Posting this and stalking my notifications for the next 3 hours because I want to read these comments. You all make me laugh so much, I swear; I love you all and comment your asses off! (:

- - - -

"Friends are not as important as family. Do not confuse the loyalty of friendship with the bond of blood." – Unknown.

- - - -

I could already tell this was going to a very long night. After the firetrucks arrived, a police and ambulance shortly followed. We watched silently, without much conversation, as the firefighters did their job. A police officer walked over just a few minutes after they arrived and called Liam away, telling him that they needed his assistance. He walked away briskly after the police officer, not even wasting a second to glance over his shoulder at me.

I stood alone for what felt like forever, watching the lights of the police car, listening to the dim sirens of the emergency vehicles. People still stood around us in crowds, their phones out, recording everything that was going down firsthand. Their chatter was loud, but not loud enough that I could distinctly hear what they were saying. But it felt like the group of people were growing; not only did all of the customers in the restaurant come out, but people were filing out of buildings across the street, eyeing the drama that was unfolding.

I felt sick watching people I didn't even know and for a moment, I felt awfully alone. It was hard to express what I was feeling; worry, fear, sadness. It hadn't slipped my mind that Bobby had started the car and unless he was Clark Kent, there was no way in the world he could've saved himself from a blast like that. Liam and I had yet to say it to each other, simply because we both knew.

A chill creeped down my spine as I realized just how close Liam had come to turning the key tonight, starting the engine, and blowing us both up.

My eyes fell on Liam. Two officers stood before him, nodding and listening as he ran his mouth. Luciano pointed towards the car, then the building, and briefly at me, while explaining the story to the two men. They continued to nod, before briefly calling Liam to follow them; they disappeared from sight, behind one of the police cars, leaving me to sigh.

The loneliness I was feeling only lasted a second. I leaned back on my heels and turned my head to the right, scanning the crowd of unfamiliar faces. Far past the crowd of curious bystanders, past the lights of the restaurant, a figure stood beneath a lone, shimmering street lamp. I could see the outline of their masculine figure as they leaned up against a thin, sports motorcycle that sat parked behind him. His face couldn't be seen clearly due to the hoodie that was thrown over his head, but in my heart, I knew who it was.

I excused my way through the crowd, finally breaking through and marching straight towards the man. His large arms were folded across his chest and a pair of dark sunglasses rested on the bridge of his nose, despite the fact that it was already night. He didn't flinch as I approached and although I couldn't see his eyes, I could tell his attention was strained on the car that was still smoldering behind me.

I joined him in his stance, letting my back rest against the parked motorcycle. I keep my attention on him, however, on the facial features that I could see. His jaw was locked and the demeanor he was giving off was chilling; cold, angry, slightly pissed.

I tried to break the ice as I look away from him, letting my attention fall back on the crowds of people. "You always work in the shadows?"

I was ready for an answer, but an answer for my question never came. Rico just adjusts his stance, letting his weight shift to another foot. Out the corner of my eye, I see him run a hand over his chin.

"I understand that I'm younger than Liam, I'm younger than Dominic and with them, I'm in no position of authority. I can even understand that you would assume I'm always joking, always playing around, making jokes," Federico turns to me now, slowly pulling the dark glasses off his face. Fear crept into my soul when I looked up, right into those hazel eyes. "But I do not call for pointless reasons. I wasn't calling to discuss your outfit, I wasn't calling to see how your date was going, I wasn't calling to make sure your makeup was still perfect, I wasn't calling to see if your eyebrows were still flawless. I was calling for a fucking reason and you-" Rico lets out a cold laugh and turns away from me, shaking his head in a disapproving manner. "-you had the nerve to reject my call."

He did make me feel bad about myself; but I hadn't rejected the call because I saw Rico on my caller ID. I rejected it because at the time, my mother was more important in my eyes, than a man I met a few weeks ago.

"Sorry," was the only thing I had to say to him. I was thankful that we only stood in awkward silence for two or so minutes, because just when I was starting to feel uncomfortable, Liam broke through the crowd.

Despite the amount of stress he was under, he looked fine. His suit was still intact and his hair was still perfectly styled. He was shaking his head as he approached and without saying a word to me, he outstretched his hand towards Rico. The two embraced, leaning towards each other in a typical brotherly hug. They patted each other on the back once, before releasing. Their hands disconnect a millisecond after and they finally turn to me. Rico joins Liam at his side, his hands in the pocket of his jeans.

"At least you didn't lose anything significant," Federico shrugs, his gaze on the wet ground. I can see Liam eyeing his friend's temple.

"Bobby..."

Rico picks his head up. It was then I realized he had slid the glasses back on his face so his reaction was hard to come by; but from the look of his lips – that stayed pursed the entire time – I could tell, news like this, wasn't new to the 22 year old. Rico's lips finally part, "Merda."

Liam just nods. "The bomb was set for ignition; clearly an attempt on my life," Luciano looks at me, "Our lives."

I chime in after we all think in silence. "Corinelli?"

Rico and Luciano look at each other, before both turning to me and shaking their heads no. "That's impossible," Liam answers first, "Corinelli would have to send someone up my driveway, into my garage, to wire a bomb on the bottom of my car. My security may not be the best, but they aren't blind."

