A/N: Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow me!

Warning: mention of suicide, possible triggers, and grammatical errors.

~*~*~*~

Everything changed the moment Liam took his phone call during dinner. The atmosphere around the table was the usual; awkward and silent. I was fed up quite honestly with how this family works, and truthfully, if this happened again, I would just suggest that we never eat dinner around the table with each other again.

Rosie began rambling to her mother about her adventures at the park, while Federico - who had tagged along after our long, very interesting, almost deadly run-ins at the Staples Center - snagged a piece of Will's bread off his plate.

We had done what we were sent to do: scope out the place. One alcohol bottle and measuring tape later, Rico had managed to act drunk as he approached the lone security guard, before subduing him by wrapping the tape around his neck, and tossing his unconscious body into the nearest dumpster. I watched it all happen in slow motion in the safety of the car; then, as if it were an everyday activity, he stripped the guard of his clothes - and disguised as him.

"You do this often?" I managed to tease once he signaled to me that everything was clear. From the moment I uttered that statement, it was clear that Federico was not a talker. He seemed to speak when he felt as though it was necessary, something I had noticed Liam had often done when we first met. Maybe that technique was a defense mechanism the two had come to rely on in the early stages of their life.

Michael managed to speak up, teasing Rosie about being pooped on my birds. It made the little girl - and her mother - giggle in glee. Then came William and Rico. The two could not be any different - not just looks wise, but personality wise. William has always been open, kind of loud, and humorous when I was around; Rico on the other hand, was the opposite. Mr. De Santis was often quiet, closed-off, and if he did have a sense of humor, it was probably a cold one.

Lastly, I turned to Liam. His eyes were down casted on his dinner plate, his fork murdering the salad that lay delicately on the side. His fingers visibly tightened around the fork as it made contact with the plate, making a slight noise. His jaw was shut tight and I could practically imagine his thoughts consuming him. I reach out, gently making contact with his bicep, making his jump.

"Are you - - "

My question was cut off by the ringing of his cellphone. Each separate conversation that was being held automatically quieted down, everyone turning their attention to Liam. It was obvious that he noticed his rapid gaining attention, but he didn't seem to care.

"Ciao, yeah?" He didn't speak another English word. I watch him like a hawk the entire time he's on the phone; the way the vein in his head and neck stick out, and the way he spits Italian into the phone is enough to know that the person on the other end is not talking to him about cupcakes and unicorns. Although I couldn't speak a lick of Italian, I could tell his answers were short, sweet, and straightforward.

It was about halfway through the conversation when Michael Luciano raises his head, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. William even looked as those he were about to break into a sweat in any second.

When Liam hung up, the tension in the room was so thick I was tempted to pick up a steak knife and wave it through the air - surely breaking the feel of the room. Liam shot daggers at both Michael and William before turning to his step mother and sister.

His hand wraps around the cloth napkin as he brings it up to his mouth, coughing into it. For a split second, his eyes land on me and I freeze. The look in his eyes screamed murder; their gorgeous shade of grey slowly darkening; the clenching of the jaw, the darkening of the eyes, and the pulsating of the veins. Watch out. Last time Liam looked like that, my head met concrete.

"Can you please take Rosalie and leave," when Liam speaks, it's as if the whole world stops and tunes in. You could hear a pin drop in this silence as Melanie rested her fork down and cleared her throat.

"Liam - - "

"That was not a fucking question. Leave." My eyebrows nearly lifted themselves off my forehead. He spoke to Melanie with no respect it seemed. I clear my throat quietly and glance down; Luciano's foot is thumping against the hardwood floor, the heel of his shoe creating a steady beat.

Melanie says nothing more. Rosie slides off her chair, catching her brother's tone, before grasping on to her mother's hand and heading towards the exit. The room is eerie quiet; Michael watches his son in anticipation and nervousness, too scared to take his eyes off of him. William eyes Liam's father, before tearing his gaze away and fumbling with his hands in his lap. Federico just sits there, eyes wide; he makes eye contact with me, and I just shrug.

