careful for that to happen. Besides, it's not like I let just anyone into this place. Everyone here has something grave to lose. If one person snitches, then everyone goes down, so they're all more than mindful about keeping these events a secret and keeping others accountable." That seemed rather risky, in my opinion, but I was sure Luciano went about things more complicated than he played it out to me. "Also, I have contingencies for the other syndicate members and me if things go belly up, so don't worry your pretty little head about it."
Exhaling deeply, I nodded my head in response to him and dropped the subject. "Can we sit by Leah?" I asked as Luciano led us behind the roped-off area.
"Of course, but we are also sitting there anyway. I have a special VIP area for me and the syndicate members." He replied with a brief smile before nodding at the guards standing before another set of ropes.
The moment we crossed over, Leah instantly shot up from her seat and came to us, greeting Luciano with a hug and grin. "Finally, I thought you were going to chicken out or not bring Juliet with you." Then, her attention locked onto me, making me smile shyly at her.
Shoving Luciano aside, she wrapped her arm around mine. "Come on, let me introduce you to Aidan and his girlfriend." She gave me little choice in the matter with how she dragged me away toward the couple she sat next to.
"Leah, stop it, you're going to scare her." Luciano scolded with a worried sigh as he took his place next to me, pulling me away from Leah with a jealous glare.
Rolling her eyes, Leah waved a dismissive hand at Luciano. "You have her all to yourself all the damn time with her cooped up at your place. Let us have her for a bit. It's not like we're going to eat her alive." Leah teased with a snicker as she leaned back into me and hugged my arm.
Sighing heavily, Luciano shook his head before running a hand down his face. "How much has she had to drink?" It was hard to determine who the question was shot at because his eyes didn't land on someone until a few seconds after the words left his mouth.
The red-haired man who sat in the chair next to Leah with his arms thrown around an Asian woman's shoulders shrugged and laughed softly. "She was already a little too friendly when I got here not long before you. So, take your guess." It was a little hard to pick up at a distance, but he had a slight Scottish accent.
With a friendly smile etched on his face, he turned his head to me. Tilting his head, he quickly ran his curious eyes over me before holding a hand out. " Aidan Knox. It's finally a pleasure to meet the person who's been getting under Luciano's skin." He chuckled warmly.
Awkwardly, I smiled back as I took his hand in a quick shake. "Juliet." I couldn't bring myself to say my last name.
In all honesty, I wanted to be rid of it. I wanted nothing to do with my dead life the day I packed my stuff up and left my despicable parents' property.
Movement from the female next to Aidan made my eyes snap to her. I watched as she looked at Aidan pleadingly as if she were asking permission without verbalizing it. Aidan chuckled and leaned in close to the woman, whispering something in her ear that made her lips widen in a smile as her eyes lit up. Fully grinning, she kissed Aidan on the cheek before getting up and standing before me with the brightest face I have ever seen from someone in my life.
"Hey, I'm Eve, but I like to go by Evie. It's nice to have another girl in the group finally." She sounded so cheerful and excited that it was a little daunting to me. "It gets so boring with just me, Leah, and Natty. Well, it's just Leah and me most of the time since Natty doesn't like to partake much in the shady side of her father's business."
"You look familiar…" I couldn't help but ponder out loud as I studied her closely.
She seemed to be around my height, but that was hard to tell, considering how we were both wearing heels. Her long, baby-pink ombre hair came down to her lower back in soft curls, evening out her oval-shaped face. Then, her petite box-shaped body was nicely displayed in the long black dress she wore, especially her leg that peaked through the slit of the dress.
Clearly, I had never met her before, but there was something about her I couldn't quite put my finger on. She really did look familiar, but why?
"Hmm, have you heard of Nebula? Or listen to any of their music?" Evie asked with a tilt of her head and a cheeky grin.
That's when it hit me fully.
"Wait, are you Star?" I was taken aback by my own question because the woman before me didn't exactly match the image of the famous pop star I frequently listened to before she retired from her pop star career recently.
Humming cheerfully, she nodded her head with a grin and giggle. "Was, but yep."
Yeah, the woman before me did not look too much like the pop star I grew familiar with—in a good way. She looked pretty on stage and in music videos and such, but she looked so much happier and healthier standing before me currently. Evie actually looked genuinely happy, too. Even though she always had a smile on her face with her group, her eyes never truly reflected it if one were to pay attention enough.
Reaching out, she took my hand and dragged me over to the seats, but Luciano swooped in before I could sit in her seat.
Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulled me into his lap as he sat next to Aidan. "Can you let me have you like this for a moment?" His deep words tingled my spine and made my nipples harden under my bra.
"Usually, people ask before pulling people into their laps," I remarked with a scoffing chuckle and roll of my eyes. "But I guess I'll give you a free pass this time." I mean, his lap was pretty comfortable and lovely. Well, it was a little hard for a seat, but no doubt that was all his muscles under there.
"Don't be giving out any more free passes to anyone, even me, alright, principessa ?" Luciano mused with a chuckle and kissed my temple before settling his arms comfortably around my waist.
Giggling, Evie leaned in and whispered to me, "That was so cute. He's like never all smiley and mushy like that with anyone. I honestly didn't think he could smile in a not crazy way."
That last bit had me tilting my head and furrowing my eyebrows at Evie. "What do you mean?"
Pulling back, she kept herself in my space to talk to me while Aidan and Luciano leaned back in their own conversation. "Have you seen Luciano in action before?" She looked at me, a little shocked and worried, and quickly glanced at Luciano.
