"Eliminador? What the fuck is that?"

Lorenzo cracks open a beer bottle, spilling the excess onto the limo's floor. He shrugs, chugging the drink as if someone is about to take it away from him. I think he's ecstatic about not having to drive us around all night.

"Well, it's something my family created years ago to keep things 'fair'. Technically, Jefe is decided by bloodline, like how my brother became Jefe when my dad fell ill, but to have an equal chance, we can challenge the Jefe to be," I explain, failing at pushing my earring through my piercing.

Lorenzo tosses the bottle across the limo and scoots closer to me on the leather seat, grabbing my earring from my hand. "So, why must you challenge him if it's your birthright?" I hiss as he pops my hole, forcing the earring in. "Sorry, Bella-boo. I think your piercing closed."

"It's okay." My face scrunches up with pain as he alternates to my other ear. "I lost my birthright to it when Romeo took my place. It's his now. If I want it back, I'll have to challenge him."

Lorenzo leans on the leather seat, unbuttoning his collared shirt, and reveals a glimpse of his tan, toned abdominals. Heat rushes up my neck and cheeks. I'm seeing too much of Lorenzo than I would've liked.

"Fuck," Lorenzo groans. "I think I'm growing a beer belly. What do you think?"

I clear my throat. "I think you should be worried."

Lorenzo hums. "Goddammit! Why do I gotta love beer so much?"

Refusing to stroke his ego, I grab the champagne bottle from the metal ice bucket and apply pressure on the cork. Why isn't it opening? They're usually so easy.

Lorenzo smirks. "Do you need any help?"

"No. No. I'm perfectly capable of opening this bottle." I grit my teeth, altering the bottom of the bottle to press against my stomach and squeezing the head.

The cork tilts to the side, thrusting out of the bottle along with half of its liquid. Champagne soaks Lorenzo's entire shirt. He bobs his head, sporting an egotistical smirk on his lips as he shakes the excess off his fingers.

He brushes his fingers through his hair. "Thank god, our luggage is in the trunk." Lorenzo leaves very little to the imagination when he slips out of his shirt, draping it over his shoulder. Black ink cover every inch of his abdomen-- a serpent snake in the middle and his right shoulder, a hand with a sword on his left shoulder, a skull with black wings on his neck, the word 'love' by his heart, a flower with the label mom on the opposing side, and a pistol with a red rose on his stomach.

His nipple fucking piercings spark in the multi-color lighting.

Lorenzo clears his throat. "Bella-boo, my eyes are up here." He uses his thumb and pointer finger to hold my chin and tip it upward. "Do you like what you see?"

"No," I say with an edge, refusing to admit I find anything about him attractive.

After my first and only attempt at finding love, I've given up on the search. One heartbreak is enough for me. I don't ever want to give another man the opportunity to break me because of the love I have for them-- the only way to do that is to stay celibate for the rest of my life. Villians don't have time for boyfriends.

His fingers curl over mine, leading it to his soaking abs, his gaze never leaving mine. "Isabela, there's nothing wrong with looking or touching."

My pulse skitters. The silence stretches for what feels like decades as he inches my hand closer and closer to his abs.

Like a saving grace, the limo's door opens, revealing my new bodyguard Jota with a dazed expression. "Isabela, hemos llegado."

(Isabela, we're here.)

I sigh in relief. "Great. Can you grab my husband a fresh shirt from his luggage in the back?"

Lorenzo sports the widest smirk on his lips as he tilts his head at the door, gesturing for me to get up. "Husband. Mmm, I like that sound of that."

I roll my eyes. "Well, take that up with your brother."

Raising from the leather seat, I exit the limo one leg at a time to keep from flashing anyone my lady parts. Lorenzo follows, chucking his damp shirt in the trash bin. Behind Lorenzo's heel, I observe Lorenzo thrusting Jota out of the way with his hip and searching through the suitcase himself. He snatches the first thing he can find and slams the trunk shut.