Luciano doesn't speak again until the distant sound of the front door closing fills all of our ears. The anger radiates off of Liam like a heater; he speaks to Will as if his father isn't sitting at the head of the table - as if Rico and I aren't even here. Quite frankly, Liam gives zero fucks.

"Are you working for this bastard?" Liam's voice is suppressed as he tries to control all of his emotions. He shoots an index finger in his father's direction, while his eyes tear holes into his best friend's forehead. I frown as I too look at William, who attempts to keep his head down, his eyesight off of Liam. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" William obeys and lifts his head up. "Are you, or are you not, betraying me?"

If I knew shit was about to hit the fan, I would've brought an umbrella to dinner.

What scared me the most was that William had no answer for Liam. He just sat there like a deer frozen in headlights, slowly moving his head from left to right. I couldn't decipher whether William was trying to answer 'no', or if he was thinking. I was sure I looked lost, like Federico did - he nimbly reached across his plate and snagged another roll, eating it slowly as if it were popcorn and he was at the movies.

"It wouldn't be the first time someone you cared about betrayed you, mio figlio."

All three of us turned our attention to Michael, who had a smirk of confidence on his face while he pressed his lips to his wine glass. I was expecting Liam to yell at him for cutting him off, but an expression of sheer confusion covered his facial features. He blinked.

"Shut up," was all Liam had to say. Yep, that's tellin him, Luciano.

But Michael didn't stop there. He leaned forward, his eyes turning to slits as a deep chuckle came up from his throat. "Your mother, your mother didn't even want you; she didn't plan you. She didn't want you - - "

"You killed her!" Liam balls a fist and with all his might slams it against the table. The silverware clatters as eating utensils jump; glass cups tip over, spilling whatever is left inside of them over.

"She left! I lied my balls off just so you wouldn't feel fucking - - "

I was reminded that evening just how quick Liam was on his feet. He scrambled up so fast that his chair toppled over, which sent Sebastian running into the room. Luciano snagged a lone steak knife on the table in two quick steps reached his father, who was now standing. In a matter of seconds, Liam had his father pinned against the wall, the longest, sharpest knife I had ever seen pressed against Michael's throat.

I stood up also, noticing as William and Federico did the same. Will, who was much braver than I at the moment, took caution steps towards Liam.

From my vantage point, I could see Liam's shoulders shaking. He had Michael's feet inches off the ground, his forearm now pressing against his father's throat to hold him in that position.

"Your mother," Michael laughed harshly. His voice was quiet as he struggled for air, "Your best friend," Again, he laughed, "-And Ellie." I felt my heartrate quickening at the mention of my sister I never knew. Liam visibly tensed and I watched Michael struggle even harder for air, letting out a slight choking noise.

"Ellie never betrayed me."

"Yes, yes she did. All three of those people have one thing in common, son. They never loved you."

The words verbally slapped Liam across the face. He stepped back, away from his father, breathing deeply. I made sure to keep my distance; the last time Liam was this upset, I was knocked out. Luciano adjusted his grip on the knife, twirling it around in his hand.

Once Michael's feet hit the ground, he smiled smugly, adjusting his tie. He takes one step towards Liam, their noses practically touching. I took a step closer as Michael talked, "Just in case you did poison my dinner and I only have a few hours left, I think you should know, I killed her. I murdered the woman you loved; the same one that didn't love you back. I waved a couple Benjamin Franklin's in front her face and she caved just like that - " Michael snapped in his sons face, " - and for your curiosity, I would kill her again if I had the chance. You don't break the code of silence and get away with it."

If you could verbally rip Liam's heart right out his chest, Michael had found the way. He practically crumbled all up and dwindled down to nothing right then and there in the dining room. Luciano brought a hand up to his face, massaging his left temple as he turned from his father.

What Liam does next surprises me and everyone else in the room. He lifts his head to the ceiling, his eyes closed, "Lord, forgive me for what I am about to do." That was all Michael needed to hear. He ran, and he was quick.

I was the last one out the dining room, then the house. Liam was hot on his father's trail, with William close behind. Federico simply jogged out the house, but that was enough for him to keep up - he also had his gun drawn. By the time I got outside, Liam had his father pinned to the brick of the driveway. I have no idea where he managed to gather a gun from, but somewhere between the dining room and the outdoors, he had dumped the knife for a quicker weapon.

