"It's okay, princess. You're here now." Her father smiled.
Caly's heart was in turmoil. She hated it when people get hurt because of her. But truth be told, she would do anything if it meant protecting her family. The lengths she would go through for her family terrified the hell out of her.
And that's why she didn't want to go home.
~~~~
Callista jogged down the stairs from her room in complete running attire. She wasn't out of the double doors yet when her bodyguard emerged from the left-wing.
"Miss, where are you going?" Thomas Wilson had a steaming coffee in his left hand. He wore a black suit that was tailored to his form, eyes crinkling from his smile.
"Thomas!" Callista exclaimed in a high-pitched tone and faced him with a massive fake smile. "Aren't you supposed to be in a coffin?”
Thomas laughed, obviously used to the biting remarks that his boss makes. He had been in the family for most of his life, and he wasn't planning on leaving soon. "I'll go with you!"
"Oh, no. Just finish your coffee." She waved him off with her hands.
"Miss, my orders are–
"Fine! Follow me if you can." Callista put her wireless headphones on and went out of the house. Dua Lipa's hits blared in her ears. She walked towards the park before she felt Thomas' presence trailing behind her.
She rolled her eyes and began to run.
The conversation she had with her father had her thinking. It was true that New York City was more peaceful than it was years ago. Most of the murder occurred when outsiders attempt to start their business on either the Luciano's or the Castellano's territories.
In fact, almost half of the boroughs' big establishments were owned by either of the two families. It was an apt term to say that they've already monopolized New York's economy.
Even the police department was complacent with the system. Nobody dared to enter New York anymore.
A war between the two families was bad news for everybody.
Caly ran two laps, enjoying the high that every runner got. She slowed her pace, knowing that she had lost Thomas already. She shut the music and let the morning sun washed over her skin. Her eyes moved over the green of the park, the barking dogs, and the rush of people.
From a distance, she saw a familiar tall form. Caly halted and trotted closer to the stranger. She narrowed her eyes to confirm her suspicions, and she was right.
It was Franco Castellano.
He stood by the sidelines, surveying the dozens of people scurrying the park. The pristine white suit fit his body well, making Callista think that it was custom-made for him. He glanced at his gold watch. Satisfied with what he saw, he resumed watching the sight before his eyes.
Caly parted her mouth in awe with the way the sun glittered against the man's fair hair. His physique and the air of importance that enshrouded him reminded Callista too much of the Greek god of the sun, Apollo.
She meandered her way to him. "Franco."
Franco swiveled his head to her. His blue eyes scanned Callista from top to bottom before his aloof stare lingered on her face. "Who are you?"
Caly scoffed, disregarding the sleekness of his voice. "You don't know me?"
Franco lifted his chin up, revealing the sharpness of his jaw. His long lashes fluttered, and recognition colored his irises. "Did we have sex together?”
"What?" Callista growled in astonishment. She was confused if Franco was playing around or if he had really forgotten. They went to the same high school, so the latter seemed impossible.
"On the other hand, I don't think you would have approached me so casually if you didn't know who I am." Franco slanted his head to the right. Some of his blonde hair fell over his forehead. "Only two persons can do that to me. So, unless Blackjack had a sex change, you are Callista Genovese, am I right?”
Caly crossed her arms. "We went to St. Clement together."
Franco twisted his whole body to face her. He put his hands on the pockets of his trousers, eyebrows drew together. "I'm sorry for forgetting you. You're not memorable.”
This fucker, Callista, grinned, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Her pewter colored eyes sharpened as she scratched at his angelic face using a loud slap.
Franco's hand darted to his stinging jaw. His eyes were wide with shock as he gazed back at Caly. Her nails had made two definite red marks on his left cheek.
"Now, every time you look in the mirror, you'll remember me," Callista smirked. The raging fire in her heart utterly mollified with the blood she drew. "How's that for memorable?”
Franco Castellano's ocean blue eyes narrowed in hatred. "If this leaves a scar, I'm going to kill you.”
"Oh, you can try, pretty angel," she glared in return.
***
CHAPTER 4
The wedding happening in three months spurred Callista into action. She was clueless, but she'd figured out that talking about the problem would help her gain some solutions. She walked towards Castor's house in Manhattan after changing her clothes. Fortunately, Thomas had agreed to let her go knowing that Castor would be there.