"What you want to be concerned about is this," Rico adds, glancing between the both of us. "The bomb had to have been planted after Liam had his car started this evening; if the bomb had been sitting there, the car would've blown up at the house. Not here."

"Well, who started your car tonight?" This time, Rico and I turn to Liam, asking a very relevant question. He just shrugs.

"I told Dom to have someone start it. So anybody in my house could've gone."

"That just tells me one thing," Rico states, "You have bitch-ass traitor under your roof."

I could tell Federico's statement infuriated Liam; but what I couldn't understand was why. It was a simple statement. Luciano's eyebrows immediately met each other's and he jerked towards Rico, as if he was actually threatening to go over the younger man. "I do not have a fucking traitor in my house, you're being ridiculous," At the end of Liam's spiel, he extended his arm, shoving Rico back into the bike.

Rico looks stunned. "Okay, Sweetheart; let's get two things straight," Federico holds up his index and middle finger. He wiggles his index finger at Liam, "One, don't touch me." Then, he drops his index finger, leaving his middle finger up for everyone to see. Rico wiggles his middle finger in Luciano's face, "and two, you're the one being ridiculous."

Liam didn't find Rico funny, that was clear, but he laughed coldly anyways. "And how the hell am I being ridiculous?"

Rico chuckles, "I'm not going to call you out in front of your girl," The two glance at me quickly, "But you know what you've been doing and you need to cut the shit out."

To say I felt awkward would be a major understatement. I could see Liam pulling his gaze away from Rico, allowing his attention to fall solely on me. It took just a look, but that was when it all kind of fell into place; I didn't know what Liam was doing in his free-time, but it was clear something wasn't right. He drops his eyes to the concrete, not able to look me in the eye any longer.

He swallows hard as he looks back to Rico. "Take Faith home, have Dominic check the cars; I'll hold a meeting in the morning to discuss this," Luciano was already taking steps back, distancing himself from us. "And nothing that has happened here gets out tonight. Nothing." And before I could even offer up a goodbye, he disappears in the dispersing crowd of people.

Rico and I watch him go, still staring at the crowd as if Liam is actually going to show his face to us once again. I was the one to voice my concerns first. "I'm worried about him."

"Me too."

Federico was already fumbling with our transportation home; and that is when my own eyes bulged out my head as I whirled around. He had already thrown his leg over the other side of the motorcycle and inserted the key. The engine roared to life as Rico turned to me.

"Hell no," was all I had for him.

"Faith, this is the only way you're getting home," He chuckles softly and revs the engine; as if that actually helped. I was shaking my head.

"Rico, I'm not getting on that death trap with you. Besides, there's only one helmet."

He throws his head back silently, closes his eyes, and mutters something under his breath. Once he's finished, he pulls himself off the bike, now standing in front of me. I watch him take the helmet and hold it over my head, gently sliding it on. "You can have the helmet, I don't need it."

"But if we crash-"

"We aren't crashing," He says. "Now," Rico nods towards the motorcycle, "Get on." I sigh and without much hesitation, I climb on the back. He follows suit, sitting down in front of me. I roll my eyes as he leans back a bit, purposely hitting me.

"Stop!" I slap his shoulder, causing him to laugh. He leans forward once he's done teasing me and revs the engine once again. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," I was already shaking my head by the time Rico was able to turn around slightly, getting a good look at me out the corner of his eye. I point to his face. "No way in hell can you drive a motorcycle at night with sunglasses on." My words came out muffled because of the one-size two big helmet that was sitting on my head.

Federico's lips pull into a smile, "Is that a bet?"

"Rico," I warn.

"Faith, trust me, the last thing you need to worry about is my sunglasses. Just hold on."

Hesitantly, I wrap my arms around Rico's abdomen. I would never say this out loud, but the boy was clearly blessed; if there was an ounce of stomach fat, I couldn't find it. "I'll hold on; and Rico?"

"Hm?"

"Don't go over 50."

He sighs. "Sorry to disappoint you Faith, but that won't be happening." And just as Federico was about to pull out the driveway; there was a scream – manly, screams.

Both Rico and I whip our heads to the direction of the frantic yelling, where two men scramble out the restaurant, their pants halfway up their thighs. The sight was funny, till they started yelling and screaming even more.

"T-there's four bodies in the men's bathroom! They're all dead!" One of the men shout, scrambling towards the police presence.

I remember Liam's words from earlier, "Abram Volkov...three of those men with him are his security."

"Aw shit," Rico leans back a bit, a hand on his thigh. He cranes his neck to the left, a crisp, white smile appearing on his face as he addressed me, "That's my cue."

And we were off.

- - -

I think I slept well that night just because I had worried myself into a sleepy daze. I was so scared that I would die at the hands of Federico driving a motorcycle, that I had – in turn – worn myself out. For most of the trip I kept my eyes closed, but when I did open them, I regretted it. Trees and buildings flew past us at an incredible speed; we passed by cars on the highway as if they were sitting still. I even built up the courage to peek a glance over Rico's shoulder at the speedometer; but I quickly closed my eyes and gripped his hoodie harder when I saw the needle was well past the 100 miles per hour mark.

