Gabby keeps glancing at Ricardo, as even if he promised he would not ignore her he did, he was still busy in his phone and even if she had seen him do that most of time, they were together for some unknown reason she was extremely annoyed about it, today.
Therefore, licking the last spoon of her dessert she gets up at once from the chair across of him, to walk away from the annoying man.
She could not believe if he was so busy today why did he even ask her to join him to select the venue, it is not as if the world will crash down if they did not get the right venue, as each one of the venues they went to it was not of his taste.
She shakes her head before going to walk across from him but a hand shot and stops her at once, she glares at the man but he just pulls her towards him and she ends up sitting on his lap side ways.
"I get it, but that was not the part of the deal" he keeps on talking as she tries to get up but the touch of his fingers on the side of her lips halts her movement.
She watches as he wipes the side of her lip before showing her his finger with a smudge of her dessert on it but what happens next shocks her.
As he slowly puts his finger in her mouth and automatically she licks it clean while he gives her a small smile before moving forward to finish his own desert and for some reason Gabby ends up hugging him tightly.
A fear she never knew clutches her heart, so she holds him tightly to her.
Ricardo pulls away as he stares at her in question at her sudden hug.
"What is it?" he asks as he pushes her hair away from her face.
"I cannot do this" she speaks staring at him as words come out of her mouth.
"What?" Ricardo asks in confusion as to what she is talking, about.
"The venues, I don't think I can do it anymore"
"Did I tire you?" he asks and she nods her head not knowing what explanation could she give to him, when she does not even know herself, why her heart was beating so erratically.
"I will take you home" he smiles before both of them get up from their position and walks towards the car waiting for them.
"I have to buy new furniture tomorrow, you free?" Ricardo asks on their way back to her apartment and Gabby nods her head not having the heart to say him no.
"Good, why don't we meet for lunch tomorrow? By then I will be done with most of my work and we can go finalize few furniture?" he finalizes just as they reach her place.
"Okay, see you tomorrow" she smiles getting out of the car and waving him goodbye.
"Tomorrow" he nods his head as she turns to walk inside of her building and for some reason she turns around to find him staring at her from his car before he waves at her and drives away.
*******
"How was the venue hunting?" Bo asks as soon as Gabby enters through the door.
"Bad, extremely bad" she sighs as she slumps on the couch with a sigh.
"Oh why" Bo asks as she licks the spoon filled with peanut butter.
"Nothing was of his taste"
"His or yours?"
"What do you mean by that?" Gabby asks staring at her friend.
"Well, you could have changed his mind if you liked anything" Bo points out as she walks and sits on the hand rest of the couch.
"He is stubborn; he will not listen to anyone when his mind is set"
"Hopefully, one day I can say I agree with you on that point"
"Stop talking in riddles" she sighs staring blankly at the blank television.
"Where's my coffee?" a male voice snaps both of their head towards the door a man walks out of bare chest and Gabby looks at her friend wide-eyed.
"I did not know you had company," Gabby hisses at her friend.
"I thought you would be out all day with Ricardo" Bo hisses right back.
"Well at least he is hot" Gabby sighs as she tries to, slowly walk out.
"Ewe, that's my brother" Bo gags as she jumps off the armrest.
"Bernard?" Gabby asks in shock as she looks back at the man.
"Ella, you still with my sister" Bernard asks as he yawns and stretches his body.
"You are drooling" Bo groans as she pushes Gabby a bit.
"Um, yeah I mean we both moved in so, you turned hot, damn" Gabby gawks at his bare chest and his abs.
"Well, you do not mind if I crash in here for few days, right? I have a seminar in the town so," he asks still yawning.
"Of course, you can stay in here as long as you want. My bed is big enough," she offers before wincing as Bo pinches her arm.
"Oh, but I thought you and my sister were sharing the same room"
"We are not in a relation Nerd, arghh when will everyone stop thinking I am a lesbian" Bo groans as she walks away from them.
"Well you two are always together and oh well, just so you know if you ever want to walk out of the closet I will always welcome you with open arms" he teases his sister who curses him.
"What the..." Bernard jumps a bit.
"Sorry, this is like the first time I am seeing abs up this close, can I touch it?" Gabby asks very entranced with the man.
"You are still as strange as I remember, Ella, but what the hell, go ahead. I have just started to do some exercise and... oh that tickles" he chuckles as he tries to stop her hands from moving to his sides.
"Oh, but all I remember about you is your big glasses and wow is that contacts you are wearing?" she asks as one of her hands moves to touch him right under his eyes.
"What the fuck is going on in here?" Ricardo asks as he unlocks the door and walks in.
*******
Gabby's head snaps towards the door to find Ricardo standing with his eyes narrowed at them, she tilts her head not understanding why was he looking pissed off.
"Hey Rare" she states before she turns to pull her hands away from Bernard.
"Who is this man?" Ricardo asks as he slams the door and walks towards them.
"Bernard and who are you?" Bernard asks as he stares at Ricardo unfazed.
"Why were you touching him?" Ricardo asks ignoring the man.
"Well, she was fascinated by my body, I just started to work out" Bernard answers much to Ricardo's annoyance.
"What are you doing here?" Gabby asks unaware of the situation.
"You forgot your bag in the car, I came to return it. I did not know you had guest, your cousin or someone?" he asks her.
"Oh no he is..."
"Her date" Bo finishes it for Gabby who goes to protest but Bo steps in.
