"Cas..." Franco muttered. He appeared cool. Steely gaze and steady posture but Castor didn't miss how he took a step back.
"That's your fiancée's killer," Castor announced. The temperature dropped as he handed Franco a gun.
"Wait!" Someone yelled before a figure barrelled into the basement.
Castor shoved him back, giving him a wintry stare. "Get back, Uncle."
Leonardo Moran clutched Castor's arm. The older man's eyes were pleading. "He's my son. He's family."
"I know," Castor replied. "But Franco is family too.”
"Leave us alone." Franco's command echoed in the damp basement, eyes focused at the crouching form on his feet.
They exited the basement. Marcus' guarded the door as the older Moran punched the wall in frustration. Castor remained quiet. He pitied the boy's father. Familial ties were important to them after all. But he believed that Franco should have the final say.
Moran senior swiveled to the boss with burning eyes. "Is he going to kill him? Will Castellano do that?"
Castor shrugged. He didn't know but if it was up to him—
The door rattled and Marcus stepped aside. Twice this night that Cas was left confused. Franco returned the gun to him and trudged to the exit.
The older Moran went to his son as Marcus snorted. Castor raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Marcus patted his head which felt more like a squeeze. "Isn't this what you wanted?”
~~~~
The grandfather clock struck twelve when Castor finally found Franco. The blonde had found refuge in their mother's greenhouse. Castor waved the green plants and saw him sitting by the small fountain.
"You okay?" he asked, inserting his hands on his jeans. "You know... I didn't mean to—"
"I know." Franco glanced at him. "You were only trying to test me. My father did that a lot."
To be compared to Francisco Castellano left a bitter taste in Castor's mouth. "Well... sorry about that."
"No. I'm sure you did that because I always talk about revenge." He smiled dryly. "But when it comes to it... I'm all talk."
"You know... I'm starting to like you, right?”
Franco scoffed. "Starting?"
"Yeah." He sat beside Franco. "You got my mother's love. Caly was chasing after you even if it was fake or not. And now, you have the morals that I badly wanted."
Castor continued. "I couldn't blame my father for raising me like this. He didn't want me to be prey. But at the same time, I always wonder how my life would be if I was ignorant."
"You calling me ignorant?" Franco frowned as if wondering whether he should be insulted or not.
"I am," Castor said in a grave tone. "You're fucking naive.”
"That's—"
"But I truly respect you, man." The words left Franco gawking at him. Before it got awkward, Castor cleared his throat. "All the mafia stuff, if you don't want to do it, then don't. Leave that all to me.”
"No."
"Oh?" Castor crossed his arms. He was amused at the sudden flash of anger in Franco's eyes.
"You're right. Unlike you and Caly, my father barely tells me anything about our family business." Franco clenched his jaw before he spoke. "But I can't stand in the sidelines anymore. My father needs a dose of his own medicine.”
Castor Luciano laughed at his declaration. "And how will you do that?"
Franco smirked and the moonlight hitting his face gave him an eerie expression. "You got my back, right?"
He grinned. "Hell, yeah."
***
CHAPTER 45
The sound of a car's engine shot Callista to her feet. She went to the door but it opened before she could touch it. She was engulfed in a choking hug.
"Cas..." she muttered and wrapped her arms around him. "Welcome back.”
Castor pulled away to kiss her. He grasped her hips as his tongue flicked in her mouth. She moaned at his intensity, running her fingers through his hair. His lips moved to her neck.
Somebody cleared their throat.
Castor cut the kiss and saw that there were people in the living room. He rolled his eyes after seeing an irritated Mallorie and a blushing Tori.
"Why do people keep interrupting us?" he mumbled and eyed her with appreciation.
Caly chuckled and rubbed the lipstick stain off his lips. "Shh.”
Castor licked his lips. He placed an arm around her shoulders as they walked to the couch. "So, what are the Powerpuff girls doing here?"
Callista had to pinch him at that despite the laugh that spilled from her red lips. "We were discussing things. And..."
She trailed off and went to grabbed the crimson envelope. "Here."
