A/N: Wow, the response to the last chapter was amazing! You guys are the best! It'll be quite hard, but hopefully you all enjoy this chapter equally as much! I'm pretty sure I rewrote the beginning of this chapter five to seven times.

I apologize for any grammatical errors!

Don't forget to comment and vote!

edited, to the best of my ability.

~*~*~*~

I blink excessively at the amount of light that pours in from the shades of Liam's bedroom window. My legs are entangled in the silky sheets, while my arms are lodged underneath one of the softest pillows I had ever laid my head on. The spot on the bed where Luciano had once laid down to sleep was replaced with three different colored dress shirts and a belt.

Liam's bathroom door creaks open, and it wasn't until his knees practically hit the edge of the bed that I open my eyes wide. A white towel is thrown lazily over his head, partially covering his face. His neck is bent, his chin hitting his chest as he pulls his black slacks over his Calvin Klein boxers. Before fasting it, he raises his head and runs the towel over his hair repeatedly, before tossing it to the floor and finally making eye contact with me. He smiles.

"Good morning," His voice is deeper than usual, making me assume that he just woke up. My attention floats to the digital clock on the nightstand beside him; 7:03am.

"Morning," I mumble into my pillow, hiding a smile. Liam presses his lips together before tugging them into his mouth. For a moment, I watch him hover over his selection of dress shirts, eyeing them confusingly. I laugh, "Coral, for sure." He nods approvingly before sliding the dress shirt off its hanger and shoving his arms in the sleeves.

Four days have passed since the blowup with Liam and Michael. Melanie and Rosie had found their way around the house about a day ago, but that didn't make the situation any less awkward. At night, they would leave and stay in a hotel near the hospital Michael Luciano had been admitted in. The word on the street is, he is suffering from a broken nose and two non-fatal gunshot wounds to the leg.

I couldn't pinpoint what exactly had changed between Liam and I, but something definitely had. Day by day, he was a little more open than the last. Talking longer and hitting on deeper topics about Ellie that I had yet to hear. I told him that maybe if he talked about her it would help, and from what I could tell, it was. The steps he was taking in getting over the backstabbing bitch were small, but at least it was happening. In the end, I ended up telling him that I could be his imaginary therapist as long as he didn't lunge at me like he did the other one. That made him laugh; and so here, a few days later, we were.

"Are you nervous?" I found the creases in the bed sheets much more interesting as the question echoed up from my throat. He knew immediately what I was talking about; Ryan Costello's party, also-known-as the evening we were planning to kill him. Over the course of the last couple of days, not only were Liam and I busy talking about his past, but he was busy planning out an assassination that would make the entire world of business turn.

Not only are the Corinelli's, Costello's, and Luciano's involved in the mafia, but they are all linked to another life that the media knew about; the world of business. I have come to learn that each and every one of them had some type of business they were either running or planning to run. Liam had a string of resorts that belonged to him, whereas Ryan Costello was planning to open up a string of restaurants - that he thinks can challenge McDonald's and Wendy's. But it'll never happen. Why?

Because he's dying tonight.

"I'm not nervous," His reply is so even-toned I actually believe him. Liam buttons his shirt from the bottom up, and then he fixes his collar and throws a matching black tie around his neck, readying himself to tie it. He fiddles with a gold watch he picks up from his nightstand, before latching it around his wrist and fastening it.

"Not even a little bit?" I sit up a bit on the bed, my palms supporting my upper body. My eyes dart from Liam, who's sliding the suit jacket over his arms and buttoning it. He wiggles his shoulders around in the jacket, while tugging at the hem of it and then stopping - impressed with his look. In any other moment, I probably would've awed at the way anyone could pull themselves together at such an early hour in the morning - but I didn't. Liam might not be nervous, but I certainly was. "Well, what if...what if the shot misses and Mr. Costello doesn't die and he figures out it was you and then comes after me and decapitates me! Or what if someone - "

"Faith."

