For Callista Genovese, dressing up was as easy as breathing. But tonight felt a little different. The air was dense. Goosebumps erupted over her tanned skin despite the closed windows.

"Just say it," she said, adjusting the strap of her black dress.

Castor rolled his eyes, taking a quaff from his cigarette. He had watched her all night without a word. Caly clasped the golden necklace around her neck, hoping it could lessen her aggravation. It didn't. She was nervous as hell. She had known Castor for a long time but she had never been this scared of him.

"Say it!" She whirled to face him.

"Will it change things?" He put out his cigarette on the ashtray. His face remained grim. "He told you something, didn't he?"

Caly dropped her hands to her sides. She cannot look at him. It had reached Castor's ears that she had spent the night at Franco's place. She should be angry because her privacy was broken but Cas' disappointment was too much to bear. "No. It's not like that."

Cas kicked off from the wall. His black suit a glaring disparity from the pearl wallpaper of the girl's room. His midnight hair was pushed back, revealing his piercing and the tattoos on his neck. He stood straight in front of her.

He reached out a hand and Caly flinched. Castor dropped his arm and with a groggy voice, he spoke. "What'd he say?"

Callista remained quiet. For the first time, she had doubts about whether she knew Castor at all. "Franco said..." she gulped, meeting his jade eyes. "You killed his... fianceé?"

"What?" he spluttered, eyes wide. Cas clicked his tongue. "He still believes that?"

"It's not true?" Caly felt like she could breathe again.

But apparently that was the wrong thing to say. Castor's green eyes had darkened with a thunderous gleam. "You believed him? And you doubted me?"

The quiver of his voice felt like a slap to Callista. She froze, taking in the rush of emotions in her best friend's face. It wasn't fury like she expected. It was pain.

"Cas..."

He left the room and the atmosphere dropped to negative four.

✘✘

Caly wanted to weep. She had wounded her best friend's heart with her stupid words. She glanced beside her to see Castor nursing a whiskey. The man kept his mouth shut the entire trip.

Castor Luciano was often compared to a raging beast. An extremely volatile one. Yet, there are a handful of times where he was silent. And that's even more dangerous. She couldn't read him. Worst of all, she seldom apologized.

Cas worshipped her. From the day they had met, he had told her she was pretty and smart and that she's perfect to be his best friend. She had sneered, wrinkled her nose at his declaration but Castor had never ceased to follow her around. He had stuck to her like gum until the distance was gone. They were friends, best friends.

"Cas." She held his hand but he shoved it away. "Are you going to be like this?"

Her question was left unanswered as the car stopped. Castor dashed outside without looking back. Caly followed him with a heavy heart. Her mood only changed when she spotted Delilah and Franco. Callista straightened up and swallowed the insurgencies of her heart.

"You're here!" Delilah shot up from one of the round tables. The bright ceiling lights focused on each table that Del's lavender outfit shone.

Caly waved while Cas sat without further ado. He raised a hand that a waiter came running. Callista sighed and took the spot next to him. The round table made it that she was next to Castor but she's facing Franco's steely gaze.

Franco tapped his spoon against the bowl, a palm under his chin. "Do we need to pretend we're good friends?"

Caly's grey eyes narrowed at him. "We're having dinner. That's it."

Delilah smiled at Callista's direction. If she noticed the tense atmosphere, she never gave an indication. "I was planning a beach trip this weekend. You should go with us."

Callista's reply was cut off as the waiter served the appetizer, a Hara Bhara Kebab. Her bad mood doubled at the vegetarian food at the same time Cas sneered and received his whiskey.

"It's a seven-course vegetarian set." Delilah announced with a proud smile. Caly didn't know if she was waiting for a compliment as if what she did was commendable. Seven-course was too much and she wasn't even a vegetarian.

"Really?" Cas gulped from his whiskey, dropping it on the table with a thud. "You didn't ask us? Caly—"

Callista placed a hand on his thigh. A warning look flashing on her silver eyes. Cas shook his head, drinking the hard liquor again. "I don't like leaves. I'm not eating."

