Chapter 3 #2
By the time Papà returned to pick us up, I was internally jumping for joy.
I didn’t want to show it because I didn’t know if Rikisi would pull us in for another grueling set of formations.
To my surprise, Dominique went over to him and bowed, before joining Papà.
I don’t know if he expected me to do the same, but I tilted my head to him and walked away.
There was no way I was going to thank the man that had my young body ready to fall on the floor from exhaustion and pain.
The rest of my stay in New Orleans consisted of Dominique and I training with Rikisi, then coming home to Momma Calista’s motherly attention. She made sure we were fed and our bodies properly soaked after a day of getting the shit kicked out of us.
Today though, I think Dominique saved me from an early death.
We were training with Rikisi as usual, but I felt as if he was being extremely rough on my little sister.
If she messed up on a formation, he would grab her arm and pull her back to her place on the mat and make her do it over and over again.
Every time I felt anger building up inside of me.
When he did it the last time, I snapped.
“Quit fucking snatching her up like that!” I seethe, coming to where they were standing, then stepping in front of Dominique.
The corner of Rikisi’s lips slightly turns up. “Is there a problem, young Russo?”
“Yeah, there is a fucking problem. You’re gonna quit handling my little sister like she’s a fucking man.” I snarl, stepping closer to him.
“Your father sent you two to me for me to train you, and that is what I am doing.” He calmly states, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Yeah, he sent us here for you to train us, but she’s a girl, you can’t be throwing her around like she’s a damn rag doll!”
Dominique places her hand on my left forearm. “It’s okay, Davide, I’m not hurt.”
“No, it’s not fucking okay!” I shout, glancing over my shoulder at her. Rikisi chuckles, making me even more upset. “I don’t see shit funny!”
“But I do, young Russo,” Rikisi responds.
Letting my anger take over me, I start attacking him with blows, only for him to deflect every single strike.
“Davide, stop!” Dominique yells, but I ignore her words, as I try to land one of my punches.
Rikisi acts as if he’s swatting away flies as he pushes my arms away.
When he’s had enough, he catches me with a powerful hit to the middle of my chest with the palms of his hands, causing me to stumble back and gasp for air.
Not having enough air in my lungs to yell out to stop her, Dominique leaps at Rikisi and begins her own assault on him.
She’s moving so fast his once nonchalant attitude has disappeared as he now has to block her rapid strikes.
I jump in and start to attack him from his left side.
Even with the two of us coming at him at once, Rikisi is able to hold his own that is until Dominique catches him by surprise when she lands a direct hit to the side of his throat.
Rikisi takes a step back. He brings his hand up to his neck, staring at Dominique.
A crazy smile slowly spreads across his face, before he lowers his hand, then bows to us.
Dominique turns to me with a curious look as we both are in our battle stances.
“Well done, young Russo’s,” Rikisi says, before walking over and picking up a towel that was on the edge of the mat and wipes his face.
The sound of clapping behind us has us turning in that direction.
It was papà and Antonio. Papà continues to clap as he joins us.
He stops and stares at both of us proudly, before saying, “Davide, to you, it may have seemed like Rikisi was pushing Dominique hard, but it was actually to get your reaction.” My reaction, what the fuck?
“I asked Rikisi to push the two of you to see how far he would have to go before either of you would protect the other. Well done.”
Was he fucking serious?! I was ready to kill this man over my little sister, and she was ready to do the same for me.
Papà gives a small smile as he looks at my frowning expression.
“There is something the two of you must understand. Davide, someday you will be the Don of this family, and you will take on many responsibilities. One major one will be to always protect your family. Nothing or no one comes before your family. You are to protect your sister at all costs.”
I nod. “Yes, Papà.”
He turns to Dominique. “My quello piccolo (little one), you are the princess of our family, and because of that, when people find out you are my daughter, my enemies may come for you. That is the reason I have you training with Rikisi so hard. With Davide and I traveling back and forth, I want you to be able to protect yourself at all costs. I don’t want a mother fucker to get within a foot of you before you lay him down, is that understood? ”
“Yes, Papà,” Dominique replies with a serious expression.