"Bernard is my elder brother and he will be staying in with us also, he needs a date for the seminar he is going to take part in...
Gabby volunteered, isn't she such a savior" Bo smiles.
"Not a bad idea, hey Ella you still remember my gang right, they are going to be shocked to see you and I together" Bernard chuckles.
"Ella?" Ricardo stares at the man in front of him.
"Yeah short for Gabriella, everyone calls her Gabby so I call her Ella, anyway I have some work thanks for the coffee and see you girls later" Bernard smiles as he walks towards Bo's room.
"Does he even owe a shirt?" Ricardo grumbles as he turns to face Gabby who was staring at the way he just went.
"I don't mind at all, how long is he staying you said?" Gabby ignores Ricardo as she smiles at Bo widely.
"No fucking my brother in this house," Bo points out as she walks away while Ricardo's head snaps at the girl.
"What the hell does that mean?" he asks Gabby who groans.
"She is joking; I mean of course we will not, well not when she is in" Gabby grins but Ricardo does not find it amusing at all.
"I am joking, he is not type anyway"
"What's your type then?" he asks narrowing his eyes at her.
"Be positive, I mean that's my blood group so, anyway just because he looks hot and walk around without a shirt does not mean we are going to hook up...
Something is to look not touch" she smiles as she wraps her arms around him and walks him towards the door.
"Once I am done with my meetings, I will come pick you up; you can stay with me at the hotel," he states and she laughs.
"Don't be ridiculous why waste your money on hotel..."
"Okay then, I will come stay with you" he finalizes before kissing on her forehead handing her bag and walking away.
*******
Ricardo loosens his ties as he steps out of the car, asking the driver to go back to the hotel and rest as he makes his way towards Gabby's apartment.
On the way to the elevator, he meets Bo and Bernard, so he stops to check where they were going and if Gabby was going out with them.
"In a hurry?" he asks the duo who stares at each other before looking at him.
"Yeah, well bye" Bo states as she tries to walk past him.
"Not so fast, is Gabby joining you?" he asks as he turns to stop them.
"No, she is up in her room and anyway we are going to meet our parents, bye" Bo dismisses him as she hurries towards her car while Ricardo just sighs and turns around.
"Never liked her anyway," he mutters as he presses the floor to Gabby's apartment.
Reaching the floor, he walks out making his way straight towards the door and opens it to find total silence. He shuts and locks the door as he looks around to find the living area empty.
Before calling for Gabby, he makes his way towards the kitchen for a bottle of water, just as he unlocks the bottle to drink a door somewhere opens and Gabby walks out as she hurries into her room.
Ricardo stays still shocked as she runs inside of her room, naked before she rushes back to the bathroom with what seemed like a towel.
After what seemed like hours, does he get his senses back before slowly sipping on the bottle of water. Walking towards her room he opens the door and starts to undress; the day was too long for his taste as few of his dealers had fucked up few shipments and now he has to deal with the consequences.
With a groan he pulls off his coat before unbuttoning the buttons of his sleeves as he folds it, he turns around when the door to the room opens and shuts.
"I see you have made improvements" he speaks which startles Gabby as she yelps and jumps a bit.
"Rare" she shouts at him clutching at her towel.
"From shouting for a towel to running around naked for a towel, huh" he raises his brow as he stares her from her head to toe.
"There was no one in the house"
"I was"
"Well hope you had a good laugh" she rolls her eyes as she asks him to turn around but he just keeps his eyes on her.
"Why would I do that?" he asks as she walks towards her drawer to pull out some clothes.
"Seeing me making a fool of myself," she grumbles as she kneels down to search for her clothes.
Without a word, Ricardo makes his way towards her and kneels behind her. Pushing the hair at a side, he whispers in her ear, hotly.
"You are no fool, precious"
"Well your mother thought otherwise" she cannot help but state while she pulls out her clothes and closes the drawer.
*******
"I knew her words hurt you" he sighs as he slowly turns her around before pressing her back to the drawer.
"I don't care what she thinks"
"Good, you should not; do as your heart pleases you. That's one of the most charming qualities in you, don't ever change it," he states as he holds her hand and kisses the back of it.
"You think I am charming?" she asks him doubtfully.
"And much more, you do not know your worth precious and that scares me the most" he breaths before pulling a bit away as he stares down in between them before he touches the knot of her towel.
"What are you doing?" she asks as he holds his wrist.
"Helping you" he simply states as he stares at her with a smile and pushes her towel down.
"Why are you scared?" she asks with a smile as he stares at her face instead of her naked body.
"When you realize your worth, precious, the chances are you will leave me, forever" he speaks as he pulls his shirt from his body before helping her in it.
"Why would I leave you?" she asks shifting a bit as he folds the sleeves of his shirt.
"Because I am not a good person, precious and you deserve more, much more" he states vaguely before he presses a soft kiss on her forehead and steps away before getting up from the floor.
"I will go take a shower," he announces as he leaves her on the floor dumbfound trying to find the meaning behind his words before she slowly gets up.
Pulling the towel from around her waist, she continues to wear her clothes; she unbuttons the shirt he pulled on her before fastening her bra quickly.
*******
"Did you eat?" Ricardo asks once he walks out of the bathroom running a towel in his wet hair.
"Yeah, you"
"Yeah, you want to sleep or watch some movies?" he offers throwing the towel on the chair.
