Ricardo follows Nicholson's car as they drive away from Gabby's place, he tries to think if anyone of his men or family members did anything to upset Nicholson, but he does not find anything.
The car stops at his own mall and he scoffs as Nicholson walks out of the car and without waiting on him walk inside of the building and clear indication that even if Ricardo owns the building, Nicholson Price own the whole city and right now Nicholson Price was claiming his territory.
"May I know the reason for this visit?" Ricardo asks as he enters his own office to find Nicholson sitting on the table.
"What were you doing with Gabby?" Nicholson asks instead.
"Is this about her?" he raises a brow.
"You know, with every second ticking and passing by you standing in my territory and doing shit thinking you own this place that's rubbing me off a little bit...
I thought we were clear when you refused to sign in but here you are taking one of my sisters to the parties, paying for her hotel room and dropping her the very next day...
What the fuck are you doing Russo?" he asks and Ricardo sighs as he pulls his coat off him.
"I still have few more weeks left before I disappear"
"And I cannot wait for it to happen, trust me"
"What happens between me and Precious, will always remain between us. As for the party and all, that party was planned, and the hotel rooms were booked months ago"
"Don't insult me Russo, the party and hotel may have been booked months ago but Gabby decided to join it just few days ago...
And what happens between you and any of my sisters from now on will never remain between just you and her"
"Wait, what does that mean?" he asks raising a brow.
"I want you out of this place in two days, no more weeks"
"What..."
"Katie's wedding preparation is on going and I cannot have someone who wants nothing to do with my family to get free access to anything"
"You think I am danger to your family"
"Someone tried to kidnap my sister from my own city but somehow they kidnapped your fiancée"
"So?" he narrows his eyes.
"And remember what you said? You said you will blow any one from my family's head if we stepped on your territory...
How do you think I feel after that, especially coming out from your mouth? A man who has always been a friend to us, when Tulip's situation got out of hand, I trusted your decision to handle it instead of doing exactly what I should have done...
You are engaged, you of all people should be well-aware what that means, so I ask again what the fuck are you doing with Gabby?" he asks as he stands and looks straight at Ricardo.
"She is my friend"
"Cut the crap Russo, no friend of mine rides a car while straddling me and I do not remember walking them to their door kissing her so many times as if I do not want to let her go" Tyson voices from behind Ricardo.
"I don't have to discuss my relationship with her to anyone of you"
"Fair enough, we won't ask anything regarding her to you because I will not allow this any longer and that is not the only reason I stand here"
"Then?" he asks curious.
"Something happened with Katie" Nicholson sighs gravely.
*******
"Oh la, la. I heard someone had a crazy night following up with riding someone" Bo winks as she wraps her arms around Gabby who grins.
"He was hot and cold" she sighs with a bit of pout.
"How much hot are we talking?"
"He could not stop kissing me..."
"Wait, wait, wait. Stop, move backwards, did I just hear you say he kissed you?" Bo gasps.
"On the forehead, it was as if he could not stop and did not want to let me go but Nicholson and Tyson were waiting for him, so he had to leave"
"On forehead, what? And Nicholson and Tyson?" she asks in confusion.
"Yeah, they were waiting outside of my house to meet Ricardo"
"Nicholson is such a spoilsport, he has no sense of timing"
"Perhaps"
"Okay and the cold part? I love cold Rare" Bo squeals.
"He asked me what I would bring on table if he marries me"
"Shut the damn door on his fucking face, he did not" Bo gasps.
"He did explain later but still, it stung when he said so"
"Stung? I would have down right jabbed my heels on his fucking face and groin, how dare him! And as for what you are bringing on the table, it's your virginity...
He was going to get all this untouched, virgin skin and this is bad. You know what, fuck it, fuck him. He is no worth it and fuck all men" Bo shouts pissed off.
"Why would you fuck all men?" Gage voice makes Bo cringe as she turns to face him.
"It's not like physical fucking" she clarifies.
"Fucking is physical activity" he points out.