" - I mean have you even thought about it? You guys aren't perfect; this could end very, very, very horribly and I don't know about you, but I kind of like my head attached to my body - "

"Faith."

" - I mean quite honestly; I don't know how much I trust Mr. De Santis. He is the craziest person I have ever met and if we got caught, I could totally see him throwing me in front a bullet. I mean, he's the most cold-hearted, son of a bitch I have ever met."

I let out a breath of air before roughly crossing my arms over my chest. Liam just stares at me like I'm crazy; an eyebrow is quirked higher than the other and his eyebrows are touching. He barely blinks within the seconds that pass and slowly I grow uncomfortable under his stare.

"What are you staring at?!" I throw up my hands as I kick the sheets off of me. The temperature in the room has utterly skyrocketed and I can feel the beads of sweat sticking to my forehead. I brush my bed-hair out of my face and I was certain I looked like some type of lunatic; the shorts I wore to bed were probably all crooked, showing more skin on one left than the other. I was certain my shirt was completely wrinkled and I was positive I had markings on my face that were caused by the deepness of my sleep.

I could feel Liam's gaze on me the entire time I marched around the bed, making a beeline to his bathroom. I wasn't exactly sure why I felt like I was upset or angry or both - my emotions were all over the place. Even my stomach felt sick.

Then I stopped. I stopped walking towards the bathroom and turned to my left. Not only was Liam still staring at me, but he was smiling. I could tell by the light that sparkled in his grey eyes that he found this humorous.

"Do you need Midol?"

Excuse me. "Excuse me?" I breathe out, "Are you implying that just because I'm slightly irritated with you, that I'm on my period?" Ugh. He doesn't even look like he's about to respond as I throw my hands up again, muttering under my breath. "Men."

The feeling of his gaze on my back doesn't disappear till I slam the bathroom door closed. It wasn't until I saw a few breakout bumps on my forehead and sat down on the toilet that I realized it.

I flew off the toilet, yanking my shorts up and throwing open the door.

"How the hell did you..." but Liam's gone. If I hadn't seen him earlier, the only way I would've known he was there was by the scent of his cologne that smacks me in the face. "...know," I finish with a defeated sigh. The room is utterly still and for the first time in a while, I feel absolutely alone. My hand grips the door as I turn, preparing to close it and to finish my morning routine when a few objects on his bed gather my attention.

I walk - very uncomfortably - towards the bed and glance down. A case of Midol was there, including a non-opened pack of period pads and tampons; then, a Hershey bar. I knock the items off of a thin slip of paper that reads, in very messy handwriting, "Check Mel's bathroom cabinet for more. Only eat the chocolate bar if you have to; it was for Rosie. Rico will be here at 9a.m. to take you dress shopping for tonight's party. It's formal. I'll pay you for baby-sitting." At the very bottom of the page was, " - Liam Luciano," which was written in fancy cursive. I laugh quietly at his slight jab at his friend before re-reading the note once more.

I can't explain in words the feeling I got when I re-read the note and scanned everything that Liam had left behind for me a second time. But when I re-read his name, I know one thing; my stomach felt like butterflies.

Well, correction.

Butterflies and cramps.

~*~*~*~

The sound of my mother's voice was foreign to my ears as I lodged my cell-phone in between my ear and shoulder. I hummed quietly to the song, Battlefield by Jordin Sparks that played softly in the background thanks to the surround sound the house had been equipped with. I skidded across the wood floor between the refrigerator door and the toaster.

It took me about five to ten minutes to decide which bagel I wanted to eat this morning. The blueberry bagels often made my stomach hurt a few hours after eating them, but while I was at home, I lived off of the Cinnamon-Raisin flavor, so I stuck with plain for today. I closed the fridge door and skidded back over towards a toaster that could cool two bagels at a time. The luxury!

"How's the house, Dear?"

"Oh, it's great. How's Austria?" I made another sliding trip to the refrigerator and snatched out a gallon or orange juice, then cream cheese.

