He rufffled my hair playfully, sending tingling warmth across my body. He gave my head another series of pats, and I heard myself emit a hesitant girlish giggle. His face was blurred by the overly bright lights permeating my surroundings, but this did nothing to lessen the swirling emotions I had inside my heavy heart.

''Reianne, I have something for you,'' said the faceless man. He took my hand--the hand of a child, I observed, and wrapped something around it.

''Happy birthday, dear." His hands touched my face, and wiped tears I didn't know I had. The heaviness in my heart lightened somewhat but refused to completely dissipate.

''Did you like it?'' he asked.

My eyes shot down to my wrist, now adorned by a pretty chocolate brown bracelet with the name he gave me. I felt a small smile tugged at my cheeks as I suppressed another sob.

''Yes, Dad. It's pretty,' I answered him.

I awoke with a start.

My hand found my heaving chest, my heart beating so wildly I was almost hyperventilating. My eyes closed shut in an effort to steady my breathing, but the overwhelming emotions thwarted such efforts from succeeding. Against my better will, a series of sobs escaped my lips, my tears wetting the sheets already drenched with my sweat. I was hysterically crying for something I was not even aware of.

Get a grip, Reianne. It's just a dream.

I exhaled ragged breaths, and hugged my knees to my chest. The tears kept flowing on their own for a good long while, stealing breath from my lungs and causing my chest to heave in painful spasms. I clutched my mouth in an effort to stifle the cries coming deep from within my very soul.

''This...this is getting ridiculous,'' I said to no one in particular.

I didn't know how long I laid there crying my heart out, but when I can finally breathe normally again, I felt so drained. I took deep calming breaths. Several times, in fact.

My eyes darted from one unfamiliar corner of the room to another. Attached to the high ceiling was the most elegant looking chandelier I had ever laid my eyes on. It was studded with the prettiest crystals that reflected the faint welcoming sunlight streaking across the room in the most mesmerizing fashion. On my right were wide floor-to-ceiling windows that generously admitted ambient light, and graced with white flowing curtains. One the far end of the room, a plush armchair and a coffee table were set in front of a book shelf. The fresh flowers placed on top the coffee table infused the room with a sweet calming scent, affirming the elegance which was written in every corner of the room. It took me awhile to remember that I spent the night at Gio's place.

The meeting with Hugo was a resounding success, if you ignore the fact that I was his target, of course. After that, I was re-acquainted with his men, as Reaper this time. Ivan paid me the money he owed me, grudgingly. Then I may or may not have gone home drunk to my apartment only to find Gio waiting there. I believe I was whisked here by the overprotective husband who refused to leave my ass in the apartment alone. I couldn't really tell after fifteen shots of vodka.

The dull throbbing headache confirmed the number of shots I took last night. I reached for my phone to send a quick message to Michael.

My signal is so lit right now, I texted him, confirming that I had installed the bugs all over Hugo's mansion last night. The drinking was for a good cause.

Moments later, Michael replied, I can see that.

I was about to give him a sassy response but my smart-ass reply was forgotten on account of the sudden knocking on my bedroom door.

''Onee, are you awake?''

The heavy doors muffled Quin's voice a little, but did little to hide the excitement in her voice. I had yet to tell them about my meeting with Hugo. I stifled the sudden dread I felt as much as I could before answering, making sure to wipe any remnants of my earlier sob session from my face.

''Onee?'' Another series of knocks reverberated across the room.

''I am, Quin,'' I answered her, removing the blanket wrapped around me. I moved to open the door but it was suddenly flung open by my over-eager sister.

''Quick, let's have breakfast. How was your sleep? Did you like your room? Have you seen the chandelier? It is my favorite. What would you like to eat?'' Quin bombarded me with questions, which my vodka riddled mind was too fucked-up to process.

''Uhh...mmm... okay, good, yes, yes, good to know, sausages and eggs,'' I answered her as I massaged my temples. I vowed never to drink again.

''Huh? What?'' Quin gave me a puzzled look. I sighed. Rhetorical questions then.

''Nothing. Where's Gio? I need to talk to the both of you.''

''Oh, come on. He's waiting.'' Quin turned around and sashayed herself outside my room and down the hall.

The dread that I was holding down escaped my control and snaked into my consciousness. With a heavy sigh, I followed Quin's jolly form down a winding immaculate grand staircase, into another high-ceilinged hall--the living room, if all those sofa sets and one hundred ten-inch flat screen television were any indication, and into another hall with a long table and chairs in the middle. Quin didn't stop though, and continued on until we reached the patio overlooking an oversized swimming pool.

Everything about this Gio is big, Ms. Yin crooned.

"Shut up," I said.

"Huh?" Quin raised a puzzled eyes to my face.

"Uhh... nothing. Just talki--nevermind." I motioned for her to carry on, massaging my throbbing temples again.

''We'll have breakfast here,'' Quin said, pointing at a round steel table. She plopped herself down on a seat.

''Quin, I have something to ask you," I told her as I took my seat.

My mind drifted to my dream earlier. I couldn't tell if it was just a dream or a memory.

"What is it?" Quin leaned over the table, all ears for my question.

"What is our father like?"

Quin's breathing hitched, her eyes turning more solemn. In the blink of an eye, my jolly sister looked ten years older. She closed her eyes tightly shut, fighting tears that threatened to fall. She looked so defeated with her drooped shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Quin. You don't have to answer, if it's too much for you."

"No, it's okay. It's just that, I missed him so much."

"I'm sorry." I could not remember what happened, but the unmistakable feeling of guilt wounded itself around my being and clawed its way into my heart, threathening to unleash another torrential flow of tears. With sheer force of will, I kept my emotions at bay. I refused to breakdown in front of Quin.

"I remember him to be very kind, though a bit strict. He's especially strict with you." Quin gave me a weak smile.

"Me? Why?" I raised inquiring eyes at my sister.

"Well, you were quite the troublemaker back then." My sister wiped the corners of her eyes and fanned her face, still fighting the tears. "We were a happy family."

"I see."

"Onee, let's save the drama for later. We should at least eat breakfast first." Quin took a deep breath, hold it in and exhaled. Her bright smile was back in an instant.

Gio emerged from one of the several doors that I was not even aware of, carrying two big plates. The sweet, meaty aroma coming from them made my mouth water in anticipation. He set the plates down in front of me. Despite the dread and heaviness residing inside my heart, my eyes shone when they landed on the plates.

''I made sausages and eggs. Are they still your favorite?''

I gave him the brightest smile, the one that I hadn't worn in awhile, ''Yeah."

"I'll get the coffee." Gio disappeared into the house once again.

"Gio can cook?" I asked Quin once I was sure Gio couldn't hear.

"You really don't remember, do you?"

I cocked my eyebrow at her and gave a chuckle. "What gave it away, huh? Come on, spill."

A knowing grin formed on Quin's face. "He wasn't always rich, you know."

I was about to give a hundred follow-up questions to this revelation, but my plan was thwarted when Gio re-emerged from the house carrying a serving tray with three steaming coffee mugs with ease.

He caught me staring at him and rewarded me with an overconfident wink. I bit the insides of my cheeks to keep my forming smile at bay, and rolled my eyes at him half-heartedly. He looked good in that apron, okay? Sue me.

Join my discord!
https://discord.gg/8M78EnxrCS