ROSARI

"What are you going to do now?"

Rosari considers the question and tries finding an answer. She's only ever known a life centered around Enzo for the past Twenty-Four years. She's only ever been confined to the Maranzo estate. She hasn't seen much of life, because Enzo prevented her from doing so. She had no say in any matter, no decisions that were taken in consideration. Rosari hasn't lived.

"I'm getting out of here. I'm sick of this place."

Josi nods. "Great disguise, by the way."

Rosari fixes the head scarf around her head, then pulls the sunglasses off and tucks them away. "This has been very useful, thank you very much."

To this, Josi chuckles. Meanwhile, Rosari soaks in the frigid air. The leaves have begun their seasonal change into yellow, while the trees become bare under the chilly sun. This change is probably why the park has little visitors today. But the scarcity of the place just adds to Rosari's tranquility. She sinks back against the bench, clinging on to her coat.

Enzo's death has been plastered all over the news. Images of the crime scene have made headlines and have sparked a conversation. They want to know the perpetrator behind his death. They want to know how it all went down. Rosari has made sure to steer clear of the public eye. She wants nothing to do with the entire fiasco, hence why she's in a disguise sculpted out of sunglasses and a headscarf.

"What about you?" Rosari says. "You've gone viral."

Josi looks lost.

"Look, they love you." Rosari shows her the photo on her phone. Josi is in the same dress as the one from the opera show, on her way up the stairs, bare back to the camera, head to the side, and the scar very visible on her right cheek. The photo has made rounds throughout the internet and has even landed itself in multiple blogs. Such as the one Rosari shows Josi.

"The comments are very funny." Says Rosari. "This one says you're too good for an opera house."

Josi grabs the phone and scrolls through the site. There are more blogs with the same image of her as the topic. 'The Damsel In Black' is what they're calling her, and much like the blogs themselves, the comments are all dying to know who she is.

Josi cracks a smile. Rosari sees this and smiles even wider. "Look at you all happy."

Josi is overcome with laughter, along with Rosari who follows after her. Then silence greets them once again. A sort of silence that is new to Rosari. One so calm, it brings her peace.

Rosari inhales the sharp air in. "I saw him. Before he died."

Josi looks her straight in the eye. "Was it as you imagined it would be?"

Rosari takes a second, though the answer is already as clear as day. Seeing Enzo injured beyond repair. Watching the light drain from his eyes. Seeing him shamelessly cling to his miserable life - or at least, what was left of it. And the tears. Rosari still hasn't forgotten about the tears. They were the icing on the cake, the ribbon that held the present together. It was as she imagined it would be. It was satisfying.

Rosari returns the stare Josi gives her, then slowly - but surely - nods her head yes.

Josi smiles, and now Rosari feels it all crumble. She pulls Josi into an embrace, eyes already stinging with tears. "Thank you."

This gratitude carries the years of hardship Rosari was forced to endure. As she clings to Josi, she realizes she would never have made it to where she currently is if it weren't for her. And though words may never be enough, she hopes that Josi understands the surge of gratitude she feels. Because without Josi, she would never have come to know a life of peace.

But the gratitude goes both ways. Josi would never have made it past the Toulours without Rosari's help. She must know this, because she completes the embrace and with a smile, says, "Thank you."

~《¤》~

JOSI

Now Josi sits with a bottle of champagne by her side. She drinks it down and browses through the TV for the news channel, then spends the rest of her time enjoying the program.

On the TV are footage of what remain of the Toulour Family. Their traffic routes have all been exposed, along with the locations of all their hidden contrabands. Every restaurant, every hotel, every loophole. Every venue that was used to cover up their schemes. On the screen are the faces of all the members. From their henchmen to their capos and down to their leader, Ferdinand, himself.

They are being trialed with murder of several degrees, extortion, tax fraud, and, of course, corruption of public officials. The list is endless, each adding more sentences to the members of the Toulour family. They even have the officers who were bribed behind bars.

It's the end of the Toulour Family. That's what the headline reads.

This should, at least, prove to be some good news for Idris. That is, if he isn't still sulking somewhere in the estate.

Josi hasn't seen much of him since the assassination attempt four days ago. But what matters most to her now is the fact that another nightmare has been eradicated. No more hiding in fear for her life. She has even done the Verdonni family a favor getting rid of an enemy.

Now Josi simply relaxes with a glass of champagne. Until the door to the den bursts open and Croff walks in. He seems troubled and unsettled, as though he just stumbled upon something mind boggling and unbelievable. And now he has come to find answers.

"What is it this time?" Josi sighs.

"You're the one behind Rand's betrayal, aren't you?"

Josi sips more champagne. "That's ridiculous."