My sleep had been good and undisturbed, but I certain at about two in the morning, someone had cracked my door open. They didn't walk in, but I could feel them looking inside the room. At first I had assumed it was Liam, since I rolled over and realized he wasn't there; but when the person didn't enter the room or turn on a light, I figured my assumption was wrong. I brushed the incident to the back of my head early the next morning.

The alarm clock that Luciano must've set was piercing my ear drums as I rolled over, knocking it clean off the nightstand it resided on. It took a lot of reaching and stretching, but I finally picked it up, reading the time: 8:13 am.

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

I dressed quickly, mainly eager to head downstairs and see if anybody had spotted Liam since last night. I dressed in a simple pair of jeans, socks, and a white shirt. I threw my hair up in a ponytail, snagged my phone, and exited out the room. I made sure to close the door behind me.

Luciano's wing was deserted. I knocked on both Dominic and Rico's doors; I didn't receive an answer from either of them. Shrugging, I found myself heading down the steps and the second my toes hit the floor, Jeremiah was at my side.

I finally got a decent look at him. Jeremiah was tall and thin, he was pale, but his hair was thick and curly – similar to Dominic's. Yet, Dom wore it better – much better. He had on a long suit that didn't exactly work for him in my opinion, and when he smiled, a few silver teeth shimmered. Before I could move away, he threw one of his lanky arms around me, pulling me close. "Hey, Buddy," He grins.

"Hiya," I turn to my right, where another man sidles up to me. He was thicker than his friend, but he had light brown hair. When this man smiled, I could see a couple of gaps where teeth used to belong. This man, too, throws his arm around me. "Your name is Faith right?"

"Uh-"

"That's what I thought," The new guy said, smiling widely. "I have a question for you, Ms. Faith."

I don't have an answer.

"Do you know what a threesome is?"

I shimmied out of their grasps and whirled around. "Yes I do and guess what?"

"What?" They both replied.

"I would treat you both like the Grinch..."

They frowned.

"-and I wouldn't touch either of you with a 39 and a half foot pole. Now," I smile, "Goodbye."

I left the two of them standing there, confusion written all over their features. I walked down a familiar section of the house, taking in the busy activity. Unlike days past, men weren't just lounging around eating breakfast and watching Good morning America. Many of them had laptops attached to their hips, their phones pressed up against their ears, or they were in a heated discussion with another person.

"Uh, excuse me," I wave awkwardly at a well-dressed man that stands in a corner by himself, his phone pressed against his ear. He was speaking rapid Italian, but I was sure he had heard me. I waited for just a second as he uttered another phrase into the phone, before pulling it down to his side and glancing at me, expectantly. "Um, Hi," I smile.

"Ciao,"

We both blink, staring at each other for the longest minute.

"Have you seen Liam?" I offer up the question with a hopeful tone. The tall, dark haired man still stares at me, looking severely confused. And something told me he didn't speak English very well.

"Um, Luciano?" Never had I heard Liam's last name pronounced that sexy. It rolled off his tongue with a thick Italian accent and I swore my legs started to give way. I nodded my head. The man just points down a hallway and smiles at me politely.

"Oh, gracias."

The man broke out in a wide smile. "No, grazie."

I shrug, "They sound the same to me." He raises an eyebrow as I shoot him a longing smile. "Ci-iao."

He groans, "Its pronounced chow."

I simply wave it off and head in the direction he pointed me in; but that didn't stop me from hearing him whispering in his phone. "Americans," He muttered. I would've mimicked his tone while saying, 'Italian's' but other than being kidnapped and locked in a basement for a very short period of time, and being slapped once, and shoved multiple times, I hadn't had many bad encounters with people that came from Italy.

I had been walking down the hall the Italian man had pointed down, but there weren't that many people down the hall. It took a minute, but after analyzing the hallway, I realized this was the exact same hall Luciano and I had marched down yesterday. A distant chatter grew closer as I inched towards the conference room doors; taking a deep breath, I throw them open.

Chairs squeaked and heads turned as I stood under the doorway. The room was full of men; many I recognized from yesterday's slightly disastrous meeting. Every chair was occupied around the table, except the head chair – where the boss sat. Alex sight on my right, the bosses left; Luis sat a seat down, beside Alex. Dominic was on the other side of the table, his forehead pressed against the coolness of the wood.

I tore my gaze away from the table, finally noticing that a few other chairs had been set against the wall, so a few others could attend this so-called meeting. My eyes fell on Federico, who was slouched in his seat; severely underdressed compared to everyone else in the room. William sat beside him and quite frankly, he was the only one that wasn't frowning.

My chest grew tight, probably out of nervousness, when I realized there were no more open seats; and with everyone still eyeing me, my anxiety was growing. I saw Rico look up from his phone, glance around the room, and finally, he was the first person to say something.

Our eyes lock and he raises his hand, patting his thigh.

Absolutely not.

I could see a brief smile cross his face as he stood up while I approached. He rested his hand on the back of the chair and stepped away, allowing me to sit down.