“I also want you to understand if I am not present and Davide is, he speaks for me. You cannot go against your brother’s decisions or actions. If you feel that they are unjust, then you come to me.”
“But, Papà...” She starts, but he cuts her off.
“There’s no buts, quello piccolo. Davide is next in line to run our family, and it would not look good on the family if there is discord among you two.”
Dominique side-eyes me. I give her a wink, causing her to roll her eyes at the top of her head. Little sisters, you gotta love them.
“Yes, Papà,” she whispers.
He smiles, gently grasping her chin. “Don’t worry, quello piccolo, I’m sure the two of you will be just fine. After what I’ve seen today, you’ll be just fine.
And actually, we were. I thought Dominique would have pulled the brat roll and made my life hell, but she didn’t. She became one of my biggest supporters.
Since Papà and I were leaving the next day, I thanked Rikisi before we left his warehouse. I promised to keep up my training, and I would be back to see him the next time we returned. Papà set up more sessions for Dominique to continue her training while we were gone.
When we returned to the house, Momma Calista was waiting for us at the door.
She kissed Dominique and me on the cheeks as we passed her.
She smiled at papà when he came in behind us.
He leaned and gave her peck on the cheek.
Every time we’ve been here, I’ve noticed Papà is more loving and affectionate with her than he is with mother.
And the way she lovingly stares at him, you can tell they truly love each other.
I wonder why he has never left mother to be with her permanently.
He seems happier with her here. I guess he has his reasons, but I know if I were in his position, I would follow my heart.
“Davide, Dominique, go get cleaned up. I’m taking all of us out for dinner tonight. Make sure you wear something nice. My business here is done, so I want us to celebrate, since this will be our last dinner as a family for a while.” Father informs.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I know he is just as sad as I am to be leaving tomorrow. Although I missed Luca, Matteo, and Piero, I loved being here. I’m going to miss Dominique and Momma Calista. They both hold a special place in my heart. I’ll even miss Rikisi’s demented ass.
An hour and a half later, we were pulling up to an upscale Cajun restaurant named Le Boux that one of Papà’s associates owned.
On the ride over, Dominique raved about their crawfish etouffee and crab cakes.
The way she described the dishes had me wanting to rush inside to place my order.
I was thankful Papà called ahead and reserved a private table for us so we wouldn’t have to wait.
My mouth watered as the aroma of delicious food assaulted me as soon as I walked in.
“Smells good, doesn’t it, big brother?” Dominique happily asks, rubbing her hands together.
“Yeah, I’m ready to try just about everything on menu,” I exclaim.
Papà went to the hostess station and gave her our reservation.
The bubbly young lady smiled and instructed us to follow her.
As she was leading us to our table, she kept slightly turning her head towards me, giving a flirtatious smile.
I gave her one back, as I winked at her.
Blushing, she damn near trip over her feet.
Dominique looked at me and giggled. The hostess had to be at least six years or so older than me, but hey, I’m a good-looking guy, so I don’t blame her for trying to steal a look or two.
When we got to the table, Papà and I pulled out Momma Calista and Dominique’s chairs before taking our seats.
The hostess placed menus in front of us and said our waitress, Lafayette, will be here shortly to take our drink orders.
Before she turned to go back to her station, she gave me one last glance.
“Bye!” Dominique sings, waving her hand at her. The hostess quickly retreats. Papà and Momma Calista softly laugh at Brat’s display.
“That wasn’t nice, quello piccolo,” Papà states, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, Papà, it was funny at first, but then she was starting to embarrass herself. I mean, come on, she is like cougar material trying to hit on Davide.” Dominique counters, placing her napkin on her lap.
“Dominique, your brother is a handsome young man who, as you can tell, will have women of all ages flirting with him. It’s the curse of the Russo family.” Momma Calista states, giggling. “I’m sure it doesn’t end with the men either. Young men will be hitting on you too soon.”
“The hell they will.” I hiss, before realizing I just cursed in front of them.
“Davide,” Papà reprimands.