"My whole day went watching movies, so no"
"Good, I am tired anyway" he sighs as he gets in the bed and pulls her inside of his arms.
"You could have just rested in your hotel, did not have to come all the way here," she states as she runs her hands on his wet hair.
"I promised I will come and stay with you" he speaks with his eyes closed.
"How long are you in the city?"
"Until the deal is finalized"
"How many malls are you planning to buy?"
"Plenty"
"Will you give me a call if there is a sale?" she asks with a mischievous grin and Ricardo slowly opens his one eye.
"All you have to do is tell me what you need precious and it's all yours," he grumbles.
"Well you get mad every time I say I want a boyfriend"
"You are too young to have a boyfriend"
"Melissa was same age as me when you two got engaged," she points out.
"You are not Melissa," he states straight and she groans.
"Whatever I am going to try and date"
"We will see"
"You cannot stop me"
"I am not"
"But you will somehow ruin it for me"
"You know me too well"
"That's kind of hypocrite of you don't you think?"
"I never said I play fair"
"Why, why can I not go on a date or try being in a relation?" she asks as she pushes his arms away from her and get up sitting on the bed.
"Are you just going to pretend being asleep or say something to me?"
"I am not having this discussion with you right now"
"I think you should leave," she asks folding her arms.
*******
"What has gotten into you all of a sudden? Wanting a boyfriend, trying to date, what you want to prove anyway?" he asks as he too gets up and sits on the bed staring at her.
"I do not want to prove anything or to anyone, but it's high time I start to find someone for me...
I mean even my little sister has got herself a man and all of my cousin sisters are either happily married or going to...
It's like I am the only one left in my family without someone to dance in the dance floor"
"I always dance with you" he narrows his eyes at her.
"Just because you feel pity on me and I am sick of being your second choice"
"I have never pitied you and you know damn well you are not my second choice"
"I am not Melissa" she throws his own line at his face.
"You have changed" he rubs his face tiredly as he continues talking.
"All we do these days is arguing on something and I don't even know how to deal with this side of yours...
I already have enough on my plate with my business and everything but every time I am with you, you make me forget all of those things and it is just us...
However, these days I do not even know what will make your mood swing and what will start an argument between us, sometimes I wonder if you are my precious...
Even if the world went upside down, I knew you would always remain the same, my precious...
Our friendship, this thing between us means a lot to me, darling, you truly are precious to me and if letting you go on a date is what will make this thing work between us then fine I will not say a word...
Can we just go back to the way things were before this?" he requests as he holds her hands in his.
"Okay" Gabby nods her head before she goes to lie on the bed without a word.
"Thank you" he breaths as he gets behind pulling her close to his body as he closes his eyes while Gabby stays wide awake.
*******
The frown in her face deepens even more and it seems that is all she is getting these days whenever, she is around the one man who has started to cause a different kind of havoc in her life which name she has yet to figure out.
"You don't like it?" Ricardo whispers in her ear and she glares at him.
"When you said furniture shopping I thought we will be going to a real shop not sit in your board meeting and actually choose furniture from a bloody presentation"
"You were tired going to different venues so..." he frowns this time staring at her.
"Because you were acting like a goddamn Godzilla bride that day," she grumbles folding her arms and staring ahead.
"Leave" Ricardo's order snaps her head at him in shock before she realizes it was not her, he wanted to leave but the one who was doing the presentation.
"Don't be mad at them for your mistakes" Gabby speaks as she gets up from the chair.
"I am not mad"
"Then stop ordering people"
"They are my employees and this is how I talk to them"
"No wonder you are a shitty boss and those girls were gossiping about you"
"I don't care about how my staff sees me and where do you think you are going?" he asks as he too gets up from his chair.
"Away from you good thing I do not work under you, mister shitty boss"
"I need to be strict with the...Precious," he shouts after her.
Ricardo looks around the office to see where Gabby went only for one of his staff to inform him she was in the coffee room so he stalks her towards it.
"Leave" he orders once again as soon as he opens the door to find few of his employees enjoying their coffee.
"No" Gabby shouts as she puts the plate of food on the table.
"They are under my command"
"Not today" she challenges.
"Not in here, Precious" he warns her narrowing his eyes towards the people inside of the room who shuffles not knowing what to do and that surprises him the most.
"I am your boss," he growls at them.
"A shitty one" Gabby adds before she takes the plate fills it with few cookies and pours two cup of coffee before walking towards Ricardo.
She bends her forefinger a little and gives him the universal sign to follow her as she walks towards a near table.
"You cannot eat here, come on" Ricardo hisses, even if he follows her towards the table she chose to sit.
"Sit down Rare, this is important" she sighs patting on the place besides her and he closes his eyes takes a deep breath before taking the seat.
"Yay, I got you coffee too" she grins clapping her hands as she pushes the cup towards him.
"Okay people take the seats," she states next to the people still standing and looking at them.
"What's on going?" Ricardo asks not knowing what she was planning on doing.
"Watch and learn" she smiles before turning towards the people around them.
*******
"I did not know they were having so many problems within the company and scared to even talk about it," Ricardo states as they drive away from his office.
"That's why; you need to stop being so rude towards your juniors Rare"
"Rude? This is how I am" he scoffs.
"Not with me"
"Don't start on it," he warns her.
"Check the complaint box at times, you will never know what you will see, trust me some of it are damn funny" she smiles as she slides on the car seat a bit.
"I am full," she groans as she taps on her stomach few times and smiles.