Cas' sour mood was acceptable but she hoped he wouldn't destroy her plan. Her nails dug into his upper thigh, she hoped he understood the message despite his liquor addled mind. Caly licked her lips. "Let's eat."

Del happily dug into her plate. Caly smiled and returned to the topic at hand. "What you asked, Del, I have a meeting that day. But I'll see if I can come by."

"Really? It'll be so much fun if you're there." Delilah's stare hardened as she turned to Franco. "Right, Franco dear?"

Caly's heart raced. There was malice in her voice and she pondered whether Delilah knew what transpired between her and Franco. Shit, her mind worked as they proceeded to the soup in a somber mood.

Franco sighed for everyone to hear.  He swirled at his soup, lips set in a thin line. "Stop playing games, Delilah. We're all here because you requested it. Luciano and I hadn't burned down anything yet so that's already a feat. Are you still asking for more?"

Caly couldn't hide her surprise. That was more than what Franco usually says to Delilah. And it was to her favor.

Cas snorted next to her. "Just fuck her already, Castellano."

Callista gasped as Delilah blushed under the lights. She pinched Castor at the spot above his elbow but he was undeterred. Which told her he was drunk. Of all the fucking times.

"She wouldn't be begging for attention if you give her mind-blowing sex every night." Castor leaned forward, the line of diamond piercings glinted at his ear. "Do you want tips?"

Franco's icy stare didn't waver despite the other man's taunts. His tapped his fingers at the table, drawing attention to his gold rings. "Is that what you do? Every night?"

Callista frowned at the sudden twist in the conversation. She momentarily forgot her fury at Cas' drunkenness. Her best friend jerked his head to the Gallo girl. "If you're interested, I'm free."

Caly bolted from her seat, gaining a few twists of heads to her direction. Her livid gaze found Cas' blurry emerald ones. "How about we dance, Cas?" She addressed the other pair with a gleaming smile. "It's lovely music."

She pulled Castor by the arm. He let her dragged him after downing the rest of his drink. They reached the small dance floor as The Platter's Smoke Gets in Your Eyes swirled in the air.

The raven-haired girl snaked her slender arms over Castor's broad shoulders. Her lashes casting shadows on her raging face. "Your problem is with me. Why do you have to do that?"

His rough hands slid down her waist, pressing their bodies closer. "Do what?"

"Are you making me jealous?" she snarled.

"Are you?" He challenged.

Caly's knuckles turned white. This was a confrontation she didn't want to have. "Cas..." her voice cracked. She felt the beginnings of a sob.

That sound sobered Castor up. He took a deep breath, fingers tracing her cheek. "I'm sorry." Caly nodded in affirmation, not trusting her voice. "My tongue will always tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break."

Caly's jaw went slack. He was quoting Shakespeare and he despised reading. As far as she could remember, she'd given him Shakespeare's collection when he had passed his English class as an insult. She never thought he'd open it much less read it. "You read it?"

He shrugged, a tiny smile pulling at his upper lips. "It has its good points. Just don't quiz me on it."

A giggle escaped her mouth and the remorseful look on Cas' eyes returned. He sighed, "You're using me right now, aren't you?"

"Cas..." The guilt was back.

"You want Delilah to see the bond between us and use it as a standard of what she should have with Castellano. You put something attainable in her mind." Castor placed his forehead over hers. He closed his eyes. "You know I hate people using me but I don't mind if it's you." His eyes fluttered open, revealing a pair of glistening greens. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea. My love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite."

Callista felt the rush of blood on her cheeks. All the teasing that Castor did over the years, which she forced at the back of her mind, flooded her mind. It was nothing like this. Her veins were alight with his passion. Pure, unadulterated desire fizzled on her skin. At that moment, she wanted him.

Her fingers gripped at his shoulder as fear seized her heart. "Cas, I'm... I love you." She swallowed. "But I don't know if that's enough to start a relationship. And our families..."

"I know."

And his voice made Caly weak in the knees.

"You don't have to do anything." The resolute set of his jaw told her he was serious. "Just... let me have the right to love you."

✘✘

Update!! Dedicated to @being_aphrodite for inspiring me to update!
Stay safe everyone!