Castor Luciano ended up sitting and smoking at Callista's porch. The ashes fell on the marble floor as he leaned against a white ionic column. His thoughts jumped from his long-lost brother to family business stuff and Caly's skittish looks. He needed a damn break.

It was past noontime when Vincent's car pulled up on the driveway. He exited the car with a stupid smile on his face. "I knew it."

He rolled his eyes.

"You can't really help it." Vince threw a bag at him.

"Help what?" Castor ransacked the sports bag with his free hand to check on his clothes. He frowned at the missing items. "Where's my toothbrush?"

"Oh." Vincent blinked at him before he shrugged and sat in front of him. He leaned on the opposite pillar. "At least there's underwear. That's more important."

"Ass." Castor groaned, pulling one knee up. "And I can't help what?"

"Coming back to her majesty?" Vince pushed out a stick from his pack and lit it up. "I thought you were done but now, you're living together?"

"It's not like that," he said, knuckles rubbing against his eyebrow. "She... dropped a bomb on me."

"About what?" Vince took out his phone as Castor's notification bell rang repeatedly. "I sent you Ethan's reports. Shit went down last night. Again."

"Franco Castellano is my brother," Castor mumbled as he fished out his phone and analyzed the images. "Damn, old man keeps pushing, huh?"

"What? How did that happen?"

"When there's demand, you can't really shut down—"

"No. I mean, you and blondie are brothers?" Vince exclaimed. He slapped his leg as he shook his head. "How did that happen?"

"What? You don't know how sex works?"

"No shit, Cas," Vince continued muttering things like 'hell' and 'seriously' ten more times while he smoked. "So, what are you going to do?"

Castor tilted his head back, his phone gripped tightly on his right fist. "That seems to be the question of the week." He took another quaff from the shorter stick on his left hand. "Caly said I should give him a chance."

Vince chuckled. "I'm surprised you haven't yet."

Cas clicked his tongue. "And what do you mean by that?"

"Well, Dos is still alive and kicking and still plays those stupid racing games," Vince mumbled. "And he kidnapped her majesty and became a killer for Francisco Castellano. Normally, he'd be dead but right now but he isn't. And that's because he is...?" He purposely let the question hang, gesturing with his hands to let him fill in the blank.

"Young?"

"No. He's family!" Vincent yelled as he got his answer wrong. He scratched at his dark curls. "What makes Franco different?"

"He's..." Castor's fingers flicked the cigarette, letting the ashes fall again. He tried to find the right word to describe his feelings but came up with nothing. All he could think about was Franco's reaction if he finds out the truth about his girlfriend's demise. "He's cold."

Vincent snorted. "Oh, is that all?"

"I don't like him. It's complicated."

"Well, some family you choose, some you don't." Vince raised an eyebrow. "If that isn't enough to motivate you, he's gonna own Castellano's assets someday. That means we don't have to do things like drug raids just because you promised NY gangs that you'll drive Castellano out of their turf to keep them off her majesty's back."

Cas narrowed his eyes at him. "Are you high?"

"No!" He denied with a vehemence that made Castor chuckle. "Boss, you never even wanted this job but look at you now. If you don't interfere, Franco might end up following his daddy's footsteps. We don't need that."

Castor Luciano discarded his cigarette as he crossed his legs. He didn't hate Franco. He hated Celeste Luciano. And he thought that if Franco and her mother never met, then he would have his revenge. But he was never one for holding grudges. That's Caly's hobby.

And like his best friend had said, his rage came in bursts and flashes. Thunder and lightning. Never like a shadow. "You're right. I should give him a chance."

"Woah, really? We don't have to fight for it?"

He kicked him. "Hey! You lied to me and its only because of my forgiving heart that you're still fucking breathing!"

Vince put his hands up, choking on his laugh. "Okay! Sorry!"

"Cas!"

Caly's voice called from inside the house that Castor and Vince shared a look before wiping the evidence of their smoking. They weren't very successful that Cas stood up and met his best friend halfway. "What?"

Callista frowned at the two men before her grey eyes settled on him. "Did you smoke?"

"No."

"He did," Vince declared, looking smug.

Castor growled in annoyance, pushing his hands on his jean's pocket deeper. "It won't happen again."

"Good boy." She reached up to pat his head before she crossed his arms. "Because my house, my rules. And so far, Franco hasn't broken anything while you left your clothes everywhere. Don't ever expect me to clean up after you."

"What?" Castor complained as blood rushed to his ears. "You're letting him stay here?"

"That's all you heard? And yes. You're in the same situation, remember?" Caly shot back as her eyebrow arch in challenge.

Castor's irritation spiked up again. After what transpired between them in the last 24 hours, he thought that they somehow returned to a semblance of normal. Or as normal as their relationship could be.

But Callista changed. And he understood that could happen with all the shit they went through. Hell, he was even prepared for it. What he didn't expect was liking the way she changed. She smiled more. She talked more. And she listened more.

Castor never thought he would like her even more.

"Yeah." Castor walked past her. "So, the pizza is here?"