"I will see what I can do to be not so shitty from now on" he smiles as he holds her hands stopping her for tapping on her stomach.
"I think I should go on a diet or something"
"Why?"
"My breasts and stomach are going on this silent competition and it seems they are trying to outrun each other" she sighs as she gropes her own breast and once again taps her stomach.
"They are fine," he grumbles as he looks away.
"You think, but it has its advantage actually"
"What?" he asks with a frown.
"I can put a plate in between them and trap it while eating, no need for table," she laughs as she pulls a file from his side and puts it in between her stomach and breast to show him.
"I don't even want to know where you came up with that" he sighs pulling the file away from her.
"Hey I am creative," she points towards her head.
"Will you be going out on a date with that Bermuda?" he asks suddenly and she sits straight on the seat.
"I like that name Bermuda, mysterious and adventurous," she laughs as she calls it few times.
"There is nothing..."
"I have never touched a man's abs before, seeing them in T.V. and drooling cannot even be compared with the real thing...
Aww, I used to beat the shit out of him and now I am drooling about him, time flies by so fast...
Bermuda" she sighs as she looks out of the window.
*******
"I will be going back home" Ricardo states as he stands next to Gabby.
"Oh, did you finalize the deal you said"
"No, Ry can handle things from here on. I have few unfinished businesses back home"
"Well, I will call you when I come by your place then"
"Okay, just inform me ahead the checking in the border is strict now"
"Did something happen?" she asks as she never had any problem going to his place before.
"The peace treaty between The Price and us will end up in few days"
"So, you can always re-sign it" she points out.
"Don't stay out late" he smiles as he turns to get inside of the car but Gabby holds the back of his coat.
"You are not signing it" she accuses him.
"Take care Gabby"
"Don't, don't walk away without answering it, what are you planning," she demands as she rush to stand between him and the door.
"I am not planning anything"
"Then why are you not signing the treaty"
"Because I do not trust The Price anymore"
"Rare" she shouts at him.
"There are things you do not know precious and it's better if you do not"
"I am not letting you walk away from here like this, why you do not trust my family"
"Precious"
"If you do not answer me truthfully Rare then I will never see you again" she threatens him.
"We are going to merge our business with The Latinos and for that I will have to break the treaty with The Price...
Your family is not in good terms with The Latinos and this will affect my family"
"So, you will leave us to be with some Latino bimbos?" she asks in disbelief.
"I have others to think about"
"So, for your advantage you will throw us under the bus?"
"That is not..."
"Well from my point of view I see it as that and you know what Rare, you are an asshole" she pushes him away from her before she runs towards the door to the building.
Ricardo pinches his nose and closes his eyes taking a deep breath before he turns to stare at the door.
"Boss, the jet is ready" his assistant speaks making him sigh before he gets inside of the car and drives away.
*******
It was a total silence, except few clutters of the spoons and forks clashing on the plate. It was not so bothering to any one of the people sitting around the table, as it was how most of the meal would go by when everyone was around.
Most of them did not want to be part of some of the talks that will ignite in the table if they dare even say a word so to avoid the heated discussion to be followed they would rather keep on stuffing their mouth full of food instead of talking.
"I hope you all have got the reminder about your brother's wedding date and hopefully you all are free"
"Of course, mom I even gave the order for a tailored suit," Rustic grins, speaking for the first time and each of his brothers raise identical brows his way.
"No, no that will not do. I have already given the order for your suits I want all of you to wear the same color suits and the best from the best designers" she smiles.
"Mom" Ricardo sighs as he puts the spoon down.
"Oh, did you finalize the venue?" she asks him in excitement.
"I am done" Richard speaks as he gets up from the table.
"You need to go check with the tailor for the fittings" Alana comments as she plays with her food and everyone stops eating as they stare at their mother stunned.
"Excuse me?" Richard gulps a bit.
"I know no matter what I say, he will want you by his side and the best man should always match the groom or try not to look better" she clarifies and Richard grabs the back of the chair staring at the woman in disbelief.
"Best man?" he narrows his eyes at Ricardo who sighs as he puts the fork down.
"Just because you did not let me be yours does not mean I will do the same to you" he smiles and Richard shakes his head.
"I don't know if I am free that day" he grumbles and Alana gets up from her seat offended.
"What kind of excuse is that? And you still want me to act properly when he is down right disrespecting me like that?
No one is begging you to be his best man, but he is..."
"As I said I am done, you do not have to worry about me" he interrupts her and Alana breathes heavily n anger.
"Do not talk to me like that, I..."
"Not my mother I know that is why you do not have to pretend or act proper with me" he finishes as he walks out of the room and Alana's head snaps towards her husband.
"This, this is all your fault. You always let him walk all over me and..."
"Calm down" Richie sighs as he wipes his mouth with the napkin.
"Calm down? Oh, let's see how you will feel if these three talks to you in that manner the way your son does to me"
"Okay, time for us to leave" Ricardo sighs as he gets up and touches his mother's arm.
"I do not want him at your wedding" she warns as she grabs her bag.
"Mom"
"And your father is not allowed as well"
"Alana" Richie calls as she rushes out.
"What?" she snaps turning to face him.
"If you could just..."
"Why don't you go shove it up your ass, whatever you are about to say" she smiles before hurrying out.
"So much for a family dinner" Ryman whistles while Rustic laughs at his mother's statement.
