Alvaro sat in a club, hidden in the layers of smoke and vape within the dim red light. It was a club for paupers, the least recognised people in the society but here he was. A lady passed by him, giving him a sly look and winked flirtatiously. He chuckled as he smirked back. She took the cue and walked towards him. She sat next to him immediately leaning close, "Hey pretty boy. You don't exactly look like you belong here."
Álvaro chuckled pouring her a drink, "Oh really? How so?"
She took the glass, a smile on her lips, "Álvaro Espada. I don't think there's a lady in this kingdom who doesn't know the legendary man."
Álvaro raised a brow tucking her hair behind her ear. She had make up on, a bit too much, quite unlike Rosa. He had a habit of always comparing his women with her. None actually reached her standards but a few managed to graze it.
This girl was..... Minimal.
"Tell me more."
She smiled playing with his buttons as she slowly undid them, "Only son of the Espadas, only heir, powerful, carefree but ruthless, the kingdom's best swordsman, handsome and especially good with the ladies."
Álvaro chuckled as he glanced at her hands moving cleverly, "Hm, not bad. You do your research well."
She slowly crept her hands lower, "Yes I do..... much more than the surface." Álvaro smirked as he leaned in and kissed her neck, "So you're aware of the rules then. No lip kissing, no..." She completed, "Cumming inside of me with or without condoms. I'm quite aware General." He caressed her throat slowly, "There should be a brothel around?" She undid her bra, "This isn't one of those fancy places, we can do it right here."
The girl lay on the couch panting as Álvaro pulled in his trousers, "Here's your pay." He dropped a wad of cash on the table nonchalantly.
The woman glanced at the money on the table then turned to him dramatically with tears in her eyes, "I'm not a prostitute, I slept with you cause I liked you."
Álvaro scoffed, "Seems you didn't research so well. I'm not dumb. Leah Regalio right? I could tell from the minute you smiled at me what your aim was. I would've entertained your..... " He glanced at her, lazily sizing her up, "sluttiness but I'm a busy man and I don't go beyond one night stands."
Her face immediately dropped to a scowl as she cursed, "Screw you Espada."
She reached for her purse but Álvaro simply waved her a small pistol, looking quite bored, "Looking for this? Nice try Regalio, a shame actually. Such beauty with no brains."
He downed a glass of wine, making to walk away when she shouted spitefully, "You might be tough and all but you've got a weakness, Rosa and she won't always be safe yunno. I'll...."
Álvaro didn't wait a blink of an eye before firing a bullet into her leg and then arm. The gun had a silencer so no attention was dragged. He didn't have an emotion on his face, except from the low raise of his brow, "It'd be much more unwise of you to try that lane. I WILL kill you and every damn person behind you."
He'd seen the pistol halfway through the intercourse but which gentleman stopped at the height of a lady's pleasure. He smirked. For him she was average, her moans were like growls. Slutty, very unlike his Rosa.
He walked towards the private arena of the bar and met Matteo under the dim lights. He sat next to him taking away his glass, "Brother."
He acknowledged him lightly. Matteo scoffed, "You have to remember I'm no longer an Espada. "
Álvaro chuckled as Matteo 's eyes followed a lady who was passing by. "But it clearly hasn't left your blood flow. An Espada doesn't become a lesser Espada just because he no longer bears a surname."
Matteo chuckled, "Tell that to your father. The surname to him is all that matters in life. The undefeated Espada."
Álvaro chuckled, slowly a silence ensued, the noise of the bar jamming in a seemingly far distance.
Matteo broke it, "You're clearly not here to spite on the old hound."
Álvaro chugged down a glass, "You know me too well."
Matteo watched him in that dark unreadable eye they'd both inherited from their father, "I don't. You know that better than I do."
Álvaro shrugged relaxing into his chair immediately falling into his serious mode, "The rumours, concerning the recent ambushes and assassinations, what do they say?"
Matteo raised an eyebrow. He always knew his brother wore trouble like a second skin but if he knew something concerning the ambushes then that was simply suicide, "They think it's the villagers rioting against the depleting economy, food has been scarce, water worse. The poor are being oppressed and it's raised some revolt. Nothing that can't be suppressed... With you in on it I'm guessing it's not."
Álvaro chuckled as he glanced at his brother. He sat up, "Father ordered it..... I had to." Matteo sighed, "Give me a clearer picture." Álvaro stared into thin air then spoke carefree, "Care for a game of chess?"
Matteo frowned a bit but asked no questions.
With Álvaro it was always like that. The lesser you asked the more less involved he was and he was careful to the bit, never getting himself obviously involved in anything that actually dented his image. Just enough to scare the folks but not enough to have him brought to court.
An Espada.
Matteo flicked a hand at the bar guy and yelled at him, "Bring a chessboard Leo."
The bar guy nodded at him and brought it with a new bottle of champagne. Álvaro picked the black pawns and began setting it up. He placed the king on the board, "Espada."
He placed the queen, "Fierro." The Rook, "Montez." He placed the bishop, "Cruz." Then he lined up the knights and pawns and leaned back, "The Fierro brothers."
Matteo glanced at him as the game played on with Álvaro showing which family was loyal and which wasn't until Matteo's king was dead.
Matteo paused, "Your Rosa?"
Álvaro shrugged, "Oblivious but curious."
Matteo sighed, "Curiousity killed the cat. What do you intend on doing?"
Álvaro smirked, "Let the chess pieces play their game. Father is yet to summon me."
Matteo heaved, leaning back on his chair, "Does anything satisfy the old bastard's greed."
Álvaro chuckled, downing a glass of champagne, "No, not even the crown will. Only death, the Goodman."
Matteo's jaw clenched. Only Álvaro could be so direct and determined, only Álvaro didn't miss the bullseye, "Be careful."
Álvaro stood up, "When have I ever not been? Even the devil maintains a reputation untainted."
Matteo nodded slightly, "I'll be there."
Álvaro smirked, "Of course."