Ruggerio
Walking through the building site of the skyscraper our client is planning in this million-strong metropolis, I barely follow the conversation he is having with us about the upcoming steps to take. I’m glad that Frank is managing it perfectly as I stand next to the little group as if it’s how it was supposed to be.
Thanks God for my poker face.
As I check my watch for the umpteenth time, Frank finds a moment of distraction to nudge me. He lifts his helmet, passing his hand through his sand-blond hair before putting it back on.
“Just go, I can close it up.”
I frown but he insists,
“Just strip it off like a band-aid. Go pick up the asshole and get back. Let’s watch the game tonight and all will be fine again.”
“Thank you, Bro!”
I take my leave, bid my goodbyes to the client and his entourage, and rush out of the building. Tearing the helmet off my head, I throw it to the guard at the exit of the site.
“Thanks, Paul.”
***
Steering into the traffic, I have the boxes blearing at me. It should distract me from forming any kind of stupid thought. After having parked my car, I walk into the air-conditioned hall filled with hundreds of people scurrying around either catching a flight or a taxi. I arrive at the arrival-terminal where the flight my brother took will be landing. My discomfort at the thought of seeing him grows as the flight information display system shows his flight as “landed”. A good half an hour later, I see him coming through the sliding doors. He wears a tired smile, but he doesn’t look as bad as I saw him before, boarding the flight. Dressed up in a shabby hoodie and jeans far too wide for his frame, he repositions his cap on his head by his shade as he walks to me.
“Hey, Ruggerio.”
“Salvo, hi. Is this everything you have with you?”
Gesturing to his hand luggage, he chuckles lightly.
“Yes, yes. There’s just so much you can bring and keep in prison.”
I click my tongue as I start walking to the car.
“Yeah, sure.” What I really want to say is, that he should be thankful to God for having been born into a rich family. Otherwise, they would have sent him to a real prison instead of a comfortable rehab-center where you get clean side to side with spoiled rich brats, lonely housewives and washed-up stars.
But I bite my tongue.
***
The moment we get home, my mother is already crying for the return of her son. As she hugs him in tears, my father and grandfather line up to welcome him home. My grandmother stays put with my sister sitting next to her. They are both reading a magazine, ignoring the return of the long-lost son.
At least someone with some principles.
My brother waves to our little sister, trying to get her to say hello properly. But she just lowers her gaze and avoids any interaction. As my mother starts nudging her, forcing her to get up, I intervene, steering my mother away from her gently.
“Come on, leave her if she doesn’t want to.”
My mother’s light blue eyes are full of rage as she points a finger at me, hissing.
“This is all your fault.”
“Yeah, ma. I know.”
She sobs as we move to the living room, leaving her mother-in-law and daughter behind. I know that my sister struggles with what my brother has done and who could even blame her. Well, I might have told her more than my parents and grandparents had deemed best, but I was having my own problems, and I don’t regret it.
Not. One. Bit.
I also got punished for it already.
“Calm down, ma. Everything will be fine.”
I get her to sit down into a lounge seat as my grandmother’s personal assistant already gets to her with a steaming cup of tea.
“Oh, thank you, my dear.”
Aramina nods and leaves the room again, “I’ll get dinner to be served.”
She really is an angel.
“I’m so happy that you are back. My son. Oh, my poor son.”
My brother sits down on a flowery footrest, taking our mother’s hands into his.
“Everything is alright now, mom. I’m here now. And everything will be alright.”
I watch them silently as they talk about the lost months. Pushing down the urge to gag at them talking as if he went out to fight in a war for years, I finally take my seat on the couch next to them.
***
Dinner passes by excruciatingly slowly. I took my place next to my sister and my grandmother took the other chair next to her. Elisabetta has her eyes low all the time and isn’t eating properly. Even if I try to talk to her beside the running table-talk my family is entertaining with my brother, she doesn’t talk much and stays with her eyes glued on the plate the entire time. My brother tries to talk to her directly a few times but fails more badly than I do.
“Just leave her alone.”
As I take a good look at my brother, I can see how worn-out he looks even after months of rehab. He is the complete opposite of me. His face is round, and his black locks fall deep into his dark brown eyes. The little stubble on his chin is the last edge missing having him look like a creep. I know, I’m overreacting, but I guess it’s just the rage talking. I have never been happier that my sister and I got our eyes from our mother, as he got my father’s dark eyes.
“I’m here as a new man. I have changed and I will show you.”
Yeah. I already heard that.
“Sure, we can’t wait to see.”
My sarcastic comment gets me another reprimand from my mother.
“Ruggerio!”
She turns to my brother to lay her hand on his as she transforms her hiss into a lovely-toned voice.
“We are so proud of you.”
Yeah.
Ginevra Standing in my Nana’s boutique, I’m talking to a customer while Nina is cashing in another. The little ding at the door announces the entrance of a new costumer and I recognize a regular. She has her light brown hair tied in an elegant ponytail and is wearing a yellow summer dress. The big loop earrings swing as she spots me with a big smile. My interest gets captured by the gorgeous hulk getting in after her. His broad shoulders and muscular body contrast with her petite frame. His clenched jaw outlines his strong jawline and I’m nearly saddened by the fact that sunglasses are hiding his eyes. Good heavens. I wave at her to greet her, and to also rip me out of my trance. I finish talking with the lady in front of me and as she decides on a bag, I invite her to the counter to pay. As I’m packaging the designer bag with tissue paper, Nina scoffs next to me. I follow her gaze to the newly arrived couple and get back to tie a bow out of a colorful ribbon. I thank the elderly w
Ruggerio “Aaaaaah, and this one. Look at this.” Frank holds up his phone to me, showing me a tanned beauty posing in a bikini. “Nice.” “Looks like there will be a lot of hot babes at the party.” I hum approvingly as he shows me another picture of a blonde posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in a mini dress. As every year the young and rich are posing about getting their ticket on social media. And like every year, Frank and I go through the posts to see if we would spot the hottest ones in their masks. Normally, I would be on fire to see the girls, but something has been bothering me since I got out of that demoniac shop with my sister. “Can you believe she has been doing this for years?” Frank groans, repositioning himself in his seat. “She walks around with their family crest!” “You have to let it gooooo.” He sighs desperately and shows me yet another picture. “Concentrate on this.” “I don’t do brunettes.” Chuckling, he swipes to another picture of a blonde and grins.
