Flashback (Kai and Mateo’s Childhood) “I don’t think I will go.” A twelve-year-old Kai muttered under his breath as he lay on his bed – looking up at the ceiling. He fidgets his fingers just at the thought of going out. He doesn't know what got into him that he planned to go out with his friends. He shouldn’t have said yes in excitement when he knows he can’t go out in the crowd without getting anxious. A twelve-year-old Mateo sat on the floor of Kai’s bedroom. His back resting against Kai’s bed. He raised his eyebrow and turned his head to look at his best friend gloomily laying on the bed. “Do you not want to go or are you just anxious to go out?” He asked Kai. Kai lifted his head and looked down at Mateo, “What difference does it make?” Kai asked his friend. Mateo shrugged while he had one of Kai’s tennis balls in his hand – he picked on the fuzz while he spoke, “If you don’t want to go, then you shouldn’t. Simple as that. And if you want to go, but you are worried about get
“I found something that might lead us to what or who my dad was trying to protect,” Faith spoke as soon as she barged into Mateo’s room where he and Levi were having morning coffee. Faith had the folders Mateo left with her with all the documents – including all the information about her adoptive family. She barely slept all night, and as soon as the sun went up – she showered, changed, and straight came to Mateo’s room. Levi rose his eyebrow as he looked at Faith, who seemed to be flustered. Her nose was healing nicely. The bruises were getting darker, which indicated the healing process. She didn’t look in pain and her voice didn’t sound as hyponasal as yesterday. She was wearing a white t-shirt with ripped blue jeans. She was wearing her hair in a braid that rests on her shoulder. Levi also noticed how she was ignoring making eye contact with Mateo. He pinched in eyebrows together in curiosity and glanced towards his friend, who seem to be doing the same thing. He was wordlessly s
As promised, Levi took Faith to see Kami. Kami was surprised to see Faith at his door. He happily welcomed them into his small house. The boy was concerned and then amused to see Faith’s bruised face. For the second, when he didn’t know how she got injured, Faith saw the fear on his face – he must have thought she got attacked again, but Faith quickly clarified what happened, and his concern and fear turned into amusement. When she told Kami that she will be leaving tomorrow for the city, Kami subdued. He didn’t expect her to leave on such short notice. If he had known she would be leaving, he would not have spent more time with her. Lately, Kami hardly ever visits Faith at the resort. He was still pretty shaken by what happened that day at the beach. He has been spending most of his time in the village, with his family – but he was feeling guilty for not spending more time with her now that she is leaving. “So, will you ever return?” Kami asked as the two sits on the steps at the b
Mateo, Faith, Levi, and Blaire left the island earlier than Faith imagined. The sun was barely up when Levi took her belongings to the port. Blaire was with Jeremy since he will be here for another week – they were saying goodbye to each other. Kami came to see her off before the sun even came up, while Mateo was wordlessly standing behind Kami – just observing the two saying goodbye. Faith had tears rolling down her face, while Kami’s eyes were glossy and red as well. He has been crying previously. He sniffled as Faith put her palm on her cheek, “Kami, you have my number. If you ever need anything – just give me a call. I will always be there for you,” She said to him. She was very keen on returning to the city, but she was also sad to leave Kami and this place behind. For more than a month, this place was her home. Everyone treated her so well here. She is going to miss this place so dearly. Kami sniffled, “Of course, Sister Faith. Please, take care of yourself.” Kami said to her.
After spending a few hours in Mateo’s penthouse, Faith established a few things about the man. One, Mateo screams money. The place is insanely luxurious with two stories, a patio, and a pool as a part of a penthouse! Two, Mateo is a dull person. His penthouse divides into three major colors, white, black and grey – much like his wardrobe. Faith doesn’t mind it. She believes the place looks extremely sophisticated because of the use of fewer colors. Three, Mateo loves gardening. The man has many indoor and outdoor plants – which according to Blaire, he likes to look after himself when he has time. And the four and most important thing that Faith learned was, that Mateo Nixon has a pet cat! Faith was currently sitting on the floor, with a beautiful and very chubby orange cat lazily laying on the floor in the sun. “Hey, Rex!” Faith cooed the cat in a squeaky voice. Rex looked at Faith before she stretched herself and yawned. Faith couldn’t help but giggle. This was such a pleasant surpr
“Did you hear anything from Aldo?” Faith asked Mateo as they sit in his office at his penthouse. He recently returned from work/club and asked Faith to join him in his office. He asked Steven to look into the number that Howard called daily before he died, and he got the result, but before Mateo could bring it up, Faith asked him about Aldo. Mateo heaved a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose, “No,” He replied as he took off his black jacket and put it behind his chair. He was wearing a typical white button-up shirt under it. He uncuffed the sleeves and rolled them up. He seems like he was back from an important meeting. Faith didn’t ask where he was, instead she just wordlessly noticed how frustrated he looked when she mentioned Aldo. “It is like he vanished from the face of the earth,” He muttered under his breath. “Anyway,” He shook his head and turned to look at Faith, who was sitting on the grey L-shaped couch in the corner of his office. She was wearing a yellow blouse and
(Trigger Warning! Mention of Violence/Torture)Faith asked Levi and Mateo to her some alone time with Ethan, who was already chained up to the painfully small chair. Since he was not in any position to harm Faith, the two men walked out – leaving Faith alone with Ethan, who was barely awake. Faith felt a shiver running down her spine when she saw Ethan. Her eyes filled with tears when she recalled his innocent face that always had a smile on it. It was not covered with bruises, cuts, and blood. His hands were chained behind the chair, while his legs were chained to the legs of the chair. Faith flinched at the state he was in. He was completely hosed down from head to toe. She realized that Mateo and Levi’s form of torture isn’t just physical. Levi hasn’t let Ethan sleep for the last twenty-four hours. Therefore, he looked like he was about to pass out. He could barely keep his eyes open. Whenever his eyes drop, Levi or someone from his men wakes Ethan up by hosing him down with cold
“Who was their target this time? Me or you? If it was me, then they clearly sent someone new after me. Or is it even the same person that sent Ethan?! What if it is someone new?!” Faith is completely panic-stricken since they came back to Mateo’s penthouse securely. If the car wasn’t bulletproof and if Mateo didn’t drive like a madman and was able to dodge them, Faith would have been dead – or perhaps both of them would have died.Faith is shaken. It is the third attack on her since she came to Mateo. They have been back to the penthouse for almost an hour, but she still hasn’t been able to calm herself down. Her heart is still racing in her chest. Her palms are clammy. And her head has started to throb. She strolled back and forth in the living room with her eyes burning with tears. She ran her fingers through her hair. She is overwrought, and Mateo can see that. Mateo put one hand on his hip while with the other one he scratched his forehead, “If could be anyone. It is time you sto