Chapter 30
The second I heard the pop splitting whatever was sat on Arturo’s head open, I slammed the gun down and sprinted over to where he stood perfectly still.
“ You… are insane!” the guy hissed, shoving Arturo’s phone back in his hand before leaving.
“I did it! Can you believe it?!” I cried with happiness, jumping into his waiting arms.
“Yes. It was you who didn’t believe you could do it. Not me. I know how capable you are.”
As I pulled back I noticed my arms were now… purple.
What the hell?
I looked back at him and squinted. From his dark locks, to his t-shirt and even speckled across his cheeks was a thick, purple powder.
“Arturo… what is this stuff?”
“This is to wear home and show your father how fuckin’ proud he should be.”
“Yeah but… why?—”
“Purple?” The corners of his lips turned up slightly into a faint smile.
“Yeah…”
“I happen to know it’s your favourite colour.” How did he know that? Nobody had ever taken notice of such little things before. Things like my favourite colour didn’t really seem important in our household.
“Do you have a spare one of those?” I ran my fingers through his thick locks.
“Why, you want another shot?” I hissed as his fingers toyed with the waistband of my pants, the yearning eating away at me.
“I want you to take a shot,” I smirked. His eyes darkened. “Cover me in grey.”
“Grey ain’t my favourite, princess,” he whispered against my pebbling skin.
“Then what is it?”
“Come here,” he smiled as he pulled another small, round object from his pocket, moving me into position. “You trust me?”
“With my life.” I nodded as he pecked my lips before walking back to where his gun sat on the table beside mine.
My heart began to drum in my chest as he loaded his Glock. If the rumours were to be believed, Arturo never missed. And the thrill seeker in me wanted to see the man with the perfect aim point his gun at me.
“Ready?” he asked, aiming at what looked like my forehead.
“Go for it,” I swallowed, nerves quickly being replaced by a heady combination of adrenaline, fear and arousal.
His body morphed into something still and lethal while his eyes narrowed ever so slightly in concentration.
He was in his element. His assassin days may be behind him, but I knew a part of him still enjoyed the thrill of taking lives, especially when that said person crossed the line. He would never admit it, but I knew.
Lost in my own thoughts I barely heard the bullet slicing through the air before I was covered in a bright orange dust.
Orange… interesting!
“Congratulations,” I teased as he stalked over to me, “you didn’t kill me.”
“Did a small part of you think I’d miss?” His voice had dropped an octave, making my squeeze my thighs together. When he was toe to toe with me, his large palms gripped my waist. The warmth from his skin sent flutters low in my belly.
“I-uh…”
“Trust me, hermosa… I’ve never missed and I didn’t plan on startin’ with you,” his nose circled mine. “You look beautiful covered in orange.”
“Yeah, that was… unexpected.” His eyes sparked with humour as he ran his fingers through my hair.
“And why might that be, I wonder,” he purred against my mouth. My lips trembled as he closed the remaining distance between our bodies.
“Because I’ve never seen you wear anything other than black or grey.”
For the first time gave me an unfiltered smile. I tensed my muscles to avoid stumbling backwards. The smile had completely transformed his face. I’d gotten so used to his sexy, yet brooding expressions, that I felt unprepared for him to look so… happy? Charismatic?
Beautiful…
It was something else. We were talking full beams with his pearly whites on display. His eyes crinkled at the corners and his pupils danced with pleasure. It made me smile back at him in return with a giddiness I hadn’t felt in years.
“How about we get out of here? It’s time to show your father exactly what you’re capable of.” I blushed as he took my hand in his and tugged me towards the exit.
“Arturo… There’s a chance my father won’t believe you.”
“That’s what the video evidence is for. He has no choice but to believe it,” he winked, looking back over his shoulder.
The moment we stepped into the kitchen, all eyes fell upon us. Most of them seemed confused by our current state, others were just amused. My father however couldn’t be read at all.
“Wow, your hair’s nearly as bright as mine, kid,” Red laughed, elbowing Arturo in the arm. His laughter soon stopped the moment he noticed my father’s irritated gaze.
“Why the fuck do the pair of you look like that? You’re supposed to be training, not fucking about at paintball,” his voice was stern, and quite frankly a little cold.
“Lorenzo, with all due respect, calm your fuckin’ tits so I can explain.” I bit my tongue to prevent a snort of laughter. Arturo had no filter, and I loved it!
I adored my father, yes, but seeing someone like Arturo not giving two shits if he upset him caused my inner rebel to cry with laughter.
“Well, I’m all ears, smart ass,” he leaned back against the island as Arturo handed him his phone. “What’s this?”
“Press play and find out.”
Unamused, my father stabbed the screen. Arturo’s words from the range soon filled the room. The timbre of voice and his calm tone still managed to sooth me in ways I never thought possible. I waited with bated breath until my father glanced up at the pair of us, his eyes wide.
“You—?”
“Yes, Papa,” I stood tall and proud as he played it back once more, this time being joined by Red and Tyler.
“Fucking hell, Bells!” Tyler gasped, snatching the phone from my father. “Arturo, dude you got some serious balls, because I sure as hell wouldn’t trust Bells with a— Ow!”
Scoffing, I thwacked Tyler around the back of the head. “Choose your next words wisely.”
“Bella, I am beyond proud of you,” I was suddenly pulled into my father’s arms. “I always knew you’d handle whatever Arturo threw at you.
And judging by that video, you really are tackling every challenge head on.
” He rested his chin on the top of my head as he draped his arms around me.
“Now, explain to me why you are both covered in powder?” He cocked his head towards Arturo who let out a low chuckle.
“I-uhm… wanted to see if his aim was as good as the rumours.” I buried my head into my father’s chest, knowing he was about to go nuclear about me putting myself at risk.
“Tell me that’s a fucking joke…” His voice remained calm, but I could feel his anger simmering beneath my cheek.
“Lorenzo, I could have made that shot with my eyes closed. I’d never have harmed a hair on her head.” I felt every word he said, the truth behind it was as clear as day.
“Still, I don’t appreciate you aiming bullets at my daughter’s head.”
“Lorenzo, lighten up will ya? Bells is fine. Aren’t you kiddo?
” Red asked from the other side of the island.
“And she’ll sure as hell face a lot worse than this.
You know it. I know it.” Red’s statement shook me to the core.
I knew I’d face worse than a bullet from Arturo’s gun, but for the most part I’d been able to shut that part of the job away.
There is no shutting that away, B. You’re soon to be head of the Rich empire.
I frowned as my father cupped my face, checking over every inch of it.
“Pa, seriously? I’m fine. And Red’s right, you need to lighten up. It won’t kill you,” I teased, wriggling out of his hold. “Now, I’m going to leave you boys to chit chat or… whatever it is you do…” I circled my fingers in the air toward them before making my way to the exit.
“Uh, where you off to?” Tyler quizzed.
“To try and shower this shit off, and then picking Theo up from school,” I clapped my hands together in delight. It felt like an eternity since I had last picked Theo up, and Luca practically jumped at the chance of me collecting the little man.
I felt Arturo’s eyes watch me as I left the room, and my heart fluttered at the thought of him not giving a shit about someone seeing, especially my father.
“I don’t give a flyin’ fuck what your father thinks. Nobody, and I mean nobody is standin’ in the way of you and me, not anymore.”