“Steven just told me you will not be returning today. What happened?” Levi asked Mateo over the phone. Mateo sighed and rested his head against the back of the bed, “It’s late. I don’t want to ride a boat at night. I will return first thing in the morning,” Mateo replied. Levi could feel something is off with his friend, but like always he didn’t ask. He knows it is not the only reason why Mateo hasn’t returned yet, “Alright, how is your arm?” Levi asked. Mateo was sitting on his bed, with his back against the pillows. He glanced at his arm, “It is fine.” He replied short. Mateo couldn’t sleep properly all night because his arm was aching. He also didn’t keep around the stitches as the doctor asked him either. He thought he could get it fixed when he return to the city, but since he has to spend another night here – he might as well just clean it himself. There has been a lot on Mateo’s mind lately. He has never been very attentive towards his health and wellbeing, but it just went
“Benji, you didn’t thank Levi for the breakfast and the gifts yet.” Piper reminded her younger brother, who was engrossed by the comic books Levi brought for him when he came to Piper’s apartment for breakfast this morning. Benji was sitting on the round rug in the small living room with the new comic books in his hands – while a big box of legos was sitting well beside the boy. Levi always brings something for Benji whenever he visits. Piper doesn’t know but Mateo also asks Levi to bring something for the boy whenever Levi comes here. Levi brought him the comics, while the legos were from Mateo – but Piper doesn’t know that. She believes both gifts were from Levi only. Mateo doesn’t visit Piper or Blaire’s place, not because he feels they are beneath him, but because he is aware of the danger he brings with him. Benji looked up at Levi and passed him a big grin, “Thank you, Levi!” He shouted in excitement while putting his thumbs up. The boy was more excited about the gifts than th
“It has nearly been a month since Aldo disappeared, Mateo. He has never been gone for so long. I think you already know where he is or what happened to him. Why don’t you come clean, my boy? Or are you playing the old tricks? No matter if you change your last name, you are a Ricci after all.” A member of the Hansen family, Ole, spoke to Mateo. The Hansen’s are one of the allies. They mostly operate in Norway, but with the help of the Bianchi and Ricci families – they have been spreading their connections around the world. Mateo swirl the glass of wine in his hand as he listened to Ole. He didn’t reply to him – instead, he let him and others weigh in on the matter before he adds on. Another member of the allies, one from the Wang family nodded along. “I agree with Ole, here. You need to come clean.” He spoke in his thick accent. “And if you still insist you don’t know then we better move on. Aldo’s disappearance has been causing many issues for us. My shipment has been stuck at the por
“Faith, come on, hit like a girl!” Blaire heckled Faith as she tried her hardest to throw punches at the punching bag. It has been a week since Blaire came to the village to train Faith, and this has been the longest week Faith ever lived. Nothing she does is strong or hard enough – she runs too slow, she hits too soft, her grip against the gun is either too crushingly hard or her wrist isn’t firm enough – nothing she does satisfies Blaire, and Faith had enough of it. She let out a groan and took her anger toward Blaire on the punching bag, “I swear to God, Blaire! If I wasn’t sure that you are capable of killing me with a snap of your finger – I would have punched you in the face instead of this punching bag!!” She growled out as she threw rapid punches at the bag. Blaire chuckled at Faith’s statement while standing behind her with her hands folded on her chest, “That’s good! Take the anger out. Imagine that punching bag is my face,” Blaire motivated her, and it worked. Faith pictu
“What do you mean? I don’t understand what you are saying,” To say Piper was stunned when Mateo mentioned Kai would be an understatement. She didn’t expect him to bring Kai up. She gulped fearfully. Mateo heaved a sigh as he hunched and placed his elbows on the desk while intertwining his finger. His gaze fixed on her – making her more and more anxious with each passing second. “You and I both know what I mean, Piper. I know you have been working for Kai for a few months, so you can drop the act.” Mateo inscrutably spoke. “I also know he is the one trying to kill Ethan for some reason, and I also know Benji is with him for the past week.” Mateo’s words were like a thunderbolt on Piper. Her hands shook as she gulped and watch Mateo glaring at her. “So, just go and tell him that I am asking to meet him,” Mateo added with such tranquillity that it scared Piper. The fact that Mateo knew about her spying for Kai slowly settled in for Piper. Her eyes fearfully twitched as looked at Mateo
“Did you lose weight?” Faith asked Mateo in a nasal voice. Since her nose was blocked, she couldn’t speak properly. Since she was on pain medication, she wasn’t functioning normally. This is why Mateo and Blaire were helping her get into the jeep. They were taking her back to the resort, where she could rest. Mateo glanced at her while she held onto his arm. He shook his head but used no words. Faith hummed, “I think you did,” She replied. “Have you been eating well?” She asked him. Blaire, who was holding Faith by wrapping her hand around her waist, smashed her lips together to suppress the smile that was coming up on her lips. Faith has been clinging to Mateo since he appeared. No matter how much Mateo expresses his annoyance towards her, Blaire noticed how he didn’t push Faith away either. She was not going to point it out to him. It will only make him more anxious and he will push her away for the sake of the eyes around them. Blaire is going to play dumb here. Mateo heaved a si
(After Mateo and Piper’s conversation/Before Mateo went back to the island)Piper was already a living mess, and it didn’t make it easy for her when after Mateo confronted her, she came to her apartment to see police cars lined up outside her complex. All blood drained her face when she saw Mrs. Davis talking to one of the cops. She watched as a few people gathered around the police cars – they weren’t allowed to get into the building, so they stood behind and watched. Some cops were talking to some of Piper’s neighbors – among them was her next-door neighbor Mrs. Davis – who was in tears. Piper’s heart dropped in her stomach, and for some twisted reason, for a few seconds, she was thankful that Benji wasn’t here. She gulped and rubbed her clammy palms against her jeans. She carefully approached the police cars, looking around – when Mrs. Davis’s gaze fell on her. Her teary eyes widened as she pointed toward her and said something to the police. Piper’s soul almost left her body. Thi
Flashback (Kai and Mateo’s Childhood) “I don’t think I will go.” A twelve-year-old Kai muttered under his breath as he lay on his bed – looking up at the ceiling. He fidgets his fingers just at the thought of going out. He doesn't know what got into him that he planned to go out with his friends. He shouldn’t have said yes in excitement when he knows he can’t go out in the crowd without getting anxious. A twelve-year-old Mateo sat on the floor of Kai’s bedroom. His back resting against Kai’s bed. He raised his eyebrow and turned his head to look at his best friend gloomily laying on the bed. “Do you not want to go or are you just anxious to go out?” He asked Kai. Kai lifted his head and looked down at Mateo, “What difference does it make?” Kai asked his friend. Mateo shrugged while he had one of Kai’s tennis balls in his hand – he picked on the fuzz while he spoke, “If you don’t want to go, then you shouldn’t. Simple as that. And if you want to go, but you are worried about get