I felt bad that Federico had to give up his seat for me, but I was thankful for his unusual kindness. It was when I sat down that I was able to analyze the room in full; it was large, very large. Two televisions were mounted on the wall, side by side.

The tension in the room was also very visible. Everyone seemed tense and on edge, unsure of exactly what Liam was coming here to talk about. I knew I hadn't exactly been properly invited, but I was sitting on this meeting anyways.

"Shit man," Both Will and I jump as a man sitting around the table smacks the wood with his palm. The move causes a few people to glance up, away from their conversations and at him. Even Dominic picked his head up off the table to see. "Where the hell is he? He's almost twenty minutes late." Dom's mouth fell open and I was just waiting for this man to get roasted in one way or another – but he didn't.

"Luciana is being a bitch, man." Another man, sitting around the table, spoke.

And then there was laughter; everyone broke out into a smile and quick chuckle, even Dom. I could hear Rico laughing under his breath at the name Luciana.

"Well, I'm glad you find that funny," Luciana stands in the doorway, his hands at his side. The look on his face is stern, calling for no type of bullshit as his attention floats around the room full of people. The chuckling dies down quickly and everyone stands up in respect of Liam's presence. I can feel Rico stand up straighter from beside me; and without realizing it, I'm the only one still sitting in the entire room.

I stand to my feet quickly as Liam steps inside, glaring at the back of a few people's heads. "Do you want to know what I find funny?" He continues his voice deep. As he walks slowly, pacing oh so slowly to his seat, he folds his hands behind his back. Goosebumps riddle my skin as Luciano walks past us, walks past me; and his gaze is cold, his eyes grey.

Liam heads straight for his chair, stepping between it and the edge of the table. Everyone still stands with their attention of Luciano. "Well," Liam tugs at his jacket, "I won't be telling any of you what I find funny; because I have shit on all of you," The men around the table cower under Luciano's glare, "And if I were to tell each and everyone one of you what I find funny, I would expose all of your asses. So being the mature, bitch-" Liam glares at the man that called him a name earlier, "-that I am, I won't be saying a word." His jaw locks. "You all may be seated." And just like that, everyone drops to their seat.

A silent moment passes while everyone watches Liam, waiting for him to speak again. Luciano presses his palms against the table and leans forward. "Last night, I took Faith out to a small Italian restaurant about forty five minutes from here," His voice softens, but the sternness in his voice that calls for everyone's attention doesn't waver. "I had to use to restroom, so I had Robert start the car."

For the first time since Liam walked in, someone else speaks up. It was Alex. He has his trusty tablet resting on the table, his fingers swiping the screen vigorously. "I needed to speak with you about that, actually," He nods, "Bobby didn't check in last night and-"

"-and," Liam interrupts him with a glare, "The car blew up upon it being started." Luciano clears his throat. "Bobby won't be checking in because he checked out."

I could see a few of the men's faces fall. A couple of them leaned back in their seats, their shoulders relaxing. Some dropped their head in their hands. I could see Alex grow stiff; his facial features hardened and his face was slowly turning white. Dominic had picked his gaze up off the table, locking his eyes on Luciano's face, hoping to catch him bluffing. But Rico and I knew it was the truth.

I should've appreciated the longing silence for as long as I could; but just like everything in the household, shit went down – went up – whatever the hell you want to say, quickly. One second Alex was sitting, the next he was standing and yelling.

"Is it because of her?"

All of a sudden, I was on the hot seat again. I grew uncomfortable as Alex pointed an accusing finger at me. Liam didn't need to look at me to know who Alex was pointing at; especially considering I'm the only girl in the room.

Liam just shakes his head. "Alex, sit down."

"Is it?" Alex's voice was rising quickly as he continued to jab a finger in my direction. "You're pathetic, Liam. Ever since this whore came into your life, you've been putting everyone else on the backburner!" I could see Liam's mouth dropping open in a response, but Alex's voice was much too loud. Both of their faces were getting red; Alex while he yelled, Liam's while he listened. "You probably saved her ass without giving any consideration to Robert!" Alex had gotten extremely close to Liam during his rant.

Dominic stood up now, black eye, bruised cheek and all. His eyes locked on Alex and they didn't budge. "Alex, step away from him and sit the fuck down."

Alex just turns away from Liam, who looks disinterested in the entire conversation. He leans over the table, facing Dominic now. "And what are you going to do about it, rag doll?" Alex just shakes his head, "All you do is try and protect his bitch ass," He addresses Dom, pointing an accusing finger at Luciano.

"That's my job."

"All he is doing is ruining this family! You said so yourself yesterday!"

"And I still believe it," Dominic leans over the table, glaring at the man standing opposite of him. "But no matter what I do, what I say, it doesn't matter because at the end of the day, when we put our heads on our pillows, he's still our boss."

Liam had his hands on his temples. "Stop it," He whispers, eyes closed.

Everyone else around the table sat silently, not wanting to put in their two cents. Those that sat closest to them, scooted their chairs away, concerned that someone would throw a punch.

Alex laughs harshly, "You're just trying to help Liam, Dominic, because you can never help anyone. You couldn't help your sick wife and you couldn't help your suicidal father." I saw the lump forming in Dom's throat when he didn't respond; he just blinks. "Your entire life people have depended on you and you have failed them! You failed Rose and you failed your mother because you could not talk your father down from putting a bullet in his temple-"

Did someone leave a window open? I feel a cool breeze.

