Callista bit her lip as she eyed Franco's black long-sleeved shirt and pressed pants. She took a step forward, unbuttoning the first three buttons.

"How long has it been since you attended a party?" she asked, hiding her amusement as Franco's ears went red.

Caly smiled and curled her arm over his elbow. "Let's go inside."

Mallorie's bar was called Island Roses. Soft white LED bulbs shone from the ceiling as white paper roses lined the red walls. Wooden furniture with black upholsteries scattered around the room. The red and black combination was pleasing to look at.

Callista caught sight of Castor Luciano and his friends on the right corner of the bar. They occupied two sofas opposite each other, giving enough space for a dartboard's throw line.

Castor's back was on her as their laughs echoed inside the bar. Caly smirked when she heard them hollered as Ethan's dart stuck on the wall.

Callista tapped Franco's arm and they headed towards the bar counter were Mallorie was. She was talking to her other customers though her cinnamon eyes lit up when she saw them. "Hey!"

"Mal, how much limit did you give to Cas?" she asked, leaning over the counter. Her little black dress swaying on her knees.

"I said 'just a few'. I didn't give a number," Mallorie replied before she whirled around to mix another drink.

Caly could see the Luciano family's capos that included Vince, PJ, and Marcus. The latter had his own table with Moran Sr. and his son, Dos. Her brow arched at Castor's limited guests. It seemed her best friend wasn't the party boy she used to know anymore.

"Franco, I'll go and probably talk to Vince. Is it okay if you stay here?" She turned to her companion, seeing another frown materialized on his angelic face. "What?"

"I'll go with you," he stated.

"Are you sure?" Caly crossed her arms. "I invited you here to annoy Cas but I wouldn't put you in that hell."

"No. It's okay."

Callista was confused at Franco's desire to socialize with Cas' family but she let it go. She trudged towards the raucous group, PJ looking up at her arrival.

The older blond man beamed at her, eyebrows wiggling as he set his glass on the small table. "Well, if it isn't my star-crossed lover."

Caly chuckled. PJ was the only one who could endure a three-hour Broadway show with her that she started preferring his company when watching plays.

"Hello, Romeo." She scrutinized his fingers seeing the glint of a wedding ring. "I see you failed to wait for me?"

PJ stood up, giving her a short hug. "What? Do you really want a love square?"

Their audience chortled that she rolled her eyes in response. Vince came up to her next, a dart and a shot glass on his hands. "Here, your majesty. It's for our birthday celebrant."

She accepted the glass and the dart, eyeing Castor who was sitting on the sofa to her right. He had his devil-may-care attitude, ebony hair pushed back showing off his triple-piercings. A black boot was set on his left thigh, elbow resting on his thigh as his fingers held a shot glass by its rim. His jade eyes shimmered with mischief as he leaned back. "Go on."

Her upper lip twitched in amusement, stormy eyes scanning his red long-sleeved shirt that hugged his muscled form. Callista was about to sip the alcohol but Franco beat him to it.

She gawked at him as he swiftly took the shot. Franco set the glass on Cas' table, the air getting heavy when the two men began a glaring contest.

Franco stood upright and held his palm open. Caly swallowed, looking at Castor for communication. As much as she hated getting orders from anyone except her dad, it was still her best friend's birthday.

"It's okay," Castor declared, turning the tense atmosphere into a low hum. "It'll be my turn next."

Callista shot her best friend a warning look which he returned with a smirk. She breathed a vexed sigh, giving Franco the dart. "Go on and have your pissing contest." She searched for Vince's eyes. "Let's talk."

Vincent nodded. "Excuse me, boys."

Caly and Vince found a nice, quiet table. She immediately launched into an interrogation which turned into bewilderment as Vince revealed what he had found. "Are you serious?"

"Of course. I don't know who Scarface managed to convince but I knew Ken wasn't lying. He's been on the run since then."

"But that means—"

"Take that back, asshole!"

Castor's booming voice echoed in the bar. Caly and Vince rapidly jumped from their seats, rushing to the direction of the commotion.

Callista cursed at the scene.

Castor Luciano was held back by Marcus' towering form. His green eyes blazed with fury, glowering at the man sprawled on the floor.

Caly gasped after seeing Franco wipe at his busted lip. She crouched next to him. "Are you okay?"

"You serious?" Cas yelled, shaking PJ's calming hand off his shoulder. "You're on his side?"

Callista jerked her head sharply at him. She gritted her teeth. "Shut up." Her eyes locked on PJ's dark ones. "PJ, please."

Castor scoffed. He straightened the collar of his maroon shirt, jaw clenched in indignation. "No need. I can see myself out."

He trudged to the exit without another word. PJ and Vince trailing after their boss.

Caly gulped her anxieties and helped Franco up. "Let's get you to the back."

Mallorie was shaking her head as they passed her but showed Callista the back room anyway. Caly pushed the door open and set Franco on the lone sofa. It was a narrow room with four lockers that was meant for short breaks.

"You okay?" She on the small table in front of him, crossing her slender legs.

Franco's blond mane was in a disarray. She lifted a hand and combed her fingers through it causing the man to smirk. "You like my hair?"

Callista smirked and lifted his chin with her fingertips to inspect the wound. He had a slight discoloration at the edge of his lips but nothing threatening. "You'll live."

Franco nodded, licking his lips with a small wince. His icy gaze met hers as his large hand gripped hers. "I'm glad you're on my side."

Caly hardened her silver stare on him. "I'm not on your side."

The man retrieved his hand like he had been burned. "What?"

"People think Castor has a bad temper but he actually has a good handle on it," she began. "He wouldn't do anything that would get me angry."

"Is that so?" The hideous sneer on Franco's lips didn't suit his pretty face. "Maybe you're wrong."

