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Archive 13 / gilded-cage
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EnchantedNymph 29-Aug-22 04:24 AM
TW: Violence, blood, organized crime, non-con (possible), substance abuse, mentions of guns, forced relationships, language, (may add more)
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Gustav Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:26 AM
The smell of cigar smoke and leather permeated the air as two men sat, one younger and another older gentleman. Both well dressed to denote wealth as they say across from each other in a decked out office. Pictures lined the wall behind the older one, some were of the younger gentleman, others of a female quite a few years younger. One portrait bigger than the rest held all three as well as a warm looking older woman, a family portrait where the love was clearly evident although each individual held their own air of intimidation. The Underwood family were well known throughout the city, one of the top two echelons in the world of organized crime. Gustav Underwood sat in his office chair, his cigar hand held just a bit from his lips as he released a sigh. His eldest child, Leo sat across from his desk, a look of concern on his face. "What would you have me do, mio figlio?" His free hand ran through his hair, slicking back the pepper gray hair from his face as he stared solemnly as his son. "They have backed us into a corner and if we do not accept the terms..."
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Leo Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:26 AM
"It'll be a bloodbath." Leo finished for his father. His own face scrunched up and he balled his fists up tight. "I understand that father. But Rayne-'' Leo leaned back, straightening as he stared at his father. "She's not involved in any of this. You've said yourself-"
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Gustav Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:26 AM
"That I would not involve her in the family business... I am well aware, son." Gustav took a long drag off his cigar and held the smoke in until it burned his old lungs. Releasing it he continued. "But now, we do not have much choice. I have already accepted the terms. All we can do now is prepare her for what is to come, and pray that it truly will work out in the end. Who knows, perhaps the Torricelli boy will fall for your sister's charms, no?"
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Leo Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:27 AM
"I'm against it." Releasing his fists he stood, he leaned on to his father's desk, his face even more serious now. "The Torricelli, especially their son is twisted." He drew his eyebrows together. "Rayne is like a little bird, if you put her in a cage she'll only rebel, or worse be wounded." Leo pushed off his father's desk and paced the length of the room. "If you'd just give me more time, I can find an alternative means-"
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Rayne Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:27 AM
Knocking on the door lightly Rayne stood bouncing on the balls of her feet. Her father rarely called her to his office and she was curious as to why he had summoned her now of all times. She had just gotten back from a trip abroad with friends and was in a relatively good mood. After a moment of waiting she heard her father's voice through the door. "Enter." Without hesitation she turned the knob and pushed the door open. She was surprised to see Leo there as well and offered both her father and brother a sweet smile. "Papa, Leo. I've missed you!" She rushed to Leo first, her arms snaking around him for a tight hug. He kissed her on the cheek before releasing her so that she could go and greet their father. She went around the desk and placed a gentle kiss on each of his cheeks. Pulling away she stared down at her father. "I was surprised to hear from Lucy that you wanted me to come by after just having returned from Greece Papa, what was so urgent that I couldn't even unpack?"
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Gustav Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:28 AM
"Mia piccola colomba…my little dove" Gustav took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I am glad you've made it home safe." He offered her a warm smile before he snuffed out his cigar. "Now why don't you have a seat? We have much to talk about." He would wait until she did as he suggested and after he saw she was comfortable he would drop the bomb that would change his beloved daughter's future forever. "You are to be married at the end of the month to the youngest Torricelli." (edited)
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Rayne Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:28 AM
Shock rocked through Rayne as she stared in disbelief at her father. "I- What?!" She shot upright, her petite hands slamming down on her father's desk. "Do I not get a say in my own future?" She shook her head, her dyed ash blonde waves shaking side to side. Rage filled her as she stared down her father who didn't so much as flinch from her outburst. "If- If mother were still alive this wouldn't stand... why. Just tell me why my life isn't my own to make?"
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Gustav Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:28 AM
"The merging of the families is the only way to prevent many deaths, dove. If there had been another way I would have exploited it. But these were the terms Torricelli himself had set... Before you throw a fit, why don't you meet with his son. Surely he has some qualities you will find pleasing-" The look on Gustav's face would tell Rayne there was no getting out of this, all of their lives depended on it.
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Rayne Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:28 AM
Pushing off of the desk she ignored the stinging of tears that threatened the corner of her eyes. "It's not like I have a choice, do I?" She scoffed, her arms crossing over her chest as if to protect her from something. "When am I supposed to meet him then?"
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Gustav Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:28 AM
"Tonight, at six sharp. Restaurant La Regina."
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Rayne Underwood BOT 29-Aug-22 04:28 AM
"Fine." Rayne swiveled on her heel and stomped out of her father's office, her eyes meeting with Leo's briefly as she did. She would meet with the man, sure. But he would get more than he bargained for if she had anything to say about it... Just wait Torricelli, I may be a caged bird but that doesn't mean I'll make it easy for you... @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 29-Aug-22 01:53 PM
Niccolò Torricelli, or Nic to his few friends and acquaintances, had no idea of what his night would entail as he stood in front of the mirror, washing his scarred, bruised, and bloodied knuckles in the sink of the old's wash bin of the 56th Street Mechanic's shop. He would look up at his figure, the sweat and motions of his body had turned his hair into a shambled mess. His momma would have been disappointed to see him out in public in such a state. He looked up as the cigarette between his teeth would sprinkle ashes down into the bin before he would take another drag of it before he grabbed it, flicking it across concrete floor of the shop. Turning, his handy work would come into sight. Standing between two of his father's hired goons was Tommy Johnson, owner of the shop, someone who thought it would be fun to play with the Torricelli families money. Both of this arms were tied up to tool racks on either side, however, his beat and battered face looked down at the floor were droplets of blood were beginning to pool below his feet, one of the goons would holler out, "Ha, I bet you didn't think old man Torricelli would send the Torricelli Bastard after you, did ya?" Nic would shoot him a look that would say, shut up or you will be getting what he is getting, before turning back to Tommy, "I think we have an agreement, right Tommy?" he would say as he lifted his head up by what little hair he had on top of it, "You now know that 75% means 75% of the scrap prices, not 25% of the profit. We pay for this shitty property, we want our cut. Understood?" "Understood," the limp and confused voice of Tommy would say, "Just don't hurt me..." "Now, why would I hurt you even more than I have, huh?" Nic would say as he let his head fall, "I think I have made my point. Untie him." As Tommy's body would fall, thudding against the pool of blood, Nic's phone would ring. He groan, but reached into it, seeing Giovanni Torricelli pop up, "Yeah? Okay, I'll be there..."
13:53
@EnchantedNymph
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 29-Aug-22 02:16 PM
It wasn't too long after this conversation that he was in his car and moving towards the destination station. He was never one for fancy rides or spending a lot of money, but the Suburban he got to ride in was a gift from his family when he turned 21. He had maintained it and kept it going ever since. His father had a way of trying to shower him with gifts to keep him in the families circle. He didn't know if it was because he was his son or he did all the dirty work for him. He knew that he wasn't the next in the line of succession for the Torricelli family, but he knew... he would never be accepted as true Torricelli by the family. His mother, a waitress from an old diner in the southside of the city, would become one of this father's favorite 'whores' as his mother would call her, but Giovanni took him like he was full blooded. He showered him with every gift in the world, but regardless of this Nic stayed humble. He would even work with his mother at the diner before it went out of business. He tried to stay loyal to her as well as Giovanni, but his wife, Angelica, would have nothing to do with him. Even go for as to refer to him as nothing but a bastard in her presence, hence the nickname that stuck. It wasn't soon after his 18th birthday that his mother would pass. Cancer. Smoking like she did, it was a wonder it didn't happen sooner. But, his father would take him even closer and embrace him. Even when the wild streaks, fight clubs, and drunken night of bar fights would leave the cops searching up their door step, Giovanni persisted... That was his son. Walking into Giovanni's Fancy Italian Eatery, he was immediately greeted by the little Italian girl at the counter, stars in her eyes as she say Nic, "Hi, Nic," she would say with a smile, "You look great tonight..." "So, do you darlin'," he would say as he would give a simple side kiss to her cheek, her hot skin almost melting under his lips, "Where's pops?"
