Page 3 of Fixation of the Mind
As the dust began to settle and light streamed in, I could finally make out the woman who was sitting in front of me. She was so gorgeous my mouth almost dropped. Long dark hair in large curls, a red and black tailored suit paired with black high heels with red bottoms. Her dark olive features only highlighted the crystal blue of her eyes. They were focused and fierce, like the woman was on a mission and would take out anyone in her way. She radiated power and prestige even though she was casually sitting in a cloud of dust like it was a regular Tuesday afternoon.
Rion appeared as if the dust had parted just for him, and her eyes slid toward the newcomers. Two black-masked men with X’s for their eyes burst forward with large guns, pointing them at everyone but me. Roux. Ravi. It had to be them.
The woman that I was slightly drooling over flicked her hand at me. “As you can see, she’s not harmed.”
One of the masked men shot at one of her men, hitting him in the leg. He cried out and fell to the floor as Rion answered her with equal power and authority. “And you can see that I don’t care.”
Her mouth pinched, but she said nothing. Rion laughed, the sound oily and cruel. “Oh, don't look at me like that, Maria. It wasn't like I hit any of your children. Why don't they take off those masks so I can make sure another slip-up doesn't happen? Someone might get hurt.”
She sighed and flicked up her fingers. Four of the seven people behind her took off their masks, and my eyes popped out of their sockets when Luca and Cinzia’s faces were revealed. Luca wouldn’t look at me, but Cinzia was staring at me with big puppy dog eyes, begging me to understand something.
I didn’t know what the fuck was happening. I could only guess it had to do with their family rivalry shit, but this was next level. “Cut me free,” I growled at the masked man closest to me. They immediately complied, so it was safe to guess it was Ravi.
Everyone was watching me, but I didn't care. I’d had enough of their stupid rival games. As soon as the zip ties were cut, I bent over and snatched up my necklace, instantly feeling calmer and in control.
“You got what you came for. Now, get out.” The woman's unsaid death threat hung in the air between the two of them.
Rion’s face had warped into a vile beast ready to take on his opponent head on, yet when I coughed, his head snapped directly to me. His eyes held a pained wildness, but relief filled them once his gaze scanned my body.
He turned around slowly, more in control of himself, and pulled out a handgun from behind him. He pointed it at one of her children that I didn't know. They looked older than me by a few years. “You know the rules. You call out your defeat, signaling this match as over. If you won’t, I’ll just put a bullet through Milo’s head.” Rion licked his lips as his eyes brightened, almost like he was excited by the thought. “You have three more children, so you have one to spare, right?”
She was still seated as she spat out, “Figlio di puttana. Mettilo giù.”
Rion’s finger went to the trigger, and she shot up out of her seat. “Fine! We concede. Get out before I lose my mind and demand that every Ricci on site put the four of you down like dogs!”
His gun fell as his other hand went up in a surrender gesture. “È giù. Non agitarti troppo.” His eyes pointed to her in anger as he took a slow step back. “You’re the one who started this, not us. Remember that.”
She nodded, signaling she was done with their little back and forth, then turned around, yelling for everyone to get out of her way. How she was going to punish those outside for their incompetence, I wasn’t sure, but the threat was clear in the anger of her voice.
The masked man I thought was Ravi put his hand around my waist and steered me out of the room while the other masked man kept his gun at the ready, covering our backs as we left.
The trio moved like a well-oiled machine—Roux covering our back, Ravi keeping me close as he watched the sides, and Rion at the front with his gun. We made our way over to a large green Humvee I’d seen in the garage at the house. Rion opened back the door before he waved me in.
I climbed in and sat down, going on autopilot. The rest of them clambered in after me while watching their surroundings. The masked man who I thought was Roux was driving, and the rest of us sat in silence. I could feel Rion and Roux looking back at me through the rearview mirror, but I ignored it, not in the mood to acknowledge them. Next to me, Ravi tried to move his hand over mine, but I yanked it away, looking out the window.
While I might be grateful to them for saving me, I was royally pissed off about all their lies. This was going to be a long car ride.
Chapter 2
The entire car ride was silent, with everyone looking off, lost in thought. It was a stark difference from how we were less than twenty-four hours ago.
As the car rolled through the gate, Ravi and Roux ripped their masks off. I could feel Ravi's eyes on me, begging me to look at him, but I refused.
The car jerked to a stop, and Roux shoved the gear into park. No one moved. No one spoke. We just sat in the car, none of us knowing how to move forward.
I was still so mad, so hurt. I had trusted them, and it bit me in the ass. Even worse, I should have known better, and that pissed me off.
A memory surged forward.
Light breaking through the leaves, a cool, crisp breeze caressing my cheek, making sure that no heat lingered too long. A hand grabbed mine, and I smiled, knowing who it was.
“Rin, do you ever think of the future?” Ravi's voice asked from my left side.
Someone shifted around across from me before Ravi cried out. Roux's voice rumbled, “Leave her be, Ravi.”
Giggling, I kept my face to the sky. The four of us were lying on the ground in a circle, watching the leaves and the sky play peek-a-boo. “Of course, Ravi. I'll be with you three, wherever you are.”
Next to me, Rion rolled over. “Do you mean that?”