Chapter 31
He looks handsome today. Heck, he looks handsome everyday. Dressed in a total black suit, with silver cuff links, matching tie clip and same coloured chains around his neck. The silver and black rings around his tattooed fingers are also an extreme turn on.
Especially when he had those lean fingers wrapped around my throat minutes ago. Shaking the dirty images that invade my mind, I look into my Aiden's bright, emerald eyes. The look on his face is one resembling the look of a kid's face on Christmas.
The smile on his face sends butterflies straight to my stomach, my happiness mirrors his own.
The sound of the door to the washroom opening has me shifting my eyes away from his. I wish I hadn't. My heart falls to the pit of my stomach, the smile on my face, the happiness I felt mere seconds ago now gone and replaced by pure dread.
I unwrap my arms from around Aiden instinctively, as instinctively my legs move me away from him. My eyes not once leaving my brother's.
Aiden turns around and his whole body tenses. Straight back, clenched jaw, hard eyes looking straight into Tristan's. The pretty blonde, dressed in a golden gown, stands behind my brother awkwardly. Her eyes shifting between the three of us curiously.
"Leave, Sydney." Tristan instructs, his voice hard. His own eyes shifting between me and his best friend. My heart is going to explode if it beats any faster. This was so not the way I wanted him to find out.
"My name is Cindy!" She screeches, crossing her lean arms over her ample cleavage. A frown masks her sharp features. Tristan turns his head to the side and glares at the poor girl, who doesn't need to be told twice before scurrying away.
My brother lets the door slam shut and stands in front of the dark wood, arms crossed, legs spread, with a hard glare directed toward the both of us. "I'm waiting. What the fuck are you two doing in here?" He grits out, his jaw ticks.
"We-me an-d Aiden we..." the words are difficult on my tongue. Aiden looks at my defeated face reassuringly and moves closer to me, intertwining our hands, making my heartbeat increase it's already fast speed.
"We're together." He speaks my unfinished sentence, confidently. He really said rip the bandaid. I almost flinch at the harsh and final voice he uses. My brother doesn't even blink. He keeps staring between us and our holding hands.
"You're together." He repeats Aiden's words, before a dry, humourless laugh emits from deep within his chest. He throws his head back, the tattoos on the side of his neck stretching above his tan skin. His bitter smile disappears sharply. "Please tell me this is some kind of sick fucking joke."
The answer he deep down knows gets thrown at his face when neither of us make a move to speak. I squeeze my fingers around Aiden's, getting the reassurance his presence provides me. His cold rings, a contrast to my heated skin.
"You're fucking my sister?" Tristan shouts, racking a hand through his tousled hair, shaking his head in disbelief. His betrayed eyes looking into Aiden's with a glare.
"She's much more than just a fuck." Aiden tenses, gritting his response to my brother, understanding what Tristan accuses him of. I inch closer to him, my thumb stroking his tattooed hand.
He isn't someone to accept disrespect from anyone and by the way both of their fists are curled, I'm afraid that things will go down shortly.
"You fucking promised us that you wouldn't do anything with her! You're five years older than her for fuck's sake couldn't you go for someone else!? There's a billion other women you could fucking go for!" I flinch at his loud voice, pushing myself closer to Aiden's side.
He opens his mouth to respond, but my brother beats him to it.
"And you! Could you not keep your slutty self for yourself and go for a guy your fucking age!
? You just had to spread your fucking legs for the first guy who looks your way!
" The words hurt me more than I'd like to admit.
The hate in his eyes is clearly displayed.
"Don't fucking disrespect her!" Aiden roars back, his chest rising and falling, as he tries to contain his anger. He gently tugs me behind him and stands before me protectively. I place my hands flat between his tense shoulder blades when he takes a threatening step forward.
"You both lost my fucking respect when you started fucking each other!" Tristan shouts and Aiden's head jerks to the side at the sudden fist thrown to his jaw.