14:23
"His VIP side, looks like we will be having company tonight..." "Don't I know," he laughed as he began to walk off, "Perfume is nice tonight, keep it up..." Nic would move through the tables of the busy restaurant. While it was named after him, Giovanni kept the place very low profile, however, people raved over the cooking of the chef, his uncle Sal. He would head through the back of the seating area, seeing his father, his step-mother, his older brother Paulie, and younger brother Dean sitting around a table, scattered around where other hired goons that would keep the place secure... "My boy," Giovanni would say as he would stand to greet him with a hug, "Sit, we have much to discuss..." "Hey, pops," Nic would say as he walked up to the table, accepting the hug and then sitting across from his older brother, "What is going on? It is not often we talk with the Underwoods..." "Son," Giovanni said, wiping his face from a drink of wine, "There is no easy way to say this, but you are marrying their daughter..." "What?" Nic would say as he laughed it off, looking around the table before seeing that no one else is joking before adding a more serious, "What? You can't be telling jokes right now, this ain't fucking 17th century Japan. We don't just fucking arrange marriages around here. I don't wanna be fucking married..." He didn't tell an entire truth. He did have dreams of moving on and finding someone that he could settle down with, not do this shit anymore. But, he wanted that choice, not to be mad for him. Before Giovanni could say a word, "Don't talk to your father like that, you bastard," she would add, "He is doing this for the better of everyone here. You two will be married and combine the families..." "What the fuc..." he would say before he was immediately interrupted by the door to the place opening as the Underwood's group would begin to move in.
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Leo Underwood BOT 03-Sep-22 05:56 AM
"Father, I don't like it, they changed the meeting place from somewhere neutral to their own restaurant. And the fact we're going with no more than just a few handful of our men..." He clenched his jaw his right hand in a fist as he rubbed it with his left. Leaning forward in the SUV to rest his elbows on his arms while he looked from his sister who was oblivious to the conversation. She had been upset since she'd found out she would be forced into this marriage, she was only twenty-three for Christ's sake. He darted his eyes back to his father his face set in a scowl.
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Gustav Underwood BOT 03-Sep-22 05:56 AM
"We have set a truce for this meeting. Calm yourself, son. You act like this is some sort of trap for us from the Torricelli. Gio needs this just as much as I do boy, loosen your temper before you upset our piccola colomba, hm?" Gustav leaned back in his seat, his hand moving to stroke his beard as he observed his daughter. She had given him the silent treatment ever since he had informed her of his decision. He could understand her anger but she should know by now that he did everything he could to protect her, and he would continue to still. He himself had heard these rumors about the boy, seen first hand his handy work on some of his men but Gio had swore to him the boy would comply, if he didn't...well he'd go to war and decimate everyone who even thought of harming his precious dove. "Sir, we've arrived." One of his men announced, pulling the black SUV up to the curb of the entrance. The restaurant had several of the Torricelli men standing outside, their guns clearly on display as they straightened up at their arrival. Gustav cleared his throat, tapping his daughter's knee lightly to grab her attention. "Come now dove, time to remove the headphones." He glanced at his eldest and narrowed his eyes. "Remember, best behavior. All of you, hm?"
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Rayne Underwood BOT 03-Sep-22 06:24 AM
Bright eyes looked up from the notebook Rayne had been doodling in, pulling one of her earbuds out of her ear as her father warned them all to be on their best behavior. She didn't like fact that he had decided this for her, all her hopes and dreams for her future thrown out the window all for the sake of the family. Rayne shut her book, sliding it into the back of the chair. Her dark red lips frowned as she looked from her father to Leo, a pleading look in her eyes only to be met with a slight shake of his head. Leo had promised her he would do what he could to stop this, to save her from the darkness that was Niccolò Torricelli. If she were honest with herself she was terrified, having been close enough to those actually in the family business to have heard the rumors and see the aftermath of what happens when one had a run in with Niccolò. Even if he was handsome, there was an air of danger around him that left a bad taste in her mouth. Sure her father and brother had also done unspeakable things, broken the law and done less than pleasant things...but they held a code, and that code seemed to be something that Torricelli didn't seem to follow. Rayne was pulled out of her thoughts by her father as he slid from the SUV first, Leo following shortly after and turning back to offer her a hand. She accepted it, sliding carefully from the seat so as not to expose herself to the men that were watching. The dress she had chosen had been tight fitting, but it made her feel powerful, and she needed all the help she could get as she followed her father and brother into the restaurant. Two of her father's men, Tony and Diego came up behind her. Their large bodies there to offer her a shield should it come to that. She kept her head held high, trying her best to ignore the eyes that were on her and the whispers that were being spoken.
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06:24
"She's the one marrying Nic?" "Underwood trash." "Even if she is an underwood, I'd let her ride-" She could only assume Leo had given the last person a glare that probably made them shit themselves. Good, if he had finished that sentence she'd have gone right up to the disrespectful asshole and kick him in the balls. That wouldn't be following her father's orders... but it'd have felt good. Rayne was pulled from her thought, the imagery having played off in her mind as she almost walked into the back of Leo. It seems introductions were soon going to be made... She took a deep breath, her face going neutral, devoid of anything she was currently feeling. It had been a skill her mother had taught her from an early age, never show your weakness... especially in front of men.
06:25
@Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Sep-22 12:14 AM
Watching the family walk in, Nic would immediate shut his mouth as the group would begin to show their introductions. He knew who Rayne Underwood was, she was a bit of an... attraction... of the Underwood Family. Someone that everyone took notice of when she walked in a room, especially since she was so attractive and just an air of fresh air when she walked into the room, well, until she was telling you to fuck off and kick rocks. Nic would watch as his father would greet the man that he was told he would one day kill, but Nic guessed that wasn't happening now, Leo Underwood. "Gustav," Giovanni would say as he would extend his hands and then arms, shaking his hand and bringing him in for a hug that the families would usually share, "It has been too long, Gustav. We need to stop meeting like this..." His father was always one for bolstering and acting like he was the 'giving' one in the room, but Nic could tell this would not be working with the group that walked through the door. Over the next thirty seconds, the room would feel with even more goons from the Underwood's family, but the main players were all here as they sit around the table, Leo and Rayne Underwood being the last two to make their way to the room. "My God," Giovanni would bolster, "Look at these two! I haven't seen them since they were little meatballs running around. And Rayne, wow! She is a beauty, takes after her mother so much!" Nic would knew he was pushing things right now, knowing the issues that occurred between Mrs. Underwood and the Torricelli family. He stood at the ready in case his father's mouth got them in trouble.
00:14
@EnchantedNymph
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Leo Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 02:54 AM
Leo's kept his face as neutral as he could, his face only slightly in a scowl as the heads of the family greeted each other. His dark blue eyes scanning over the joint in an assessing manor as he crossed his arms. He was still very firmly in front of his sister, or so he thought until he saw motion to his left as she squeezed her way in between him and their father. The fake pleasantries pissed Leo off, but the man started seeing red when the Torricelli head mentioned their mother. He tensed, jaw clench as his trigger finger twitched, ready to pull his glock and straight up put a bullet in the old man's head.