I was expecting some type of reaction verbally from Dominic, but not physically. Dom always seemed like one to roast you verbally, leaving you confused and disoriented; as if that was enough to keep him satisfied. But not this time; he reaches across the table, gathers Alex's collar in his hand, and pulls the grown man across the table. The table jerks as Alex slides partially across the table, before he's thrown to the ground at Dominic's feet.

Dom grabs Alex from his shirt once again, lifting him up. Then he punches him. And he reels back again, but Luciano interferes this time. "Stop it!" He grabs both of them by their shoulders and pulls them apart, sending them in different directions. Alex goes stumbling into the wall, his hand covering his bloody nose and mouth.

I watch Dominic adjust his suit jacket, before plopping back down in his seat without a word. Alex shoots daggers his way the entire time he shuffles back to his seat. "Liam," Alex continues once again, "You-"

This time, Rico chimes in.

He sounds generally annoyed when he addresses Alex. "Alex, just sit down, Jesus."

"Oh, great," Alex responds casually, "Now the man that claims he has morals, yet, kills anything that breathes on him the wrong way is speaking."

Rico pushes himself off the wall, inching his way towards Alex. "Bite that tongue of yours before you lose it."

"Oh, I'm terrifi-"

"Goddammit, shut up!"

I swear to you not, the room shook when Liam yelled. His fists met the table and his face was as red as my hair. Rico resumed his relaxed position against the wall, while Alex pulled his seat away from the table and dropped in it. Neither Alex or Dominic looked up from their laps; it was as if they already knew Liam was sending them glares so cold it could freeze hell.

The other men around the table, who seemed to know when to stay silent, just watched their boss with caution and curiosity. No eyes wandered; they were either looking at Liam, or staring at their hands that were folded respectively in their laps.

Even from here, I could see Liam breathing heavily. His tongue parted his lips. "Why are we self-destructing?" His question was rhetorical, but it did cause people to think. "Right before our own damn eyes and nobody seems to be able to do a goddamn thing about it."

More heads drop in guilt.

"Dominic," Liam starts out, leaning on the table. "Like I told you yesterday, I gave you the positions you are in because you're trustworthy, loyal, and a hard-worker. You have amazing leadership abilities but three weeks ago, you would have never gone behind my back to hold a meeting." Dom couldn't raise his head to allow himself to look Luciano in the eye. I was certain the feeling of guilt was running through his veins. "Even when I'm out of state, you would call me and you would say, 'Yeah, Liam, I'm holding a meeting about so and so. You're on speaker.' But yesterday," Luciano's voice is assertive, strict, and firm; but it captures my attention and I find myself hanging on each and every one of his words. "Yesterday, you held a meeting without me, about me. That's as low as it fucking gets."

Dom has no answer for him.

Luciano turns to Alex, who's sitting quietly on his left. "You always respect those that are of higher authority than you. Now, all of a sudden, your main goal in life is to have me temporarily step down as the head of this household?" Liam leans down, tilting his head so he can get a good look at the man. "All Dominic was doing was backing me up, and you rip into his ass without a filter? Do you really want me to step down that bad?"

Alex's fingers begin to tap out a beat on the wooden table. His head turns to the right ever so slightly, his eyes squinted as Luciano's face comes into view. But like Dominic, he doesn't say anything. Liam speaks again, "Alex, let me make something very clear; I will never hand over this family to anyone. I don't care if it's for three years or three seconds. I don't care if it's temporary. Nobody will take this from me. For that to happen, I would have to die." Alex's attention flickers back over to Liam. Luciano pulls away from the table and straightens his posture out.

"Aren't we family?" He continues, "Aren't we?" There are a few nods that ripple around the table. "Then why are we our own worst enemies? Why are we tearing each other down? The person sitting beside you, wants what's best for you. They would take a bullet for you; but you're over here, fighting with them. We're fighting ourselves. And in a world that we live in, a world that many normal civilians don't know about, everyone outside of this house – is an enemy."

I could see the nods growing as the words Liam spoke hit close to home for everyone. There was a lot of mumbling in agreement and 'yeah's that were whispered under people's breath.

Luciano had started pacing a bit as he talked; and everyone's eyes followed him in a line. Back and forth, back and forth. He would pause occasionally to stare at people, before continuing.

"I'm not here to make up excuses for myself," Liam started off again, "But do you all know what I have on my plate?" He stops walking. "When I'm done worrying about you all blowing your asses up, I have to worry about a father that is prancing around, attempting to screw up everything that I have done. He breathes to make me miserable; that, I am sure of, is his life goal." Liam's jaw tenses, "I stay concerned about that little seven year old because I don't think her mother takes care of her right. You know, now she's starting to ask me why her father never wanted her?" Luciano bites his lip and shakes his head. "On top of that, I have a company that is crumbling to the ground and all I can do is watch."

That seemed to cause concern. Many of the men around the table shifted in their seats. I found myself sitting up a bit straighter, slightly concerned to.

