Callista Genovese watched as Dos told Castor everything. The pain on her temple was nothing compared to the disbelief that crossed Castor's handsome face.

Dos had told him why she had ran away. He had told him why she kept refusing his advances... why they couldn't have a relationship... why she had insisted on marrying Franco...

And worst, he had told him of the threats on her life.

The countless death threats she had received because of her friendship with Castor Luciano.

"She's quite something, isn't she? You should've used her better," Dos muttered, waving his hands in the air.

Castor didn't miss the opportunity as he tackled Dos to the wall. The gun fell on the floor. Castor twisted Dos' arm, hitting his head against the wooden wall. Dos groaned and elbowed the man behind him.

Callista finally freed her hand. She dove for the gun and directed it at the younger man. "Get off him!"

Dos' eyes were blown. He licked his lips as he put his hands on the air. "You won't shoot me."

She laughed and tossed the gun to Castor. He clicked his tongue and shot him once on the leg.

Dos shrieked in pain as he crumpled on the ground.

Callista was about to step closer when several shots were fired. They crouched on their knees as Castor jerked his head to the counter.

She cussed and crawled behind the counter, flinching as the bullets whizzed above her.

Castor appeared a few seconds later, dragging Dos' with him. He huffed as his back hit the counter.

"Why did you have to bring him here?" she grumbled, glaring at the wounded boy. Dos' jaw was clenched as his hands cupped the injury on his thigh.

"He's family," Cas replied as he tore the hem of his shirt. He tied the strip of cloth on the younger boy's leg. "And you know, it's better to torture him if he's alive."

Caly sighed and snatched the phone from Castor's jeans pocket. "Didn't you call Marcus?"

"I gave them the wrong...address." Dos breathed out.

Callista's fingers worked fast as she typed in several commands at once. She instinctively winced as another round of bullets pestered the small bar. "Shit."

"What did you do?" Castor asked as he wiped a hand over his forehead.

"Are you okay?" She reached out to touch him but Cas threw him a scathing look.

Caly's heart broke.

The bar remained quiet for a few seconds before the door creaked open. Castor's grip on the gun tightened.

"Wait!" Callista called out, clutching Castor's shirt as he jumped to his feet.

A wide-eyed Vincent Ferrer stood on the door. "Uhm..." He set his gun down. "Long time, boss."

"I see." Castor lowered his gun, putting his weight against the counter. His gaze settled on the woman beside him. "What else, Callista? What else did you lie about?"

She could only look away.

✘✘

Caly found herself by the pool of Castor's house. She let her feet play with the water until the sky turned dark. Dread swirled on the pit of her stomach. What would Castor say?

"Hey."

She whirled to see Vince coming towards her. Caly stood up and met him halfway. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah. The doctor stitched his cut," Vince replied, inserting his hands on his pockets.

"Did you—"

"We talked." Vince heaved out a sigh. He ran a hand through his shaved head, his rings glinting against the mansion's light. "He got angry. But well, he seemed to calm down when I told him that... sometimes it's okay to let someone have your back."

Callista pursed her lips. "That's great."

"He'll forgive you."

She shut her eyes, pressing the spot between her eyebrows. "I'm not so sure I want to be forgiven."

Callista walked inside the house after asking Vince where Castor's room was. Trepidation filled her every step as she turned on a corner and stopped in the last room. She took a deep breath and knocked.

"Cas? Can we talk?" she called out.

The door opened but Castor walked away without greeting. She let air inflate her lungs before she entered, closing the door behind her. She cast a surreptitious glance around his room. It was neat and clean compared to what he had in Manhattan. White walls and pale curtains made the room brighter. She could spot one picture frame on his bedside table.

Castor was in his bathroom. The door was wide open that Caly could see him washing his hair. He was topless, his black pajama pants hanging low on his waist. He spoke without looking at her. "What do you want?"

His tone was firm and dismissive. Callista bit her lower lip before she trod closer to him. "I want to apologize."

Castor grabbed a towel, drying his hair as he stood upright. He stopped in front of her, displaying his muscled torso and intricate tattoos. He had a new stitch above his eyebrow. "Oh, is that all?"

She met his convicting gaze. "I'm sorry for not telling you. I'm sorry for lying to you. And I'm sorry for not trusting you with the truth."