"Goodnight everyone" Ricardo sighs as he grabs his coat along with his mother's.
*******
"This was a mistake from the beginning, I told you we should have done this back at my place but no. That boy does not even want to attend the wedding and so much for making him your best man"
"Mom" Ricardo sighs as he hands her the coat before opening the car door for her to get in as he gets in himself and starts the car.
"Do not mom me, I know what you are doing. I forbid both your father and him from the wedding. Ryman and I will welcome the guests...
There are weddings that was held without the groom's father, world will not stop if they did not attend" she finalizes.
"Thank you" Ricardo smiles as he glances at his mother's way.
"What for?"
"Just" he states and she frowns before holding his arm.
"What for Rick?" she asks again turning his way.
"Nothing" he shrugs his shoulders.
"If this is about the suit for Richard let me tell you that..."
"You love him mom, no what matter what you say otherwise. You love him in your own way so you don't need to hide it from me...
I have seen it happen one too many times" he speaks and she stays silent.
"It would just look awkward if Gabby stood as your best man, that is the only reason"
"Of course," he takes a deep breath at her name.
"Is everything okay between you two?" she asks when he comments no more.
"Never been better"
"You are not getting married to someone else, I think it's time you stop getting involved with her. I mean Melissa may be a bit insecure once you two are married" she advices and Ricardo says nothing.
"I know she means a lot to you and you care for her, but sometimes I feel it's time you move on and let her too...
She should not always stay reliable on you, she should find a real hobby and stop making you one for herself...
At some point she will have to start to take her life seriously" she adds and Ricardo just drives silently before he speaks.
"I like being her hobby" his reply stuns her and she goes to start but stops as he continues.
"And she does not need to start taking anything seriously, one of us is serious enough" he adds and Alana frowns.
"Are you sure about marrying Melissa?" she questions as doubt crept into her but he does not answer it.
"Just know things will change once you are married, you will not be just her Rare any longer" she advices as they drive in silence.
*******
Ricardo loosens the first few buttons of his shirt making his way towards his room, as he needs to check on few things before the night ends.
He switches his phone on and as soon as he does Richard's call makes him frown before he picks up the call.
"Your phone is unreachable"
"I have yet to switch it off, why?" he asks as he unlocks his door to enter it.
"I got a call from Nicholson, Melissa has been kidnapped" those words stops Ricardo on his steps.
"I send few of the men to check on the situation, we have not gotten any calls about any sort of ransom so"
"No need to worry, I will handle it"
"What are you planning?"
"Check if dad had his medicine" is all he replies as he cuts the call before he walks away from the room.
*******
Ricardo puts Melissa's unconscious body on the bed before he asks one of his men to call the doctor. He pulls his coat off her body checking on the wound on the back of her head before he starts to unbutton his sleeves and starts to fold it.
He nods towards the doctor as she enters making her way towards Melissa so he leaves the room to check on the situation.
Just as he walks out the phone in his pant vibrate, pulling it he checks on the caller before he picks up the call.
"Russo" he greets as he takes a seat on the sofa.
"How is she?" Marc's voice greets him through the phone.
"Breathing"
"I would like to hear more"
"I am no doctor"
"Ah, I wonder what my cousin sees in you" Marc chuckles waiting in on Ricardo's reply, but when it does not come, he continues.
"I just called to remind you of the meeting we are holding just for you, can I expect a visit from you?" he asks Ricardo.
"I said I will come did I not?"
"Yes but..."
"I don't go back on my words and don't keep calling me like some desperate slut for a fuck Marc" with that said he cuts the line as he puts his phone away before staring at the man sitting in front of him.
"The kidnapping was not set for Melissa but for Katie it seems they got it wrong due to the coat...
This is not the first time the attempts were made to kidnap one of the Price girls, it seems before this the sister of Nicholson Gracie Price had disappeared for too long...
After they found and brought her back home, she would not talk or even recognize anyone...
Few attempts of kidnapping have been made to another of the girls, Lily price but with Throne Reynolds near her for her protection may it be her school or home, the culprits never succeeded and if the culprits did get near them the threats are taken care of without the girls knowledge...
No one knows who is behind all this and the strange thing is the men who are protecting them, no one knows where they come out from and the one who attempted to harm them has never been, seen again, not even their dead bodies are, found"
The man explaining the situation closes the file he gathered before staring at Ricardo so say anything.
"This one" Ricardo asks as he slowly rubs his lower lip with his thumb staring at the picture on the table.
"Gabriella Price, she has been under radar from any attackers no one has ever attempted it, unlike her sisters she knows how to defend her if anything happened"
"Anything else" he asks when the man stops.
"No this is all I can gather for you; give me some more time to, find out who is behind all this...
I will take my leave now," the man states as he stands to walks out collecting the files and the pictures from the table.
"Leave that one," he orders as he still has his eyes on Gabby's picture.
"Sure, goodnight Mr. Russo" the man nods as he walks out of the door.
"Boss, did you find something?" Micah asks as he walks away from the wall where he had been standing.
"Yes"
"So, what do you say?"
"Fire him; we do not have any use of him anymore"
"But boss, he did his job..."
"The man who cannot even state the first thing about my precious life is not worthy of being around...
Under the radar" he scoffs as he picks the picture from the table and walks away.
*******
Gabby walks inside of her father's house oblivious of her surrounding as she was busy trying to pull the zipper of her jacket which was stuck but she was not giving up just because her stupid zipper was stupid.