Caly watched him closely as he read the challenge and scanned the pictures. Castor frowned and sat on the couch, pulling her on his lap.
Callista flushed at his actions and scrambled to get off. As much as she loved him, public affections embarrassed her.
"Where's Franco?" she asked, ignoring his disappointed sigh.
"Outside," he answered. "I think his intentions aligned well with yours."
"And you?"
"You know I'm on your side."
That made Caly smile. She linked her hands with his. Callista began to talk about her plan and all the things she did behind his back. The threats, her retaliation, and the source of it all.
"How did you know Castellano would agree with the marriage deal?" Castor asked.
"Because he wants to have what I have." Caly locked their fingers together. "And he can do it without wasting his resources.”
"He just had to sacrifice me." Franco entered the living room. He gave a small nod and sat next to Tori.
"Yeah."
The hours passed by as they build a whole folder of all the cases that Francisco Castellano had been involved in. They would take it to court. It wasn't enough to incriminate him but gossips go so far. His Italian connections would know all of the double-crossing he had done.
Tori and Mallorie would take care of it. As a precaution, Castor gave them guards. When the two women left, the three heirs were basked in silence.
Callista had wanted to add the kidnapping case. But she also wished Castor would come to clean himself. She knew exactly why he had kept it a secret from her, why he didn't tell her that he was the boy who had saved her. She knew him that well.
Besides, the cases weren't even enough to completely get rid of the menace.
"We should kill him," she announced.
"Caly," Castor admonished.
Callista figured that she had uttered a callous statement. The vile man was still Franco's father. And Franco was family.
"Then, I need a practical solution." She met Castor's warning gaze as he clutched her hand tighter. "You know it."
"What?" Franco interjected at the silent battle the lovers were engaged in.
Castor huffed and looked at his brother. "We want to make you the boss. We can get rid of his power without killing him.”
"How?"
Caly frowned at Franco's wide-eyed look. "You have to make the family see that you're capable. Who are the capos that are loyal to you?"
Franco scratched at his forehead. "I only know Scarface."
"What!" Caly exclaimed and jerked to her boyfriend. She lowered her voice. "What's happening?"
Castor let out a sigh. "His father kept him away from the business."
"Like the business?"
"Yeah. I think he was threatened. Franco doesn't know the illegal businesses they have.”
Franco stood up, pushing his golden hair off his face. "Stop all these and just tell it to me straight, will you? You two keep treating me as if I'm useless!"
Callista bit her lip. "Do you know what our families do? The business where we don't pay taxes?"
"No. What do you do?”
Castor sat straight, clasping his hands together. "Espionage and blackmail. We sell secrets."
"And you?" His blue eyes landed on her.
Callista felt shame.
She was being judged but she tried to smile. She met his questioning eyes. "Assassination."
"What? Are you serious?" Franco clenched his jaw. "And my family?”
"You really want to know?" Castor mumbled with a warning.
"Yes!"
"It's... prostitution.”
"This is..." Franco waved his hands and disappeared upstairs.
Caly sighed and burrowed herself to Castor's side. He reciprocated by combing her hair. It had been a long time since she felt ashamed of her last name. "You think he hates us?"
"He's just surprised." Castor turned and kissed her forehead.
"What we do..." she began. "You don't like it, right?"
"Yes. It annoys me," he said. Castor's words had a spark on it. "We're brilliant. We could succeed in anything we do and we choose the dangerous path? It's so dumb."
"You're right." Callista pursed her lips and lifted her head to look at him. "I guess... bad choices are easy. Good choices are harder."
"Stop that." Castor tugged her to his lap, making her face him. His knuckles traced her cheek. "We all make bad choices. It doesn't define us."
"I suggested murder, Cas." Her voice cracked as she seized his hand.
"I know. I also did that," he muttered. Caly kissed his cheek as he squeezed her hand. "It's scary not to have power. I know it was the main reason why our parents do what they do. But lately, I've been thinking... I don't want to repeat the mistakes our parents did. If we have..."
He blushed that Callista arched an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Well...if we have children... do you want them to inherit our sins?”
