Castor smiled and he didn't dare stop despite the jeers that came from his idiotic family. His girlfriend—damn, he couldn't get over that—kept sending him these funny gifs of couples that kiss and hug.

He searched for his own set of cute stickers when the jabs came again.

"Drink boys! This may be the last time we can see our boss!"

He rolled his eyes at PJ's words.

"Cheers! To us becoming second choices!" Vincent grabbed a beer bottle, clinking it with the others.

Fuckin' idiots. Castor stood up and went outside the house. He heard one last jeer of 'Look! He's discarding us now!' before he reached the poolside.

Castor was surprised at his father's presence by the pool bar. He drank alone, his gaze far away. "Dad?"

"Oh, Cas? Why are you here?" Nicholas Luciano pulled a stool for him. "Sit."

"They were too noisy," Castor answered and sat beside him.

"You know that's how they show their love, right?"

Cas scoffed. "And you?"

"I'm..." His emerald eyes shone. "...reminiscing."

Castor had a pretty good idea of what his father had been mulling over. He texted Caly a short explanation. She replied with a good night that made him frown. He ignored it and focused on his dad. "Is this about Franco? I thought you were fine with it?"

"It's not that."

"Then, what?"

"Your mother."

Castor clicked his tongue. He promised never to give a fuck about Celeste Luciano again. But his dad was troubled. "What about her?"

He winced as the bitterness drip from his words.

"Cas..." his father began. "I knew she was pregnant and I married her anyway."

"What? Why?"

"She's my best friend. And she needed help." Nicholas sipped from his glass. "It was a common knowledge that Francisco Castellano lusted after her. But that man knew his limits. He was a businessman first and Celeste was certain he wouldn't cross the line. So she set-up a trap. But she fell on it instead."

Castor felt the world spin. "W-what?"

"Celeste kept blaming herself. She said it was her fault for giving him an opportunity." Nicholas clenched his jaw as his nails dig into the wooden counter. "But she never called herself a victim. She vowed to forget it and that desire got stronger when she realized she was pregnant. She did everything, even marry me, just so her child wouldn't know the truth. So she could shield him from the pain."

What the fuck! Castor Luciano didn't know what to feel. He supposed he should pity his mother, his father, and himself. But all he could think about was how to tell Franco.

"But of course, everything went wrong." Nicholas paused, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm sorry, son. I tried to fix it but I should've known Celeste wasn't up for it. Still, you should know where your mother is coming from."

"I'm sorry too, Dad. But Mother and I don't have a relationship for me to give a fuck." Castor ran a hand through his hair. "Shouldn't Franco know about this?"

Nicholas let out a smirk. "You care more about Franco?"

"Mother is a strong woman. She came this far, didn't she?" he sighed, meeting his father's inquisitive gaze. "But Franco is still struggling to find his footing. I don't know what that information would do to him. I don't even know how much he knows of our world."

"You mean... he doesn't know what his father and our business are all about?" Nicholas chuckled. "We are mafia, son."

"Yeah. But Caly said that Franco never strayed from hotels and wines. He even got upset about the drugs. He's like...my opposite." Castor was almost ashamed to say it but it was the truth. Unlike him, Franco did live up to the 'archangel' title that the people had given him.

"What are you going to do?" His father questioned.

Castor crossed his arms. "I would know after tonight."

"Occhio per occhio." His father nodded in agreement. "Speaking of..." Nicholas raised his glass toward the garden's direction.

Celeste and Franco walked up the stairs towards the gleaming pool. The older woman smiled at her husband as Franco nodded to them. "Were you waiting for me?" she asked.

Nicholas rose from his seat. "Let's go?"

"I..." Celeste peeked at Castor before determination passed over her face. "I want to talk to Castor. Is that okay?"

Cas arched an eyebrow. What now?

He trailed after her mother as she trudged to the other side of the pool. Her palms were clasped together, knuckles pale. Celeste turned to him, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders. "You... I heard you and Miss Genovese are together?"

Castor decided to end her misery. "Why don't you get to the point, Mother? We both know you're not interested in my life."

Celeste's cerulean eyes hardened. "I want to be. You and Franco... I'm your mother."

He resisted the urge to cackle. "Not really. Franco and I grew up without you."

Castor realized he had gone too far as Celeste's face crumpled in agony. He cussed and amended his words. "I just meant—"

"It's okay. You were telling the truth." She forced a smile. "I lost both of you."

Castor pinched his nose, breathing roughly as his heart hammered in distress. "It's okay. Our relationship is beyond salvage but...if you can be nice to Franco..." He let out a tiny smile. "That's enough for me."

He turned his back when Celeste grabbed his arm. Castor gasped at the tears on his mother's face. "Woah. Are you okay?"