She stumbles through the door before she finally pulls it up and curses as her hand bangs on her face and she holds her eyes where she was hit while hissing at her down dead zipper.
She goes to turn around but stops, she once again slowly turns around and back steps towards the glass door that gives her view to the pool so she plasters her face on the glass and stares wide eyed at the scene in front of her.
Throne had his arms wrapped around his sister and they were laughing before the man kisses Lily smack on the lips.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" her father's voice startles her.
"How the fuck will I know?" she asks as she turns to face him.
"You left without even telling anyone of us" he points out and she groans.
"I am past the age of eighteen to tell you where I am heading"
"So, what were you doing just now?"
"Nothing, nothing, where is mom?" she asks as she walks towards her father to stop him from seeing what she saw.
"Went to your brother's school, some parent's meeting" he shrugs his shoulder as he wraps his arms around his daughter before he presses of her shoulder.
"Fuuu" Gabby cannot enough curses as she is frozen.
"Blink if you are ready to tell the truth" he grins and she blinks her eyes making him let her go.
"Fuck you" Gabby shouts as she holds her shoulder as it was one of her weak points a little pressure in that area and she could not even talk.
"So, what were you watching?"
"Lily and Throne" she grumbles rubbing her shoulder.
"Ah, come on we have some talking to do" Gabriel nods his head as he walks ahead leaving her to follow him.
*******
"So, you really fine with them?" she asks as she takes a seat next to her father.
"Of course, just because I am your father does not mean I will always say no to the man you choose after all, I do have the goals to be a grandfather someday" he shrugs his shoulders.
"Well what are we going to talk about?" she asks as she narrows her eyes at him.
"Relax"
"Not when we are having the talk," she states.
"Your sister has found someone she loves"
"I am not helping you to break them up" she gets up from her seat to walk out.
"I am not asking for that and if I want them to break up they would have already been broken up, now get back here this is about you" he sighs patting the place next to him.
"What about me? We can talk from here, go on speak," she states as she folds her arms and keeps on standing.
"Gracie is married, Katie will get married with that Hugo one day and Lily has found someone all of your sisters have grown up and moved on with time and life except you...
Why?" he asks her as he keeps on staring at her.
"Why are you being all serious on me now?" she asks shuffling on her feet, uncomfortably.
"Because I worry about you, Gabby because you are my daughter and I know you" he smiles.
"Did you wake up at the wrong side of the bed?" she asks him and he shakes his head no.
"Even your best friend Ricardo is getting married" he points out and she sighs.
"These are some profiles of the men I have chosen for you to date, take a look and give me an answer soon" Gabriel states getting up as he pulls a folder from table and taps on it before he walks out of the room.
*******
"What the actual fuck?" Gabby whisper shouts as she stares at the door her father just walked before she turns to glare at the folder.
She shudders at the weird behavior of her father before she walks out of the door without a second glance at the folder.
"Are you on drugs?" Gabby asks as she finds her father walking towards his room.
"No need to hurry, just take your time and give me the answer," he states as he keeps walking on.
"I can find someone on my own," she shouts at her father before she groans as both Lily and Throne walks inside of the house.
"You could not even make that Russo fall for you Gabby" Throne's comment makes her glare his way.
"Rare loves me," she snaps before she goes to walk to where her father went.
"Then why is he marrying someone else?" Throne asks as he wraps a towel around Lily before picking her up in his arms.
"Because he is engaged that has nothing to do..."
"Weird, I would never marry anyone else except your sister the one I love" he replies before leaving Gabby alone.
"Rare...he is just...he is...getting married" she whispers as a frown forms in her forehead in confusion as to what was on going with her all of a sudden.
Gabby stands at the living room of her parent's house staring at the carpeted floor not knowing why were everyone so interested in her and Ricardo's relationship all of a sudden.
Shaking her head, she pulls out her phone and starts to dial Ricardo's number. She waits as the ring goes on before opening her mouth to speak but the voice that greets her was not of the one she wanted to hear the most.
*******
"Gabby, hi" Melissa greets from the other side of the phone with a cheerful voice.
"Hi, where is Rare"
"Oh, he is a bit busy at the moment but if you have something to say you can tell me, I can...oh wait, babe not that one please" she hears Melissa groan before the phone goes silent.
Gabby clutches the phone in her hand tightly as she hears some shuffling and before she knows, her foot starts to move on towards father's study, closing the door she keeps on hearing on the phone as her back is at the door.
"Rick, can you put on a shirt please"
"Why?"
"Rick don't be like that we will be late"
"I don't care I am not wearing one"
"If you are not going to wear it then I will make you"
"No"
"Don't be shy Rick"
"Mel"
"Rick"
Gabby slowly slides down from the door as she bites on her nail hearing the squeals of Melissa before once again there is nothing but silent before she hears it.
"I love you Melissa, now let me get dress on my own," Ricardo grumbles.
Gabby does not even realize that she was crying, hearing them. Yet, she does not let go of the phone while sobbing uncontrollably for reason she has no answers to.
"Precious" Ricardo's voice sounds through the phone and Gabby starts to wail even more.
"Precious, what is it?" Ricardo asks a bit alarmed hearing her cry.
"What is it, Rick?"
"How long ago did she call?" he asks Melissa before once again focusing on his phone.
"Precious, what's going on?" he asks once again as if in hurry.