Callista had a few moments that changed the course of her life. When her mom died, when she raised her, when Castor became her friend, when she met Franco, when she fell in love with her best friend. She thought that nothing could shake her anymore.
But then, the thought of children... the future... it made her heart ache.
She wasn't just ruining her life. She was ruining her future. Her children's future.
Caly cried at the thought as Castor wrapped her in an embrace.
~~~~
Caly sat at her dresser, brushing her long hair when Castor finished his shower. He was wiping his wet hair as a crease appeared on his forehead. "Are you okay?"
Cas shook his head and grabbed the brush from her hand. He combed her hair with a small smile. "I'm fine."
"So, you're fine with our plan?" she asked, gazing at his reflection on the mirror.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Of course you have a choice. I won't do anything that you won't like." Caly stood up and locked her arms around his neck.
"Maybe. But good choices are hard." Castor traced her lips with his finger. His green eyes were filled with love, warming her heart. "I trust you."
Callista flushed at the intensity of his gaze. On top of that, he was half-naked. His black hair was pushed back, dropping water on his chest to his abs. She reached out and traced his tattoos, the feathers on his neck down to her constellation. Her hand settled on his stomach.
His breath hitched as she went lower and wrapped her fingers around his growing length.
Castor growled and grasped her face, catching her lips with his. He lifted her, coiling her legs around his waist. She gasped, rubbing against his hardness. They kissed, tongues twisting together until Caly's back hit the bed.
"Wait," Callista muttered. Her fingers threaded through Castor's hair. "I thought you wanted to wait?"
"Yeah." His thumb drew circles on her jaw. "But, we might not see each other for a while. I need this. I need you.”
She chuckled before Castor's lips descended on her again. It didn't take long before the bedroom was filled with gasps and moans. He pleasured him with his fingers, his lips, his tongue.
Caly gasped as Castor tasted his soaked fingers, humming at the taste. She moaned at the image and despite being sated repeatedly, her body lit up again. "Cas!"
"I know," he mumbled as his eyes darkened. "I've got to have you now."
He leaned back and swiftly rid himself of his boxers. His cock hung thick between his legs. She bit her lip in anticipation as he spread her legs and finally, finally, pushed himself inside her dripping core.
Castor closed his eyes, mouth agape in obvious rapture. Callista keened at the sensation of his cock inside her, stretching her, filling her. He pulled back and repeated the motion. His strokes were languid and curls of pleasure began to form at her navel. He showered her with soft kisses, making her heart flutter.
But she wanted more. She always wanted more.
She waited and waited. Her nails raked on Castor's sweaty back, urging him to go faster.
"Castor, please..." she groaned. Caly met his raging eyes. It didn't match the softness he was showing her.
"Caly—"
"I won't break," she declared and pressed a deep kiss to his lips.
His eyes flashed with determination as he sat up, yanking her to his lap. "Okay. You first."
Holding onto his shoulders, Callista reached between her legs and lowered herself into him. Her back arched instinctively. She started bouncing on him as Castor gripped her hips to guide her—up and down, way in and way out. He wasn't looking at her, too entranced by the view between their legs. His breath coming in shallow and sharp pants.
She tugged at his hair, forcing him to look up. His blazing irises meet hers. Her heart swelled with every bounce as if he was carving a path to her soul.
Her core tightened and her pace became erratic. Castor slid an arm behind her back, his other hand fisting her hair. He crushed his mouth on hers, rough and sloppy but she didn't care as Castor drove faster inside her. With a powerful thrust upwards, her insides clenched and pulsed. She came undone, crying his name over and over.
Cas moved his head to peer at her. He brushed the sweaty hair off her face. "Okay?"
She huffed. "Great."
They kissed for a while until Castor's fingers dug into her thighs. He remained hard inside her. Callista reddened at his desire and his outstanding patience. She didn't think she could love him more.
"Ready?" he questioned. "Because I feel like dying, Caly."
"You poor boy." Callista grinned and caressed his face. "Alright. Tell me what you want.”
Castor groaned and lapped at her throat. He bit her ear as he whispered in a raspy voice, "On your hands and knees."
***
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