"Wonderful! This place is so gorgeous. I wish you could've come with us!"

I laugh quietly to myself, keeping my comments under my breath. "No, that's okay," I smile softly. I groan inwardly as I glance up at the cabinets where the glass cups rested. You can do this, Faith. Pressing the phone harder against my cheek, I swing my leg on the counter and pull myself up, grunting the entire time.

"Faith? What are you doing?"

"Trying to get a cup, Mother; don't worry about me." Almost there. I squeeze my eyes shut as my fingers are literally inches away from the glass. I mentally curse at my mother, my real mother, for probably blessing me with her incredible height - note the sarcasm.

"Well, I am worried about you dear. Ian and I are thinking about coming home early."

I only heard three words of her sentence.

"What?" I tear my attention away from the cups, dropping my hand and pulling my phone away from my ear, staring at it like it was a foreign object. "Susan, are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?! You can't - whoa - " My balance suddenly wavers when I realize most of my body is hanging over the edge of the counter.

My phone flies out of my hands as my arms flail in attempt to regain my balance. My legs are kicked up in the air and a flash of pain shoots out from my ankle as I seemingly manage to whack my foot against the cabinet. The two items hit the floor first, then I'm next.

All the air that I had stored up left my body the minute I hit the floor. Pain ricocheted from my butt to every single one of my extremities. I groan, a litany of curse words leaving my mouth as I shut my eyes waiting for the pain to dull. But the longer I lay there, the longer it feels as though I'm about to slide off the face of the earth. It was almost as if I had spun around in a circle, fallen down, and closed my eyes.

"Faith?! Sweetheart are you - " My mother's voice is harshly cut off. I gain the energy to push myself up from the floor, my head throbbing; but the person in front of me leaves me completely silent.

The man was large; and I mean large. He wasn't fat, no; he was built - he had the appearance of a bodybuilder. Of course I'm exaggerating greatly, but his arms had to be the size of my thigh. His nose was crooked, most likely from being broken one too many times and he was bald; bald and pale. I'll name him Baldy. How original of me, I know.

My phone nearly disappeared in Baldy's large hands. He gritted his teeth together, peeling his lips apart so I could see. I was fairly certain he was about to snap my phone in to two pieces. His teeth were by no means straight - and nothing, I mean nothing about this man was appealing.

He made eye contact with me as I slowly pulled myself away from him. Was this one of Costello's men? Corinelli's maybe? His eyes were black I kid you not; no lovely shade of ocean blue, none of that. Just black, jet black.

Baldy yanked a few utensil drawers as I pulled myself to my feet and started backing up slowly. "Any last words?" His voice was so deep it wasn't even attractive; not in the slightest.

"Psh, yeah; adios."

And I ran.

I took the long way around the kitchen, making him chase me. My socks barely had traction along the wood floor as I skidded around a corner, nearly falling. I pushed off the floor as I nearly lost balance again and made a beeline towards the front door.

Yeah, yeah; no more running up the stairs for me.

But when I slid to a stop in front the doors, I came to a quick conclusion. There may be more men outside.

I shot a quick look behind me, only to see Baldy snarling and rhino-charging in my direction. My eyes went wide and I made a quick left, headed straight for the...yep; the stairs.

My feet took two steps at a time as I hit the second landing and headed right for Liam's room.

"Get back here!" Baldy yelled.

I pushed opened Liam's doors and slammed them closed. I fumbled with the lock, letting out a deep breath as I took a step back and heard Baldy ram into the door. I didn't have long.

Scrambling to the side of the bed, I threw our pillows off to the side, cursing loudly when I didn't find what I was looking for. Where would he keep it? I ran a hand through my hair, my feet turning in circles as I glanced around the room quickly. I was trying to think like Liam; but then again, thinking like any man was nearly impossible.

A loud thud came from behind the door as the bald headed men continued on his merciless pursuit. The door groaned under the weight it was put under. I ran over towards Liam's nightstand and pulled the drawer open so far it nearly fell out on my feet.