"Work isn't getting done, advertisers are backing out of their deals, other companies that I was planning on merging with are stepping away from the table..." Liam shakes his head, overlooking the rest of the men. "I got a call from my secretary the other day... The heads of major divisions in my office buildings are quitting, workers are resigning, and janitors are striking." Liam leans back on the table, "I'm losing money as I speak." Luciano blinks, "And then I hang up from them and I come down here to find out, the only people I feel as though I can truly rely on, are stabbing me right in the back."

Liam steps away, "What? You all are looking at me in disbelief." Luciano throws his hands up, "When I'm not at the house; what the hell do you all think I'm doing? Lying under an umbrella in Malibu and drinking alcohol with a cute little lemon on the side?"

He shakes his head. "And to put the cherry on top, I have to worry about her-" Luciano turns to me, the look on his face is serious. His eyes stay on me, causing my face to flush. "She is my responsibility and I'm responsible for anything that happens to her – and no matter what I do, where we go, I have to make sure nothing happens to her. Because people want her dead."

I could see Dom eyeing his friend with concern. Liam was growing far more irritated the longer he spoke. "Liam..."

"And when I finally catch a fucking break and I take Faith out, what do I come home to?" Rico bows his head at Luciano's most recent words. "I come home to six of my men on the floor – two are unconscious and one is in critical condition. I go upstairs and...there you are..." He was addressing Rico, looking at him directly, "Putting a gun to your head, or attempting to overdose."

Federico shakes his head. "I-"

Liam holds out his hand. "Don't apologize," He says, "If I had to, I would talk you down 100 more times, but I'm using you as an example. I'm using all of this as examples." He turns back to a portion of the family. "I hear what you all say; you say I act weird, that I'm blind, stupid, unaware..." Liam clears his throat, "And as of recently no, I haven't been the best boss I could be."

He points to Dominic. "Yes, I let your suggestions go in one ear and out the other. No, I haven't been paying much attention to any of you and I'm sorry." Liam shoves his hand into his pocket. "You can blame these."

He pulls out a pill bottle. We all watch it clatter to the desk and roll its way past a few men. They all eye it with curiosity, but Dominic is the only one that actually reaches out and snatches it, rotating the bottle in his hand.

"I've already called you all out on your mistakes, so I'll call mine out," Liam states. "Pain medication," Luciano nods at Dom, who had his mouth open, his question on the tip of his tongue. "Because once I'm done dealing with all of this shit and it's time to sleep, I can't. I can't sleep; I can't sleep because I know in the morning, I have to do this shit all over again." Liam shoves his hands into his pockets and sighs deeply, "So I get out of bed and I go outside; usually to the cars, I climb inside, and I get fucked up."

It was safe to say, I was pretty pissed.

This time, it was my turn to drop my attention to my hands; because the longer I looked at Liam, the more upset I got. Yet, I could feel him staring at me. "I haven't even been using them for a week and they're already fucking with me."

"You shouldn't have used them at all."

I probably shouldn't have said that out loud.

Luciano and I stared at each other for a long, long, long minute. I didn't have anything else to say to him, nor did he have anything to say to me. Instead of responding, he angles his body away from me and continues to speak, dismissing everything I just said.

"I threw those at you because one of you, throw them away. Get rid of them; I don't care how, but I don't want to ever see those things again," Liam commands. Dominic just nods and slides the pills into his pocket without a word.

Luciano sighs, "I'm going to close by saying this... Michael Luciano once told me something that didn't go through one of my ears and out the other. He said all of your success, starts at the home. How true is that? When we're all working together, and shit is running smoothly, we get stuff done, don't we?"

A collective "Yes" echoes throughout the room.

Liam just nods, before breaking out in a soft smile. "We good, gentlemen?" The smiles are returned as the men nod.

"Yes Sir," They all belt out in unison.

Luciano just chuckles as he steps around the table, sidling up to Dominic. "We good, rag doll?" That lightens the mood severely, even Alex starts to smile. Dominic laughs and nods, meeting Liam's fist bump.

"Yeah, we good, Luciana."

"Loser with the pony-tail," Liam turns around and heads towards Alex's side of the table. He chuckles deeply, shaking his head.

"It's a man-bun."

Laughter ripples through the room as Luciano tugs at the little bud of hair. "Whatever. We good?" Alex nods. Liam whirls around, smirking at Rico.

"We good, my psychotic friend?"

Federico just bows his head, laughing softly. When he picks it back up, Liam has a fist held high. Rico follows him, before the both tap their chest twice. "We good," Rico answers him.

Throughout the adorable exchanges, I was probably the only one not smiling. It pissed me off that Luciano would slip out of bed just to go get high, simply to forget about crap that was bothering him. I was there at all times of the day; and he knew if he needed to talk to someone, he could come to me.

I smile at him sweetly before crossing my legs. I can see him, and a few other men in the room, staring at me. He looks hesitant to say anything and the soft smile that was on his face, was slowly fading.

"We aren't good..." He states slowly, eyeing me cautiously.

"No, we are not." I smile with closed lips.

"Right," He turns around and begins to address the others once again. "I'll be calling another meeting later to speak about what we will be doing moving forward. You all are...dismissed."