"All the questions about his family," Croff continues, his face a pasty white. "Your interest in Idris and his involvement in Rand's children's death. And the time you've been spending with him at the library."

"How could I possibly pull off such a stunt?"

"I know you. You manipulated him into it. And Ramsey . . . Ainse was right. It really was you, wasn't it?"

Josi refills her glass and sinks back into her seat. "That's quite an accusation."

"Idris almost died!"

"This is a good thing for you, you know. With Idris out of the way, we could be together."

This sends Croff into silence mode. Josi can see the idea take root in his head, but he quickly shoots it down.

Josi bursts out laughing. "You should see your face."

Croff throws her a glare that is met by a mocking grin. She gulps down more champagne, then turns the TV off.

"Let's say, for argument's sake, that I was the one behind Rand's betrayal. What are you going to do? Tell Idris? You're going to tell Idris and risk him torturing me? You're going to let him put a gun to my head?" She looks him in the eye. "You're going to watch me die?"

Croff grows tense. He's forced yet again to picture another one of Josi's ideas. And much like the previous one, he's unsettled at the image.

Josi leaves her seat and goes to stand in front of the restless guard. "You love me, Croff. You want me. So you'll do nothing about this. Because you'll lose me if you do."

Josi toasts her glass in the air, gulps down the rest of the champagne, then leaves Croff there to pick up the pieces.

There's no one with the power to stand in her way. Josi will reach her goal just the way she's planned. She will make sure of this.

~《¤》~

CROFF

Croff finds Idris on the roof a while later. The trip he took around the estate trying to locate him lasted a while. Idris hasn't spoken much to anyone lately. He isolates himself and spends time where no one will bother him.

Such as the rooftop. The sun has begun setting to the west, casting its orange glow below. Idris lays on a sofa, eyes glued to the fire pit in front of him. He's idle, the only clear sign of life being the rise and fall of his chest. He doesn't even acknowledge Croff's presence when he arrives.

"We've been looking for you."

No reply.

Croff sighs and takes a seat. The clouds have been dyed red and yellow at this point, a mix that irradiates the sky. He takes the sight in and sits among his distressing thoughts. Things with Josi have festered into a situation too big for him to handle. He has to find a way to get back in control. He has to sever the hold Josi has on him before she leads him into a pit of fire. But it seems things are already too late because Josi has him right where she wants him.

Still, Croff has to try. He has to distance himself from Josi, the cause of all his problems.

"I'm taking time off."

This is what turns the gears in Idris's head. He sits up with a look that even Croff can't read into. Anguish mixed with mild shock, along with a couple other emotions that make brief appearances.

"You're betraying me, too?"

Croff grows speechless. Of all the replies he expected, this is the most unreasonable of them all. "That's ridiculous. Of course, not."

"Then why are you leaving? I hired you to protect me!"

"It's not like that-"

"Why is everyone suddenly turning their backs on me?" Idris looks at Croff with brows knitted, as though he truly couldn't understand. "I haven't done anything wrong! Is there something I'm missing? Did you all plan this?"

Croff is insulted by this. But he acts like the bigger person because Idris is only frustrated from Rand's betrayal. He's confused and is trying his best to figure it all out. "I just need some time to clear my head."

"You've never needed time off before. Why now? Why this moment when everything is turning to shit?"

Croff's patience shrivels up. "In the nine years I've worked under you, have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?"

The question hangs in the air for both men to ponder on. Idris calms himself and thinks it through. Croff has always been there for him, even though he's known him shorter than his Consigliere and ex-underboss. He's always been by his side, has never lied or kept secrets.

Idris nods as if things are now clear. "That's right. You would never do anything to hurt me, would you?"

A question that makes Croff go stiff. He averts his eyes and pretends to look at the fire pit, but what he's really trying to do is hide the guilt on his face. How does he tell his friend that he not only developed feelings for his girlfriend, but went ahead and slept with her? The answer is silence. He will bury the truth and take it to his grave. He thinks it's his own way of protecting Idris, but it largely has to do with the surge of guilt swimming inside him.

Croff takes a deep breath in, then nods his head yes. Even though he already has betrayed Idris.

But the deception relieves Idris from his frustration. He leans back against the sofa with his head held low and gazes at the fire pit. The sun has now completely set, leaving the two drenched in a dim darkness. A lengthy silence hangs in the air - one that isn't particularly tense, but rather dry.

"Don't leave, Croff."

Croff studies Idris and finds an empty shell of a man. He looks dull, almost lifeless - like there's nothing much worth living for. Croff has never once seen him this desolate.

With a sigh, Croff runs a hand through his hair and nods once again. If Idris needs him, then he will stick around. No matter how much of a problem Josi is proving to be.

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