There it sat: one of his many cellphones.

Now probably would've been an amazing time to have memorized his cell-phone number, but I hadn't. You best believe however that if I make it out of this; I'll memorize all three of them.

I unlocked the phone and my heart stopped.

It needed a motherfucking passcode.

I typed in the first thing I could think of: Ellie

Passcode Incorrect.

The door was jarred again by the burly man. Not only was he hitting it with all of his might, but he was yelling pretty profane things to.

What's his birthday!?

I groan.

Liam.

Passcode Incorrect.

The door was rammed again, moaning under the weight.

A lightbulb appeared over my head as I typed in four numbers: 7-6-7-3.

Rose.

The phone unlocked and I nearly dropped to my knees right then and there. My heart quickened its race as I tapped on his contact list and scrolled; and I scrolled, scrolled, and scrolled some more. Finally I hit 'M' and tapped on, "Me" and prayed.

"Ciao."

"Liam! Liam, there's a man here and he's - "

I whirled around as the door broke from its lock, shattering the door itself. The doors hinges stood in place, but the rest of it went down in a mess of shattered wood. Baldy's face was redder than it had been in the first place, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were on the verge of turning white; and the steak knife in one hand didn't look too appealing.

I had yet to see him pull out a gun; but then again, he wouldn't really need one. His was easily four to five times bigger than me; if he managed to catch me, he could snap me like a twig.

"Faith? What the fu - "

"You little bitch," My bald friend snarled, taking two menacing steps towards me. I took three backwards. "I swear to god when I get my hands around your neck I will snap you in half."

I tilted my head, "You know, you and Ronda Rousey would be perfect. I mean, obviously she would have to take you and your flaws all in one; like how your head is kind of dented in on the back, the lopsided teeth, that un-attractive face - "

My eyes went wide in the moment as he raised the knife and he chucked it. He was by no means Four from Divergent. The knife went wild, missing my head by an easy two feet, possibly more. Then he charged; he was like a bull that was let loose from its cage, and I was the pathetic man that stood there like a fool waving a red cloth.

I made a move that would've made Steph Curry and Lebron James proud; Baldy's fingernails, which I would like to call claws, were the only thing that scraped me as I spun away from him and darted right back towards the door.

Somewhere between the time I left Liam's room, I dropped his phone. I could imagine the scary looking man bending down and hanging up from Luciano. Hopefully he got the hint and came to my rescue!

My lungs were burning as I hit the first floor again and casted a look over my shoulder. Baldy was wheezing himself as he grabbed on to the railing and marched down the steps, nostrils flaring. "When...I...catch...you..."

When the front door swung open, I could've sworn all my insides dropped out of me. My knees felt weak and I was scared; petrified. I was positive it was one of Baldy's men just coming in to finish me off.

Rico stood at the door a confused look on his face. "Why the hell is the door o - "

"Kill it! Kill It! Kill it!" I screeched as I ran past Rico, headed towards the living room. I couldn't get a good look of his expression, but I was sure he was confused when Baldy ran by him. He had yet to ditch the steak knife as I entered the living room, turned around, and saw what was in his hands.

Rico came jogging in to the room seconds later, analyzing the situation in seconds. I stood on the far side of the room, a few pieces of furniture including a large sofa standing in the way of me and the vicious looking human. He looked pissed.

"Hey, bitch, pick on someone your own size," Rico stated, nodding in my direction. Baldy turned to his right, his non-existent eyebrows furrowing. "Well, if I were talking dick size, you would probably have to go fight a kindergartener but I'm talking about - " Baldy growled in Rico's direction. " - Oh," Rico scoffed, "Now I'm intimidated." I frowned, unsure of what method Rico was taking in this fight. "Look, Baldy, leave the pretty red-head alone. Really, if you walk out those doors in the next ten seconds, I'll let you live."