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 02:54 AM
The air in the room was heavy, she could feel it as her father clapped hands with Giovanni Torricelli and was pulled into a hug. The extras on both side seemingly ready at any moment. She hated it, hated all of it and she wished she was still in Italy with Alice and Mia. Rayne had forgotten all of this bullshit and had left it all behind while she was enjoying going back to her roots. She had spent half the summer in Russia where her mother was from, the other half in Italy and she'd loved it. Doing whatever she wished however she wished, not holding her tongue just because a man had told her to... Now? As she stood there and heard Giovanni bring up the one subject no one had the right to bring up? Well fuck that. Sure, Leo had tensed and ready but like the good little soldier he kept his mouth shut. Rayne? Well, she'd already had enough. "I don't see how that's possible Mr. Torricelli, after all Leo and your boys seem to frequently run into each other." She stepped forward, eyeing her father and his hands as they released each other. "Thank you for complimenting my mother and I...not everyone can have good looks." Her eyes ever so slowly slowly turned to look at his wife. She went right back to looking the man in the face, not ashamed of what she'd just said.
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Gustav Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 02:55 AM
Gustav cleared his throat, a dry chuckle coming out of her. "Enough with the pleasantries, should we get this dinner started and discuss the up coming wedding? Hmm?" He placed a hand on Rayne's back, leading her to a chair and pulling it out for her. He was proud of her, but at the same time she needed to watch that dagger of a tongue. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Sep-22 03:02 AM
Nic could only watch the tense moment as he eyeballed Leo, he saw the tense in his body and the tense in his arm as he listened, but it was Rayne who took his attention away from the action in the moment as she pretty much gave it to her father in a very jesty manner. He couldn't help but smirk as he watched her eyes move to his step-mother. If it wouldn't have started an incident, Nic would have rolled in the floor laughing in the moment, but he kept his composure as everyone began to move around the large table in the middle of the room, the heads of both of the families being sat at a table that sat horizonal to the other table that lead into it. Nic would find his way to a seat as far away from the action as possible, but he was unable to sit as he would begin to be motioned to the front of the table. The head where Gustav, Giovanni, Leo, and Rayne would be sat with his family. He sighed as he would move up and see the only two seats left open. One beside of Leo and beside of it one that sat next to his step mother. Both very bad options in the moment. He looked over to see Rayne standing as well, it appears that these final two seats were for them. He would move forward, showing his first gesture of good faith, holding the seat next to Leo out for her, "Here you go, Ms. Underwood," his manners showing in the moment, "Please have a seat..."
03:02
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 03:29 AM
An eyebrow arched as Niccolò pulled out her seat for her. The beast had manners it seemed and she slightly tilted her head as she moved to claim her seat, carefully smoothing out the bottom of her dress over her ass. Not that she had needed to do it. What it did do, was draw the man's attention to her ass which she had did. It was a slight reward for him appreciating what she had said about his step-mother. There was no mistaking that the man had found it humorous.
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Leo Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 03:29 AM
Leo was not happy, sure his sister had defended their mother... but her antics to tease Torricelli... He gritted his teeth, his knee bouncing up and down underneath the table with his nerves. Their father had told him where she was to sit before they had even left home but that didn't mean Leo liked it. In fact, he had half a mind to rip Rayne out of her seat and make her switch with him so that he could be a wall between the two. He didn't want to see the two of them together, that fuckwit didn't deserve his precious sister. No man in this god damned room deserved her. He cracked his knuckles, picking up his wine glass after it was poured and downing it. His eyes darting to the other end of the table where the heads were discussing his sister's doom. He needed to find a way to end this, to wrap up this fucked up farce of a truce...
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 03:29 AM
"Thank you." Rayne stated, her face still even with no show of emotion as the waitress went around filling everyone's glasses with wine. She saw the glance of the waitress towards Niccolò but at the same time she couldn't blame the woman. He was hot, this unseen shield of danger and temptation wrapped up in a neat little package. He was exactly her type, too bad he was part of the business in which she wanted no part of. Leo had promised to find a way.. But here they were, all sitting together, about to eat a meal like they were to be family...which wasn't technically wrong if both their parents had their way. The question was how did he feel about his future being ripped out from beneath him for someone else to decide? Did he hate it as much as she did? Her eyes darted down to his knuckles and she arched a brow. "Fall down the stairs?"
03:30
@Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Sep-22 03:33 AM
"You could say that..." he said with a smile as he looked over at her, before he would reach out to her, extending a hand, "Niccolò..." Of course she knew your name you nitwit, he thought to himself, but he thought it would be nice to actually extend the olive branch for the moment, he wanted to make sure that she knew that he was at least cordial. Rayne and Niccolò had met before, but when they were younger, he was 4 or 5, he had no idea how old she was or if she would even remember him so, reintroductions were in order. "I... I don't know how you feel about this," he would say for a moment as he would talk with her, "But, I just want to say thank you for coming tonight and talking... Seems like they are kinda deadset on this..."
03:33
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 03:56 AM
Rayne took his much larger hand in her own, careful not to touch any of the bruised and scraped parts of his hand. "Right... Rayne." She chuckled, releasing his hand after they had shook hands. Releasing his she moved to pick up her wine glass. Taking a sip of it. It was on the sweet side, fruity with hints of chocolate and she was surprised that she actually enjoyed it. She swirled the red liquid around in her glass as he went on to speak. She kept her eyes on her glass as she nodded, her lips slightly turned down. "What would it matter how I feel? I'm a woman and my feelings aren't important, clearly." She said, taking another long drink from her glass. Her eyes turned back towards him, staring at him like she was trying to assess something. If they'd ever met before she hadn't remembered, being too young at the time to recollect the memory. But she could sense her brother's irritation to her right and she sighed. Leo's temper would come out at some time before this day is over.
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Leo Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 03:56 AM
"I'll fucking give you dead set Torricelli." He mumbled under his breath, his eyes trained on the younger male. If he even so much as sideways glanced at his sister he'd tear him a new asshole. Rayne had narrowed her eyes, glaring at him like he had done something wrong. He didn't understand his sister at all, was she wanting this now or did she still want him to find a way to end things for her? @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Sep-22 04:05 AM
"I'm sorry, I didn't..." he began to apologize before he heard Leo say something. Leo was around Nic's age, the two of them, rival families heir's at this point... Nic had a checked past and that involved Leo's best friend and his now ex-girlfriend. Long story short, Nic beat the piss out of Leo's best friend who happened to be banging Leo's ex-girlfriend. Took the ex-girlfriend and then dumped her because she was a cheating piece of shit. Leo and Nic had shouting matches in clubs all across this town, Leo convinced that he would kill "The Bastard" before anyone else could... "Oh, I am sorry, Leo, couldn't hear ya," Nic would say, "Angela came to my mind and I remembered how much of a pussy goomba that fucker Jason was for fucking her behind ya back. I mean, shit, she wasn't even a good lay..."
04:05
@EnchantedNymph
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Leo Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 04:27 AM
He tensed. At the mention of his ex and his ex-bestfriend... "You fucking bastard." The wineglass in Leo's hands shattered, the wine going all over the white cloth table. He kicked his chair back, moving too quickly for anyone else to stop him as he yanked Niccolò out of his own chair. He grabbed the collar of his shirt and spat in his face as he yelled. "You are shit Torricelli, nothing but trash and like hell you'll lay a hand on my sister!"
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 04:27 AM
She'd turned in her chair, watching the two as they butted heads but made no move to do anything. Instead she sat and sipped from her glass. In the corner of her eye she saw both her father and the Torricelli head stand, both motioning to their own men to break up whatever had started to happen between the boys while they had been discussing. It was almost laughable as she watched the men move forward, Rayne knew it wouldn't be that easy for them to break up the fight. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Sep-22 04:34 AM
As Leo would jump up and grab him by the collar, he would only smirk at him. He had no intentions of making a move towards him in the moment, let him wear himself out shouting and gesturing and then he would walk away, having let Leo blow whatever steam he needed off. However, when he would spit in his face, he took this as a personal insult and that would only fuel a fire that was inside of Nic. He would not be disrespected. Not by this trash that stuck around while his ex banged his best friend and did nothing about it. As he would begin pointing at Nic, Nic would take the opportunity of the pointed finger in his face and bite it. He would rip into the flesh of his finger and once he would pull back, Nic would take the opportunity to drop down and scoop his legs, attempting to slam into the floor or wall.
