Post by J on Dec 7, 2020 15:25:07 GMT -5
//Off Camera//
“Large and In Charge”
It had been a scary few days for Richar Rhodes III, while he was across the pond. He was sure that his beloved Camilla Pazzini could show up at any moment and beat him senseless for flying to America without as much as telling her. How the hell was he supposed to justify it “Oh gee honey, you see I was eavesdropping on you and your sister what you said really hurt me so I got in cahoots with your nephew who in turn got in cahoots with your sister, who funded our startup in a new career and provided her creepy bodyguard for protection.
Tough as nails as he might be, Ricky knew full well that Vincenzo would not raise a hand against Camilla, not any of the Pazzinis..even if Nico probably would deserve it. Even in the damn desert, with the heat and all he had the shower on scorching hot and could still feel the cold sweat go down his spine: She’d find out, she would find out and it would be the end of him.
No, quit that shit Ricky, you are supposed to be the main man. The stud, the man of this relationship. Be a man Rhodes, BE A GODDAMN MAN! He had actually screamed that out loud and pounded on his chest with a fist, a bit harder than he had planned since it actually hurt. OUCH, his knuckles were still sore from punching Nico. After the shower he checked himself out on the mirror, had he actually gotten more muscle? Was he in better shape than before? Or was it just imagination running wild and taking him for a wild ride. Stepping out of the bathroom he was looking to air dry himself out in peace, maybe get a beer or some cool drink and chill and..
Ricky: GAAAAAAAAAH!!
He darted back to the bathroom so damn fast he actually slipped on the still wet bathroom floor but managed to grab hold of the sink before going ass over tea kettle or hurting himself. Grabbing a white hotel towel he wrapped it around his waist and peeked out from the open doorway. No he had not seen something that wasn’t there. Vincenzo Riina sat there, silent as ever, reading a newspaper.
Ricky: Vincenzo? How the hell are you there?
He had not heard the big man coming in, hell as far as he knew Vincenzo had his own room just like Nicky and Ricky had theirs but he had not given Riina a key. He had locked the door, he was sure he had locked it before his shower. How long had this fuck sat there, had he heard him. Of course in his usual manner Vincenzo Riina didn’t say a word, he barely looked over at Riki over his newspaper.
Ricky: Yeah, why the fuck would you tell me. Trait secrets or some shit. Look. I gotta get dressed so if you could just hand me my clothes and..
He knew it as soon as he got that far in the sentence that Vincenzo was not moving. He wasn’t gonna be a damn man servant. Typical pig-headed Sicilian country boy, strong as an ox and probably equally stubborn.
Ricky: ..fine just don’t look alright?
Not a word, he got out of the bathroom, again. This time trying to keep his cool. Heading over to the closet and picking out some casual clothes to wear. Snatching them up he went back to the bathroom to change, it wasn’t that he was modest but there was just something about being naked in the company of a man like Vincenzo Riina, hell any man for that matter. Luckily he managed to get dressed before the door to the room flew open again, what the hell was this open door policy to his room today?!
Nico: Yo, did you guys see this bullshit already?! Now they done did the shit son. I might have to go down to the offices myself and lay some serious siciliano style beating on whoever wrote this!
Ricky: Wrote what?!
He was trying to dry off his hair with the towel ending up messing it more, but it was irrelevant since Nico was clearly beside himself. He was tapping his phone furiously and read out a tweet.
@uprisingfed
In all the hoopla with the show coming out, we forgot to announce the signing of another tag team. Please welcome TRINACRIA, led by the enigmatic RICKY RHODES (@sinisterlyrich). They'll be in action on Episode #3! WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION!
Ricky: Pretty cool promotion, getting our name out there isn’t bad. Think Cammie’s seen it?
Nico: NO! FUCK YOU MAN! DON’T YOU GET WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS SHIZZLE RIGHT HERE?!
Rciky: Seems just fine to me, what do you say Vincenzo?
As usual Vincenzo didn’t say a word but Ricky could swear he saw him shrug his broad shoulders. Nicky didn’t care for their opinions but went on.
Nico: NO! “Led by the enigmatic Ricky Rhodes..”
Rhodes checked himself from the mirror and smirked.
Ricky: Well I am pretty enigmatic, charismatic too.
Nico: FUCK YOU I SHOULD BE DA BOSS! I AM A PAZZINI, I DON’T GET LED MY ANYONE! I’M THE PALERMO PANTHER, THE BOLOGNESE FUELED BULL I AM THE MAN THE MYTH THE LEGEND. NICO, LUDOVICO P-A-DOUBLE Z-I-N-I!
He did a wacky looking shuffle with his feet throwing his fists around like shadow boxing.
Ricky: Wow, who knew you cared so much about a damn tweet, it’s the internet no one will remember that tweet in an hour.
Nico: It’s a matter of respect Rick, I can’t have some keyboard goombah dis my credit, the streets remember, real respect real and if the word gets around that some California reject is telling ME what to do! That hurts my heritage, my Sicilian pride! Hell Vincenzo’s too..tell him Vinny!
Both Nico and Ricky look at Vincenzo who just keeps reading his paper.
Ricky: Looks to me like only one hurt by this little tweet is you Nick.
Nico: Fuck you! You can’t tell me what to do or how I am dawg. I’m not just some sad sack of shit you can order around like you G I’m A--
Dismissively Ricky cuts him off.
Ricky: Yeah, you are a Pazzini, we know. I’m sure the whole damn block knows by now. Look we have a match coming up and I’d suggest you focus on that, but if this REALLY bothers you so much. You could always try to be civil, tweet back and rectify the error just don’t cause any shitstorms okay? I know how these promoters think. Hell I used to be one.
Nico: Yeah? AND YOU SUCKED! You are just as useless as a sandbag in the motherfuckind desert. You ain’t the boss of me man. I’mma gonna handle this my way. Fuck em’ what are they gonna do, what are they gonna do to me.
He starts tapping furiously. His tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth as a sign of concentration while his eyes rolled wildly along the words.
Nico: BAM! SENT! That told them.
Ricky: What did you do?
Nico: Go read it off Twitter you toy gangsta. Us real Gs don’t snitch our business to the civilians!
As abruptly as he had shown up. Nico Pazzini left the room, slamming the door behind him before he started thumping down the steps.
With a bad feeling Ricky pulled out his phone and went on Twitter. He read the tweet and sighed.
Ricky:Well Vincenzo..I think that kid just got us some publicity and once people see it. This shit will end up coming back to haunt us..
He put his phone down, slumped on to the bed seated and put his hands on his face, his good mood, his inspiration on being the man: all gone. Now he was just as miserable as ever. If Cammie didn’t hurtty to kill him Nico might get him killed before that.
Ricky: Vincenzo, would you get me a drink? Something stiff.
He looks up, seeing the Siciliano sitting there with his damn paper.
Ricky: No, of course you won’t. Sometimes I wonder just what is it that Isabella pays you to do when every time I ask something you act like I don’t exist. One of you thinks he’s Scarface, Michael Corleone and the best damn G from da hood all rolled up in one and the other one acts like I don’t even exist..some damn team. How am I supposed to be in charge when I am the only one trying to do things right here! You know what..
He gets up and heads to the door.
Ricky: I’ll get the damn drink myself and when I get back you better not be here or else..
He didn’t finish the sentence, what was he gonna say he couldn’t do a damn to someone the size and power of Vincenzo Riina, All he could do was close the door and make sure he’d get a drink, or two, or ten..