Castor had expected Callista's wrath and biting comments. But none came. After showing her bratty mode, she shifted to her take-no-shit audacious self. Her quiet confidence surged in invisible electric waves that even the gangster in front of them held his opening remarks.

Oliver Dewan took a quaff from his cigarette, leaning against the graffiti lined wall of a children's playground. "You want to talk?"

"Three years ago—"

"Woah, man. You think I remember that. Can't even remember where I was last night." He blew out smoke that smelled like piney, skunky grass.

Castor snatched the roll from his fingers. He dashed forward, forearm on the thin man's neck. "But you remember me, don't you?" He gritted out, digging his arm further. "Get serious."

"Cas, he can't talk like that." Callista stood beside him that he hesitantly let go of the lanky man. "There was a shootout and you fought back. Did you have an altercation with the Lucianos?"

Castor let him go. He coughed, massaging the sore spot on his throat. "N-no. Everyone knows not to mess with Blackjack and his family." The red vessels in his eyes grew darker with his increasing stress. "But there was this man... in Lux. He started it."

Castor and Callista threw a knowing glance at each other. Cas' heartbeat elevated as he blurted out his next question. "How do you know he was mine?"

"A reddish cigarette burn," he snapped. Oli's fingers trembled without his fix, his voice scratchy as he continued talking. "I just exited the toilet and saw this man, hidden in the shadows but I could see his left hand and the motherfucker was shooting calmly." He shrugged. "I shot back and people scrambled. I tried to chase him but he was fast."

"That's all?" Castor asked. "If you're lying—"

"Cas, we saw him came out of the toilet."

"I'm not lying! I was in Lux to get some ass, not to die!" Oliver fidgeted the amulets and necklaces on his neck. "It wasn't reported so I just thought Luciano covered it up. And man," he grinned, lips stretched in amusement, "you and Castellano are the only people who could get away with anything."

Callista resumed the interrogation in his stead as Cas kept quiet. His head whirled at the thought that someone had acted without his orders. His fists clenched, nails piercing through his palms. He saw red.

Castor Luciano spun on his heels. Leaves and twigs snapped under his boots as he crossed the park towards his car.

The Ferrari 458 Spider shone in its yellow glory. He was tempted to kick it but held himself and crouched, punching the cement instead. His skin broke as the pain lanced from his fist to his arm.

"Are you crazy?" Callista's shout of anger along with her Italian curses caused another tug in his gut. "Castor Luciano! Are you ignoring me?"

He stood upright, veering to the girl. "For fuck's sake! Give me a minute here! That fucking Dewan pointed at one of my men! I'm allowed to blow up!"

Callista plastered a small smile on her face. She didn't flinch at his brash words. "Don't jump to conclusions. If that scar is visible on his hand, then he joined your family around the time I left. April of three years ago."

"I know that," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll ask Vincent to look into it."

"Then, what's the problem?" Her grey eyes peered at his face, a soft hand clutching the black fabric of his jacket. "Cas?"

"Nothing." He stomped to his car and waited for his best friend to get in.

Castor's mind was somewhere else as they reached the intersection. He had failed to notice that the light had turned green. The car behind them honked insistently, going as far as flicking a middle finger when they passed the Ferrari.

"Ignore them," Caly said.

He stepped on the gas, beating the red light that Callista spit out profanities. "Castor, that's enough!"

The car accelerated almost reaching the tail of the other car. The needles were in a frenzy as his speed increased.

"Castor Hadrian, I swear!" Caly shouted in distress.

Cas swerved to the left, lowering the speed as they entered a household area. "Sorry."

"Stop the car."

With her arctic tone, Castor could only follow. The car halted, the soft whirring ceased as its driver let out a sigh. "I said I'm sorry."

"What's wrong with you?" Callista's warm hand settled above his ringed fingers. His grip on the wheel tightened at her eager inquiry.

"Nothing."

"Hey!" She snapped her fingers in front of his face. Wrath simmered on her words. "I almost died back there. You owe me an explanation!"

Cas licked his lips, looking at her. "You didn't die."

"Almost is the keyword," Callista emphasized, eyes filled with tumultuous dark clouds. Electricity sparked on her skin, subtle and soft like the beginning of a rain. He liked that she smelled of roses and vanilla but it turned him, even more, when she smells like thunderstorms. "Are you keeping secrets from me now? Is that it?"

He's so fucked, isn't he?

Castor rubbed at his tensed neck, raking his fingers through his hair. "I know what kind of organization I ran. I'm a master of separating myself from that thought. It's not my fault people have vices and yet, this happened." Pain blossomed on his temples. He opened the roof of his car, freely scanning the darkening sky and letting the air blew at their faces. "I don't want people to be afraid of me. I want their respect and trust. But just when I thought that the business had become civil, this always happens. And I'm back to square one."

"So?"

He turned to her. "So... your father would have found a better way."

Callista snorted. "My father would readily sacrifice one man for the good of many. You know how the story goes. He needed to make an example of one man to make people respect him. What's great about that?"

Her bitter tone caused a raised eyebrow. "It's great. The less casual—"

"No. Don't you dare think that! You don't notice but someone who refuses to leave his family and instead change them is already one step closer to his goal. You, Castor Luciano, is a loyal man who would protect Vince even if you say you don't like him." She finally smiled, one that brightened her pretty face. "You're fine the way you are."

"Really?" he chuckled, not hiding the grin that curled on his lips.

"Yes." Callista nodded. "At least, I know you won't put your daughter in this situation."

Cas frowned, sensing the dejected lilt of her tone. His fingers tapped at the wheel in quiet contemplation. He knew that Callista's situation was difficult but he couldn't change it. He didn't want to waste the chance of a lifetime. Damn, now he sounded like a hypocrite.

He changed the subject. "Why do I suddenly have a daughter?"

Caly burst out in a fit of giggles. "You don't want to?"

Castor was tempted to tease her again but he didn't want to test her limits. "Where do you wanna go?"

"I wanna eat buffalo wings!" She let out a happy scream, turning the radio on.

"Are you serious?" He glanced at the boxes of desserts she had bought earlier. "You're still hungry?"

A song that blasted through the radio made Caly jerked to him. She lowered the volume, beaming at her best friend. "Sing this for me!"

"What? No!"

"Hey! You aren't forgiven yet!" Callista folded her arms, silver eyes challenging his emerald ones.

"You're making me do things you're bad at," he muttered in jest. "I said sorry already."

"My life is worth more than one apology."

"Damn. You're right." Callista might have blushed but the night had successfully concealed it.

He sighed. No matter how Caly or his dad said that he had a golden voice, it was still embarrassing to sing.

But he was whipped so of course, he had no choice. This girl will be the death of him.

"I've been reading books of old, the legends and the myths..."

✘✘

Pls listen to Something Just Like This by the chainsmokers & coldplay.
Enjoy my car jam
cause Coldplay and Chris Martin is 🔥

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I thought I could fit Franco's scene but nxt chapter will welcome him instead.

hope you like this chapter.

Thank you for the support in this story. Votes and comments are appreciated!

xx, lucci