What scared me was the fact that Michael was laughing wholeheartedly. His body shook under his sons as he brought a hand up to his eye, wiping away the tears. "Nobody loves you, Liam - "

"Go to hell."

"Do you want me to tell Ellie you said 'hello'?"

Liam punched him; not once, twice, or even three times. The punches were countless, before finally Michael's head hit the concrete for the last time. His eyes were closed, visible bruises were already beginning to form on his cheek bones and around his eyes. Liam pulled himself to his feet, his right hand covered in blood - I couldn't determine whether it was his own or his fathers. Tears clouded his grey eyes as he shook his head, the unconscious body of his father lying incredibly still.

"Are you working for Michael Luciano or not?" His question was clearly directed towards William, who stood there silently, eyeing Michael's swelling face.

"He wanted me to kill Faith, and I thought about it, I really did - " We both made eye contact as he spoke. I took a step away from him, suddenly afraid. " - but I can't. And I won't. Sorry," William said.

"Get out. Get out of my face, get away from this house!" Liam yelled as he pointed towards the exit. "If I see anyone that is not Faith in this house for the next 24 hours I will put a bullet in them." His voice was on the verge of cracking as Federico spoke up for the first time.

"I'll call Melanie to stay out tonight."

Luciano marched up the steps to his house, before throwing the doors open and disappearing inside. I whirl around on my feet, only to be met by William who was standing there, looking pitiful and sad. "Faith?" He breathed my name with such remorse that I had to take a step back. I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest.

I didn't wait for a response or a reaction. I was nearly halfway into the door when the sound of a gunshot tore me away from my initial destination. William was nowhere to be seen, but Rico stood over Michael's body.

"Oh, shit," he said, holding the gun up to his head, "My finger slipped. I didn't mean to shoot you in the leg Mr. Luciano, really, I didn't."

At first my eyes went wide, before Federico turned, smiling at me. "Don't worry, Ms. Faith - I won't kill him. As long as the bullet doesn't hit a major artery, he'll be a'okay in a little while." I nod and turn back towards the door, but my ears are tuned in to the actions behind me.

Bang.

"Oh, by golly I did it again. My bad, my bad."

~*~*~*~

My evening consisted of cursing, glass being shattered, and Italian yelling. Three hours had gone by since dinner, and the house had finally fallen silent. I helped Sebastian and a lone maid clean the dining room, before suggesting that they go home for the evening - the two agreed without hesitation. Then, I changed into something much more comfortable because turning off the lights downstairs and began to make my way towards my room, only to fall short as I reached the landing of the second floor.

The occasional sound of glass being broken and Italian yelling had finally stopped. The floor creaks as I head in the direction of Liam's closed bedroom door; I press my ear to the door, wincing as the floor groans under my weight. Jesus, I'm not that heavy.

"Liam?" The door gives in, having never been fully closed in the first place, under my weight. It opens, displaying Luciano's very clean room. Nothing seemed out of shape as I took a cautious step forward, checking every angle for the distraught man. "Liam? I know you're here. Olly olly oxen free!"

Still, there was no answer.

That's when my attention turned towards his closed bathroom door. "Cazzo!" Followed by the sound of glass breaking drew my attention towards his bathroom; I approached carefully and silently.

My hand grips the door knob as I twist it right, but to no avail; it's locked. "Liam?" I keep my voice even-toned. "Liam, open the door. What are you breaking?" His breathing is heavy and ragged; he sounded close, possibly he was leaning against the door like me?

He doesn't answer.

"Liam - whatever your middle name is - Luciano if you don't open this door I will burst the door down."

The silence aches and tears at every sort of emotion that runs through my veins. I felt awful for the man on the opposite side of this thin piece of wood. His father had admitted so much in a short span of time, I could only imagine the way his mind is racing.

"Elijah," his voice comes out soft and lower to the floor. My back makes contact with the door as I slide down it, coming to a stop once my butt hits the carpeted floor. I pull my legs up to my chest, wrapping my arms around my knees and breathe deeply, "My middle name is Elijah."