Ruggerio As the bartender delivers our drinks, I thank him and hand her the glass of champagne. She thanks me with a crooked smile, and I take a deep breath lifting my gaze. Just as I let my eyes roam over the entrances, I see two women walking in. They halt at the top of the remaining steps after having passed the large double doors and seem to assess which bar they want to attack first. The one on the right captures my attention immediately. Do I know her? She is wearing a lilac dress that flows down her body, kissing her curves and putting some nice boobs on display. No, I surely would remember those. The color of the dress matches her mask, like everybody else’s does. It’s quite common actually. Hers, on the other hand, has her looking regally. She has her hair falling on her shoulders like a black silky waterfall. I don’t do dark haired. I’m still staring as my thought has me tearing back to reality. I look back to my date as her voice and the loud music which faded mom
Ginevra The beat gets under my skin, vibrating through me. The hall I just walked into as Rachel Silverstone is packed. The music pumps through the room, covering every noise that this huge number of people would naturally make. As Nina yells at me, I just understand enough to know that she wants to go to the bar. Having joked to her about how this were going to be my last days of freedom as I was going to be engaged soon to a man I didn’t love, I’m surprised to feel the tension slipping off me with every ticking second, instead of having anxiety crippling me further. The hall can be accessed by several side doors that follow long stairs with white balustrades. The large crystal doors open to a little platform, with a short staircase leading to the immense hall flooring which is lined with reflective black tiles. At two sides at the end of the high and enormous hall, where there is no opening to a stairway, there is a crystal bar, with an all-transparent counter and vested decorat
Ginevra Feeling the need of another cigarette, I shake the cigarette package in front of me and groan. “It’s empty, love, do you have another one?” “No, that was my last, but our angel could surely get us a new one.” My gorgeous prince looks at her with a grin. “Your angel?” “Yeah. We have a nice banquet lady serving us drinks and snacks.” I laugh as she giggles, “I’m never going to leave that place.” Mr. Happy-smile gasps dramatically, “Nobody served us. How outrageous.” “Sorry, but she apparently had her hands full.” Nina shakes her drink again with a smile, just in time as the nice lady brings us new drinks. “Thank you, Ambeeer!” We shout in unison as she puts down our drinks and the men laugh. “You’re welcome, Ladies.” Nina sighs deeply as she takes a sip from her glass. “Oh, how I love Amber.” She jerks up, still carefully not to have her legs fall off Mr. Happy-Smile’s lap. “Sorry, babe! I forgot to ask for cigarettes.” I'm about to wave my hand dismissively
Ruggerio We settle back into our lounge, and I pull her close as soon as she let go of my hand to sit down next to me. I can’t remember ever being this touchy. Also, I love how close she gets to me. Smelling her perfume has my brain skipping his services, having me behave like a little boy. I could have her cling on to me all evening and would do anything to have her remove her mask. “So where does a royal princess usually go clubbing in this plebeian city?” She looks at me skeptically as I hold my cigarette pack out to her. “I’d like to meet you in another life.” Even if rolling her eyes, she can’t prevent the smile stretching on her luscious lips. “This isn’t a good idea, Ron.” “Don’t you want to let destiny decide that?” She laughs as she shakes her head. “It’s not exactly destiny if you look for me where I tell you I’ll be.” “It’s destiny that I’m so set on finding you in real life.” I light her cigarette and she takes a long pull, freeing the smoke back out slowly. “M
Ginevra “Our ‘don’t talk about personal stuff-rule’ sucks butt, give me your name or at least your number.” I chuckle as Ron smirks at me. “Wouldn’t my number be more valuable than just my name?” “No, your name would have me dreaming of you properly.” My heart skyrockets at him saying that. “No can do, Mr.! And unfortunately, the rules are the rules.” There is no way I am going to expose myself to him. My family would have me killed if they knew I came here. “And you have my name.” He clicks his tongue, tilting his head at me. “Yeah, sure, Cass!” He stresses out my false name sneakily, making me giggle. “I would like a souvenir then.” “Beg your pardon?” With a swift movement, he takes out an all-black folding knife and I instinctively jump. Looking at me dumbfounded, he shows me his palms still wearing his sly smirk. “I’m not going to cut out your heart, relax!” “How did you even get that through security?” He ignores my question, cutting off the upper button of his ta
Ruggerio I know I’m addicted the moment I discover that she tastes even better than she smells. After I had her against the wall, we kept making out until we landed on the big bed, throning in the middle of the room. The many mirrors in the room were giving me creepy vibes at first, but by the time I got her off for the second time, I grew particularly fond of them. The incredible picture of our reflection while she was riding me will be enough to keep my thoughts dirty for a happy while. As we lay next to each other, still catching our breaths, I move my hand to take hers. I press a short kiss on her knuckles before I pull myself up to my side. I had to fight the urge to tell her my real name and nearly failed. The sole consolation was that at least the fake name I gave her resembled the beginning of mine. Well, if you were to apply a lot of imagination. She lifts her hand, caressing my side and draws little circles on my birthmark. “This is cute. And it will be your tell if I had