Mateo has immensely respected Aldo all his life, but right now if he was around, Mateo might have lost his cool. The way Faith is reacting is the exact reason why Mate didn’t want to do this. He didn’t mind putting bullets in those men’s heads to protect her. He will not mind doing it again. That is not a difficult task for a man like Mateo, but dealing with Faith’s outburst is. He doesn’t know how to console, how to break a news to someone, or how to lay a piece of news gently. This is why he wanted to take her to Aldo, but that bastard went missing before he could take her to him – leaving Mateo to deal with her. Mateo has never been hit by a person in a very long time. Since he has been in control of his businesses, no one has ever dared to even glare at him, let alone hit him. But since Faith stepped into his life, he has been slapped by this woman three times. If it was anyone else, Mateo would have broken their wrists for even raising their hands at him, but his hands are tied
“Mateo, I am so sorry. Benji – uh – he – I,” Piper’s apprehensive voice was the first thing Faith heard when she woke up, following Mateo’s detached, “It is fine. You should go and see how he is doing now. It is still raining. I am here with Faith,” He added. Faith was fully awake, but she didn’t open her eyes. She was feeling immensely guilty and embarrassed for the troubles she has been making for Mateo and Piper. She remembers everything that she did. Her stomach twist into knots as she realized she could have died. She was so easily ready to give up on her life, if it wasn’t for Mateo – her lifeless body would have been floating in the pool by now. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. “Mateo, again, I am so sorry. I should not have brought him here with me, I am sorry.” The more Piper apologize, the more remorseful Faith feels. She heard Mateo sighing, “It is fine, Piper. You should go now. I will talk to you later,” He said, leaving no room for Piper to argue. Faith was
“Why is there a bar in every place you go? You have one in your office. I am sure you must have one at your house as well. Also, every time I see you, you have a drink in your hand.” Faith commented as she look through the small collection of alcohol behind the bar. Her finger traced along the marble counter. She heaved a sigh and turned around to look at Mateo, who still stood by the door, but unlike before the door was closed now. “Not to forget you own a club. Are you sure you don’t have a drinking problem?” She asked – tilting her head. Mateo couldn't understand how she is the same woman who was trembling under his gun just a couple of hours ago, and now she stood in his room – uninvited – lecturing him about her perspective on his drinking problem. “Are you Captain Jack Sparrow of the mafia world?” She mocked him. Mateo has never used the words mafia when he talked about Aldo or himself, but Faith picked on him. She knows what organized criminals are usually called. If Mateo does
“There is a dead body in the alley,” Ethan spoke astonishingly. Levi glanced at him as he gets in the car with a bag of frozen peas in his hand. He heaved a sigh and closed the car’s door behind him. Levi nodded his head, “Yes, don’t worry about it. My men will get rid of it,” He told Ethan before passing him the bag of frozen peas, “Here, put it on your cheek. It will help with the swelling.” He asked Ethan, who didn’t move. Ethan’s eyes were still widened. The glass of his spectacles was cracked from the side. Even when Levi helped him whip the blood off his face, there was still a trace of pink on Ethan’s pale skin. He was still shaken. It wasn’t easy for him to come out of the shock of his life. There was a man there to kill him, and he saw his brain spew out of his head after Levi shot him in the head and now his body lies in the dumpster in the alley behind his sister’s café. Nothing made sense to him. Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, “This is going to be a long night,” He
Faith couldn’t stop thinking about what Mateo said after he, Piper, and Benji left for the city. She sat by the pool alone. “Because history suggests they cannot be trusted,” Faith repeated Mateo’s words as she pulled her eyebrows together and tilt her head.Her head has been wrapped around so many reservations. To begin with, if Mateo also believes that the Ricci family cannot be trusted, then does this gives Faith a reason to not trust his words either? After all, he is Mateo Ricci. Although, he doesn’t use his family name. That made her think, did he change his last name because he doesn’t want to be associated with his family?She wondered what happened in the past that forbids the Ricci clan to lead the alliance? If they betrayed the Bianchi clan, then why are they still a part of the alliance? She pondered on how Mateo feels about belonging to the subordinated clan, and how the people of the Bianchi clan see him? She wondered if the person that was in love with Zeta also belonge
“Benji has his dentist appointment this week, so we will not be able to make it. He already misses the place, and if I am being honest, so do I.” Piper said to Faith over the phone. It has been four days since Mateo and Piper left for the city, after Mateo called her two days ago – she didn’t hear from him again, but Piper did reach her. Faith saved her and his number on her new phone. She and Piper have been talking over the phone for the past two days. It felt nice to Faith to have someone to talk to. Piper apologized for not reaching out to her earlier since she was busy with work and Benji, and it made Faith feel guilty. Since she came into these people’s lives, she only increased the burden on them. Faith smiled as she had her phone pressed to her ear, “I miss you guys too. I didn’t get much time to bond with Benji. Maybe we will get to spend someone more time together when you two visit next,” Faith replied. Piper chuckled half-heartedly from the other end, “Oh, how much I wi