I could imagine Liam doing the same; his back pressed against the door, his legs spread out in front of him while he fiddled with the fibers of the rug he sat on.

"Are you going to open the door now?"

I squeal as the door opens and I fall backwards. Liam's face comes in to view as he stares down at me. I tilt my head to the right, a soft smile crossing my face at the Déjà vu.

"Ears burning, Ms. Crawford?"

My smile quickly fades as I shoot up and turn around on my knees, before scrambling to my feet. Liam's eyes are bloodshot red, just like his knuckles. His hands shake as I take one gently; blood covers his knuckles, running down his fingers and hand. My mouth formed the question, "What the hell did you do?" But when I turned to my right and saw glass in the sink and on the counter, the mirror above completely destroyed, my question was answered.

I nimbly dodge fallen glass on the bathroom floor as I scan his cabinets. I snatch alcohol, alcohol pads, and gauze before latching myself to Liam's wrist and pulling him back into his bedroom. He moves sluggishly, as if he's in a daze.

"He said nobody loved me..." The bed squeaks as Liam plops down on the end of his, a crestfallen expression on his face.

I scoff as I kneel down and watch Liam spread his legs. He holds out his right hand first as I dab it with alcohol; his features harden as pain shoots through his hand, and he inhales sharply through his teeth, making a noise.

"Please," I grab another premade pad drenched in alcohol, wiping it along his bruised knuckles. The blood washes away, only leaving small, slit-like cuts. "Rosie loves you, you know that." Luciano jerks his hand away, cursing under his breath as he shakes his hand in the air. I twist my mouth to the side, muttering a quiet, "Sorry," before he offers his hand back up to me.

"That's all?" I can feel his eyes on the back of my head as I pull away, tugging my hair away from my face. Next I reach for the gauze, wrapping it gently around his four knuckles. He moves his thumb out the way as I tighten it.

"I mean," His hands are rough in mine as I take his left one now, inspecting it. I lift my gaze, only to see him staring back at me. My face flushes immediately, but I don't turn away. "I guess, I love you to; not like that, but like...y'know...friendly...love. What friends do...when they love."

"So... this is what the friend zone looks like?"

When I glance back up at Liam, he has the cutest smile on his face. His dimples show for the first time since our meeting in the basement, and I nearly swoon. I chuckle and press the alcohol harder against his skin, making him flinch. My response to his rhetorical question is drowned away as Liam pulls back once more, inhaling again.

"I hope nursing isn't going to be your profession."

"Your kindness is impeccable."

"Thanks, I've been working on it."

My mouth forms into a circle as I blow out air; feeling satisfied, I stand up and slap my hands on my hips. Liam eyes his two bandaged hands, nodding approvingly.

Suddenly his eyebrows furrow together and he looks up at me, "What do you want to be?"

I shrug - my answer for practically everything. "Um," I shift my weight from both feet as I think deeply, "Well a part of me wants to do nursing, whereas another part wants to do something like physical or occupational therapy." I shrug again, "But, it doesn't really matter what I do, I'll forever be broke. My parents don't have a dime for my college, but they can go off to Australia or Austria or wherever the hell they went this summer."

His eyebrows crease deeper into his forehead.

"So for the first two years I stayed at a community college since it was cheap; but now I have to move onward to something bigger, some place that does have my degree. I just don't know where. But no matter where I go, or what I do, I'll come out drowning in student loans."

Liam blinks as my face flushes.

"I didn't mean to ramble, sorry."

His response was unknown to me as he pulls himself to his feet and heads towards his closet. I sigh, unsure of what to do or where to go - hell, I was unsure of what to talk about.

When someone is upset, do you talk to them about what's upsetting them?

Or do you just dismiss it, nobody how much of a pink elephant it is in the room?

"My sister..." I didn't even want to call her that after learning what she did to Liam all those years ago. Nobody that harsh, that cruel, that heartless could be related to me. I couldn't believe it; I didn't want to believe it. My hand found its way to the base of my neck, as I scratched awkwardly.

