Octavius

Bonus #3

happy two years of octavius :)

FINLEY GENOVESE

There was always something familiar about the smell of the cigarette smoke illuminating around me with a blurred haze and floating in a thick line of curls around the room.

        It was a scene I would have never been exposed to before him, a life I didn't know existed before he pulled me into an empty stall and commanded me to breathe.

The sounds of the slot machines dinged, cranks of the slot machine arms and the crisp sound of cards being shuffled and dealt. Bottles of the Old Smugglers Club poured, dissolved in ice chips, diamond cufflinks, and soft gray ties.

The filthy smell of old dollar bills piled on the card table and the husky cologne of the made men around me.

I closed my eyes tightly, mumbling my lucky words under my breath and took a deep breath before I revealed my cards.

        When I finally opened my eyes, the gnawing feeling that'd been eating inside of me between the urge to pee and hunger finally dissolved in a pit of failure and guilt.

I groaned lowly, looking around to meet an consensus of amused looks and glorified smirks.

        "Little boss." Cosimo let out a hearty laughter, his shoulders vibrating and trembling with the force of his laughter radiating through him.

        "You're truly terrible at this and no more playing for you." He told me, his glittering gaze fixated on my hand.

        I frowned, staring at him with hope flashing in my eyes—hope that he would continue to let me play. "Cosimo. Come on, please, please, please."

        He shook his head and jerked a thumb towards the direction of the couch behind me. "Please?"

        I felt the tap of a strong hand on my hair, and glanced to catch Beast's soft smile. "I think I have to agree with Cosimo, cupcake. You have a hefty bill to pay—or rather your husband has a hefty bill to pay."

        He was referring to the fact that every time I lost a round of poker, the amount automatically got added to Octavius' tab.

        Cosimo begged for me to spare Octavius each time we played but Octavius adamantly advocated for me to play to my heart's desire. Something about 'who's going to spend all my money better than you, Topolina?'

        "Fine." I huffed under my breath and moved over to the back where Milo was spread out and purring softly.

        I wasn't going to admit that I was feeling a little bitter being kicked out of the round but I knew it was most likely for the best because I was truly horrible at poker. 

        Running my hand across his fur, I watched as the rest of the men indulged in another round of poker.

        Beast and Cosimo were one of the best players I'd seen so far and I saw Silvio play once but he was on another different level.

        I wanted to play against Silvio once but Beast cautioned against it, and warned me because Silvio was 'a ruthless motherflicker.'