Oh, Marcel does own a brothel, Arianna found out when Chelsea told her and her hope was dashed.
To be precise, the Luciano family owns it. Marcel might be the head of the clan but he doesn’t run everything and family members took up various spots they could lay their hands on. In one word, the Luciano family does every illegal business one could think of, all except human trafficking and drugs.
The drug business was quite lucrative yet dangerous. You can’t sell what you don’t taste. Most drug families end up miserably and turn on each other in the end thanks to the addiction.
But as evil and competitive as the Luciano family was, they still valued their blood.
Yeah, shocking, right?
And as for trafficking, their conscience comes to play as well.
“What about Ashley and Rose?” Arianna inquired about the two other girls. Three of them had been her companion during her stay with Big Joe.
“Well, Ashley is one lucky bitch, got married to a rich guy and they moved away already. As for Rose, she went down to the countryside to take care of her grandmother. She wants to live a quiet life now.”
“That’s good. At least, they live a better life now, ” Arianna was relieved by the news.
She had never once stopped thinking about the girls since leaving the Red Giant and often wondered if they got out too. Her wedding had been nothing but blood and chaos. Aside from fighting for her life – and killing Cassie and Kenith – she didn’t have time to think about them before she was captured by Marcel, again.
“I should warn you though,” Chelsea suddenly said, surprising her.
“What is it?” Arianna was held in suspense.
“The disaster at the wedding tore the gang apart and there was a fierce power struggle about who would take over with both Big Joe and Kenith gone at the same time. However, I heard rumors that the gang is under new leadership, and though their influence is not as strong as it was in their past, however, you are their number one enemy and they placed a bounty on you. ”
“What?!” Arianna shouted so loudly that if it wasn’t for the music blasting from the speakers, everyone would have their eyes on her as a result of her outburst.
Arianna was flustered, “W-what... why would they have a bounty on me?”
“They think you killed Big Joe and Kenith and killing you would bring justice to their late leader.”
“W-what?” Arianna choked, feeling a sudden headache. Were they stupid or what?! Who saw her kill Big Joe?! Everyone had been at the wedding that day and saw the moment his head was blasted by that bullet. She wasn’t even holding any gun in the first place, so how was she the one who killed Big Joe?
But then, it had been Kenith’s initial plan to use and place the blame on her in the end – thanks to Cassie for spilling the whole truth to her before her death. May her rotten soul burn in the eternal flames of hell, Amen.
Hence, it wasn’t surprising if the fool that took their place as the new head decided to use her as the scapegoat. But then, why does everyone want a piece of her? At this rate, she was going to become a celebrity, albeit, an infamous one.
WHY CAN’T THEY LET HER REST?! WHY WAS EVERYONE AFTER HER?! WHY WAS HER LIFE SO MISERABLE?!
At this rate, Marcel was never going to let her out of here. She would be stuck in this base for the rest of her life, get married, her children would be stuck in here with her too, and in the end, she would die here as well. Just like Rapunzel, this was her tower. Her prison.
Arianna was freaking out.
“Arianna, are you okay?” Chelsea was concerned when she saw her labored breathing.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just give me a minute,” Arianna said, trying to calm her breathing else she faints again.
It’s okay, she would figure this out, Arianna told herself.
Her head whipped around to Chelsea, “Does Marcel know about this?” Arianna needed to know.
“Probably,” Chelsea thought over it, “A bounty placed on your head and you are still alive? That’s not just luck, girl. The Red Giant Isn’t that powerful and news like that can’t get past Marcel’s hearing. If you were to ask me, I believe Marcel is controlling things behind the shadows. You are one lucky bitch.” She was envious.
But Arianna in question just stood at the spot, dumbfounded. Marcel has been protecting her behind the scenes? And all this while, she thought he kept her locked up, was to keep her from Elijah?
Arianna was plunged with guilt.
Marcel has done so much for her.
What has she done for him?
“Jesus, you look miserable. Come on, this is not a night for that face. Let’s dance!” Chelsea decided she needed a distraction and pulled her along to the dance floor.
They met the other girls on the dance floor and together, they all showed off their moves. Marcel’s idea of meeting them here was brilliant and Arianna hadn’t had so much fun for a long time with her own gender.
It must be the alcohol working in her brain but Arianna let loose. They were celebrating Victor anyway and that meant having fun. Hands up in the air, she and the girls bounced to the beat and even naughtily twerked and ground against each other.
Arianna felt relaxed and less self-conscious and didn’t think much about it when a hand wrapped around her waist, thinking it was one of the girls fooling around. However, those hands suddenly felt muscular and she noted the way Chelsea stiffened in front of her as well.
It was a man.
“What the hell?!” Arianna jerked away from him, repulsed.
The nerve of whoever that was because it wasn’t Marcel. She could have smelt him.
The girls had stopped dancing as well, apprehension in their gazes and Arianna turned to see the fool who dared to touch her.