"Yeah, but it's like saying fuck for no reason"
"You mean you would fuck men for no reason? Are you sex-crazed or perhaps and addict?" he questions, and Bo turns her body to face the man.
Gabby tunes out as Bo and her brother argues on about the whole fucking part before her eyes lands on Katie who was talking with Hugo who looked upset.
*******
Getting up from her seat Gabby walks up to where Katie and Hugo were, she ignores the bickering between her brother and her best friend as her focus is on what Katie and Hugo were talking.
Katie and Hugo do not hear Gabby as she stands near them just as Katie wraps her arms around Hugo and sniffs a bit about something that upset her.
"It's okay, she will never be able to touch you, no one will ever" Hugo promises as he rubs Katie's back.
"I thought she was my friend, but...but she" Katie's broken voice makes Gabby steps forward before she calls for them.
"Why are you crying?" she asks them, and both stiffen before Hugo turns to face her while Katie wipes her tears.
"Cold feet" Hugo smiles but Gabby does not believe him.
"Then why did you guys talk about someone is her friend and she won't hurt Katie. Who is hurting her?" she asks, and Hugo clears his throat as he glances at Katie, worriedly.
"It's nothing to worry about, have you seen my dress?" Katie asks to distract her.
"If you do not tell me what is going on then I am going to tell Uncle Damien Hugo is making you cry, and I will help him to break Hugo's arm" she threatens.
"Gabby, it's nothing"
"Don't lie" she pleads with Katie who sighs as she holds Hugo's hands.
"Promise you will not tell anyone" she stares at Gabby who nods her head slightly.
*******
Gabby stares stunned as both Katie and Hugo makes their way towards the house, after hearing it all she does not know how to react or what to feel. The things Katie admitted did not happen in real life and definitely not with one of her family members, but it did happen.
She does not know how to feel or react, she follows her sister inside of the house and watches ho Hugo kisses the side of Katie's head before they both smile at the people in the room. Gabby does not know how to react or what to say as she for the life of her could not just be as brave as Katie and Hugo were.
"Would you please stop that?" Tulip's voice pulls Gabby out of her thoughts as she watches the couple.
Damon had his arms wrapped around Tulip whispering something in her ear and she knows it was something dirty as Tulip laughs before covering his mouth with her hands.
And if it was not enough, she finds her little sister Lily giggling as Throne twirls in front of her with a dress, she sighs turning around only to find Gracie walking in with a bag while her husband had their daughter in his arms, asleep.
"I told you not to let her sleep, she will keep us awake all night" Gracie pouts while Tristan just grins.
"Hey Gabs" Gracie greets as she walks by her and Gabby slowly walks out of the house feeling disheartened.
*******
"That's enough, no she does not need those things" Nicholson's angry voice makes Gabby's head jerk towards him so she goes to find where he was and whom he was shouting at.
"Ty, I swear you and Nonna are spoiling her way too much" he growls and Gabby frowns.
"Her?" Gabby's voice makes Nicholson turn around at once as he cuts his line.
"Gabby" he sighs.
"Who are you talking about?" she asks with her eyes narrowed.
"No one" he grumbles as he puts his phone away before walking towards the house.
"It did not sound no one" she points out but he just ignores her.
"Don't meet with Russo without letting me know" he warns her instead and she frowns.
"Who are you to..."
"Don't meet him" he orders instead as he points his finger at her interrupting her before he turns and leaves.
Gabby pats the back of her pants before she pulls out her phone and dials Ricardo's number.
*******
Ricardo stares at his phone as it rings but does not reach to pick it up as he had an inkling feeling on what the call was about. He takes a deep breath as he gets up and walk away from his phone.
"You are not picking it up?" one of his brothers asks but he ignores it.
"Did something happen?" Richard voices as he puts the file in his hand away.
"I do not have any answers to her questions" he admits and Ryman stares at his brother before he picks up the call.
"Yo, Gabby" he cheers and Ricardo's head snaps at his brother as he glares at him murderously.