However, Gabby just keeps on crying not knowing why she was even so emotional or what these feelings were, that alone scared her, so she just cuts the phone and wraps her arms around her knees before she lays her forehead on her arms and keeps on crying at these strange feelings suffocating her.
*******
Gabriel slowly pushes the door before entering it as he stares at his elder child crying her heart out, with a sigh he takes a seat beside her, pulling her in his arms he lets her cry for a while.
"It's just a date, I am not selling you off" he jokes when she quiets down and only her hiccups remains.
"What is going on with me, dad?" she asks wrapping her arms around her father and staring ahead.
"I don't know baby girl, you will need to elaborate it for me"
"Even I don't know dad, even I do not know" she shudders closing her eyes.
"You will figure it out, I know you will. When you do just remember you have a father who is alive and can still kick few asses"
"Thank you" she sighs snuggles closer to his warmth.
*******
Gabby sighs as pulls her bag on her shoulder slowly walking out of her car towards her apartment; it was an emotional day for her. It was actually an emotional week for her, as she has no idea why she felt as if she was staring at her own life from outside.
She could not even understand what she was even feeling these past days, her heart hurt, her head was a mess and her eyes were, swollen from crying. In all her twenty-five years of life, she has never cried for anyone and surely not because of anyone.
The only good outcome from all this was that her father did not teased or asked any questions as she does not think she has in it to reply him back or answer the questions that were in both of their heads.
She sighs once again as she opens her door and enters before she turns to close it, putting her head on the closed door she closes her eyes, as she was that much sad that the idea of getting in the bed was not so exciting.
She gasps at once when out of nowhere someone wraps their arms around her waist.
"Precious" Ricardo's voice makes her turn around in his arms at once.
She stares wide eye at the man in front of her not believing her eyes that it was he.
"Are you okay? What happened...why were you crying?" his question makes her eyes wet and her lips starts to wobble before once again she starts to cry.
Ricardo gets startled as she starts to cry at once and he sighs before he holds her face in his hand wiping her tears.
"I am right here, baby" he coos as he carries her in his arms and walks towards her room.
Getting on the bed Ricardo pulls her on his lap wrapping his arms around her as she keeps on crying. Gabby does not know why seeing him made her emotional even more.
"Who did it?" he asks as he runs his hands on her back.
Gabby just shakes her head no not knowing what or who.
"Are you not even going to tell me?" he asks as he slowly pulls her chin up.
Gabby pushes his hand away not wanting to face him as she wipes her tears and puts her head on his chest.
"Am I now not allowed to even know what is going on with you?" he asks softly as he runs his hand on her hair.
"Did you tell my brothers you will shoot me if I stepped near your house?" she asks sniffing a bit.
"Yes" he sighs before he puts his hand away from her hair as she gets up to stare at him.
*******
"But what I did not tell them is that I would shoot you with a water gun that I have got for us to play when you come to my house"
"You are lying" she sniffs as she keeps on wiping her tears.
"No, I am not"
"Then why are you not signing the treaty"
"That's not important"
"It is to me. My brothers think so bad about you and I wanted to chop their cocks but I was so angry that I could not even see their face" she hiccups.
"I don't care what your brothers think about me"
"But I do"
"So, do I get to know why you were crying on the phone?" he asks as he caresses her cheek.
"I don't know I felt like crying," she grumbles as she pushes the bag she had still tucked on her shoulder and throws it carelessly on the floor.
"Why did you call then?" he asks as he stares at the bag she threw.
"To curse you, why...can I not even call you?" she snaps at him as she pushes away from his lap and moves to pull the bottle of water near her table.
Ricardo tilts his head as he stares at the floor before he gets down and bends to pick up the bag along with the file that came out of the bag.
"What is this?" he asks as he opens the file before frowning.
"Some stupid boys' dad wants me to choose so I can date," she states sipping on the water.
"Date?"
"I don't want to talk about it" she groans as she walks to where he was and wraps from behind him.
"I want to be with you" she finalizes holding him tightly.
"Go freshen up" he states as he rubs her hands before she walks towards the bathroom.
Ricardo stares at the files before pulling out his phone and dialing a number.
*******
"Oh no, not that movie" Ricardo grabs the DVD away from her hand.
"But why not?" she whines as she jumps a bit to get hold of it as he raises his hand up in the air.
"You will get nightmares and will not be able to sleep for nights so no way am I letting you watch it," he warns as he breaks the DVD in two pieces and Gabby gasps in horror.
"You just did not" she covers her mouth with her hands as she dramatically falls on her knees.
"Get up precious"
"You killed him," she wails as she picks the pieces of broken DVD in her hand and glares at him.
"I will not be responsible for the outcome" he sighs as he picks her up before pulling out another horror movie.
Gabby jumps on Ricardo's lap as she covers her face on his chest when the ghost walks out of the television screen.
Gabby shrieks as she hurries to close the T.V. herself before getting back in Ricardo arms to hide.
"That's the fifth movie we closed" Ricardo sighs as he stares down at Gabby who had her head inside of his shirt.
"It had bad music" she shiver poking her head a bit out a bit before once again pushing her head inside of his shirt.
Ricardo just sighs shaking his head as he munches on the popcorn and stares at the blank screen before Gabby finally decides to get out of his shirt.
"I can have some popcorn too" she smiles as before opening her mouth as he takes out a handful of popcorns.
"Where is Bo, tonight?" he asks her before putting the straw of drink closer to her mouth.