"So, what is the Eliminador?" Lorenzo asks, squeezing his head through the shirt. "What do you have to do, exactly?"

"It's three rounds," I explain, holding three fingers up. "Suffocation-- cracking a code underwater. Captivity-- starved for days. Death-- the fight to the end. There's a reason nobody challenges the successor-- because only one person makes it out alive."

Lorenzo's blue eyes bulge from their sockets. "And you're going to go through with it?"

I stare at him. "I don't have much of a choice, do I? It's the only way for you guys to get what you want."

To get what I want.

Death is worth the opportunity of saving myself from my unsalvageable situation. It's a small price to pay. I haven't been afraid of dying-- I tried plenty of times. Hell, can't be any worse than life itself. The universe would've shown me an ounce of mercy by eliminating me.

"Not at the risk of losing you," Lorenzo pleads with the material of his shirt clinging to his neck. "Can't we just kill the fucker?"

I shake my head. "What help is my family if they're all dead? There are countless Romeos. I'm already at a disadvantage, because I'm a woman and the shit with my father. The only way my family will take me seriously is by winning. I need to do this."

Lorenzo pinches his nose, exhaling through his mouth. "Fine. Fine. You're right. I have your back. You can count on me. I promise."

I promise.

My face scrunches with despair. Those words don't have an ounce of weight. I can't take it seriously after falling for it three times in a row. Just fucking empty promises. Actions speak louder than words. It's sad it took me this long to learn it.

"Yeah, right," I mumble under my breath.

A wounded look mars Lorenzo's features. "I'm not my brother."

I grimace. "He's not who I'm referring to. I never had faith in him, to begin with." Tired of the tone of the conversation, I walk away, heading for Diablo's Paraiso, halting when Lorenzo blocks the path in front of me, restraining me back with one clothed arm and another bare one. "Move out of my way. I can do this on my own."

Lorenzo's face winces at my tone. "Woah, Isabela. I'm mind fucked here. I thought we had enough respect to trust each other." Realization dawns on him. "I don't know how everything ended between you and Julian, but I'm not him. Whatever pent-up shit you're keeping inside, save it for him or your cousin. You're going to need something to channel in those games."

I'm not him.

I get that.

I seriously do, but every man in my life has disappointed me. Why would Lorenzo be any different? He's a Moltisanti, for fuck's sake. I see right through him. Lorenzo isn't doing this out of the kindest of his heart. He has ulterior motives. Once I give him my routes, I'll be no use to him anymore.

I have to beat him at his own game.

"Whatever," I mutter.

He sighs. "You can talk to me. I'm not the enemy here."

I blow out a gust of frustration. "I get it. Can we please just drop it and go inside?"

Lorenzo's tongue-piercing peeks through his mouth as he licks his lips. "This conversation isn't over-- just on a brief pause. We can't be a strong front if we have secrets. Married couples shouldn't fight."

Exhaling, I whack his hands off my shoulder and continue down the trail to Diablo's Paraiso. "Good thing we aren't a real married couple."

"We're here!" He shouts from behind me. "We have to convince your entire family."

My tone sharpens. "I swear if you try to kiss me, I'll bite your dick off."

Mirth laces Lorenzo's parade of laughter. "Oh, really?" He claps his hands twice. "So, you're willing to put your mouth on it. That's a big step, Isabela. Are you sure you can take it?"

I huff, spinning on my heel to face him. "Oh, trust me, I handled bigger coc-." I slam my palm over my mouth to force my urge to laugh down my throat. "What the heck are you wearing?"

Lorenzo frowns as he strains the seams of my brown reindeer-theme crop top, failing to cover half of his abdomen. "I guess Jota didn't realize he was looking through your things." His diamond stud glimmers on his belly button.

How is someone supposed to take this man seriously? I'm struggling to hold back my laughter. If he fails at being a Don, he should try being a comedian because fuck, he's freaking funny. Striding closer, I bop Rudolph's red button nose in the middle of my shirt, causing Rudolph to sing.