"What did you tell him?" Callista continued regardless of Franco's words. The last time she had been dubious of her best friend, she was proven wrong big time. "Franco?"

"It was the truth."

"Your truth?" Callista sighed. She didn't want to tell Franco the truth of Elena's death but she couldn't have him in a pool of anger either. "The man who started the shootout was hired by your father's bodyguard."

Franco's face muscles tightened. His next words came out in a snarl. "You're wrong."

"If we find the hitman—"

"Stop it!" Franco shot up from the sofa. The veins on his neck protruded, face flushed from rage. "If you are right, it means my father is lying," he breathed out as dread glazed his blue eyes. "And I can't handle that!"

Franco left the vicinity with rolls of fury dripping from him. Caly sighed, feeling tired without even doing anything. The thought of facing Castor made another weary sigh leave her lips.

Mallorie opened the break room. "Oh, girl. Is the drama finally over?"

She rolled her eyes in response as Mallorie stepped inside with a bouquet. "Your delivery is here."

Callista gasped in bewilderment. The bouquet was wrapped in a sparkly black cloth, the flowers in a white and purple ensemble. "It's gorgeous."

"Go. He's in the backyard. I'll take care of the other idiots," Mal mumbled. "Or maybe I'll let Vincent take care of it."

Caly chuckled, grabbed the bouquet, and went to the back of the bar. She was met with junk. Black tires, metal drums, and a huge cargo container. But Mallorie certainly recognized the appeal of drinking under the night sky.
The area was decorated with soft white bulbs hanging from steel bars and a flickering bonfire on the center.

She found Castor on the top of the container. "Hey!"

Cas looked down. She could barely see him except for the fading cloudy smoke. "What?"

"How did you go up?"

"I climbed."

Caly eyed the seven feet metal container. "Are you sure?"

"I'm kidding," he chortled. "There's a ladder on the back."

Castor's laugh gave Caly some hope that he wasn't too furious about what had transpired earlier. She stepped off her heels and climbed the ladder on barefoot. She panted a bit before sitting to her best friend's right side, placing the bouquet and her shoes next to her. Their feet dangling side by side against the cold surface.

"You okay?" he asked without a glance. He was busy making smoke rings from his cigarette.

"That's neat," she commented as they watched the rings dwindled from the blowing wind. "I wanna try."

Cas shot her a conceited smile. "You know, only pros do this with cigarettes," he stated, blowing one ring towards her.

She pouted, waving her hands to clear the smoke. "So vaping then?"

Castor looked away, eyes focused on the stars above. "Did you come here to apologize, Callista?" he asked. "'Cause unless you're on your knees, I won't accept it."

Callista felt the spark of challenge. "A queen is never on her knees."

Her best friend turned to her with hooded emerald eyes and a salacious grin. "Are you sure?"

"Happy birthday," she exclaimed instead, pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek. She placed the flowers on his lap. "Here."

Surprise crossed his handsome features. "You're giving me flowers?"

"You like it, right?"

Castor shrugged, putting out the white cylinder on the metal surface. His ring-lined fingers ran over the white roses, to the oak-leaved geraniums and edelweiss. "Friendship, courage, devotion." His emerald eyes raised to her steel ones. "What about white roses?"

"New beginnings," she answered.

"Ah." He set the flowers to his left.

Callista heard her heart's protest. She tucked her raven hair on her ears. "What is it?"

"I'm confused," he began. Castor brought up his left knee, setting an elbow on it as he faced her with seriousness. "Whenever I do or say something, you let me. But then, you act as if nothing happened. I guess, what I'm saying is, if you aren't attracted to me, even just a little bit... then maybe, my feelings are better off forgotten."

"Is that it?" she snarled, feeling her blood ignite when he nodded. "Then, you're a coward! You're afraid I don't feel the same way so you're backing out—"

"That's not true!" he shouted.

"Really?" She shot back. "Because that's what it sounds to me!"

"It's not!"

"Then, prove it!" she dared.

Castor clicked his tongue, jaw tensed. "Nice deflection, Callista Ariella." He moved to stand up and Caly's heartbeat went overdrive. She did deflect.

Unlike Franco, she hasn't been doing anything with Castor. She was standing like a statue, too confident by the solid bond of friendship they had to turn it into something as fickle as love. She thought Castor would be satisfied but she was wrong. She was so wrong.

And she was on the verge of losing him.

She clutched his hand. Tight. Too scared to let go. Callista reprimanded her father for being selfish. But she had no right. She was made from the same cloth. She was the same.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"What?" Castor's tone was mired with irritation.

And then, she kissed him.

Castor's surprise was evident as he remained stoic. But Callista's playful tongue was enough to spur him into action. His callous hands rested on her legs, digging into her thighs as she sucked his bottom lip. The cold metal on his fingers sent shivers down her spine as she continued exploring his hot mouth.

Her heart thundered as he pulled her on his lap, their chests beating in synchrony. Callista snaked her arms over his neck, relishing in his pleasurable moans when her sharp nails raked down his back.

Caly broke away, breathing hard as Cas' scorching hands caressed her exposed skin. She played with the fine hairs on his nape. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head, grazing his teeth over his tender lips. "It's fine. I just thought that if you have chosen Franco," he mumbled. "You'd be kind enough to tell me." He lifted a hand, his rough knuckles tracing her jaw. "So I can start moving on from you, your majesty."

Caly's chest squeezed with agony. She forced it down and kissed him again, tasting a mixture of alcohol and cigarettes. How ironic.

Because Castor Luciano was quickly becoming her bad habit.

✘✘

Awwww! I enjoyed writing this!
What do you think?

Votes and comments are appreciated!

xx, lucci