"If this didn't happen..." he paused, swallowing deeply. The towel clutched firmly on his hand. "You're really gonna marry Franco? Do you think that's the way that you could have the peace you want? What? Will you force me to make friendship bracelets with him? After what happened earlier, you really think you can pull it off?"

Caly clenched her fists. His scornful statement made her choices sound so stupid.

"The Callista I know wouldn't depend on anyone to solve her problems," he spat out. His emerald eyes swirling with fury.

"I know that! I know I'm wrong!" she yelled as tears burned on her eyes. "But I never told anyone my plan so nobody was around to tell me I was being stupid!"

"Fine! You're being stupid!" he shouted back. Castor rubbed a hand over his face, throwing the towel to his bed in anger. "You cut me off, Callista!" A sarcastic laugh left his mouth. "For what?"

She continued crying as his biting words crushed her heart. "I'm sorry! I didn't want to lose you!" Callista wiped away the wetness from her cheeks. "I thought that if I told you what's happening... you'd stay away to keep me safe."

"You think I will do that?" he exclaimed with a broken voice. "Really? And what do you think I will feel if you die one day and I didn't even know why? Do you ever think of that? No, right? Because you only think about yourself!" Castor shook his head in incredulity. "You don't even know what it feels like to lose something you care about! It was so fucking easy for you to just leave... to hurt me! To make me feel like I meant nothing! And now... you can just say that you have a price on your head because of me? What am I supposed to feel?"

"I'm sorry!" she croaked, bawling her eyes out. His sharp words hit every nail on her chest. "I'm really sorry. It was selfish. I know that." Caly couldn't breathe anymore but she forced the words out. "You see, I lost my mother and I barely have a father but I've never really been alone. I always had you, Cas. I was desperate to hold on to you." She sniffed, clearing her airway for a second. "And you're wrong... I know what it's like to lose something. I know that I'm losing you right now..."

Castor clenched his jaw. He was quiet for a minute. Only Caly's sobs permeated the air before he spoke again. "What now? What do you want to happen?"

Callista inhaled deeply and let herself fall on her knees.

Callista Genovese had so much pride. She stood at the top like the queen she was. People challenged her all the time. They wanted to defeat her, pushed her off the pedestal, and see her kneel. But that never happened.

She had once thought that it would take something extraordinary to bring her to her knees.

But at this moment, kneeling didn't even seem enough.

"I understand if you can't forgive me right now. I understand if we can't ever be friends again..." She looked up at him and his green irises were filled with shock and astoundment. "I... maybe after a few years... if you finally forgive me and if we pass each other on the street, I-I hope you can still say 'hi' to me."

Castor crossed his arms over his chest. He nodded, his jaw remained tight. "Fine."

The detachment on his tone caused another surge of pain over the girl's features. She had been foolish for pursuing a plan that she knew would hurt him. She deserved this. She deserved to lose the only person who saw her for who she was and loved her anyway.

Callista put a hand over her mouth to stop another onslaught of sobs. She stood up and headed for the door. Her fingers closed over the doorknob. The door was partly open when Castor's hand slammed it shut.

Caly gasped as she felt his warm body behind her. His right arm was over their heads. She turned her head but Castor didn't let her. He placed his chin on her left shoulder while his left arm circled her waist. Their bodies were pressed closer that Caly's heartbeat tripled.

"Tell me..." he mumbled softly on her ear. "Tell me that it was hard, that you were terrified, that you wished you never met me. Tell me that and I'll forgive you."

Callista bit her bottom lip as she shook her head. "No. Never," she cried as her chest squeezed. "Meeting you was the closest thing to a miracle that I could imagine. I would never regret that. And to me...there's nothing scarier than losing you. I deserve all your hate, your anger, and your disappointment. Don't hold back on me, Castor."

"You're so unfair." Castor dropped his right hand to tighten his embrace on her. He buried his face against her hair that his words came out muffled. "You know, that's not how my majesty would answer."

"I know," she said. "But that's how I feel."

✘✘

oh, do i want them to be together? or not? hehe even i'm confused.

i just want to say that since the start, Caly had been using her mind, plan this and plan that. That's why she kept hurting Castor. That last statement was kind of my way to show her change.

Comments are appreciated.

xx, lucci