The flow of giggles slips through my hardened mask. "You can keep it. Looks a hundred times better on you than me, anyway."

Lorenzo wraps his muscular arm around my neck, cutting a hint of the circulation with the crook of his elbow as I lead us to the back of the building. "I always knew you had a little crush on me. I'm glad we made up."

My hands cling to his arms as he ambushes my cheek with kisses, causing a foolish smile to stretch across my face. "I rather stab my eye-sockets with a fork."

He releases a low chuckle, using his pointer finger to tilt my face to meet his mischievous gaze. "Bigger cocks, huh, Bella-boo? I know you aren't talking about my brother."

Heat rushes up my cheeks. "That sounds very Alabama of you."

Lorenzo playfully thumps my head with his forehead, bearing his entire weight on my shoulders as we stop in front of the bouncer. He stands firmly like, if he moved a muscle, his prize money would go down the drain. His eyes fall on us, looking like immature children. I tap Lorenzo's arm, exchanging a look for him to let go.

I clear my throat. "Hey..."

The bouncer blinks.

So, that's how it's going to be?

"My cousin is celebrating inside," I explain, sweat coating my palms. "Romeo Arias. I should be on the guest list... go ahead and check."

A wad of brown spit spills from the bouncer's mouth beside Lorenzo's foot. "Names?" He asks, arching an eyebrow, tapping buttons on the IPad in his hands.

I smile. "Isabela Arias. He's my plus one."

"Don't see it. Can't let you in."

My nose scrunches up. "About that. It's supposed to be a surprise. See, I've been gone for a few years, and he isn't expecting me, but I'm here to make him smile."

The bouncer scoffs. "No name, no entry."

"Psst... Isabela," Lorenzo whispers, using his finger to gesture for me to go over to him. "Psst."

"What?"

His warm breath fans my ear. "You're a beautiful woman. Put it to use."

My eyes bulge from their sockets at his wild suggestion. Grasping him by the neckline of his shirt, I steer him closer, our noses an inch from touching. Lorenzo's sea-blue eyes widen in fear of my strength as they linger on my wrist.

"Are you asking me to seduce him? I can't do that. I have no game."

A crease forms in between Lorenzo's eyebrows. "Didn't Diablo put you through a BootCamp with tips to be a good escort before Damien brought you?"

My chest flares in embarrassment. "It doesn't mean I was any good at it! I'm not Mika."

Lorenzo snorts. "You are not even on her level." With narrow eyes, I smack his gigantic head. "Fuck, okay, I deserved that." He rubs the spot on his head. "You're thinking too hard. You're a sexy girl, Isabela. Bat those cute little eyelashes and put your hand down his pants-- you will win him over. Fuck, I'm getting excited just thinking about it."

I gag. "That's sexual harassment."

He frantically shakes his head. "Not if he wants it."

"You're disgusting."

Turning on my heel, I inhale and exhale a long, soothing breath before I attempt the mission. I'm a horrible flirt. Cringy, in fact. But I was graced with one attribute, and that's existing as a pretty, petite girl. All I have to do is channel my inner Mika, and that man will be wrapped around my finger. My heels clink against the pavement as I stroll to the bouncer staring forward, ignoring me.

"Hey..." I bite my lips, searching for a name tag on his clothing-- nothing. Fuck! "Cutie pie. You look extremely yummy in those pants."

Lorenzo groans from behind me. "Stop! Just stop. You're just embarrassing yourself." His feature twist in repulse. "You killed my fucking boner, and I'm always hard."

Humiliation floods my face like a tsunami. "Tmi, Lorenzo! Do you know what that means? Too much information."

Lorenzo's mouth opens to speak, but an exquisite, stunning, red-haired woman steals both of our attention. Her deep-seed glowing hair extends past her shoulders, above her ass. The black fabric of her bra and panties contrast against her pale flesh as she walks like she owns the room. Chains wrap around her hips.