04:34
@EnchantedNymph
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Leo Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 04:44 AM
This mother fucker had bit his finger. Ripped into the tissue with his fucking teeth like it was just a regular piece of meat and Leo practically roared, pulling his finger free only to have Torricelli slam into him. He could have stopped it, could have flat out put the asshole on the ground before he could even blink. Yet instead, Leo let him run into him, slamming his back into the wall with a very audible thud. The décor that was on the wall shaking and clattering, some even fell to the ground shattering the glass protective cases. Leo lifted his fist, slamming it into the side of Torricelli's head right on his ear. It would disorient the fucker for only a moment but a moment was all he needed as he used both hands, his blooding finger be damned as he pulled the fuckers head down to meet his knee. The men around them were trying to pull them apart but neither seemed to be having it, they were just like gnats buzzing around them.
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 04:44 AM
Rayne raised a hand to a waitress, "Can I get another glass?" A sweet smile on her lips though everyone else's attention seemed to be on the fight.
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Gustav Underwood BOT 04-Sep-22 04:44 AM
"Leonardo Cristian Underwood! Stop right this damn minute!" @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Sep-22 05:36 PM
Nic would take the blews, but he knew that he had inflicted the beginning wounds of the battle. He smiled as the goons would begin to pull them apart, but the two of them continue to fight around them. He looked to the side just in time for the fist of Leo to hit him in the side of the head. It definitely staggered him in the moment, but he was right back up and beginning to move against him, continuing to push him into the wall until Gustav would shout at him stop, "Yeah..." Nic would grunt, "Better listen to Daddy..."
17:36
@EnchantedNymph
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Leo Underwood BOT 05-Sep-22 05:21 AM
"Like you're any better you bastard!" He roared as he lifted his left arm to take another swing at him, this time shooting for Torricelli's gut. He'd barely made contact thanks to one of the Torricelli lackeys pulling him off. Leo didn't let that go though, instead swinging with his right fist right at his jaw.
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Rayne Underwood BOT 05-Sep-22 05:21 AM
The waitress surprisingly came over and refilled her glass and Rayne about cackled with laughter as she quickly scurried away. "Papa, Mr. Torricelli if this is all that's going to go down today I think I'll just head back." She gave both the older men a sweet smile as she slid her chair back. She had just stood up and her father was about to say something when Niccolò threw off one of the men to retaliate against Leo. Everything that happened next happened within the span of three minutes. First, the large goon was pushed into Rayne causing her to drop her wine glass, it shattering all over the floor after the contents of the glass splashed all over her dress. Second, with a swift movement Leo had taught her Rayne managed to drop the goon on the ground, the heel of her shoe digging into the man's crotch and he screamed. Both men stopped their fight then, both heads swiveling in Rayne's direction at the same time as both her father's and Torricelli's. "Fuck. This. Shit. Fuck every single one of you pig headed men and women to fucking weak to do anything but cower in your god damn boots." She lifted her foot from the man's wounded dick now, pointing a look at Niccolò and then at Leo before turning her attention to her fiancé's father. "If this is how things are then the engagement is off. Either get a tighter leash on your son, or really evaluate if you actually want this fucking treaty." She didn't even wait, instead she headed back through the doors they had first come in. It wasn't until she was outside that she took a solid breath. She flagged a taxi and climbed in just as one of her father's men came out. It was the one who normally guarded her, the one who knew the temper she had and whatever other secrets she had. "Not a word." He gave a short nod and climbed in the back of the cab with her, shutting the door before they pulled off from the curb,
05:22
@Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 05-Sep-22 03:22 PM
As she would drop her wine, spilling it on her dress, the crowd would almost gasp in shock. But, when she would turn around, kicking the goon directly in the crotch and then bringing her foot down on him. She would begin to speak and she had full presence of the room, including Nic, at her full attention. Letting them all know that the engagement was off and that he should pull a tighter leash if they wanted the treaty. Nic would smirk, kinda glad to hear someone tell his father off in a way that he wanted too for years. As she would stand and move towards the door, the mood in the room sobered greatly. What was once a tense but jovial party had fallen to a quiet, tense situation. Nic and Leo would be moved to opposite sides of the VIP room, as the meal would continue. It appears that every side of the Underwood family would be trying their best to get a hold of the princess of the family, but it seems no one was able to get in touch with her or her body guard. It wasn't until he had downed his first glass of wine that his older brother Paulie would come over to him, "Dad had a couple of guys follow her to wherever she was going. They gave me an address. Here..." He handed Nic a slip of paper and pushed him towards the door, "Get out of here and make this right, you fucking mammalucco." Nic would almost be pushed out the door by his older brother as he would make his way to the parking lot before he was interrupted by the cute waitress as he began to walk out the door, "Nic, that was craziness, I had never seen anything like that, you fought so hard..." she said as she looked over at him, "I get off in a few minutes if you need someone to tend to your wounds..." If her eyes didn't read 'fuck me...' her words did, but he sighed as he looked over at her, "I think that is not a good idea, bellissima," he said with smile, "Seems like I might be married by the end of the night..."
15:22
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 11-Sep-22 04:22 AM
The sound of bass filled her ears as she glanced around the club, the VIP section had been full and while she could have cleared it out just by her presence that really wasn't what Rayne wanted right in this moment. No, what she wanted was to forget all the idiot hot blooded alpha males in her life for just five minutes. To pretend she wasn't Princess Underwood, the last name held so much power and some responsibility that she had never asked for. She wanted to breathe. "Ray, I don't think you should-" She cut Ivan, the guard her father had apparently assigned to her a glare and he instantly shut his mouth. His eyes scanning the club to see if there was any type of threat. "I think I should get a drink, I think I'll do whatever the fuck I please Iv. Now fucking chill and stop acting like a mafia thug for now. Just....go find someone to dry hump for ten minutes, k?" She gave him a sweet smile that held a bite before she herself turned on her heels and headed right for the bar. "Three shots, whatever the fuck is the strongest." She had wedged her way through some other women who seemed to give her a dirty look but she didn't care. "You got it doll." The bartender winked at her and she sighed, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. When the shots were placed in front of her on a napkin she took each one in rapid fire. The bartender gave her a worrying look but she slid him a hundred and he instantly grinned ear to ear. "Anything else, then?" She shook her head and turned, already the warmth of the alcohol burned it's way down through her system and the nice buzz that accompanied it had hear shiver slightly. Rayne made her way to the center of the dance floor, the beat of the current song was something wild and jumpy and she let herself get lost into the song, the busy floor around her once again filling up with men and women all looking to lose themselves to their vices. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 13-Sep-22 04:25 AM
As the sound of the bass boosted in his ear, he would enter the club. One that he had frequented multiple times as well, but tonight he came here with a different intention, he needed to apologize and make sure that she knew he was sincere about it. He didn't want to do this either, but it seems like they were both stuck with it. They needed to make the best of it. Maybe they could find something to like about one another. He would step through the lobby as the coat check girl would greet him with a nod and him as well. He would find the dance flood. The club was a little different as you entered from the top of the club then would descend to the dance floor. There were drinking areas in both sides and a VIP section that was pinned off in a less noisy area of the club. he would find a guardrail off the top of the floor and look down into the club area below. He began scanning the VIP section, assuming that she would be there first, but she wasn't. He looked around the drinking area, and no one to be seen there either, but he did see some Underwood thugs that had been there earlier. She was here... He would finally spot her. She was in the middle of the dance floor and she was definitely getting lost in the music and the dancing in the moment. He smiled. She was having a great time and he did like seeing that at least, but business called. He would step down a spiral staircase that led to the lower floor and then move onto the floor. Snaking between dancers as sweat seem to be flying on the floor, he would finally make it over to her, "Rayne!" he would say, trying to speak over the music, "Rayne! We need to talk...!"