"Don't talk to me about her," His cheeks twitched as he clamped his mouth close, grinded his teeth together, and locked his jaw. The anger was very visible - not only in his voice but in his facial features. He shook his head and went to speak, but he quickly turned his back to me.

He was crying.

"Fuck your sister!" Liam ripped off the necklace that hung around his neck, one I had yet to analyze deeply. The chain broke, sending small, metal-like beads towards the floor. With an eyebrow raised, I watched him march over towards his dresser and yank out an old phone. I took a cautious step backwards, knowing the door was right behind me. "Fuck her, fuck her, fuck - her." The grip he had on the phone was deadly before he released it.

The phone hit the wall, shattering before it even touched the ground. Its screen broke - the once lively, still usable phone, now disabled. I was expecting him to throw the necklace to, but instead he grasped it and stormed into the bathroom - the toilet flushed a few seconds later, Liam jamming the button a thousand times.

It was clear that when Liam was angry, his vocabulary dwindled down to one word: fuck.

He came out the bathroom, his hands entangled in his growing hair. He manages to run a hand down his face before he stops and turns to me. "I feel numb." As if I'm walking on glass, I approach Liam slowly. Never had he ever looked as tired as he did now; my heart broke a million times for him. I threw my arms around his neck, standing on my tippy-toes to reach him.

His reaction time to this hug was cut down significantly than our previous. He wraps his large arms around my waist, pulling me closer into him. I smile, a laugh-like breath coming slipping past my lips as his facial hair tickles my cheek. He buries his head in my neck, equaling the best hug ever.

The. Best. Hug. Ever.

I squeaked like a mouse when Liam started rocking, which sent us sprawling out on his bed. He chuckled, but never once let go.

We stayed like that, embracing each other for a while. The room was silent, Liam's aftershave or cologne drifting around the air between us. Whenever I loosened my grip to let go, Liam tightened his. Our moment never grew awkward, before finally we pulled away.

Liam rolled over, his head sinking into the softness of his pillow. I had to admit, his bed was like a cloud. He managed to snake his arm over and his head and turn the lights off.

You smooth, Bastard.

Sleep didn't come easily - I didn't expect it to. I roll over, making sure I'm facing Liam and I keep quiet. His eyelids cover his eyes, but the puffy red areas beneath hint at the crying he had done earlier. His brows creased together - even in his sleep, it appeared as though he was attempting to solve a trigonometry problem.

His lips started moving before I could process what he started to say. I had initially assumed he had fallen asleep, his eyes remaining closed. "I tried to kill myself when I was 21; after her death." Liam's eyes popped open, startling me. I grasped at the crisp sheets beneath me. "I - I had been suffering from depression for a while and to think, she had helped me a lot; so much. Even my anger, my anger it improved - my lashing out stopped and...depression wise, I didn't feel like I was drowning. Or like I was walking around in a dark room with no light and no idea where the exit was."

I swallowed tears.

" - but when she died, it was as if the light in that room turned on; and I was able to see...that there were no exits."

"Liam..."

"And I came home one day and I was sick of it. Sick of everything that this world had thrown at me; and I was tired..."

"Tired?"

"Sleep doesn't fix that type of tired, Fi." His voice was a mere whisper. My face felt hot, all the blood and warmth in my body rushing to it. Liam continued, "So I came home and I was alone - like always. My mother was gone and Michael never made it home before three in the morning. I took the gun he gave me, the one that was supposed to be used for my own protection, and I put it up against my temple..."

The tears were freefalling now; the only question that remained was which one would make it down my face first - the left or the right?

I wanted to stop him, to stop him from telling me about a story that would wrench my heart right out my chest. But I didn't.

" - but I couldn't pull the trigger. I'm glad I didn't. I see the exit now."

I wiped at my face dramatically, brushing the tears away. Liam fell silent, his eyes closed once again. My lips trembled but I managed to keep a stiff upper lip. I clear my throat, in hopes of turning the conversation around from a saddening mood.

"Wait, before you sleep."

He made a sound through closed lips.

"Tell me one thing I don't know about Liam Luciano."

"He thinks you're beautiful."