And her ass jiggles with every step.

How is it that perky?

A half-smirk grows on Lorenzo's face. "It's back."

Ignoring Lorenzo's revolting comment, I squint my eyes to get a better view of the woman. She seems familiar--can it be true? Would she still be here? Four years later?

With a bite of her bottom lip, she giggles, "Raul, do you like?" She turns around, hinging at the hips, and bends slowly, giving Raul an exclusive view of her ass. "I think it would look better with nothing on."

He swallows, his brown eyes devouring her frame. "I agree."

My heart pounds in my chest. "Tania?"

She hums in delight, her eyes darting to me, slowly widening, coming to realization. "Oh, my god! Isabela? What are you doing here?"

A smile soars free on my face as I run to Tania, engulfing her in a brief hug and catching a whiff of her vanilla scent. "I'm trying to get inside for my cousin's celebration, but he's being a huge dickhead."

She laughs. "Yeah, he's like that sometimes, but in bed, he sings like a canary, especially if you lick his butthole."

He clears his throat. "You said you wouldn't tell anyone."

Her eyebrows raise. "That's before I found out you were being mean to my friend. Isabela is an ex-employee. She gets special access."

Alarm flickers across his face. "I-I-I didn't know. She... She."

"She, what?" She tilts her head to the side. "You know now. So, let her and he-."

"Best friend," Lorenzo chimes in, his eyes sweeping Tania's sculptured body. He reaches for her hand, dropping a kiss on her knuckles. "I'm delighted to meet your acquaintance, Tania."

"Aren't you sweet," she replies. "I'll escort them to the party. Don't need to worry, Raul. I won't share any more of our dirty secrets."

Raul unhooks the irons, letting us into the venue. It's almost jarring-- to visit a place where all I felt was fear. Very rarely did I have the ability to roam around the quarters. Memories flicker through my thoughts like music spinning in a jukebox. Diablo kept us underground like animals in cages. Weave through the weeds to find the ones worthy of keeping before trafficking the rest of us-- until Mika stopped him.

EDM music streams into the hallways. Dozens of escorts, all genders, roam the hallways in their glittery, eye-catching attire. Lorenzo would shine in here-- I just know he practices his dance moves in the shower.

"Who are you meeting?" Tania asks.

"My cousin, Romeo Arias," I reply.

She wiggles her eyebrows. "Perfect! They actually put in a special request for me. I'm in very high depend since Mika left. Her shoes are hard to fill, but I'm doing a pretty good job, if I can say so myself."

My heart thuds. "Have you heard from Mika?"

Her brows twist in confusion. "Wait, aren't you in contact with her? She helped you escape the Moltisantis, no?"

"Yeah..." I drag out. "We did, but while I was waiting for her outside the party in Paris, Damien found me. I haven't spoken to her since. Is she doing okay?"

Tania rakes her fingers through my hair, yanking at the knots. "Mika is living her best life. She's a married woman now."

Married? But the only way she would get married would be to... "Asiel? He forgave her?"

Tania grabs a package of cookies on the table on our stroll to the private rooms. "Yup, she's really happy."

An invisible bug bites my skin. It infects me with a bittersweet poison lace with bliss and heartache. Bliss to know my best friend was able to make every last one of her dreams come to fruition. Heartache because she's forgotten me. I know I was probably just an insignificant star in her sky, gliding by until our time ran up, but I wish she could've contacted me.

Have faith in her, Isabela.

Tania fixes the crystal-stone pins in her curly hair, sculpting them around her face. "If you aren't with Mika, you must be with Damien, right?" She cracks her knuckles, sighing before ramming Lorenzo in the face with her fist. "I hate pedophiles!"

Ruby-red blood trickles through the groves of his finger as he pinches his nose. "What the fuck! I didn't do anything!"

I stifle the urge to relish in Lorenzo's pain. "Tania, this isn't Damien. It's his older brother Lorenzo." My lips widen into a closed-lip grin as I reach for the hand by his side, interlocking them. "My fake husband for the night."