Everyone stands to their feet once again as Liam begins to make his way towards the door. I had never been in a meeting before, but from what I could tell, Luciano left before anyone else could; but not today, he didn't. I slip out my seat, cutting Luciano off. For just a second, I glance over my shoulder; where Liam stands, hovering over me. I tear my attention away from him; despite how hard it actually was.

Everyone's eyes were on me as I exited the room, but before the door closed, I glanced back.

Bad idea.

For some reason, I got the impression that Liam would've stood right where he was when I cut him off; but I was wrong. My back hit his chest and just like that, I was stumbling forward. Liam reached out the grab me; and his did, but I shook his off quickly.

"Do not touch me."

He lets go quickly as I brush my arms off. It wouldn't un-do his most recent form of physical contact, but it made me feel better on the inside. Liam just laughs nervously.

"Faith, I apologized. Are you really actually upset because I used pills?"

I back up against the wall. "Yes, yes I am. I'm upset because you used them as a stress reliever, when I was literally upstairs. You could've talked to me, but no. You rely on...on..." I huff. "I just never pictured you doing that. I mean," I turn and head down the hall, Liam following closely behind. "Obviously, I'm sure you've done horrible stuff, but pills... Who are you? Rico?"

"I heard that," Federico walks past us without eye contact, but I could hear the teasing in his voice.

I turn back to Luciano. "You want people to be there for you, and I was, but you didn't even come to me. So, I don't know what to tell you." His expression was crestfallen as I turned on my socks and headed down the hallway; my final destination: upstairs.

"Faith," I could hear him groan and take another few steps towards me, attempting to reach me before I disappeared from his view.

I turn around and hold my hands up. "Don't follow me, Elijah." He looks taken aback and he even takes a step back as I head through the rest of the house and up the stairs. What shocked me the most, was that he didn't follow me.

I was sure that Liam wasn't used to being bullied around and told what to do; but he listened to me.

And personally, that spoke volumes.

- - - -

I wasn't sure how I kept myself occupied for the length of time that I did. At around two in the afternoon, a knock came on Liam's bedroom door. At first I thought it was Luciano, but when a woman dressed in a maid's uniform poked her head in, that squashed my theory. The woman had just arrived to drop off a sandwich and a glass of water to me before leaving.

I watched a little television, guessed the password on Luciano's laptop – surprise, surprise, it was Rosalie. Then I climbed back on top of the bed's duvet and pulled out my phone – that was where I found myself now, typing back a long reply to my mother. When it was two p.m. here, it was eight there, so she was still very much awake.

This was probably the most we had talked since she left. I was itching to talk about my real parents and to ask them why they never brought it up; but I didn't feel like a texting conversation was the best for that.

So, when are you two coming home?

My text sent quickly and since Susan wasn't the fastest texter in the world, I put my phone back down. My eyes closed for a millisecond, before there was a knock on my door. The person on the other side didn't wait for a response; they came in and closed it behind them.

Liam.

He was already pulling off his suit jacket as he approached the bed, an unreadable expression on his face. I wasn't pissed at him anymore, thanks to my few hours of cooling down, but that doesn't mean I was excited about what he had done. I was about to sit up as he slipped off his tie and tossed it to the floor. He kicked off his shoes and joined me on the bed.

"I was just coming to check on you," He said after a moment of silence. I didn't have anything to say; and truthfully, it was because even though I was trying to stay mad at him, I couldn't. He was lying on his stomach, his feet dangling off his side of the bed and he had to look up at me through his eyelashes.

I scoff and snag my phone. "If you were coming to check on me, you wouldn't have gotten all comfortable." He pouts, looking slightly dejected as I tore my attention away from him and onto my phone.

"I don't know," my mother's reply reads, "Your father is starting to feel as though he needs to get back to work. Early August, it seems. If we know anything, we will le-"

"Liam!" I reach out for my phone as Luciano peels it from my grasp. He shuts it off and rests it beside him.

"Talk to me," His lips move slowly and I watch closely as his tongue, once again, parts his lips. He pulls it back into his mouth, eyebrows raised. I tensed even more when he rested a hand on my knee.

"There's no reason to talk to you. You won't listen to me."

One of his eyebrows arches higher than the other.

I let out a deep breath, my gaze falling away from his expectant looking face. His thumb taps my knee cap. "Not only did the whole pill thing upset me, just because you didn't come to me when I would've clearly been there for you; but you haven't been listening to anything I say."

"Like what?"

"Yesterday," I start off, "Jeremiah. I told you what he did and you brushed it off like it was nothing, like all he did was make a mistake. Drugged up or craving pills or not, you and I both know, that wasn't a mistake. Yet you try and downplay it like it is."

Liam drops his head into the mattress and lets out a loud sigh. He picks it up and drags himself closer to me. I lie completely down on my back as he rests his chin on my stomach, then he turns his head, now using my abdomen as a pillow. That was the first smile he had caused since upsetting me.

