LOGINThe pub was loud, filled with the sounds of its most loyal patrons - a pack of mouthy drunks that could never bear to tear themselves away from their favorite place. The ones who turned it into a makeshift home, filling it with music and laughter and the constant sound of chatter, taking full advantage of the place that never closed.It’s those same people who made Blaze and Armani feel so welcomed - so safe as to lose themselves in the music and drinks, letting their guard down for once in their lives because, as far as they could tell, no one here cared enough to tell. No one cared about who they were or what they do. Not really.That’s why the pair of brothers kept coming back, turning the bar into their haven whenever life flipped them on their heads, because even on their worst days, the bar always seemed to welcome them back in with open arms.Today was no exception. Blaze and Armani walked into the bar with their heads held high, the bell ringing above the door to alert the sm
Blaze and Armani were more than just brothers. They were friends, too. Best friends. Confidants. And there wasn’t anyone else in the whole world who proved to be as loyal or kind. There wasn’t anyone else they could trust. Not with their deepest, darkest secrets or the emotions they could never quite name, but always seemed to tear them apart.And although the Castelli’s weren’t the best at handling their emotions and putting their feelings into words, there was always some sort of understanding between the two brothers - a special kind of connection that made it so they didn’t even have to try. Not to speak or listen, or look for whatever underlying clues hidden between the lines. Not when they knew each other so well. Better than anyone else ever had or will.Instead, the two would sit, and they would share a drink - or rather a bottle of whatever they chose for the day - and they would drown out their sorrows until, eventually, whatever was bothering them would come up to the surfa
Dinner started off slow and awkward as people slowly began to file into the dining room, finding their respective seats around the table as if it were a chore. Liviana had to pretend not to notice the way each and every one of them kept stealing glances in her direction, eyes inevitably drawn to Blaze’s usually empty seat at the head of the table, where he’d typically be sitting and glaring at them as they entered.She tried especially hard to ignore her parents, who kept her pinned to her seat with the weight of their gazes, pretending not to hear them as they whispered questions of “Where is he?” And, “Do you think he’s going to show?” Before the dreaded moment finally came when they decided to ask her to her face.“Honey?” Drusilla called softly, clearing her throat when she goes unanswered. “Liviana, hon-“Her grip tightened around the glass of wine she had been nursing, knowing she couldn’t put it off any longer. Not when everyone was looking at her like that. Worried, suspicious
Liviana sat silently with her head in her hands, knee bouncing with nerves. “I just... I don’t understand,” she murmured. “Why would she-“ she cut herself off, narrowing her eyes as if she’s missing something she so desperately wanted to see, to know, to understand. But she couldn’t. No matter how many times she replayed the day in her head and went over their conversation, she couldn’t figure it out. Why would her mother lie? Why did she care so much? Who was this so-called friend of hers? Why was he spying on her?Her head felt full, her mind painfully overworking itself with the way it came up with question after question, thought after thought, worry after worry, until she felt like she just might explode.Groaning, she buries her face in her hands, hiding herself behind a curtain of dark hair, as if she would somehow be able to escape the thoughts, if not her own tortured mind. If only it were that easy.Instead, the noise rings in her ears and the pounding in her head worsens, a
Liviana chased after her sister-in-law with a sigh, calling quietly, “Vi, wait-“ But it’s of no use. The blonde is already long gone.Inside, she marched through the foyer, stubbornly shaking her head. “No!” she refused, reminding the raven, “You’re the one who said I could stay, so I’m staying.” Violet shrugged, tossing her coat aside with her bag and making herself at home, as if to prove a point. “Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind?” She turns her way, quirking an accusing brow at the woman, asking, “Is that it? Do you not want me here anymore?”Shaking her head, Liviana insists, “Of course I do! It’s just-““Just what?” She presses, arms crossing over her chest, eyes sharpening into something cold and offended. “What’s the problem, Livi?”“Nothing! There is no problem, I just-“ she cut herself off with a sigh, eyes darting around the foyer, waiting for the moment someone else would inevitably discover them. She knew it was coming - that it was only a matter of time before
"Violet-" Liviana called after the woman, sparing her husband a final glance over her shoulder, torn. She hated that they didn't have time for a proper conversation, and that she never had the chance to ask, "Are you okay?" Before he sends her away."Take Vi home," he ordered without so much as a second thought. "Take her, and I'll stay with Mani, okay?"She wanted to ask if he was sure. If this was really a good idea after he and Armani were already pushing each other around. But he doesn't give her a chance."Go," he persisted, nodding toward the blonde, who'd already begun walking away. "She needs someone right now."She hesitates, watching as the man sighs and starts toward her. "Are you-"He knew what she was going to ask - "Are you okay? Are you sure?" - and he answers before she can so much as get the question out, rushing her along with a curt nod. "Mhm," he hums, reaching out to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, promising, "I'll be fine. You can go." Because, really, what
Liviana stared at the two like they’d each grown an extra head, eyes blown wide like she couldn’t believe what she’d just been told, like she couldn’t even begin to comprehend what was being asked of her this time around.Slowly, she blinks out of her daze, eyes darting between the two, waiting for
The car ride continued in a suffocating silence that neither of those two stubborn souls would break, no matter how badly they might’ve wanted to. Eventually, it gets to both of them, and after a while, they’re left with nothing but a dreadful pit of regret digging itself deep into their stomachs,
Blaze and Liviana left without so much as another word, fleeing the penthouse hand in hand and in a silence that spoke volumes. They were both utterly exhausted, and although they were relieved to find themselves safely tucked into the solitude of his car after such a long, demeaning day, there was
Liviana wasn't sure why she was so nervous to see her husband again - it had only been two hours since she'd left him at the family manor, after all. It hadn't been long at all, but for some reason, it felt like an eternity. It felt like she could be walking into the arms of a totally new person, a