“Kami, can you take me to the beach today?” Faith asked Kami as they stroll through the narrow streets of the village market. Faith came here to explore the small market, as well as, to purchase a few essentials. She has a beige tote ag on her shoulder with a few items she purchased, such as some handmade soaps. She was also lucky enough to find some scented candles that a young villager makes at her home. She also bought a wooden comb that an old man was selling, she didn’t need it – but she just wanted to help out the man. Faith also purchased a few things for Kami and his family as well. She learned a bit about the boy as they talked when they walked around. Kami is the eldest child. He has a younger sister, Lora, who is fifteen, and a younger brother, Dio, who is ten. His mother works in the tea fields, and his father passed away eight years ago. He dreams to study in the city and be successful so he could ring his family to the city as well. Like Kami, Lora can too speak and und
Faith’s ears were ringing. Her vision was getting blurry. Her eyes fixed on the jeep she and Kami were supposed to take back to the resort. Its windshield had blood splattered all over it. The driver’s head was against the steering. Faith didn’t need anyone to tell her that he was dead. They killed him to get to her. They killed an innocent man just to get to her. She slowly blinked as she looked at Kami, who was trying to pull her away, but it felt like her feet were buried in the sand. She couldn’t move them.She was tightly holding on to Mateo’s arm. He was still shooting at the targets, but now he was not standing alone. Several men circled them – they all were shooting towards the targets. “Faith, what are you doing? MOVE!” Mateo yelled at her. She only tightened her grip around his bulgy arm. Mateo glanced at her over his shoulder. He could see the panic and shock in her tear-filled eyes. “Sister Faith, please.” She heard Kami’s cry. She turned around to look at Kami, who had t
A good day came months after. The people of the village finally got their freedom. When that happened, week-long celebrations were held at the village, and all of them were invited, especially, Faith, Mateo, and Kai. It was a joyous occasion. Even when everyone was dreading back where they all spend the worst days of their lives, of course, they went anyway. Hesitant at first, everyone had a great time. Faith had never seen the people of the village have such a festive spirit. It was truly a beautiful week. Faith spends most of her time with her grandmother, Kami, and his family. Benji didn’t want to go with them, but when Kami asked – he couldn’t say no. Lora (Kami’s sister) was there to welcome everyone. Everyone could see how excited Benji got when he saw her. Piper and Kai exchanged a knowing glance. Benji has a crush on Lora. He had it since he came here for the first time. After he returned to the city, he kept in contact with her in one way or another. Faith was happy to see
(One Year Later)Even today when Faith closes her eyes and thinks about her recent past, she can’t truly process it. She can’t believe that so much changed in the past couple of years. From losing her entire family to almost getting killed to find a new family – a new purpose – everything in her life was nothing less than a lesson – a brutal and painful lesson. Currently, she was sitting in a meeting along with Kai and Mateo – but they weren’t the only ones there. The three of them were hosts, while the other distant members of the Ricci and Bianchi clan, a few mafia leaders, and a couple of correspondents from the village were in the room. The debate was on – whether the village/island should be given its independence or not.Faith was sitting in between Kai and Mateo. She averted her gaze to the other side of the room where Kami sat along with a few young faces representing the village. Faith could tell that the young boy was nervous. She shoots him an assuring smile. Kami smiled ba
Kai didn’t say anything in return. He just impassively stared at Mateo before they were interrupted by Faith and Piper’s loud laughter. Both looked at the girls to find that Ethan had managed to pull Levi into the pool. He grabbed Levi’s ankle and pulled him in, making the water splash around and the girls laugh. Mateo heaved a sigh and shook his head as he watched his friend emerge from under the water, not looking much impressed. Noel was standing behind Levi when Ethan pulled him in, he was now watching them two. Ethan laughed and splashed some water towards him with his hand, “What are you doing up there loser? Get in!” Noel shook his head, “No, and you need to come out too.” He looks at all of them, “You all do. It is chilly and the water is cold,” he added. “It is not that cold,” Piper replied. It was because Kai switch on the heater to warm up the water, but that’s mean it was okay to be in a pool on a chilly night under the sky. Just at that moment, Piper sneezed. That was i