I took a step back when Baldy turned to me, his jaw clenched. Rico was tapping his foot impatiently against the floor, glancing at the watch on his wrist. I noticed Federico glancing up every so often, making sure Baldy didn't take any more threatening steps in my direction.

"Rico?" I say unsurely, "Now would be a really good time to go all certifiably insane. Do you have your gun? Maybe your finger could slip?"

Baldy must not find me interesting anymore because as his eyes darken, he turns his sights on Federico. "Hey!" Rico extends his hand, "My name's Olaf and I like warm - whoa," He dodges as the man lunges, jabbing widely with his knife. Federico wraps both of his arms around the man's wrist and wrenches it to the left, causing the knife to clatter to the floor.

The two fall to the floor as they lose balance; both scrambling for the knife that lay only a foot away from both of them. Punches are thrown and curses are yelled, but non coming from Rico.

"Wait, wait, wait," Rico sighs as he drops his arms, confusing Baldy. The bald headed man just sits there, frowning, straddling Rico's waist. "I'll make a deal with you. If I can make you laugh, you have to leave the house. Deal?"

Baldy says nothing.

"Why do guys like being called 'Daddy' so much?" Rico glances at Baldy an amused expression on his face, "Because, we never had one!" He breaks out in hysteric laughing, my eyes widening. In any other moment, I probably would've been rolling on the floor by now.

Rico De Santis was absolutely, most certainly, without a doubt, certifiably insane.

When Baldy reaches for the knife, Rico just sighs, "Well, I don't know about you but I thought it was - "

"Faith?" A voice that came from outside of the room cut Rico off.

All three of us whipped our heads in the direction of my name and I literally felt all my fear leave. Liam strutted through the door, eyed the three of us, turned around, and locked it.

Rico was already shaking your head, "See, Baldy; I probably would've let you go and killed you another time, but my friend here, he isn't so merciful." Federico slithered out from under the large man, just as Baldy stood up.

That's when Baldy made his move. For a large man, he was quite nimble. He cleared the coffee table in one bound and was headed straight for me, his fists clenched ready to knock my lights out.

I wasn't sure how Rico made it across the room; but before I knew it, he had pinned the man against the wall, both of them fighting. My socks slide along the floor as I scramble to my feet and head straight for the exit of the room, right towards Liam.

I latch right on to his arm as he pulls me towards a closet in the hall. "Stay here, please." His eyes are pleading and I nod in response. It wasn't until he closed the door, leaving me in the dark that I realized the air I was holding in. I let it out through my mouth as I crossed my arms across my chest. I couldn't hear anything coming from outside and it was killing me.

My hands were shaking as I twisted the door knob, cracking the thin piece of wood to get a look. Liam was yelling something in a foreign language in Baldy's, Rico standing closely beside in case anything went wrong. They appeared to be getting alone, for only a second, before Baldy punched him; he punched Liam.

I wanted to run out there and go ape-shit crazy, but I was sure that would be the wrong decision in this situation. My fists clenched as Liam stumbled backwards, his hand running along his jaw, then under his lip. He pulls his hand away and even from here, I can blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Rico didn't need to be told anything. In a matter of seconds, he had Baldy lying face first on the ground. Federico was squatting over him, his right arm looped around the goon's neck. Liam bends down, closer to Baldy's face. I can't see his facial reactions or even hear his words, so I simply watch Liam. "Who are you working for?" Baldy's response is muffled, but Liam didn't seem to like his answer.

I could've sworn Luciano tore his gaze away from Baldy for only a second. "Okay," Liam laughs softly, "One more time; Who are you working for?" Liam shakes his head after a second and stands up, nodding to Rico. "Kill him."

I should've looked away; I should've forced myself to close to door but I didn't. The muscles in Rico's arm strained as he yanked his arm upwards and twisted it in the process. There was a sickly sounding crack that sent shivers down my spine and throughout my arms and legs. I felt nauseous at the sound. When Rico stood up, the man fell back to the ground; still. I swallowed hard and pulled the door shut.