His immediate reaction is to fight back, which he does. His knuckles collide with my brothers nose and before I can comprehend what's happening, the guys are throwing punches at each other on the floor of the washroom. Their struggling sounds and rapid breathing the only thing heard.
My pleas for them to stop go unnoticed as Tristan manages to straddle Aiden and repeatedly throw his fists to his face. His pained groans ring through my ears, my heart clenches.
It doesn't last long though, Aiden rolls over now having my brother pinned under his weight.
I hold my breath as Aiden throws a punch at my brother's jaw, making his head snap to the side and make a disgustingly loud sound when it collides with the tiles.
That doesn't stop him, Aiden keeps punching repeatedly.
"Stop," my voice wavers as I see him raising his fist for what feels like the thousand time.
I'm thankful when Aiden reacts to my words and lowers it, but he still doesn't realise my brother from underneath him.
"Fuck you!" Tristan shouts raspily and spits bloody saliva on the floor. I watch as he struggles before pulling Aiden off of him and standing up, straightening his maroon suit.
Pointing a finger at me, he holds the door handle with his other hand, "don't talk to me again." With the last words exchanged, he opens the door and stalks outside, letting it slam behind him.
"Fuck." Aiden groans.
I feel a piece of me shatter when the tense silence engulfs the washroom. I feel hopeless. It's as if I'm betraying my brother by still being with Aiden instead of behind him and it's as if I'm betraying Aiden by being silent, by not sparing him a second glance.
From the corner of my eye, I see him taking slow steps toward me. I turn around, now having his injured face inches away from my own.
"I'm sorry." He whispers silently. I don't reply. Instead, I cup his face carefully and brush my thumb over his red cheekbone. I'm sure it'll bruise.
My eyes move to the deep cut on his lip, that still oozes blood. "You're hurt." I state the obvious and move around him, walking into a stall and getting some toilet paper, wetting it a little before pressing it to his lip.
He flinches slightly but holds it in place when I tell him to do so. Moving his other hand toward the sink, I I let the warm water cascade over his wounded skin, while rubbing away the flood of red water with my fingers. My thoughts cloud my mind.
I know that I wouldn't be as hurt had the words Tristan spoken come from someone else, someone who isn't family but having my big brother call me these awful things hit deeper than I thought.
I hope he didn't mean what he said, that he's just angry and that he will eventually come around the idea of the two of us together, because I want this.
I want-no need-Aiden with me. In every way.
"Ry?" Aiden questions softly. I don't look at him, nor do I respond. I don't know what to say.
"Avery," he says more firmly his hand now tilting my chin upwards. My eyes meet his. "I don't regret fighting him, I'm just sorry that you got thrown into the middle of it all." He explains softly. Dropping his hand and lowering his gaze.
"It's not your fault, we got into this together, I-I just...we..." I trail off. The words getting caught in my throat once more. Aiden's head snaps up, his eyes narrowing.
"Do you regret us?" He asks distastefully, eyebrows furrowing.
My eyes widen as I shake my head furiously, "no, of course not!
" Sighing, "I'm just scared I've lost him and that I'll lose everyone when they find out.
If they haven't already that is." In all honesty all I want to do right now is get into bed and cry.
I knew that the reactions our relationship would get wouldn't be good but I didn't expect something this bad.
Moving closer to me, Aiden wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his warm chest. His manly aroma floats my senses.
I return the embrace, my arms around his waist as I try to blink away the tears blueing my eyes.
"He will come around. All of them will and I don't think they've found out yet.
If he had told them, they would be in here by now.
" He assures me, planting kisses to my hair.
Even though I don't know if his words are true, they give me comfort.
We stay in each other's arms for a while before walking outside, with linked arms. I look around the nicely decorated ballroom when we near the main area and the chatter fills my ears once again.
White cloths are draped over the high top tables, with tea candles in the middle of each.
People dressed formally stand around them drinking or eating food from the large buffet.
The lighting is golden and warm, decorations of different types of roses hung around the large windows leading to the darkly lit garden outside.