"Oh, she has been busy with this new project with Gage, and my asshole of a brother has been yelling and shouting for her to come help him...
He is such a baby," she grumbles before she holds his hand and pulls out her tongue before picking up popcorn one by one.
"What about that Burning train?" he asks as he slowly rubs his lower lip.
"Bernard, I have not seen him maybe he is gone"
"And that party you talked about?" he asks as he grabs the popcorn in his hands once again and letting her eat from his hand.
"Oh it's still on" she shrugs her shoulder before she stretches her body to move past him to grab on the bottle of juice.
*******
"Oops" she grins as her boobs gets, smashed on Ricardo's face.
"You could have asked me to pass it," he grumbles as he rubs his hands through his hair.
"I am sorry okay, it's not my fault if God cursed me with boobs that's bigger than my height or maybe you are just jealous that they are bigger than your dick" she snaps at him offended.
Ricardo narrows his eyes at her hearing her comment.
"What does that mean?" he asks her slowly.
"That I think I am going to sleep alone," she shouts as she gets away from him and gets up.
Ricardo grabs her wrist and pulls her on top of him before holding her tight to him.
"What does that mean Precious?" he asks her once again.
"Well I don't see you holding your cock when you run around or those things hitting on your face and you do not have to wear bra to hold them so" she defends her words.
"It's all in your head, your boobs are not so..." he stops as he stares at her breast before he let her go.
"Big" he clears his throat as he let her go and gets up.
"Asshole" she scoffs.
"Call me names but you are not going to any party with anyone"
"What?"
"Because we are going out on the night"
"No way am I missing that party, you may never know the outcome of the night" she winks playfully while he just turns around ignoring her but she kicks on his ass.
"Oops, did not see you standing there" she smiles tightly as she gets up and walks around the couch to walk inside of her room before she yelps and starts to run around the house as Ricardo growls.
"I am sorry," she screams as she keeps on running around and round the house to run away from Ricardo who follows her.
"Come here" he calls as she shakes her head while slowly walking around the couch.
"Come here, precious"
"No. Please" she whines scared of what he will do if he catches her.
"No" he asks and when she nods, her head yes, Ricardo grins before in a swift movement he jumps off the couch and grabs her.
"That was not fair," she shouts as he throws her onto his shoulder before slapping o her ass.
"I am going to show you fair" he pinches her side as he walks towards her room.
*******
"Sleep" he commands as he covers her up.
"But you were going to show me fair"
"It's late precious, just sleep" he sighs as he pulls her hair way from her face and keeps on running his hands on it.
"You are no fun" she sighs as she pulls the cover over her head and turns around.
"One of us is enough," he whispers in her ear as he kisses on her ear shell.
"Hush, I am trying to sleep," she giggles as she pretends to close her eyes.
"You will never tell me why you were crying will you?" he tries one more time as he lies on the bed besides her.
Gabby silently stays at her side not wanting to be, reminded of that part of the day as now she realizes why she cried.
As now, she understands why she was unbalanced.
How can she be happy when her happiness was away from her side?
"Rare" she calls him without turning around to face him.
"Hmm"
"Please don't leave"
"I won't, just go to sleep"
"Rare"
"Hmm"
"I lo..."
"Sleep precious, just sleep, I am not going anywhere" he wraps his arms around her waist burying his head at the back of her head.
Gabby stays still in his arms before she takes a deep breath and relaxes before closing her eyes waiting for the sleep to take over her.
*******
Ricardo opens his eyes and waits as he hears the sound before slowly pulling her hands from around Gabby. He pulls the cover a bit over her body as he drops a kiss on the back of her head before slowly making his way out of the room.
He makes his way towards where his jacket was before pulling out the gun from it as he slowly makes his way towards the door where the door handle was jiggling as someone was trying to break in.
He slowly stands with his back to the wall before holding the door lock and opening it wide open as he pulls the gun at the intruder.
"Boss" Micah's voice makes his tensed shoulder drop down in relief.
"What are you doing here?" he hisses as he pushes the man out before he shuts the door walking out instead.
"We have been trying to reach you and I had no choice but to come see you myself"
"What for?"
"Your meeting with The Latino's you missed it," he reminds Ricardo who curses as he rubs his hand through his hair.
"Fuck I forgot about it," he curses as he stares at the door behind him.
"You always forget about everything when you are with that girl" Micah dares.
Ricardo's head snaps at his right hand as his eyes blazes in rage before he grabs Micah's jaw and slams him on the wall.
"Never again will you even bring her thought in your head, you hear me" he grits through his teeth as he taps the gun on Micah's temple.
The man nods his head slowly but Ricardo was not done.
"And yes, she is that girl who has the power to make me forget everything and if you are smart you will never tag her as such because she is also the reason I can make the world forget about you...
I will not give another warning to anyone of you; inform everyone this place is out of all of your league and if even one of your shadow drops on her you will wish I have shot you now" he warns as he pushes Micah away from him.
"I am sorry Boss," he states as he bows a little before rushing out of the place.
Ricardo takes a deep breath as he walks inside of the house before locking the door as he throws the gun carelessly on the table before making his way towards the room.
He stands on the door as he stares at the bed where his precious was lying on, sleeping peacefully. Slowly walking to her side, he kneels on the floor as he pulls one of her hand from the cover and kisses the back of it before touching his lips with her finger.
"Goodbye precious" he whispers as he let go of her hand and walk away.