Lorenzo groans, ripping his hand from mine. "I can't believe I'm being punished for my brother's crime. This is inhumane! Unjustified!"

Tania laughs, flaunting a diamond in the sides of her teeth. "Aww... I'm so sorry." She pouts, batting her eyelashes as her heels clank against the floorboards. Tania steals the handkerchief of a person walking by, dabbing his twisted nose. "Is there anything I can do? Can I kiss it better?"

Lorenzo practically savliates from the mouth like a dog, as he frenetically bobs his head. "There's definitely something you can do. Get on your knees and show my dick how sorry you're."

She tilts her head to the side. "Mmm, I would love that, but it gets pretty dirty." Her fingers loop in the hoops of his trousers, yanking his frame against hers. "And I get a bit shy in front of a crowd. This should suffice for now." Tania puckers her matte brown lips, leaving a strain as she kisses his nose.

I'm watching seductive tactics firsthand-- defiantly keeping this in my nogging for next time. She even has me excited. Mika has nothing to worry about-- Tania is honoring her legacy. I might have to come back and buy her for the night. Mika always said girls know the special pressure points to receive an immediate response.

"That's how you do it, Isabela," Lorenzo says, pointing at Tania.

Tania bows as she switches to the opposite side of the hallway, holding the white curtain open. "The Arias familia awaits. It's probably best if we go in separately."

I nod. "You're right."

My heart thuds in my chest, whacking against my ribcage like a pinball game. It bleeds into the music, mellowing the music in the background. Everything resides on me. It's time to stand my ground and make my familia see me.

Not Vincenzo Arias's beaten-down daughter.

Not a frightened little girl.

They will see Isabela Arias, the fearless woman made to rule the familia.

My fingers tingle when Lorenzo interlaces ours together in joint union-like shoelaces. In soft tones, he states, "I'll be there with you every step of the way."

With a shaky sigh, I march us into battle with my familia. Hints of weed and sex invade my nose. Gray smoke decorates the ceiling from all the hookah. A bright white light streams on something in the corner. Everywhere else is left half-lid, receiving illumination from the light in the corner.

My anxiety spikes like the abrupt rush of shooting upward on a rollercoaster. It feels like everyone's eyes are on me, watching us, whispering to themselves that the princess of the familia has returned with a random guy on her arm. This is the chiste all the aunts like to gossip about during Thanksgiving.

"Do you recognize anyone?" Lorenzo whispers into my ear.

I shake my head. "No. My father kept me exceptionally sheltered. The only person I met before was Romeo."

Cousins were off-limits. The fewer friends I had, the more trust endorsed in my father. Victims stay victims because they're too afraid to speak. Our abusers plague the world around us to remain in their manipulative bubbles.

Alcohol spatters by my feet from the intense grinding on the dance floor. My hands cling to Lorenzo's arm, failing to keep my composure of a strong, young woman. I just don't want anyone to touch me.

At least without asking.

My eyes fall on where the light strikes-- a throne with a hefty man on the seat. His thick short arms relax on the golden-cloth armrest. He greets purple grapes into his mouth from Tania, channeling her fake laughter. Deep black ink scars the sides of his neck, creeping up his jawline. Long canal of brown, curly hair braces his buff shoulders.

Romeo.

His sapphire-blue irises float over Tania's silhouette before springing over at us. Romeo's pearly white smile hinters as his eyebrows pull taut in confusion. Like a protective blanket, Lorenzo drapes his arms over my shoulders, and the other is used to chug the random beer he found.

Romeo's brow arches. "Such a beautiful woman attached to an ugly man. It's a shame I've failed to make your acquaintance before him." He extends his arm for a handshake. "Romeo Arias, soon to be Jefe."

Sturting with confidence, I shake his hand. "How awkward..." A slow, sly grin stretches over my face. "It's me. Isabela Arias soon to be Jefe."