"You need to understand something," His words literally made my stomach vibrate and it tickled, bad. He chuckled and picked his head up, sighing once again. "I have to be careful with anything that Jeremiah does." I frown, "If I call him out, or people see me talking harshly with him, they automatically assume I'm homophobic. And I'm not," Liam shakes his head, "I have all the utmost respect for the LGBT community; I'm impressed that they can come out, in a society as judgmental as the one we live in today, and face some of the hate they're bound to get. But what irritates me is that if I'm seen talking roughly with him, someone in this house gets offended."

I sigh, nodding with understanding.

"But," Luciano adds, "I'll pay close attention to him, I'll have Dom, Will, and Rico do the same. How does that sound?"

This time, I really smiled. "Perfect."

"You know what else would be perfect?" His own smile grew. I could hear the teasing in his voice as he inched his face closer to mine.

"No," I whisper slowly, leaning back just a bit.

"A kiss."

"No." I shove my hand In front of his face, laughing all the while.

"Why not?!"

"Uh," I glance over Liam's shoulder, thinking quickly. "We aren't dating."

I see him blink through the spaces between my fingers. "Your point?"

"Li-Liam!" I was screeching by the time Luciano dragged me down from the head of the bed; I giggle, keeping my hand in front my face.

He chuckles and pushes my hand out the way, before leaning down and capturing my lips in his. I couldn't even truly keep a straight face; I smiled almost immediately, causing Luciano to pull apart and laugh deeply.

"Liam, I'm serious," I speak with as much confidence that I can, but I was on the verge of more laughter. "I don't want to be kissed."

His head finds the crook of my neck, where he chuckles, "Life is full of disappointments, Fi." And once again, the kisses start. He leaves wet, open mouthed kisses up and down my neck; under my jaw, near my shoulder, everywhere. His teeth gently tug at a sensitive spot just below my ear and that's when I scream.

"Wait, stop!"

He pulls away, looking confused. "Wha-"

I smile softly. "You, lay down."

"Uh-"

We both laugh as I push Luciano off and over me. He rolls over on his back, an eyebrow raised. My face matched my hair as I threw a leg over his torso; now straddling him. Liam just smiled.

"You went from we aren't dating, to let me straddle you real qui-"

I smiled softly as I did to Liam to same he had done to me. I dipped my head to the crook of his neck and kissed him. I'm sure a porn-star could do this better than me, but considering I hadn't heard a complaint out of Liam, I figured to keep on going. I felt his arms grip my thighs as I kissed and sucked on his exposed skin.

I was fairly certain I heard Liam Luciano whimper and quite frankly, if I had been standing, I would have fainted just at the sound of it.

Liam laughed softly as I pulled away. His hands had removed themselves from my leg, but now, they were unbuttoning his dress shirt. "I hope you know, neck kisses are my weakness."

"So, if I ever want anything?"

"Yeah," He smiles, "Kiss my neck and I'll cave."

I laugh with him as he leans up, his abs constricted as he used his upper body strength to kiss me this time. His hands found both of my cheeks and we fell backwards, our lips moving together perfectly. There was something different about it though, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Houston, we have a-"

I pull away quickly as Luciano's door is practically busted open. Still straddling him, I turn around, where Federico marches into the room, veins in his arms standing up.

He comes to the side of the bed, glances between us, and sighs. "Sorry for interrupting, whatever....oh my god..."

Luciano just groaned from his position on the bed. "Rico, what do you want?"

His anger seems to fade into the background as he eyes us both. "Were you guys about to fuck?" Liam just gives him a look. Rico closes his eyes and sighs. "My gun is missing."

"Maybe you misplaced it," I scramble off of Liam as he slips off the side of the bed, re-buttoning his dress shirt. Rico just gives Liam the look.

"Liam, I've never misplaced anything in my entire life."

"Liam!" Another voice booms out, entering the room without a knock. I just groan and fall back on the bed. Dominic enters a second later. "Wow," He stops when he comes face to face with Luciano. "That looks like it's going to form into a hickey-"

Federico nudges him. "Him and Faith were..."

Dom's gaze falls on me as he nods. "Ohhh..."

Luciano claps. "Gentlemen."

"Right," Dom sighs. "My gun is missing."

Luciano finishes with his dress shirt and shoots a look at me. "Yeah, we have a problem."

"Well," Rico nods downwards, "You have two."

Dominic smirks, but stifles a laugh as Luciano reaches up and slaps Rico across the back of the head. "Why are you staring at my dick?" He heads towards the door, just as Dom and Rico follow behind him, laughing softly.

"Because..."

"Don't finish that sentence," Liam shakes his head and the three exit out the door, but Rico is the one that turns back, a hand on the doorknob.

"He'll be back Faith. Stay wet."

"Rico."

Dom grips Federico by the ear, dragging him away from the door. Even from here, I can hear Luciano chewing the men out. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow," was Rico's fading words as the three disappear.

Our men are insane.

- - - -

A/N: aksjhgusau I had so much fun writing the ending. I'm still smiling hahaha. Sorry for any grammar errors! I wont be able to upload this weekend so I wanted to get this out as quickly as possible.

Liam's speech?

Where did the guns go?!

Our Fiam moment?

I mean, is there anyone here that would NOT want to ride on a motorcycle with Rico?

No, this story is not ending yet – but I am curious: how do you see it ending?