My hands find my face as I back up, brushing against variety of coats and jackets that were hung up all around me. I didn't realize I was crying until the taste of salt entered the corner of my mouth. When I opened my mouth to take a deep breath, I let out a shaky string of air.

The door flew open and Liam reached in, wrapping his arms around my shoulders in a hug. My hands were crushed between my body and his, but I didn't complain - not at all. I felt his hands on my shoulders, then my sides and my waist before he pressed my head against his chest, entangling my hair in his hands.

"Shhh," I could feel the pressure of his cheek against the top of my head as I closed my eyes and cried. The sound of a door clicking made me look up and when I opened my eyes, I realized we were still in the dark.

"A-are we still in the closet?"

"Yes," Liam's voice was hushed as he hugged me even tighter, "We're hugging in a closet; I won't say anything to anyone if you don't." I let out a choked laugh before clutching his soaked shirt even more.

For another second, everything was still, peaceful, and calm; but that ended. The closet door was thrown open and a tired looking Rico greeted us. "You guy's need a condom? Water? Crackers, maybe?"

I giggled as Liam unhooked one of his arms from around me, keeping the other slung lazily around my shoulder. "Shut up, Rico."

"Really, not trying to ruin you two's moment," He waved a hand between us both, "But there's a dead body in the living room that probably needs to be taken care of." Rico turned and I could just picture him rolling his eyes. He adds, "But that's just me!" From over his shoulder.

Liam was already making his way out the closet, me following closely behind. I snag at his forearm before he enters the living room, making him turn around and raise an eyebrow. "Thank you," He seemed confused, so I elaborated, "Thank you for coming when I called."

"I'll always come when you call, Fi."

Numbly, I follow Liam into the room, where Rico stands, shaking his head and folding his arms. "This man, he was in my apartment the other day," Federico speaks up, glancing at Liam. "He works for Peter Corinelli; I remember him."

"Why was he in your apartment?" I manage to find my voice as I wrap my arms around my stomach, scared to eye the dead man on the ground. But when I do, my stomach churns. His body lay where Rico left him, but his neck was angled in an unnatural position and I could've sworn from where I was standing, he was looking at me. His eyes were left wide open along with his mouth; it was honestly just creepy.

Rico's head falls, his attention dropping to the floor.  He shuffles his feet and sighs, "Well, considering I've been working for Corinelli, I've met a couple of his men." He glances between Liam and I, "We, sometimes, might've gotten together over beer and pizza to plan your eventual death."

                 My stomach dropped and I found myself backing away, slowly, leaning more in Liam's direction.  Federico notices and steps forward, almost hesitantly.

"Look, I know you don't trust me and you don't have any reason to, but I need you to.  When Corinelli hired me, I didn't know you were friends, acquaintances, or whatever you are to Liam," He steps forward, a pleading look crossing his youthful face, "You need to understand what I'm sacrificing by helping you, by helping Liam.  If Peter finds out that I'm working for Liam..."

I frown. "If they find out you aren't going to kill me...they'll kill you?" I repeat, unsure. "So...by saving my life...?

Rico nods.

"I'm sacrificing mine."

~*~*~*~

A/N: This chapter was actually really hard to write! But I hope you all enjoyed it anyways! I wrote it all in a day, I don't really know how I did it...but I did! Seriously, you all are amazing! Thank you all for making me laugh and smile even on the worst days; seriously, your comments mean everything to me! And even if I don't reply, trust me, I've seen it.

The party for Costello happens next chapter! What do you think's going to happen?

Comments on the chapter?

Liam and Faith?

What should Rico do?!

P.S. I saw The Scorch Trials today and aekreyugqikehryaghfaifh OH MY GOD. I'm sitting there and if you've seen the movie, I sat there while the credits rolled like, "THESE HOES AINT LOYAL." AND I JUST CAN'T RIGHT NOW.....ERMAGOD.