An orchestra stands in the middle of it all playing soft, classic music, which in all honesty annoys me and Aiden both. The beat is too slow and they keep playing the three same songs over and over again.
I watch in awe as some of the couples dance softly. Despite the bad music. The different coloured gowns mix together as they all move around the glistening dance floor creating swarm of colours.
"Aiden! It's a pleasure to see you!" A fairly tall man in his sixties stops in front of us, a chubby woman around the same age, dressed in a bright yellow gown, next to him.
I'm pretty sure that the man in front of me was getting his face kissed by a young, girl dressed in a black dress that showcased her killer body a while ago.
It's sad that this lady is still standing by his side.
Aiden nods in acknowledgment, his face hard as he tightens his arm around mine.
The woman keeps staring me down, her red lips curled in a snarl. Up actually, I'm taller than her.
"It's a pleasure to see you! I wanted to thank you again for taking the money, despite them being ten hours late," he let's out a nervous chuckle and pats Aiden's shoulder with his sweaty palm.
Aiden shrugs his hand off, the glare on his face deepening, "fucking touch me again and I'll put a bullet between your eyes." He wraps an arm around my waist, "and don't let my money come in late again." He finishes threateningly and pushes past him, me glued to his side.
.....
We continue around for a good while, even stopping at the bar where Aiden manages to get me a strawberry margarita. A few business men come up to him, but he avoids deep conversation.
By the time we're standing by a table with Hunter and his date, I'm completely and utterly bored.
The guys are talking to each other in Italian, my brother's blonde date keeps having the face of a female dog while looking around and I scroll through my phone, trying to find a way out of the guilt I feel.
I couldn't look into Hunter's eyes for longer than a second. Images of what his reaction would be played in my mind and the fact that he still doesn't know about Aiden and I makes me feel worse.
Especially as we stand in front of him, a good distance away from each other.
"Xavier ha detto che dobbiamo scendere presto.
Non so proprio cosa fare con Avery. Sai com'è il posto laggiù.
" I perk up when I hear my name coming up in their conversation.
(Xavier said that we need to get downstairs soon.
I just don't know what to do with Avery.
You know what the place is like down there.)
"What about me?" Both heads turn my way. Aiden has an unreadable expression and Hunter looks anywhere but me.
"Nothing sweetheart." My brother assures before getting back to his conversation with my boyfriend.
Narrowing my eyes, I hastily nod before looking back down to my phone.
"Non passiamo lasciara qui da sola." Aiden responds. He sounds so hot talking Italian. I'm sure my panties would get wet if I wore any. Oh god. I'm completely nude under the dress. My cheeks heat at the realisation.
(We can't just leave her here by herself.)
"So che!" Hunter exclaims. I look up just in time to see him shaking his head. I look back down when my eyes meet Aiden's.
(I know!)
"Vado a chiamare una guardia." Aiden says before he walks off. I follow his figure with my eyes as he walks out of the ballroom, before looking at Hunter.
(I'll go get a guard.)
"Where is he going?" I ask, downing the rest of my margarita despite already having the argue to pee. "To get a guard, are you okay?" Hunter asks worriedly, probably seeing the uncomfortable expression on my face. I hate not having my panties on. I've got nothing to rely on now.
"Can I go to the bathroom?" I ask. The blonde opposite me looks at me with disgust before rolling her eyes.
"I'll come with you. It's not safe to be alone.
" Hunter mumbles the last part and leads me to the direction where everything went down hours ago, his warm hand on the small of my exposed back.
We make our way inside the small foyer, "meet me here when you're done, I'm going too," Hunter tells me walking toward the door for the males.
.....
I wash my hands and move my hair behind my shoulders before looking at myself in the mirror. Chuckling softly, I shake my head and gently run the tip of my fingers over the purple hickeys Aiden left on the side of my neck.
Picking my phone out of my purse, I take a picture of my neck and send it to Aiden when the stall behind me opens.