Slowly, I shook my head back and forth with a small frown. "I haven't known about Luciano until about two months ago, give or take. This is actually the first time I've gone anywhere like this with him." The sinking feeling from before came back tenfold and winded me.
Am I going to regret this night?
Swallowing nervously, I shifted a bit in Luciano's lap and picked at the sleeve of his suit jacket. A part of me knew better, the na?ve side who wanted to keep Luciano in a good light and live in lala land.
Unfortunately, the jaded side of me, who was in touch with reality, knew better and pushed me into this situation tonight. No matter how much I argued with myself, I always ended up back here. I had to see this event through, see exactly who Luciano was. Even if I could end up hurt in the end, at least it would be better to know now than later after I become completely enamored with him.
Evie's lips flattened into a sympathetic smile as she grabbed my hands and squeezed them. "Well, you're definitely going to be in for an interesting night. Although I will warn you now, things will get bloody and very gory once Luciano's turn is up."
Opening my mouth, I was about to ask her for more information but was unable to because of the announcer coming on the big screens that hung at the center of the room. I didn't want to be rude and tear anyone's attention away as the event started. On the other hand, I couldn't really bring myself to pay much attention to the stage because of everyone else in the area.
Every single spot in the place was taken; the whole place was literally packed with—
Holy shit, is that Judge Ger?!
Okay, after another quick sweep, I felt rather appalled at how many of these people I recognized—people of high standing in society. I didn't want to study the room again to see if I could pick out more people. Also, I didn't want to run the chance of possibly seeing those people snort coke off a person's ass or tits. I'm pretty sure I saw that some of them were getting serviced, too, while the fight continued.
The sound of the bell going off, along with the cascading cheers, forced me to pay attention to the ring, where the referee stood with a rather blood-soaked fighter with their arms in the air. For a winner, he looked rather beat up. Like, yeah, no fucking duh since this was a fight, but he looked so much worse than what I would see on TV fights. God, I shouldn't even look at the other guy, but my curiosity got the best of me—and nearly my stomach.
Looking back at Luciano with disbelief, I darted my head quickly at the fallen man. "Oh my… Is he even still alive?" I asked Luciano with a shocked and worried frown.
Unbothered, Luciano gave a shrug of his shoulders. "Who knows, the doctors will let me know of the casualties after the event has ended." He stated nonchalantly. "Besides, they all knew the risks when they signed up, and they have up until they die to pull out. Even in the middle of the fight, they can throw in the towel if they wish to have their lives intact."
It still didn't sit quite right with me, but if they knew, then not much could be done… Right? I hated how my mind spiraled down the endless pit of 'what ifs' and all, but I quickly shoved it out of my mind when two guards came up on stage to drag the unconscious man off to let the cleaning crew jump into action.
Within a minute, the stage was spotless for the next match.
I was about to let my eyes wander again to avoid seeing a bloody fight, but a glimpse of the fighters had me suckered in. Because hot smoking damn did they look—
Quickly, I turned to Evie and slapped her arm to get her full attention. "Girl, does that dude seriously have a tattoo of an arrow pointing down there that says bang bang stick?" Okay, stupid tattoos were a thing, but come on, there was no way that was actually real, right?
"Girl, you'll be surprised at the dumb shit that some people get." Evie laughed amusingly in response. "But check out the other dude." Her smile turned mischievous as she wagged her eyebrows at me.
Just as my mouth opened to make a comment, a low growl in my ear made me shudder and gasp. "I would be careful with your next words, principessa ." His warning sent a wave of heat down to my nether regions, making me throb and ache as I looked back into Luciano's dark and possessive eyes.
Guess Evie didn't get let off the hook either because Aidan hooked his finger around her black leather collar and yanked her back against him before wrapping his hand around her neck. Then, he leaned in close to her ear and said something to her that made her body shiver and melt into him as her eyes softened with pure submission. There was a quick moment where her lips grew into a cheeky smile before a quick jerk from Aidan wiped it away.
Nervously, I chewed my lip as I looked back at Luciano, who studied me with such calculating eyes that made me feel naked. "H-he looks like he's a good fighter and might win." I stammered while averting my eyes. "Y-your body looks a lot better and hotter anyways," I muttered under my breath with a blushing pout.
I haven't seen Luciano completely naked or anything, but I might or might not have occasionally watched him work out and train in the home gym. It wasn't like I stalked him; I just happened to be passing by when he worked out sometimes and got a nice eyeful of his glorious muscles. Seriously, those arms and legs were so perfect. And don't even get me started on his ass because that—mhmm!
"You better not be getting turned on because of him, or I will have to add another name to my list tonight." I couldn't tell if Luciano was being playful or not with the unreadable smirk on his face.
"It's not him, I swear," I said in a shaky breath as I leaned back into Luciano.
"Then who are you thinking about?" Okay, now he was being a cheeky bastard with that question in such a playfully smug tone.
I stuttered as heat flooded my face. "Y-you." I wouldn't be surprised if the cameras panned onto us, and I found myself looking like a damn tomato up on the big screens.
My nipples tightened almost painfully as my stomach knotted with arousal with his reply. "Good girl. I should only ever be the only man in your damn mind."
Fucking hell, that needs to be illegal. Actually, he needs to be illegal because he is a hazard to panties.
Because I was pretty sure they were completely soaked from that growl of his.
"Maybe you should show me why it should be you and only you."
Big fucking mistake.