"Rick, he is not here. Left his phone on the table, is there anything I can do on his behalf?" he asks as he jumps away as Ricardo tries to reach him.
"Of course, sure, sure" he grins before he throws the phone at Ricardo who grabs and turns it around only to glare at his brother who had turned the video chat.
"Be warned" he warns his brother before he cuts the video and puts the phone closer to his ear.
"Precious" he states as he walks out of the room.
"Lily is pregnant" she states and it halts Ricardo's step.
"So, is Tutu, Gracie already has a daughter and Katie will have her own soon" she continues and he holds onto the nearby chair before sitting down.
"I have four more brothers who has yet to get married but I know they will. But that does not worry me" she breathes and Ricardo rubs his forehead in stress.
"What worries me is you" she confesses.
"Not because I am not the one marrying you but the one you are going to hurt my sister and you know it. Nicholson warned me not to see you and I knew you know it all...
Your brothers do not have any habit of picking up your calls for you which tells me you are avoiding me. I am not calling you to do anything for me or my family. But calling to make sure that you know that I am doing something...
Because not all of my sister can defend themselves but I sure can kick some ass. Just don't make me regret us" she asks and all the while he stays silent.
Gabby waits for exact ten seconds, before she takes away the phone from her ear to cut the line as he does not speak a single word.
"I asked you to enjoy the wedding, did I not?" his words stop her from doing anything.
"The only thing that you should worry about is your sister's wedding and I agree with Nicholson, we should stop seeing each other for a while...
Focus on your dance, I would love to see you doing it" he expresses and she sighs.
"As if you would get to see it"
"Save me a dance then" he requests.
"I am saving myself for you, is that not hint enough?" she questions and he sighs closing his eyes.
"Has Throne proposed Lily already?" he asks instead and she frowns.
"No, why?" she asks.
"Just wondering" he gulps.
"I have to go" she sighs as she hears Bo calling her.
"Precious" he calls and she pauses.
"Yes?" she asks.
"Don't worry" he replies before he cuts the line.
*******
"Giving her mix signals is not cool, bro" Ryman's voice makes Ricardo look up.
"You focus on your part of the job, Ry" he warns.
"He will, but are you focused?" Richard asks his brother who gets up from the chair.
"Go get Micah" he orders.
"Micah?" Richard frowns.
"He is the one who helped Melissa to drug Katie, sort this out before Nicholson gets his hands on her"
"You are siding her even after this?" Ryman asks in disbelief.
"No, he is not" Rustic finally voices as he stands on the doorway.
"He is letting us handle this so he does not go kill both of them" Rustic informs.
"How so?"
"Unlike you two, I trust him" he winks at his brothers, while Ryman rolls his eyes Richard just scoffs.
"Cut the crap and keep talking" Ryman growls at his brother.
"I found it fishy when all of a sudden he gave Melissa an engagement ring, to be honest. I was more shocked when I saw where he got it from" he grins rubbing his hands.
"Where?" Richard asks.
"Where do you think?" Rustic questions as he moves away when Ricardo enters the room, they all were seated at.
"I said cut the crap, I do not have enough brain cells to think now on with it"
"Kathleen Price is known for her eccentric jewelries and even if her designs are to die for it's something else it makes it unique"
"What?" Richard frowns.
"It is made only by special order and only few knows of it. She has not just a hidden tracking device in her jewelries but if asked we can put something else as well"
"And what is it?" Ryman asks curiously.
"A small voice recorder, the ring Melissa wears so proudly has a chip that records all of things she talks about even the conversation that goes few steps around her...
Ricardo, has been tracking her steps for years but recently he has also been tracking the conversation she has been involved with...
Why do you think he always takes mom with him when he is meeting Melissa or why he never reacts much when she is around?
Simple, because he does not want to give himself away, while Melissa thinks he is serious with her by involving mom at there outdoor meets he is stopping her from asking him questions he does not want to speak about...
And when Melissa was kidnapped, it was that same ring that gave her whereabouts out"
"Enough" Ricardo sighs as he pulls out a file and hands to Richard.