The same short lady stands next to me, washing her hands. Turning her head, she snarls at me, "your generation is disgusting." She motions toward the hickeys on my neck.
I tilt my head to the side and smile sweetly. "Do you have a daughter?" Confusion is clear on her face but she answers me with a no anyways.
"So who was the young girl kissing your husbands cheek?"
Her eyes widen. She scoffs before walking outside the bathroom, probably to get explantations from her most likely cheating husband. Walking out myself, I look down at my heels only to bump into a hard chest.
Arms wrap around my waist and when I look up, I'm met by the face of an older man, probably around my father's age. His face gets wrinklier when he smiles down at me in a way that sends unpleasant chills throughout my body.
"I'm so-sorry." I stutter and move out of his grip. I expect him to move on but he just stands in front of me, looking me up and down. I suddenly feel exposed under his uncomfortable gaze. When is Hunter coming out?
"You remind me of someone me knew, what's your name, gattino?" He asks, his English not sounding correct. A heavy Italian accent heaves his rough voice.
(Kitten)
My eyes look around awkwardly, "A-Avery." My heart is beating out of my chest. It isn't everyday some Italian stranger asks your name outside of a public washroom.
He holds his tattooed hand out, I'm hesitant before shaking it. He points to himself with his other hand, "me, Vinsenzo Bellincioni." This man doesn't give me good vibes and by the way his surname sounds so familiar creeps me out even more.
"Uh, nice to meet you?" It comes out as a question. The last thing I want is some criminal getting offended by me.
"What is a piccolo gattino doing here by itself?" His lips turn upward. I decide not to run away screaming. The fact that this old man called me kitten in Italian two times already is probably a good enough reason to run.
(Little kitten)
"Uhh, I um-I'm waiting for my bro-brother." I explain, just as the door to the male bathrooms opens and Hunter finally comes to my saving.
"Get away from her!" My brother shouts and pulls me behind him protectively as he narrows his eyes at the old man.
"Vinsenzo Bellincioni, piacere di conoscerti." He nods with a smile before rounding the two of us and walking into the washrooms.
(Nice to meet you.)
Hunter stays still for a while before turning around and pulling me in for a hug.
"Have you not heard the stranger danger thingy?
" He asks into my hair after a while of come plate silence.
"Yeah, you guys've told me about it a few times.
" I reply, my voice muffled from my face being squashed into his chest.
Once he pulls away the colour is nearly gone off his face, his skin looking paler than before. "Are you okay?" I ask worriedly, touching his bicep with my hand. "I'm fine sweetheart, let's go, Aiden is probably waiting."
I tug at his arm, a lump forming in my throat, "where's Tristan, Zach and Xav?" Just the mention of my brothers names makes me sick. The guilt is going to eat me up alive if I don't tell the others soon, because Aiden was right, Tristan didn't tell them anything yet.
"Tristan went home and we'll go to Xavier and Zach soon, don't worry." He promises just as Aiden comes into view with two men dressed in all black behind him. Why would we need bodyguards in here?
"I'll go get Candy, are you sure you'll be fine with Avery man?" Hunter asks Aiden, still holding a protective grip on my shoulders. Aiden narrows his eyes at him, clearly understanding that something is wrong before nodding his head.
Hunter walks away as Aiden links his arm with me after kissing my cheek. "Why does he need candy?" I furrow my eyebrows, making him chuckle.
"His date is called Candy. She's probably a stripper he rented for tonight." He explains and I nod my head, still surprised by what I just heard.
.....
We walk quietly back towards the main room which is still crowded by the hundreds of criminally involved people, and through a large glass door before we walk down an eerily quiet arched walkway.
The sound of our shoes echo down the long hall as they pad over the golden marble of the floor.
Aiden looks back to make sure the guards are at a good distance away before leaning down and brushing his lips against my ear, "I saw the picture you sent me.
" His minty breath fans my skin, making goosebumps appear.
"And?" I bite my lip as I look into his eyes.
"...and you're totally in for it when I get you to myself."
.....