04:25
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 14-Sep-22 07:16 AM
Her eyes had been closed, the flashing of the neon strobe lights pulsing with the beat of the music. One of her hands raised in the air as her hips swayed. The fabric of her dress was smooth against her skin and Rayne would really enjoying being swallowed by the thumping of the music. The bodies of the other dancers surrounded her and she was no longer an Underwood, she was just another hot drunk chick dancing and having a grand time. She hadn't heard Nic as he approached and as he came up to be right beside her she had spun, her eyes opening to fall on the handsomely rugged face. Though her eyes were alight with joy a frown instantly formed on her face as she realized Torricelli was before her. 'Rayne! We need to talk...!' She shook her head, her pale waves of hair swaying as she moved to wrap her arms around his neck. Rayne pulled him against her, her hips grinding into him in tune with the current song the dj had thrown on. She dug her nails into his neck and pulled his face down beside her. "I don't want to talk, Torricelli." Rayne released him then, spinning back around and both of her hands flying into the air until she let them slowly trail back down the length of her body in the sensual dance she had begun before he had arrived. She wouldn't let him kill the mood she was in. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 14-Sep-22 07:30 AM
As she reached up into him and began to grind away at him, he wouldn't lie and say he didn't enjoy. As a matter of fact, feeling her body pressed up against him was the only reason he had stuck around in that moment. The way her nails dug into his neck turned him on in a weird way that he had never felt before, but to just feel her on him. It was almost intoxicating. But, the disrespect that followed, her moving away when he attempted to talk to her. She made it clear that she didn't want to talk to him... Maybe she wanted to do something else... He looked around the dance floor, he would have to have the right moment to make this move. He couldn't help but feel like if her bodyguards seen this next move that he would be shoot in the head or guns would start blazing at least. He would follow her for a moment, watching her guards who seemed to be just sitting around or enjoying the music... or ladies around the bar... He would walk up and with one swoop, his large hand would grasp the back of her neck, gripping her and turning her entire body towards him in fell swoop. As his head would land near his lips as he leaned into her, "Then don't talk, dance..."
07:30
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 15-Sep-22 04:55 AM
She hadn't expected him to follow after her, but she had barely been able to make it off the dance floor before she felt his hands on the back of her neck. She sucked in a breath as he spun her into him, his grip still holding her there. The song changed and Rayne pressed into him, her hand placed against his chest as she led him back to the middle of the dance floor. "Good." There was a spark in her eyes as they danced, their bodies grinding into each other like they didn't actually loathe each other. The music loud in their ears as the group on the dance floor filled in the gaps around them and Rayne gave him a mischievous grin before she turned around in his arms. Her ass pressing into him as her right hand moved to wrap around the back of his neck. Her left arm moving to grab his and lead him down her body until it rested on her hip. Rayne couldn't deny the heat of him felt amazing against her back, the smell of his cologne intoxicating. Tilting her head slightly up her eyes landed on his jaw and she bit her lip. Already she could feel the affects of the shots coursing through her veins and making her want to nibble that perfect jawline of his. She shouldn't want to do that, but as her eyes drifted closed all she could picture was them wrestling out of their clothes and having their way with each other. She was supposed to loathe the man at he back, to feel the anonymity her brother had. Rayne was an Underwood, and Nic was a Torricelli. Whether their father's wanted this to work or not this wasn't what she wanted, was it? She spun in his arms again, her chest pressing into his own as her hands moved to grip his chin. She forced him to look at her before she pulled him down, her tongue darting to trace his bottom lip. "You shouldn't have come, Torricelli..." She released his jaw then, pushing him backward with her other arm before she turned and headed off the dance floor and towards the VIP section. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 15-Sep-22 05:01 AM
"Why shouldn't I have?" Nic asked the question as he felt her body spin and twirl against him. He was doing the small lifting of this dance as she almost rode around him on the wave of the music. He couldn't helpo but feel the arousal of their bodies rubbing against one another so tightly. Her perfume, the alcohol, the vibrations of the music. All of them intoxicating and dragging him further and further into a hold she would have on him. "We need to start over," he said in her ear with a bit of a louder tone over the music, "That person in the restaurant, that is not me..."
05:01
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 15-Sep-22 09:14 AM
She stopped and turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "You don't honestly think I'll believe that, do you?" Rayne fought the urge to laugh as she turned and began leading him to the VIP area again. Once they were there she stared at the seven or so people that were currently enjoying the closed off area. "Get out." The group stopped whatever it was they were currently doing, whether that was drinking or drugs Rayne could have cared less. The looks they gave her however irritated her as one of the men spoke up. "Yeah? And who are you to make me, princess?" Inhaling a breath Rayne crossed her arms. "I said get the fuck out before I make you." Recognition crossed one of the other guys faces and he slid his woman off of him, mumbling something in the other guys ear and he paled instantly. "My bad, Ms. Underwood." He turned and pulled at one of the girls. "You heard her, lets go." Once they were alone Rayne grabbed Nic's wrist and pulled him in, closing the velvet that kept others away. She ignored the looks of her father's men as they sought her out and turned her attention to Nic. The music wasn't so loud here so they could actually hear each other. "I've heard enough about Niccolò Torricelli to know that that is exactly who you are." She picked up the opened bottle that the previous group had left and took a deep swig off it. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 17-Sep-22 04:46 AM
Watching her take command of the room almost sent a shiver of arousal up his spine, he couldn't help but grin and watch her clear the room with only her voice. The room clearing out on the mere mention of her name, which he didn't have to say a word about his. He liked that. He watched as she drug him by his wrist into the room, not resisting in the moment as she sat them down in the room and pull the velvet curtains closed. He smiled as she sat and looked at him, "Yeah, you know Niccolò Torricelli, the Torricelli bastard, right?" He would walk over and reach down, gripping the bottle from her, looking to steal a drink as well. If she would relinquish, he would take a deep swig as well and hand it back to her before sitting beside of her, "But, do you know anything about Nic Reid, the guy I was before the king of the Torricelli name found me?"
04:46
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 19-Sep-22 03:46 AM
She relinquished her hold on the bottle of what appeared to be Russian Vodka, her eyes following the movement of it as he took a swig of it before handing it back. Rayne took one of her own and eyed him from the corner of her eye as he took a seat next to her. "Nic Reid?" She knew that he was the bastard son, but she hadn't been interested enough before to find out any more about the man at her side. "What's so different about the you before versus you now? It would make no difference." Rayne took another swig of the potato based vodka and sighed, her eyes closing a moment as she let the alcohol burn down to her gut. "Who you were in the past was then. It's what you've done since that is who you are now." She turned her eyes on him and shook her head, her feet moving to rest on the table in front of the couch they were sitting on. "Like for example, you fucking my brothers girlfriend, and beathing the shit out of his best friend. I understand why Leo hates you. It's honestly not my problem but do you really expect me to believe you're some good hearted man?" To emphasize her point she moved and lifted his hand, his torn up knuckles still held some blood but there were older cuts on his hand. "This right here tells me you are exactly who I think and I have no time for this kind of shit." @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 19-Sep-22 07:16 AM
He would let her talk and continue to ask her questions, making her comments, not interrupting, even though he really wanted too. "The whore and his ex best friend, that is a story that I won't even pretend that you actually know. You can ask your brother on that one," he would say, leaving that one addressed as he would continued, "But the person I was before all of this, that is who I want to be, Nic Reid..." He sighed as he looked down at the knuckles and scars she eluded too, "This is what Giovanni made me... He made me his puppet and his 'bad man,' and I can't lie and say that I didn't go with his plans. I wanted his approval, but it is definitely not what I want to be." He looked over at her, "This is bigger than that, this is bigger than the both of us, Rayne..." he looked down at the floor before he steadied his breath, "I don't want to do that anymore. I don't want this anymore... and I have a feeling you don't want this anymore. You don't want the families fighting, not that you care about the wills of weak men, but you care about your family and I care about mine. I don't want to worry about the two sides having to hurt or hunt one another."