Shit. Despite what he said, he couldn't help but worry. This was still the woman his father loved.

Celeste shook her head, controlling the wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "I'm just... I'm proud of you. Even without me, you grew up so well."

Her tears burst again and Castor's anger completely evaporated. He was uncomfortable, confused, annoyed, and worse, he was slightly happy. He wanted to run to his girlfriend and cry on her arms until morning.

But he couldn't. So he waited until Nicholas came to get his wife.

Castor and Franco both watched the couple as they disappeared into the house.

"What the fuck did you tell her?" Castor demanded.

"It was nothing bad." Franco shot him a sheepish smile. "I think... she went through a lot. She admitted that she'll need help. We all deserve a second chance, right?"

Fuck. Now Castor was convinced that Franco didn't belong in their world. That was why Scarface followed him around. If it wasn't for that bodyguard, Franco's presence wouldn't even be a threat.

"What? If you think that I stepped—I only wanted—"

"Stop." Castor decided that it was time to determine what Franco Castellano was made of. "There's someone I want you to meet."

He marched into the house and signaled for Marcus. The giant towered over them and Castor chuckled as Franco walked faster.

They reached the basement and Marcus went ahead. He barely fit into the room. But his burly arms reached out and drag a boy outside. He gripped Dos' wrists, shoving him forward.

"What's—" Franco's question died down. He froze and took in the scene. "Don't tell me that's—"

Castor stepped forward, forcing Dos's face upward. He tapped the boy's cheek. "Hey, piccolo! Your trial is starting."

"Cas..." Franco muttered. He appeared cool. Steely gaze and steady posture but Castor didn't miss how he took a step back.

"That's your fiancée's killer," Castor announced. The temperature dropped as he handed Franco a gun.

"Wait!" Someone yelled before a figure barrelled into the basement.

Castor shoved him back, giving him a wintry stare. "Get back, Uncle."

Leonardo Moran clutched Castor's arm. The older man's eyes were pleading. "He's my son. He's family."

"I know," Castor replied. "But Franco is family too."

"Leave us alone." Franco's command echoed in the damp basement, eyes focused at the crouching form on his feet.

They exited the basement. Marcus' guarded the door as the older Moran punched the wall in frustration. Castor remained quiet. He pitied the boy's father. Familial ties were important to them after all. But he believed that Franco should have the final say.

Moran senior swiveled to the boss with burning eyes. "Is he going to kill him? Will Castellano do that?"

Castor shrugged. He didn't know but if it was up to him—

The door rattled and Marcus stepped aside. Twice this night that Cas was left confused. Franco returned the gun to him and trudged to the exit.

The older Moran went to his son as Marcus snorted. Castor raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Marcus patted his head which felt more like a squeeze. "Isn't this what you wanted?"

✘✘

The grandfather clock struck twelve when Castor finally found Franco. The blonde had found refuge in their mother's greenhouse. Castor waved the green plants and saw him sitting by the small fountain.

"You okay?" he asked, inserting his hands on his jeans. "You know... I didn't mean to—"

"I know." Franco glanced at him. "You were only trying to test me. My father did that a lot."

To be compared to Francisco Castellano left a bitter taste in Castor's mouth. "Well... sorry about that."

"No. I'm sure you did that because I always talk about revenge." He smiled dryly. "But when it comes to it... I'm all talk."

"You know... I'm starting to like you, right?"

Franco scoffed. "Starting?"

"Yeah." He sat beside Franco. "You got my mother's love. Caly was chasing after you even if it was fake or not. And now, you have the morals that I badly wanted."

Castor continued. "I couldn't blame my father for raising me like this. He didn't want me to be prey. But at the same time, I always wonder how my life would be if I was ignorant."

"You calling me ignorant?" Franco frowned as if wondering whether he should be insulted or not.

"I am," Castor said in a grave tone. "You're fucking naive."

"That's—"

"But I truly respect you, man." The words left Franco gawking at him. Before it got awkward, Castor cleared his throat. "All the mafia stuff, if you don't want to do it, then don't. Leave that all to me."

"No."

"Oh?" Castor crossed his arms. He was amused at the sudden flash of anger in Franco's eyes.

"You're right. Unlike you and Caly, my father barely tells me anything about our family business." Franco clenched his jaw before he spoke. "But I can't stand in the sidelines anymore. My father needs a dose of his own medicine."

Castor Luciano laughed at his declaration. "And how will you do that?"

Franco smirked and the moonlight hitting his face gave him an eerie expression. "You got my back, right?"

He grinned. "Hell, yeah."

✘✘

hehe, you know this is still a mafia story, right?

This chapter is dedicated to @ Mmaisarahh
for not losing faith on Castor/Caly ship despite my interference haha

Votes and comments are appreciated!

xx, lucci