He trudged to the kitchen and soured at the face of his pretty brother. He went straight to the kitchen counter, seeing two boxes of pizza. Castor peeked at the Hawaiian pizza and scrunched his nose. "Where's the real pizza?"

Callista sat beside him and opened the other box. "Here it is, person who can't appreciate pineapple on pizza."

He sat beside her and put two slices of cheese pizza. "I don't care what you say. I won't change my mind."

"Me too," Franco mumbled softly that earned him surprised looks from the people on the counter.

Vince cleared his throat and yanked the box towards him and Caly. "I guess this one's for her majesty and me."

"Yeah." Callista beamed at Castor. "You two enjoy your pizza."

✘✘

"Cas!" Callista tapped his arm, forcing him to look at her. "What is this?"

"Razor?" he answered and seized the product, throwing it back to their cart. He had dragged her shopping for his toothbrush problem and the fact that he was in the same space as Franco Castellano. Castor felt uncomfortable but he needed to step in the right direction. And soon. Before he lost his nerve and spout out biting words he wouldn't mean.

"You want to buy ten razors?" she questioned. "Are you going to live in my house that long?"

He wished.

"No. But better safe than sorry." Castor pushed their cart to the meat section. "Let's buy pork belly and have a barbecue later?"

"You want to have a barbecue?" Caly raised her astonished eyes to his. "Why?"

"I just want to." Castor rubbed at his nape. He licked his lips and forced the words out."Invite Franco..." He quickly amended. "...I mean if you want? Because you know it's your house and I'm only—"

"Stop talking." Callista circled her slender arms around his right arm. "I think the barbecue sounds great."

Castor's shoulders sagged with relief as they got the pork cuts. He was glad that Caly understood him without all the words tangling all over his tongue. He was about to say 'thanks' when Caly yanked him from section to section.

Cas suppressed his smile as she traced the woman's movement. Callista checked off their shopping lists while she muttered incomprehensible words under her breath. Castor had never seen her like this, doing domestic things. With him. First, cooking and now the grocery shopping. But he admitted that Callista looked at ease even with the smell of fish around them or even if her bun started to unravel that she kept flicking the strands off her face.

She was still beautiful. Not to mention that her tight shirt gave his eyes access to her delectable curves.

Cazzo! He could never really be just friends with her.

"Are you checking me out?" she mumbled without glancing at him.

Castor couldn't even deny so he laughed. "Let's set up a projector screen and watch a movie," he said as they went to the spices section.

"And watch 'Die Hard'?" Caly grabbed a bottle of pepper and barbecue sauce. "I watched that a thousand times."

"Franco probably hasn't."

"Ah, and you're not just coming up with things so you can watch it again?" Callista continued dumping spices on their cart.

"Why not? You love it."

"I only do it because you like it."

"Whatever." He shrugged and arranged the products on the cart. "We're gonna watch 'Die Hard'. That's a million times better than those Animal Planet cannibal documentaries you watch."

Callista fake a gasp. Her red nails pressed against her lips. "What? But you were so focused."

"Focused? I was busy trying not to vomit." He chuckled as she pouted at his answer. Castor placed an arm around her shoulders, letting her snuggle closer to his chest. "But I'll go through it again if that really makes you happy."

Once again, Castor was left dumbfounded as Caly turned away. She coughed twice and directed her attention to the shelves. "Shouldn't you let Franco choose?"

"Caly—"

"Hey. Is it you Castor?" A female voice inserted into their tiny circle. The woman pulled up her shades, revealing soft blue eyes. "Janice? Remember?"

Castor nodded, knowing exactly who she was. They had dated in high school and Janice knew what she was getting into. She was damn considerate that Castor always felt guilty for using her whenever he and Caly skitted around each other. "Of course. From high school?"

"Yes. I didn't go to our reunion since I was out of town. It's so great to see you!" she said before she tiptoed and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Janice ran her fingers through her bob-cut as she turned to Callista with a wide smile. "Hello, Caly!"

"Yeah. Long time," Callista replied, her fingers tapping at the shopping cart's handle repeatedly.

"So..." Janice clasped her palms together, eyes dancing between the pair. "Are you two together?"

Castor immediately sought out his best friend's silver gaze but she wasn't looking at him.

"No. He's single," Caly replied as she let out a nervous laugh. "Don't mind me. I'll just do my shopping."

Her steps doubled as she walked away from their bubble. Castor frowned at her silhouette. Callista Genovese wasn't like that. She reveled in bringing bad news and watching men and women's faces crumple at the fact that he was taken. Honestly, he liked it when she was possessive and bold. It was those moments that he felt precious to her.

And seeing her walk away and giving him space made his chest throb. But damn, Castor couldn't help but appreciate her actions.

"So, it's a 'no'?" Janice muttered with a knowing sparkle on her eyes.

"Sorry. I..." He took a deep breath. "I love her."

"Still?"

"Always."

"Damn."

"I know."

✘✘

Yay! Why is this story getting longer? Haha, I promise it'll be over soon.