07:16
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 20-Sep-22 07:46 AM
She opened her mouth to tell him she probably knew more about it than he did but shut her mouth with the bottle of Vodka. That wasn't her business to tell and she didn't want to out Leo, especially to someone that he viewed as an enemy. Hearing him claim to want to be the man he was before...tugged at a part of her heart that she didn't want to openly admit so instead she turned to watch him, to try and pick up if he was indeed telling the truth or not. He was right, this...whatever it was was bigger than either of them and even if she didn't like him or want this there was no denying she wouldn't do anything for her family. Rayne was selfish, but she wasn't dumb... Not when this union would stop so much possible bloodshed on both sides. "I do care about my family..." She agreed, her pale bleached hair bobbing as she nodded her head. "Do you really think that marrying me will let you be Nic Reid? That your father will just magically put all the mafia shit behind him? The Underwood's and Torricelli's aren't the only ones out there and if anything... I'm sure your father's grip on you would only tighten." @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 22-Sep-22 11:02 PM
"That is kinda what I am hoping for, Rayne," he said with a look of intensity in his eyes, "I don't share this with you softly as I know you can easily run back and let your goons know this. Let your father know this, hell, let my father know this. But, I feel like I can trust you. If I can't, then I will just do the grunt work needed to get me out of the hole again. Won't be the first time, won't be the last..." He would reach over, seeing if she would actively let him drink from the bottle again, if she did, he would take another swig and hand it back before he would sigh and begin to speak again, "For the last couple of years, I have been working by way up the ranks of the family, trying to find myself in the positions that my brothers are. I want to run this family... Not for power, glory, money, or fame, but protection... Protecting this town and people that I love so much. It is not anything about the money, fame, or anything like that that drives my actions. It is about what can I do to get to the position where my next move and this families next move is a positive one. And I think you are that way too. I had a lot to think about on the car ride over and seeing the way that you interacted with your family and stories I have heard. You don't want that either, at least the money and power side of it."
23:02
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 28-Sep-22 04:56 AM
Why Nic felt like he could trust her was beyond Rayne but she kept her mouth shut, curious as to what he was going to say. When he reached over for the bottle she willingly let him take it, figuring he needed the liquid courage. What left his mouth were words she hadn't expected to hear and her face said as much as she turned to stare at him. The silence between them was almost deafening as the bass of the music filled the air. The Torricelli wild mutt wanted to be normal? That...was not something. "You realize that your hands will only have to get more dirty before they can be clean?" What he wanted to achieve was not going to be easy. There was no way everyone would just accept changing their ways because of one man... "The Torricelli's and Underwood's have their dirty hands in so many things. Blood being among the top." Rayne shook her head and took the bottle back from him, taking several deep drinks from it before setting it back on the table once it was affectively empty. "Your oldest brother specifically will not bow willingly." @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 29-Sep-22 12:40 AM
"They can't get no dirtier than they already are," he would respond to her comment about this getting dirtier before he could clean it up, "But, to get better, we have to make sacrifices we don't want to make... Lord knows I have done that enough already..." He would sigh as he looked down at the ground while she commented that his oldest brother, Paulie, would not bow down easily, "Nor will his mother, but it is something that we will have to get around in due time. I have plans, and they are not gonna fuck up those plans." His figure grew dark as he fell back in the couch, the light of the room seeming to drain from his face as he looked up at her again from his spot in the shadows, "The real question is, do you want the same thing? Do you want to make this happen? If not, please, tell me. I will walk away right now and you will hear nothing else from me..."
00:40
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 30-Sep-22 07:31 AM
She couldn't help but stare at him with a look half of nonbelief and the other half hopeful. "I'm-" Her brows furrowed. Running a hand through her hair Rayne turned her body so that she was facing him. "If you really mean it... then okay." Would Leo have a problem with it? Her father? There was no telling but if the two of them could shake the very foundations of what made their families...it was only their doing. They had wanted this engagement, to unify the families and come what may they were the ones who had set things in motion and only time would tell how it would affect each and every one of them. Rayne held out her hand offering it for Nic to take. "You're going to have to let me handle Leo, you two..." She shook her head. "No more of that shit from earlier or so help me God I will do to you what I did to the goon." She warned before picking back up the bottle of alcohol and finishing it off. "Now, want to get out of here? Or do you want to go dance?" @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 01-Oct-22 06:10 AM
"I didn't start tha..." he would begin to say before he stopped himself and looked over at her, "I will make sure it is handled, no more brawling... There is issues there." He would watch her finish the bottle of liquor off, just chugging it down like the true party girl she was to the rumors, but he could tell there was something in that. A sadness, a need to forget, or something else, he couldn't tell, but there was a story behind that ability to drink. When she asked what he wanted to do, "I feel like I have done enough decision making, poor decision making at that. You can choose and I am right behind you..."
06:10
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 04-Oct-22 03:25 AM
"Issues is an understatement Nic." Rayne scoffed and gave him a stern look. "You would have both killed each other if no one had stepped in. Don't deny it." Hearing him give her the options on what it was they were going to do Rayne's eyebrow rose but she didn't say anything at first, instead she stood and held her hand out for him to take. "Come on then." She would wait for him to take her arm and once he did she would lead him around the edge of the club, her eyes on the goons at the bar. It wasn't that she didn't like having the protection but ever since she was a little girl and had been kidnapped... she'd always felt like a bird trapped in a cage and as she grew and that fear had begun to dissipate she became bolder, braver in trying to escape their watchful eyes all the time. One could say she was an expert at it. Once they were near the back exit she felt eyes searching, could hear one of them shouting about how she couldn't be found. Swearing under her breath she pulled Nic against her as she leaned on the wall, pulling his face down against hers in a not so chaste kiss. The hallway was dark enough they couldn't tell it was her, and the back of Nic's head did it's job at hiding her face perfectly. For a moment she forgot what the objective had been, her tongue slipping from her lips to force it's way into his mouth. A small groan leaving her at how perfect he tasted. She was getting lost in the feel of it, the way his body molded against hers after the initial shock wore off. IT was only until Iv was heard swearing loudly, pulling out his phone and barking orders in it to find Rayne. As he headed the opposite direction of where the two currently were she broke the kiss, pushing Nic back so that she could push herself off the wall, her hand still in his while she pulled him out the back door and into the alleyway. "We have about two minutes to get the fuck out of here before they come check back here." @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 04-Oct-22 08:40 PM
As he watched her stand and extend his hand, he rose with her and watched as she began to move through the club like she had done this a thousand of times before. Little did he know what the next few moments would entail as he was almost dragged along the outside of the dance floor, edging long the club as they would seem to be leaving. He watched her peak around every area of the bar, he wondered why she was doing this, but soon seeing the guards begin to panic and not know where she was, he couldn't help but smirk a devious smile, finding him sneaking around like in his teenage years before all of this... As they found themselves moving towards the back exit of the club, he could feel a giddy childlike behavior sneaking out as a giggle would escape him as she swore under her breath before she grabbed him by the neck and pulled him into her. The moment felt intense as he pushed his body into the sensual form in front of him. His ever certain motions seemed to be interrupted by this abrupt action as he was uncertain of what to do in the moment. However, feeling her tongue slip between his lips and the groan from her lips. It pushed him into a mindset that would not help either in the moment. He would push into her a little harder and let his tongue escape his lips to meet hers, but when she would pull away suddenly, it was like a shock to the system that he didn't realize would... hurt... like it did. He didn't know why the kiss, but he was sure that something was behind it other than hiding from guards. "We have about two minutes to get the fuck out of here before they come check back here." "Let's get the fuck out of here then," Nic would say before he would head to the door that was behind him, the door lead through a kitchen/cellar area of the club, "This way..." The protests that were heard were quickly quailed with ohs and ahs from the waiters, who were interested to see why the two were together.