~*~*~*~

Daylight came quickly. I roll over, yawning and letting my inner porn-star out as I sat up. At first, I was slightly disappointed that Liam wasn't still sleeping beside me, but when I stumbled - one eye open - into the bathroom, I praised the heavens.

I made a risky run from Liam's room to my guest room a few doors down, hoping Luciano didn't pop his head out and scare me. I quickly showered, fixed my bed hair, brushed my teeth, and threw on my usual: jeans and a t-shirt.

I slid down the steps, my feet never needing to be lifted up once as I hit the bottom. It was a talent people, a talent. "Liam?" I peered around the railings of the stairs, searching the premises for the dark haired man. Sebastian came out of nowhere, a hand pressed to his lips.

"Mr. Luciano is in a meeting, Miss Faith," He said formally. In his hands, Sebastian held a platter full of glasses filled with wine.

"Wine at ten in the morning?"

"Luciano always requests it when he has meetings," Sebastian smiled, breaking his formal shield. He nodded towards the archway that led into the living room. "They're in there; stay out of sight if you can, but you may follow me to the entrance."

Liam never mentioned anything about a meeting. I huffed as I obeyed Sebastian's orders. I followed him to the archway before leaning up against the door and listening.

"How did that hit go a while back?" Liam's voice was prominent and obvious. He quietly thanked Sebastian for the drinks, the other men in the room doing so. I heard two or three other voices.

"We pulled it off the other night," Another male voice spoke, his words laced with a feeble attempt at an American accent.; his foreign one much too strong.

"We got what you wanted, Liam," This voice was deep, "While we were there though, we managed to um... Well, three women were in the room at the time. We subdued them."

"Where are they now?"

"A couple of the guys are watching over them at the safe-house."

I lean past the frame of the archway, eyeing the room. Liam was standing up in the corner of the room, balancing most of his attention between the window and the two, jet black haired men. All three of them wore suits; I felt my heart flutter.

"You know I don't deal with woman, Lorenzo."

"Yeah, well," Lorenzo rubbed the back of his neck, "We didn't know what else to do with them! So, we figured we would take them and you could deal with it."

"We got the drugs like you asked though!" The unnamed man perked up, hoping Liam still approved of their work.

Wait, drugs?

" - These women," Lorenzo spoke up again, "Two are young, easily in their early 20's. The third is most likely a mother who was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Liam paused for a moment, before answering, "Hm, send the older woman home. If she speaks, kill her. The other two? Call Fico."

Lorenzo and unnamed mafia man #2 glance at each other uneasily.

"Did I stutter?" Liam raises his voice, nearly shaking the walls. "I said call Vitali; he's more immersed in that business than me. He'll know more people. Just get the girls out of my hands. I want nothing to do with them. If he doesn't want them, let them go."

I'm going to pretend I heard nothing.

Lorenzo and unnamed mafia man #2 scurry out the room a few seconds later, never looking back. I push away from the door, readying myself to scatter up the steps and walk back down - as if I was never there - but once again, Liam catches me.

"Faith," He calls out before I can even turn my back to the room. I peek inside, watching him smile softly. "How'd you sleep?"

"Good! What were those uh..." I toss a thumb behind me, where the men just ran out. Liam just shrugs.

"Just loose ends I wanted to clear up before I officially emerge myself into killing, murdering, and possibly beheading those two shit heads that are out to get you." He opens his arms wide, making me laugh. But I don't go to hug him, better yet, he hugs me. It was more of a side-hug, but it was comforting never-the-less. "Let's go kill these S.O.B.'s."

I was perfectly fine until he nuzzled his face in my hair.

I think my heart stopped.

~ ~ ~

A/N: I'm pleased with how fast I finished this chapter you guys! Thank you for all the comments! Seriously, you all have me dying of laughter in the worst places! I don't drink water or eat anymore when checking my notifications.

And before you ask or say anything, Kat did give me permission to use Mr. Vitali's name in the story. So don't freak out saying I stole him or something!

Comments on this chapter?

If he goes through with it, how should Michael Luciano die?

Any thoughts on William?

Federico?