The smokey and peppery smell of the gunpowder filled in Mateo’s lungs. He coughed as he lay on the bloody floor. He blinked. His vision was getting blurry. His ears were ringing. Slowly he started to feel the pain in his shoulder. He let out a soft groan and he gagged on the blood that filled in his mouth. He gasped for air and let the blood drip from the corner of his mouth.He looked around as many lay dead around him – some he killed – some were killed by others. His white shirt was now soaked in blood, and so was his black suit. He was choking on the blood filled in his mouth. He tried to lift his head to see what was happening around him, but his body was slowly giving up. All he could hear were the gunshots, screams, groans, footsteps, and curses around him. He couldn’t even recognize whose voice was around him. His body and mind were slowly shutting off. He heard a fading voice, “So, this is how the Ricci family ends, huh?” The voice was familiar. Mateo knew who it was, but he
When Mateo walked into the event. All eyes were on him. Felix decided to make an entrance of his own, where else Levi wasn’t around. Mateo asked him to keep an eye on what happens outside the museum and only come back in after taking down the security outside along with Mateo, Felix, and Kai’s men. As for Felix and Mateo, they don’t want to be seen coming in together. Mateo could sense the apprehension in the eyes that are on him. He could hear some of them muttering to one another – gushing about tension. His eyes roamed around to find Aldo, but he didn’t arrive yet – or maybe he did but he was not where the Gala was taking place. Mateo did see the other members around. He did notice that Ole was there with his eldest son. He saw a few members of the Wang family, as well as, the members of the Tesfaye family. “Is Aldo’s daughter coming anytime soon, Mateo?” It was Ole who asked Mateo while handing him a glass of champagne. Mateo could tell everyone was already waiting for Faith to
Piper watched as Kai pulled out a black face mask from his pocket and put it on. He had his eyebrows pulled together as his eyes were focused on his recent victims, laying on the floor – dead, while he fill in the cartridge case. Kai’s black gloves were now stained with dust marks so was his suit. His clothes were not just dirty but crumpled as well. This hair was out of place and it had particulars stuck to it. The entire chaotic situation must have been keeping his mind off all the imperfections on him. Piper was still not sure if Kai should be here. It was getting increasingly dangerous. Currently, they were hiding in the restroom. They could hear screams, grunts, and gunshots from outside. There were already three dead bodies laying on the floor. All three of them were killed by Kai. The number of men was increasing outside, and it was getting harder for Kai and Piper to tackle them all. Kai was already running out of bullets so he and Piper came here to reload the guns. Kai cou
Piper and Kai were a great team. Without working before this, without even them knowing – they were coordinating so well. They were being each other’s eyes as they shoot down the men and women trying to kill them. When Kai was watching his side, Piper pulled away from a bullet, and when Piper wasn’t looking, Kai pushed her away. They were protecting each other left and right – until they reached a storage room. The two of them were running out of bullets, they had to reload. Kai pushed Piper in before he came inside and closed the door. There was no one inside the room. It was spacious storage with old paintings, sculptures, tools, and other things stored. Piper’s heart was racing from adrenaline pumping through her veins. Just tonight, she killed more people than she did in her entire life. There were a lot of close calls tonight, if it wasn’t for Kai – she would have died. She wordlessly glanced at him from time to time as they both loaded their guns. Kai had his eyebrows pulled t
Faith looked down at Mateo. She doesn’t like seeing him like this. She slowly blinked as her eyes traveled to the tubes attached to his body. His eyes were closed – they have been closed for the past three weeks. It is okay, he needs to rest – he must be tired. His wounds were healing, but he was sleeping. Her eyes fell on his face. He looked paler. He has grown a beard. Levi helps him trim it now and then, but the thick stubble looks good on him. His lips were dry and chapped.Faith clicked her tongue and pull out her lip balm. She scoops some on her index finger and softly applied it to his lips. “Mateo, when will you wake? Aren’t well-rested by now? You have been sleeping for too long.” She whispered to him while spreading the balm on his cold and dry lips. She does this every day. Every day she comes to visit him, and take care of him – even when he has help around. She likes to take care of him. It has been three weeks since the alliance was finally demolished. Yes, it ended. No
“So, you told him that you have a date with Sam after work?” Faith asked Piper while she popped a wedge of an orange in her mouth. “Yes,” Piper answered with her head hanging low. She was clutching her hair in her fist. “Hmm,” Faith expressed as she put the half-eaten orange on the plate and placed it on the table at the side. She glanced at Mateo, who still hasn’t opened his eyes – even after three and a half weeks, “But, you don’t?” She squinted her eyes with dusting her hands off. “No.” “Sam likes you, but he didn’t ask you on a date yet?” “No.” “Do you want Sam to ask you out?” “No.” “So, you lied to Kai?” “Yes.” “Now you don’t know what to do?” Piper heaved a sigh and look up at Faith, who was clearly enjoying their conversation more than her, “Exactly.” Faith sighed and looked at Mateo. He has yet to wake up. “If this doesn’t wake you up, what will?” She muttered, but as usual – she didn’t get a response. All she can hear is the beeping sounds from the IV pump and t
Silence. Kai walked back into the art room, leaving the door wide open for Piper – while Piper was still confused. She heard him loud and clear – he asked her to come in, but still, even when she is absolutely sure that was what Kai said – she didn’t want to assume. She stood still outside while she looked inside the room. There was little to no light in there. She doesn’t understand how Kai was painting in there. She squints her eyes.When Piper didn’t follow him in. He walked back to the door, “You either come in or go away.” He said. Piper could see him more clearly in the light. She noticed that Kai has changed into a grey hoodie and dark grey sweatpants. Her eyes fell on his feet – this was the first time she saw his bare feet. He didn’t have any shoes or socks on. His paint-stained hands hang by his sides. Piper has never seen him this comfortable before.“Stop staring and make up your mind! If you choose to leave – close the door behind you.” Kai snapped at her before he walked
Faith was waiting for this day for three weeks. She wasn’t even sure if she will ever see this day come. She was slowly losing hope, but then it happened. It wasn’t a dramatic moment, but it sure was surreal. She spend days and nights beside him, talking to him, asking him to wake but he didn’t – but the minute she walked out of his room to get something to eat for herself, Mateo decided to wake up. She didn’t know he has woken up until she returned to find him surrounded by a doctor and two nurses.This is not how she pictured him waking up. She thought it was would like in dramas she watched or the books she read. She would be holding his hand, begging him to open his eyes – and he would do so, and tell her that even when he was sleeping, he heard and felt her all this time. Maybe it is time Faith pulls herself out of her little fictional world. She was still living in it, after how messy everything had gotten for her lately.When she entered the room, Mateo glanced at her. He didn’