20:41
Another door on the opposite of the cellar area, he would push them through the door with a smile, "My car is right over there, come on..." He would reach for her hand and begin to lead her to the exit vehicle.
20:41
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 06-Oct-22 07:57 PM
When Nic took charge of where they were going Rayne felt an unfamiliar feeling course through her veins. Her heart practically skipped a beat like a teenage girl when he reached behind himself to take her hand. His hand was warm, roughed up and calloused but she wasn't sure from what and she found herself liking the feel of just how much bigger his hand was than hers. Her eyes traveled up the length of his arm to stare at the back of his chaotically done hair. How it managed to say still yet look like he'd just woke up made her wonder. If he had turned to glance at her Nic might have witnessed the slight color on her cheeks but she hoped he didn't. It made her feel vulnerable and Rayne never wanted to be vulnerable again... Not after what happened to her back in high school... At her less than pleasant memories struggling to the surface Rayne tried to focus on the feel of his heartbeat against the tips of her fingers she felt as she continued to hold his hand as he pulled her in the direction of the vehicle. Her bottom lip being claimed by her teeth to be chewed in her moment of anxiety. What was this man doing to her? Was this even a good idea? He was only holding her hand and yet... Rayne shook her head, pulling her hand out of his as they arrived to his car. She moved to the other side and chanced a look behind her. Ivan, her bodyguard, popped out of the alley opening they'd just vacated and she swore under her breath as his eyes met hers for the briefest of seconds. "RAYNE! YOUR FATHER WO-" She didn't even wait to hear the rest of that sentence. As soon as Nic unlocked the doors she hopped into the passenger seat and shut the door. Adrenaline now coursing through her. "Go! Ivan's right there!" She pointed behind them and sure enough the large male was making his way across the street, an annoyed look on his face as he started to yell into his phone. Clearly her ignoring him had pissed him off. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 06-Oct-22 08:54 PM
Running through the alley off the club, feeling her hand in his, he couldn't help but feel the giddy like feeling of a teenager sneaking out and doing something that he shouldn't be doing, but the problem was that he was doing just that... Something that he might not need to be doing right now... He turned to look and make sure she was still following willingly and he saw rosiness to her cheeks as they ran and he attributed it to the rushed nature of things, but was she really enjoying this? As the duo would hear the alarmed calling of her bodyguard, or at least one of them, a big one at that, he would snicker to her like a school kid, "Come on," he said with a laugh in his voice as they piled into the car, "Let's go. Rushing through a fenced in area that was near the club, he would hit the ignition to the car, putting it into drive and the two would quickly spin the gravels of the small area and pull out into traffic, moving towards... Somewhere. He would look back behind him to see if anyone was following, a natural habit at this point, finding no one there, he would laugh as he looked over, "Wow... That was fun... What now?"
20:54
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 12-Oct-22 04:37 AM
A genuine laugh echoed in the small space of Nic's car. Rayne glanced behind them as he took a sharp turn and Ivan was no longer in view. The instant relief she felt was like a breath of fresh air, one that was thanks to a Torricelli. Something she never thought she would feel yet here she was... "I have no fucking clue." Another laugh left her lips as she wiped at her eyes. "We didn't get to eat...want to hit up a fast food joint or something? I could use something in me besides the level of alcohol currently in my veins..." She rested her head against the back of the seat, her eyes closing for a moment as she let herself catch her breath. Rayne hadn't felt this alive in awhile and she honestly wanted to feel more. "You know what, why don't you show me the day in the life of Nic Reid? I'd like to get to know my future spouse..." The last word felt weird on her tongue. She was young and she hadn't seen herself going down this path anytime soon if ever, yet she couldn't deny the conversation the two of them had had in the club and she wanted to learn more. She knew what it was like to be judge just by having a well known and feared name. No, Rayne would give Nic a chance and once she formed her own opinion... Only then would she know if this was going to be a good idea or the end of everything. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 12-Oct-22 07:03 PM
The suggestion of food actually involuntarily made his stomach rumble with much delight. He couldn't remember the last proper meal that he had that wasn't beer, cigarettes, or something quick out of a vending machine. He would look over at her with a smile, "Food would be great," he said as he nodded, knowing the just the place to go as he began making turns around the city, "A day in the life of Nic Reid... That might not be suitable for a Mafia princess like yourself." He joked with her, his half cocked smirk pointed at her after the comment. As he would begin to move closer and closer to Dolly's Diner. A little diner car that was set up in the middle of a park in the city. It had several little booths and a table at the front that you could eat, some of the best burgers in town. He would continue down the street, "You know your father is gonna kill you for all this..."
19:03
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 12-Oct-22 11:42 PM
"And what exactly would make it not suitable for me, rabid dog?" Her quip of a nickname wasn't one she liked using, but she loathed being called princess and she had every intention of letting him know it. Her bratty response almost immediate without even much thinking. As he drove she wondered where exactly he was taking her but kept instead of asking like she wanted to she would let it be a surprise. The drive didn't take them terribly long and as be began to slow to find a parking spot she thought about his statement. Her head shaking side to side. "He's used to my antics. I know my father can be a scary man to a lot of people, but with me he's like putty because I resemble my mother so much..." Rayne shrugged once they were parked. The actual park looked decently busy, families and people with their pets all enjoying the warm evening air. "Out of all the places to eat...you bring me to a park?" She looked over at him as she made her way around the car, her eyebrow arched perfectly with her question. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 12-Oct-22 11:53 PM
Stepping out of the car, he would smile at her comment, "It was my mom's old diner," he said with a hushed tone as he looked up at the sign, "She was a waitress here until she passed." Walking up to the front door of the diner, he could see that the usual staff was there, so when he opened the door, they were both greeted with large Italian accents hollering out for Nicky as he walked in, "Nicky! Momma mia! Look at you! I ain't see you here this late in a dogs age!" said an older Italian woman with black hair and short stance, "Come sit, sit at the bar, I wanna hear about everything that is going on with you and your pops!" As she would turn and see Rayne, she would, "Oh my, and who is this pretty little cup of marinara? I bet she is spicy too, huh? Let get a look at you, honey... Wait, you are the Underwood girl, right? Oh, Nicky... You know your dad..." "He knows, Nance, he knows," he would commend as he would roll us eyes, "Can we get some food going were starving?" He would give her a gentle hug as she would small and move out behind the counter as a big dark skin chef in the back would wave, "Nic, how's things?" "Good, Sal," he would say with a smile, "How's Marie?" "Fuckin' pain in my ass," he said with a laugh, "But, I love her." "Here's some menus, kids," Nance would bring over, "Take your time, I gotta clean up Vince out of here..." As soon as she would step away, she would hear the little old lady begin to cuss, "Vince, you meatball, get the fuck outta here, and don't think of throwing up on my floor..."