Sometimes it unnerved her how Thomas trusted her life to Castor Luciano. But in the end, she was too content to lose her tail that she ignored her mind's queries.
"Cas!" she called out. Caly ran her teeth over her bottom lip, thinking of where the guy was. She eyed the stairs with the ornate banister leading to the second floor. It was already eight in the morning, but it wasn't also the first time that Castor woke up late.
"Stop right there!"
Caly angled her head to the right, ignoring the crawling annoyance that slithered to her tanned skin. She eyed the guy, noticing his nose ring and the mess of dark curls on his hair.
And the gun that was pointed at her.
She couldn't believe her luck for finding herself at the end of the gun again. However, she tried to be understanding. A member of the Luciano crime family, not knowing her was unheard of. So she guessed that he was recently a made man. "I'm Callista Genovese."
Like a soldier, he straightened his form and lowered his gun. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, lost in words for what happened. "I'm... How do I know you're telling the truth?”
"You don't," she answered. "But I think you know that your boss can handle a little girl like me, right?”
The man frowned. "Well..."
Caly flicked her hand, brushing off his uneasiness, and strolled upstairs. Three years later and she still knew every nook and cranny of this mansion. Castor's house was the party center during their school days. She had slept over many times, helping him clean up because obviously, he was shit with those things.
An empty room met Callista, but she heard the beats of running water against the tiled floor. Her metallic eyes gazed at the strewn bed sheets, the unopened curtains, and the lighted lamps.
She sighed, stepping on the black rugs and parted the dark curtains. To say that Castor Luciano loved black was an understatement.
"Woah! My eyes are hurting!”
Caly rolled her eyes, spinning on her heels to face him. He was dripping wet, a towel on his hips. "You're welcome."
Castor turned off the lights before marching to his walk-in closet. He emerged a few seconds later, buttoning his faded pants and a white shirt hanging on his shoulder. His other arm held a towel, drying his hair. "You need something?"
Callista was quiet for a while. She was busy raking her eyes all over her best friend's lean body. His damp hair leaving drops of water on his shoulders, sliding down to his hard stomach. The ink on his muscled chest made her fingers itch.
What the fuck? Did three years make him hotter?
"Caly?"
She cleared her throat. "Why do you always wake up so late?" Then her attention shifted to the dark bags under his eyes, which only succeeded in completing his dangerous look. "Did you have sex?”
A dry laugh was pulled out from him. "What? I told you yesterday I was tired."
"I just wa
nt you to be careful."
Cas had a wide smirk. "I'm 25, mom. I know how to put on a condom."
It took all of Caly's effort to not combust on the spot with the image he had placed on her mind. She shook her head. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what?"
"You know, spies and all that," she answered lamely. Callista began to feel scared, petrified of the unknown. There was an unexplainable ache in her heart.
Once again, she forced it deep down.
Castor chuckled, unknowing of the turmoil that was happening within the girl. He stepped closer to her until she had him trapped between the glass windows and his searing body. "You know what, my queen?"
"What?" Caly appeared calm. She was aware of the man's penchant for teasing the hell out of her. She'd be damned if she gave up easily.
His long fingers traced the line of her jaw down to her neck. He felt the rapid drumming of her pulse, down to her collarbone. Cas leaned in, whispering in her ear in a rich, dark tone. "I won't need that many women if you just agree with me.”
Callista raised an eyebrow, ignoring the rising goosebumps on her arm. "Agree with what?"
Castor slid his free hand on her right waist. He grinned, inserting his hand in the pocket of her skinny jeans. He earned a soft gasp when he grabbed her ass, pulling her closer. "Nice, right?"
"No, you idiot."
"Why not?"
"You kissed me, right?" Caly's upper lip quirked upwards. "And I didn't feel anything there."
Castor's forehead wrinkled. "We should do it again, just to be sure.”
"Three years and you're still like this." Caly shoved him off, disregarding the heat that emanated from his body. "No. We can't be friends with benefits.”
Callista laughed when he pouted. His left hand still strapped to her pocket. In just a second, the air became thick. Their eyes met, and she saw the golden ring around his irises, the fluttering of his eyelashes, and the intense stare. For the first time in three years, Caly felt safe.