"What? It's so fun to talk about all of your heroism" Rustic pouts and Ricardo raises his brow at his brother.
"I have not even gotten the juicy parts yet"
"Give me" Ryman gasps.
"He knew about Katie way before anyone else did"
"Shut the front door" Ryman shouts.
*******
"That's enough, Rust" Ricardo commands but his brother does not hear him.
"And Nicholson is pissed he hid that info"
"But why did you hide it?" Ryman asks in confusion.
"That's none of your concern" Ricardo dismisses the question but Rustic jumps in.
"Because he was worried about the consequences of it all. Katie did not exactly remember anything about that night and if anyone from her family knew about it through his mouth imagine the damage...
Nicholson would shoot him before he rationalizes it, the talks of ending the treaty were on going and in mist of it if the notion of what occurred with Katie came out the Price may have thought it was all his plan" Rustic shrugs his shoulders.
"Anything else you left?" Ricardo asks his brother sarcastically and Rustic frowns as he tries to think if he did miss something.
"You are not breaking the treaty to marry Melissa and make a way into Lucero's" Richard comments.
"Go and..."
"You are breaking the treaty to save them" he points out and Ricardo throws his hands up as his brothers goes on about it.
"Yep and the only reason he is selling all of his business is to stop Melissa from stepping in the Price territory, in a way he is banning her from going anywhere near the Price"
"This is crazy"
"That is not the craziest part of you ask me" Rustic grins wiggling his brow.
"Rust" Ricardo narrows his eyes as he steps towards his brother who jumps and hides behind Ryman with a laugh.
"The only reason he is not breaking up with Melissa is because he has finally found where our sister is and if he breaks things up with her that means it's a total lockdown for us, we will lose the key to unlock the doors to our sister"
"What?" Richard narrows his eyes as he stares at his brother for answer.
"I am going to kick your ass" Ricardo warns Rustic who just grins.
"Why did you not say so?" Ryman asks in surprise.
"That's because just few months ago he finally found the whereabouts of Lena, right Ricardo" Rustic ask and Richard fists his hands.
"What?" he grits through his teeth.
*******
"Calm down" Ricardo warns Richard who breaths heavily.
"You have been going behind my back..."
"I said calm down" Ricardo shouts as Richard growls in anger.
"You knew where she was and all this time..."
"It does not matter where she is"
"Of course, it does not because she is my mother not yours"
"She is not your mother" he states.
"Fuck you" Richard shouts as he stomps out of the room and Ricardo rubs his forehead.
"I thought the Lena chapter was over" Ryman comments.
"I thought so too," he sighs.
"So, what now?"
"We stick with the plan, grab Micah and Melissa. I will think of something in meanwhile"
"What about him?" Ryman asks as he points at the way Richard went.
"No matter who gave him birth, if he has a blood of Russo, he will come around. Let him cool down"
"And what about Gabby?" Rustic asks.
"What about her?" Ricardo asks.
"I don't know you tell us" he shrugs his shoulders.
"Find more about our sister as you were supposed to not about me" Ricardo grumbles as he turns his back to his brothers.
Okay, Okay calm down I know I said no more Lena drama, but for some reason the idea of killing her with the hands of Richard tempts me a lot. That was my best part when Richard killed her, like I don't know how much you agree with me on it, but this will help me with Richard story, he is kind of black and white and this excites me and the way Ricardo is so caring especially for Richard so, forgive me...not?
But I swear she won't create any confusion and all those shits I put before, but I need to join the points I revealed...
Lilac is born from Alana's womb...so hurray!!
And yes, yes, Alana and Richie I promised a happy ending but I need something to join few points. I need this all for my future story, someone need to suffer for the greater part on Flora's story and upcoming books.
I hope the future chapters in Regal will make you excited not unhappy, just have a little bit faith on me and my writings I know what I am doing. So, hope you enjoyed this chapter and still are in love with Ricardo because he is the only one who knows himself and he knows what he is doing, it always has a reason.