Chapter 198: Something To Shop For
- RORY -
A yellow Tuk Tuk is our transportation to the nearby shops. It looks like a cross between a tricycle and a golf cart, and I can’t help but wonder why these don’t exist in more numbers back home on the west coast. They’re brilliant.
Raya and I climb into the back and the guys climb in across from us while our friendly male driver, Bruno, chats away about the diversity of shops nearby with a passion that speaks about how much he loves his country.
"It sounds like there are plenty of things to keep you two busy," I say wryly—the comment directed toward Luciano since I’m a little apprehensive he’ll try looming like a shadow that’s impossible to shake.
I’m not even sure Raya would mind so much if Luci and Dex follow us around everywhere while we hunt for her dress. At this point, it’s probably just my pride that is grating uncomfortably against the idea. My armor clicks into place defensively like scales bristling to life under my skin when something rubs me the wrong way.
How can I be blamed if there is a latent dragon inside? If they don’t let me stay hidden in my cave, then it’s bound to roar to life eventually.
Rather than reacting to the comment, Luci rewards me with the depths of those glittering dark eyes. It’s a strange phenomenon—the effect those eyes are having on me. Apparently they are able to pierce right through these scales of mine, because my stomach reacts instantly, upsetting the heat and fire and making it climb once again over my skin toward my cheeks.
This is not the way to keep him out like I endeavored to this morning. I shouldn’t have asked him if he was okay when he looked troubled after his call. I shouldn’t be instigating him with little comments now. I probably shouldn’t have taken that knife from him or been so excited about it, despite how impressive it was.
"We should have these at home," Raya says, patting the yellow handle bar of the vehicle that curves at her side.
"You like the Tuk Tuk?" Bruno asks with a wide grin, climbing into the single front seat behind the wheel.
"Yes, it’s cute," Raya answers. "It feels like we’re little kids going off on an adventure."
"Little kids?" Dex repeats, grabbing one of the triangle shaped handles hanging from the roof as his head and lips tilt in amusement.
"Yeah. You know, like those trains for kids at the zoo that take you around to see the different exhibits and go through dark tunnels with all kinds of exciting things waiting to surprise you along the way."
Dex and I both grin at that.
Once the Tuk Tuk starts moving us toward this thrilling adventure that Raya has in mind, I quickly realize that I’m stuck either watching Dex gaze adoringly at my sister or staring at Luciano who is seated directly across from me.
My eyes drift down to where my bare knees are not far from Luci’s designer-clad ones. His pants today are the color of burnt, spicy earth. Like ground cloves—bitter, pungent, sweet. Threatening to numb the tongue in a strangely pleasing way. The shirt he paired with them is a breezy off-white linen that contrasts with his tan skin. He dresses so much better than me.
"Do you own shorts?" I ask, the words just tumbling out of my mouth.
Why? Why am I asking him more questions? Dex isn’t in shorts, and I’m not asking him about his personal fashion choices. Although I am curious as to why Dex owns so many shirts with holes in them.
"You want to see me in shorts, dolcezza?" It’s a predictable response from Luciano, and I snort in an effort to bat it away. But when he continues waiting for an answer, I relent and offer one. I guess I was the one who asked the stupid question.
"Sure. That will give you something to shop for while we’re looking at dresses. Have you ever worn shorts?"
Dex raises his eyebrows at his cousin like he’s curious about this, too, and it’s encouraging enough that I chuckle. Apparently Dex isn’t used to seeing Luciano dressed casually either.
"Of course I have worn shorts. I must have been... what? Five? Six years old at the time?"
He gives me an unguarded, teasing smile that knocks some winged creatures loose in my stomach. He looks so normal—so natural when he smiles like that.
I snort unattractively a second time and slide my sunglasses into place from where they were shoved into my hair like a headband. Now Luci can look at his own reflection instead of me.
It doesn’t stop his eyes from piercing through me, though, so I let my attention drift to the passing wilderness. Bruno does me the immense favor of talking the rest of the way about various activities available in the coastal area.
There are only two things I’m interested in at this point after Raya finds a dress: lying under the sun or hiking deep into the forest, and that reminds me. I need to look for some affordable hiking shoes while we’re out.
——————
Once we arrive, it looks like there are mostly outdoor markets and vendors. When Bruno learns that Dex and Raya have a wedding coming up, he points us in the direction of where we might find what we’re looking for.
"They are not too fancy, but they are nice," he tells Raya. "Really fancy dresses are in the city."
"I’m sure these will be perfect. Thank you, Bruno." Raya beams at the kind driver in that way only she can—like she’s embracing him with the warmth of her gratitude without physically doing it.
"So we’ll see you two boys later?" I ask.
"Sure," Dex answers before Luciano has a chance to reply. "Call if you need anything. Otherwise, should we plan on meeting back here in a few hours?"
Raya and Dex linger in one another’s arms while I hang back, playing with the ring part of the knife Luciano gave me.
Luci has an impassive expression—one closer to what I imagine a trained, hardened mafiosi would have. He looks like someone who doesn’t allow emotions to sway him.
It reminds me of last night when he sat next to me on the beach without saying a word—only staring out across the ocean. That was after the conversation about his grandmother when he learned that Dex and Raya had found letters addressed to her in Italian. He seemed so angry at the discovery and eager to know what those letters contained.
His Nonna’s death obviously affected him a great deal based on that reaction and then the way he shut those emotions down afterward. She was murdered, so that makes sense. It would be shocking for anyone to lose a loved one that way. I can’t imagine how it would feel. I would find a way to shut down those emotions, too.
For probably the millionth time, my thoughts drift back to the terror of waking up in that cabin with Lawson, of running from him in the woods. And then the relief of Luciano’s arms when he saved me. The way he spoke to me—the promise he made.
Why? Why did he react that way when he barely knew me? Why did he promise no one would hurt me again?
"Ready?" Raya’s voice startles me from the unwanted memory, and I force a smile.
"Yep."
Luci’s dark eyes study me before Raya and I turn to walk away. He wants to stop us, but he won’t. I can hear that question from this morning in my bedroom—his voice when he asked: "You good?" It’s following me, echoing with the sincerity of that desire to know.
I get it now. The severe, protective instinct and the paranoia. Luciano Ricca has lost people. At least one person he loved dearly was murdered. And he’s likely seen really horrifying things... done really horrifying things. That’s why he was able to react so quickly with Lawson, and I’m grateful for his killer instincts in that particular case. I am. But I’m also not his to continue to worry about.