Faith and Piper were wasted. If having one drink after another wasn’t enough, they were now drinking straight out of the bottle. “We should go swimming,” Faith slurred a suggestion to which Piper enthusiastically nodded her head, agreeing to it. Before anyone could stop them, an equally drunk Ethan got on his feet and threw his fist in the air, “Hell yeah! Let’s go!!” he yelled out and hooted. Everyone else was so concerned about Faith and Piper that they didn’t even notice just how much Ethan was drinking. These three were completely wasted. Noel was slightly tipsy. Where else, Levi, Mateo, and Kai only had a single drink so they weren’t drunk at all. They decided to stay sober to keep an eye on girls, and well – now Ethan as well. “Excellent,” Levi muttered under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. He moved to Ethan, who was swinging from one side to another with a bottle of one of the most expensive whiskeys in his hand. Kai glanced at the bottle in his hand. He didn’t
Faith was in her room, changing with there was a knock on her door. Her room was now filled with done and undone boxes. She will be moving out tomorrow and there is so much left to do. But currently, she wasn’t focused on it. She is certain that she will be able to pack before the movers arrive. She was concerned about the dinner party they were having tonight. Faith had already invited everyone and now she was changing for the night. By the knock on the door, she was certain that Mateo has arrived. She quickly picked up the clothes she threw on the floor and put them on the bed before she spoke, “Yes?” The door opened and indeed it was Mateo. He looked good. Fresh and well-rested. It took everyone over a month to get over what happened on the island. The exhaustion and trauma (for some) didn’t leave for days. Mateo was looking like he did when Faith first met him. The difference between then and now is that then he had a hard scowl on his face, and now he was smiling. Then he threw
“Are you all packed up?” Piper asked Faith who came to her room to visit. Faith looked at Piper and smiled. “Yes, almost. Just a few things are remaining to be packed,” she replied. In two days, Faith is moving in with Mateo. For the past week, she has been very busy. She didn’t realize how comfortable she has gotten at Kai’s place, that now that she was winding everything up here, she feels sad to be leaving. When she started packing, she was excited. For her, moving in with Mateo is like a new chapter of her life, but as she proceeded, she realized how uncomfortable yet relieving it is to end this brief, daunting, and challenging chapter of her life. Piper was sitting on the bed, reading, when Faith knocked on her door. She exhaled and smiled broadly at her, “So, are you excited?” She asked. Faith chuckled and sat on the bed beside her, “I am.” She nodded her head, “But I am also nervous. There are so many ifs and buts in my head that I can hardly sleep at night,” she replied hon
“Thank you,” Piper hugged and thanked Faith, before she looked at Mateo, “Thank you both of you. I don’t know what would have happened if it wasn’t for you two. I would have been living on the streets,” she added. “Hey!” “What the hell?” Levi and Kai spoke at the same time. Piper pulled her eyebrows together and looked at both of them. Kai was frowning while Levi stepped forward, “What do you mean you would have been on the streets? Are you kidding me? I would have never let you be on street. Damn, I thought you thought of me as a friend, but boy was I wrong.” Levi scoffed. Where Kai just watched her dumbfounded. She softly chuckled at Levi. “Oh, I would have never bothered you. You already got your hands full,” she told him bobbing her head towards Benji’s room. The door of Benji’s room was open and inside everyone can see Benji and Ethan playing video games. They were so engrossed by what they were playing that they didn’t even notice the people outside looking at them. Ethan and
Kai squinted his eyes. When he was coming out of Piper’s room, he did not expect Faith, Mateo, and Benji right outside – watching him walk out of the room. Their curious gazes made him feel like he was sneaking out of her room after a one-night stand. Mateo was shamelessly smirking at him. Faith was curiously watching him, and Benji had his eyes narrowed at him. Kai cleared his throat and ignored Mateo’s comment and Faith’s question. He was about to tell them that they shouldn’t be so nosy when the doorbell rang. Faith and Mateo pulled their eyebrows together and looked at each other, “Who is here so early in the morning?” She muttered and watched as one of the helpers opened the door. It was Levi and Ethan. “What are you two doing here so early?” Mateo asked with his eyebrows knitted together. Levi didn’t look good. He looked like he didn’t sleep all night. Ethan looked tired as well, but not as exhausted as Levi. Levi glared at Ethan at Mateo’s question. Levi heaved a sigh. His sh
Kai has been inside Piper’s room for an hour. He was now sitting on the floor while she was sitting on the floor as well but she sat by the window. She was watching outside the window while her knees pressed to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. While her eyes were fixed outside, Kai’s eyes were fixed on her. They have been talking for the last hour. No yelling or name was calling. There were no accusations, nor did they completely patch up – they were just talking, which was due for some time now. They fight. They have had sex. They have done everything, but they never get the chance to sit and just talk about themselves. About their insecurities, about their feelings, about everything they bring to each other. Piper last put forward a very interesting point, “Aren’t we toxic for each other? There is just too much we don’t agree on.” She had muttered. Her point was quite simple. She told him that even if Jeremy hadn’t attacked her or anyone else, and even if he was just try