His eyes widen like saucers. "Isabela? You defiantly grew up since the last time I saw you." His grip tightens around my knuckles as he sways our hand up and down. I stifle the urge to hiss from the pain of the restraint. "Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm Jefe now. You know a woman has no place here. Stick to cleaning the house."

"Mmm," I hum, "Nice to see your values haven't changed one bit. I wonder if anyone is stupid enough to marry you."

He smirks. "You offering?"

Using my wedding hand, I glide my fingers through my hair, purposely flaunting my 3-carat diamond ring before bringing my hand a few inches from his face. "What a compelling offer, but I'm already off the market."

He scratches his chin. "Damn, someone actually married your ass." Romeo grabs me by the shoulder, shoving me aside to get a view of Lorenzo. "Be careful. She has a tendency to make stories up about people touching her. She says anything to make the world believe she's not a whore."

Lorenzo laughs, clicking his tongue. "Your crush is showing. Don't be so jealous. It's no one's fault that you were born as an ugly-ass man except yourself."

He sneers. "Get the fuck outta here! You're finished. I'm Jefe now."

Leaning on his shoulder, I tilt his face to view what I'm looking at-- a clock. "Do you see what time it is? Let me help you. It's eleven-fifty. It's not official until it's twelve."

His smirk fades into oblivion. "What can you possibly do in ten minutes to change everyone's mind? Just accept the loss. Don't embarrass yourself further. The familia wouldn't be stupid enough to side with a whiny, naive girl."

My eyes narrow. "I'll lead us better than any man in this room. I've plenty to offer."

He scoffs. "So, you're going to fuck your way into approval? You're really living up to the rumors."

11:55

Five minutes.

I give Lorenzo a pointed look, and he stuffs his two fingers in his mouth, whistling for everyone's attention. My chest tightens with anxiety. Now, everyone is looking at me. My eyes flutter close for a second as I regain composure-- confidence. There's nothing to worry about.

"Everyone, I'd like to dig deep into our history," I continue. "Romeo's right. Five minutes isn't enough to convince you guys why I should be Jefe, but I don't plan to be put down so easily. So, I, Isabela Arias, challenge Romeo Arias to the Elimador."

Loud gasp breaks in the crowd.

Romeo's hazel cheeks sport a hint of pink flush. "What a fucking joke! No one would be dumb enough to participate in the Eliminador. Just leave."

"What?" I cosplay in innocent tones, twirling his brown curl on my finger. "Afraid of losing to a whiny, naive girl? I thought you were a big, macho man."

He grits his teeth. "As if you have any chance of winning."

"Then accept," I hum.

His eyes twitch. "It's your fucking grave. I accept your challenge."

A skinny, frail man pushes Lorenzo out of the way, raising his hand. "I, Antonio Arias, challenge Romeo Arias to the Eliminador."

Another at least two-hundred-pound man stomps a route from the bar to Romeo, spilling his beer on the floors. "I, Carlos Perez-Arias, challenge Romeo Arias to the Eliminador."

"I, Octavio Arias, challenge Romeo Arias to the Eliminador!" He springs off the stool with a loud thud. Octavio sports a gray muscle tee with no sleeve, showcasing his bulging muscles. He could crash a watermelon with those. "It's about time someone taught this fucking pussy a lesson."

Lorenzo winks at me.

My heart fills with glee.

Next stop-- the Eliminador!

Hey guys!!! Ahhh, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter! Lorenzo and Isabela are just a freaking peach to write like I swear they're an iconic comedic duo!!! Who else's agrees?

Has anyone grown bored of Isabela and crave a Julian chapter yet?

Are you proud of our baby challenging Romeo? What do you think her chances are? Is it going to be easy?

I seriously can't wait until y'all see how badass and crazy it gets!!! 😝😝hopefully my writing won't disappoint!!!

Thank you so much for supporting me this far and I can't wait to come back with the next update 💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️

Love ya!!!