Unlike the other thing, this was familiar.
Castor pulled her for a hug, nose burrowing on her shoulder. "I really missed you. And this."
She knew him well enough to know he was honest about this. Her arms wrapped around him. "Me too. We'll play strip poker next time.”
"Really?" His green eyes shone as he pulled back to gaze at her face. "If you do, I want you to give me your heart.”
"And I want you to give me your brain. God knows you don't need that," she replied playfully. In all the years of friendship they shared, Callista had never gauged whether Castor's sexual allusions were a joke or not. Nevertheless, she filed all of those memories under the folder labeled 'teasing'. Taking it seriously was too dangerous.
Castor put on his shirt, flinging the towel somewhere and let his hair dry naturally. "Let's talk over breakfast."
She fell into step with him. "Do you have apples?"
"Darling, I can give you a fruit salad.”
Callista followed him to the kitchen, where she found the man from earlier. He swallowed the pie he was eating and stood up to offer the stools to the pair. The maids had prepared a breakfast set for them.
"That's Dos. You haven't met yet." He opened the double door refrigerator, getting out a tub of strawberry frozen yogurt and blueberry jam. Castor's idea of breakfast was completely different.
"Where'd he come from?" Caly grabbed an apple from the tray, taking a huge bite.
"Moran's son."
"Ah, legacy." Dos caught her eye, and she sent out a wink, making the man release a breath. She was aware of what would occur if Castor found out Dos aimed a gun at her. "It's so early, and you're eating froyo."
"Earlier, you said it was already late." Cas continued eating his sandwich paired with the yogurt. His dark eyebrow rose in question. "So?"
"I met Franco." Caly chewed the apple, gulping it down before she spoke. "I scratched his face. He's a jerk."
"Haven't I told you that already?" Castor shook his head, his wet, dark hair falling near his eyebrows. "In middle school, I tried to talk to him. He called me filth. The bastard! If I get my hands on him, I'll definitely–"
Dos had scrambled out at this point. Callista got up and searched the fridge for apple cinnamon rolls. She found it and ate it happily while Castor continued his tirade about Franco's demise.
When her friend finished, she licked her fingers. "Dad asked me to prevent their marriage. It's imperative that I do so, or your father will launch an attack."
"Really?" Cas was genuinely surprised. "Dad never mentioned that."
"Anyway, back to my problem." Castor scoffed at this. He reached out for a cinnamon roll that Caly slapped his hand away. "What do you think I should do?”
"I don't know. Sleep with him?" He shrugged his shoulders, going back to his froyo. Times like this assured Callista of her deduction over his excessive flirting. His nonchalance on her dating life was very noticeable.
"It's an arranged marriage. I doubt that'll work."
"Well, I don't know."
"Wow, you're so helpful." She remarked, wiping her hands on his shirt for emphasis. "No wonder you repeated your senior year twice."
Castor rolled his eyes, moving his shoulder to get away from her touch. "Do you have to bring that up every time? It's not like I was failing. I was only late. Attendance can eat shit.”
"Always late, you mean." Callista hummed, remembering the time when she and Cas were tardy for their Math class. She was accelerated once, and since Castor failed, they both had been in their senior year together. It was when the rumors started. "What do you think is the most important thing to women?”
He swallowed, eyebrows scrunching in confusion. "Their shoes?”
Caly laughed and poured herself a glass of water. "No. Reputation. Girls like Delilah Gallo sniffed attention like a drug."
Castor set down his spoon, gazing up at her standing form. He noted the way her upper lip curled up. Her eyes were iridescent with something akin to delight. "What?"
"I'm going to throw a party."
***
CHAPTER 5
The garden of the Genovese mansion was decorated for the party. The pavilion and the garden had been adorned with red ribbons that sparkled with the rubies attached to it. Even the poolside had red balloons scattered around. And just like every party she had thrown, Caly had ordered several ruby gems as a giveaway gift.
She had asked her father for all the excess star rubies they have and fashioned them into small earrings. Starix Jewels had been doing well, and Callista had promised her father she would bring a large project in return.
Anyway, these gems made Caly's parties trending. Being invited was a massive privilege.
"Mal!" Callista rushed to her friend, crushing her in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you came!"
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