23:53
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 14-Oct-22 12:58 PM
Out of all the things that he could have shown her, she hadn't expected him to take her somewhere so close to his heart and she had to give him a curious look as they made their way inside. The decor was... nothing like any of the restaurants she'd ever been in before, showing her just how right he had been. She'd been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, nothing but the best and most expensive. But that didn't mean she didn't like the feel of the place, and the smell was...mouth watering to say the least. Her hands were in the pockets of her coat as Nic was greedy by a woman even shorter than she was, though Rayne wondered if they were the same height if her heels weren't on. Being called a cup of marinara sauce...was... Rayne bit her tongue to cover the grin that wanted to spread across her face. While her mother may have been Italian her father was very much Russian and she of course took after the Russian side more than anything with her paler complexion among other things. "Underwood girl indeed." She broke into a smile for real then, she most definitely was spicy though she didn't want to tell the woman than. "It's nice to meet you." Rayne said as she accepted the menu before the woman sauntered off towards the man named Vince. Rayne let Nic lead her to a booth and slid in, observing the menu though most of her true attention was on him and how relaxed he looked as he settled into the booth seat across from her. "So...what's good here?" @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 18-Oct-22 12:39 AM
"Take your pick," he would say with a giggle as he found his seat on the bar of the diner, offering her a hand up first and let her sit before he did, "Burgers, fries, philly cheese, hell, they even do a good fried chicken. Sal can make a do just about anything on this menu or if you got an idea, he will try that too." It wouldn't be too long after they sat and looked over the menu before Nance would come back to them after kicking the drunk out of the diner, "Sorry about that, kids," the small woman said, her head and shoulders just high enough to see over the diner's bar area, "So, Nic, the usual?" "Actually think I am going to go with something different today," he would say with a smile, "Feeling spicy..." "Oh, you hear that Char..." she would say looking up at a picture that hung above the kitchen station, "Ya boy wants to be spicy today. What can I get you, spicy boy? Seems like you already got the hottest thing in the room on your hip right there." She nodded over at Rayne and gave her another smile, certainly trying to butter her up and play up her excitement for him bringing a girl in, before Nic would add, "Let's do a philly cheese, hold the peppers and onions, instead give me pepperoni and mozzarella, add a little marinara on that, would ya?" She gave him a raised eye brow, "Sal, can yo..." "I heard him, Nance, we can do it," Sal would say before they could even finish. "Sounds good then," Nance would say scribbling it down, "And for you, Ms. Underwood?"
00:39
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 18-Oct-22 01:21 AM
Him telling her to order pretty much anything on the menu wasn't helpful at all, and despite her beast efforts Rayne felt out of her element in this unfamiliar territory. Her eyes scanned the menu only to pause as he placed his own order. It sounded ouandish but also had her interest peaked, though she would never order something like that for herself. When Nance turned towards Rayne she purse her lips to the side and took another glance at the menu. "The chicken parm sounds good I think. Can i get a glass of coke as well?" She gave a small smile, her cheeks tinged slightly pink from the woman's earlier comment about her being spicy. "Ah, and you can just call me Rayne..." She handed Nance back the menu, shifting in her seat to get a better look at the portrait on the wall that had been indicated earlier. When Nance left to go about her work and leave the two alone once again Rayne nudged Nic's arm. "Is that your Ma?" @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 18-Oct-22 01:54 AM
"Sure, darlin'," she would say as she would start to move towards the diner's drink machine, "Mello yellow for you, Nicky?" Nic would just shake his head as he smiled at her. As Rayne began to ask about the photo, he couldn't answer before Nance interrupted again, "Rayne, sweetheart, how sweet you want your Coke, we do the syrup and soda water on our Coke. Owner likes to keep things old fashioned..." He would laugh as he waited for her to answer her and then he would turn back to her, "Yep, that's her..." The picture was of a younger looking, blonde, obviously dyed with dark roots showing, with blue eyes and wide grin. It was a candid shot as she looked to be holding two plates of food and smiling with an old man... Very familiar to Rayne. "Wonderful lady..."
01:54
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 20-Oct-22 06:39 PM
"GG?" Her eyebrows scrunched together as she stared at the photo. His mother was standing beside a man Rayne hadn't seen since her last year of high school. She sucked in a breath and turned to face Nic, her hand moving to tug on his arm as she pointed at the gray-haired man in the photo. "How does your mom know GG- i mean my nonno Aldo?" Her lisp were turned down in a frown. The feuds between the Underwood and the Toricelli's had been going on for at least three generations so the picture...the smiles they both held made Rayne wonder if that meant Nic's mother had known hers before she had passed... @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 20-Oct-22 11:13 PM
Nic would look back at her when the tug of the arm came, he smiled over at her, but her question and wording left him quiet for a moment. Not from the questions matter, but the word nonno, he had never heard that before, but he assumed it meant someone close, "From what I understand, that was the father of a friend who also worked in the diner before... or who had frequented it often, I am unsure... but, my mother was friends with this lady. I have never been able to get her name as no one who was working there during that time seems to remember. Nance and Sal here were only here for the end of my mother's life, so they had no idea." He looked back up at it, looking the photo over for a moment, but a flicker of a memory would click around him for a moment, "Back when arcade machines were big, we have a Mortal Kombat machine in the back of the arcade. I remember he use to tell me after he gave me a couple of quarters to play it, "Don't be like your father, use your violence on this..." I guess he knew who my actual dad would be..."
23:13
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 25-Oct-22 05:00 AM
Hearing Nic's story raised many questions in Rayne's mind and an outlandish thought popped inside her mind. Could the woman he had been trying to find have been her mother? Her Nonno always told her stories of her mother before. But she'd never heard that she had been friends with a Torricelli... No, that'd have been absurd, surely. Mentally shrugging her thought away she gave Nic a short nod. "Well, maybe I can help you find her? Or at least...try I guess." She stared at Nic from where she sat as he stared at the photo of his mother. "I just mean, I know which retirement home GG is in... I could...introduce you two? He might have the answers you're looking for?" She ran a hand through her hair and physically shrugged at Nance brought them their drinks. She offered a smile in thanks and grabbed the straw that was offered, opening it and instantly putting it in the Coca-Cola glass. @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 25-Oct-22 09:51 AM
When she revealed that she knew where he was and what nursing home, Nic almost lit up, his smile widening bigger than she may have ever seen before, "That would actually be fantastic," he said, but the smile would fade after a thought, "I doubt the old man would even know who I was and if he was your grandpa, that would mean he was a..." His eyes widened as he looked over at her, "Did your GG or NoNo or whatever, did he run the family? Was he involved in that stuff too?" He looked at her intently in the moment, nothing else mattering to him more than her answers in the moment. His hand would reach up and swoop his long black hair out of his face again as he would lean to the bar, his hand up and holding his chin as he listened.
09:51
@EnchantedNymph
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Rayne Underwood BOT 25-Oct-22 10:43 AM
Rayne's eyebrows scrunched up. "It's Nonno GG. The GG stands for Guiseppe Gastaldelli, and no. He isn't... in the business. Never had been as far as I am aware. He..." She shook her head. "That isn't a conversation for here and not one I can have with you as of right now. But yes, I can introduce you to him no problem. As for if he would remember you...I can't say one way or the other." She swirled her straw around her drink and thought back to the last time she'd seen him before she had went abroad for the year. Her heart ached and she rubbed at her chest a moment. "I was actually planning on going to see him soon now that I am back in the states..." Her bright eyes moved from the ice in her glass to his ruggedly handsome face. One she had wanted to punch for so long yet now... She had to be honest she was starting to see him differently. "You busy tomorrow?" @Jake
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Niccolò Torricelli BOT 27-Oct-22 03:11 AM
"Not that I know of," he would say with a smile as he looked over at her, his mind racing with the ideas of what they could remanence about or even figure out, "As for business talk, we will save it for later in private..." He looked down at the drink in front of him and took a small sip of it, enough to wet his mouth before he looked back over at her, "Rayne, tell me more about you..." he would lean over again on his hand like he was before, "You are a guarded secret, all I hear is mostly rumors that I assume are false..."
03:11
@EnchantedNymph
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