It is times like this that I feel myself getting sad. Whenever I hear my father speak on the television, I feel unlucky that I have him as a father.

My eyes land on his gray expensive suit he's wearing as he gives his speech. He is a powerful surgeon and politician. He retired two years ago and dedicated the rest of his life to being a politician. He claims that he wants to do a lot of things to the people from charity to building homes, etcetera.

I don't believe shit.

If a father treats his daughter like some skunk living in his house, then I don't think he cares about the people.

"I don't understand how a father could do this," Victoria says as she looks at the screen in a disapproving look. She's someone who cares deeply about family and I could tell from only her being here for a few days.

Rafael's phone rings. He takes it out and answers the call.

"Yes, Alex?"

"Good. Destroy it."

When he hangs up, he opens his mouth to say something, but Cash turns up the volume of the TV and my father's voice blasts through the room.

"New evidence soon will be surfaced. These four criminals will be brought to justice and I promise you all, that I will not be biased at all. Here's to justice!" My father's voice is strong and powerful, making me feel a little bit uneasy.

"Not gonna happen. Cash and Alex found the book and destroyed it," Rafael says.

"What if he made other copies?" I ask anxiously.

"Ana, your father is a politician."

"So?"

He rolls his eyes and says, "He's not smart."

This makes me instantly laugh, making him smile a bit. Victoria and Manuel join me.

"Rafa, go to the warehouse and make sure all the shipments are going smoothly. I feel the men started to hold back after I came back," Manuel tells his son.

"Okay, father. There's also the deal with Roberto Sanchez. I will finish it with him today and start sending some shipments to his warehouse."

"Okay, son. Be careful."

When Victoria and Rafael left, I stayed behind to speak with Manuel. I was nervous to talk to him about this thing because I know he's a good person, but I just need to make sure of it. Besides, now that I am sitting in front of him, I became less nervous.

"Is there something bothering you, mi hija?" he asks as he sits on his chair, placing his arms on the table.

"Uncle...I just want to make sure that nothing...nothing illegal—killing wise, is happening here."

"Let me worry about that, Ana."

"Look, I know all of us here are killers...but it triggers me."

"I promise you that you will not be hearing about anything killing-related in this house."

"Thank you, uncle."

I go to stand up and leave, but his firm voice stops me.

"Yes?"

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" he asks and I nod, giving him a warm smile.

"Thank you."

***

Cody and I are working on a research paper to submit to the medical institutions to suggest using better approaches when it comes to using some medical tools so they'd last longer.

I know...but don't blame me. It's one of Cody's obsessive goals.

"How about we make two samples so we see which one is better to submit?" Cody suggests.

"Cody, you're lucky I am even doing one," I say with a frown.

"Fine." He raises his arms in defense. "I am just so excited for this. Imagine if they found this helpful and used it?"

"Yeah, that would be amazing," I mumble.

"Oh, shut up!" He rolls his eyes playfully.

"So..." I start as I stop typing on my laptop. "How long have you been working here?" I ask, looking at him.

"When I finished university, I started working here.

"Oh, how did you meet with them?"

"Rafael and I are childhood friends. I was practically born here. His family and mine are close friends," he explains.

"Oh, I didn't know that." He hums.

"How did you meet with Manuel? I heard that you helped him escape, but why?" He asks this time.

"He needed a surgeon in prison and I performed a surgery on him. I was actually not practicing, but I couldn't let him die. It was either me or die on the way to the hospital," I replied, ignoring his second question as to why I helped him live.

"I see."

For the rest of the day, we kept working on our project. No one from the mafia came to check up or anything. It was only when Cody and I started to leave that the door were pushed open and Cash strolled in with Alex and Rafael.

Cash had a gunshot wound in his stomach, the blood oozing out of his body and into the floor.

Rafael had a few scratches and what possibly looked like a broken arm.

And Alex was holding Cash as he couldn't walk.

"Oh my god, what happened?" I exclaim, running toward them and grabbing Cash's arm to let him hold onto me.

"We were ambushed," Rafael replies.

"The same all black-clothed people?" Cody asks as he helps Cash lie on the operation table.

"Yes," Rafael replies.

"Ana, you take Rafael and I'll take Cash," Cody says and I nod.

I tell Rafael to lie down on the hospital bed while I check him up. He has a few scratches on his arm and his face. His lips are busted, but not too much. There's also a purple hue around his right eye. His left arm is one-hundred percent broken because just by looking at it, I want to look away.

It is severely broken.

I will need to perform a surgery.

I let him lie down on another operation table and give him anesthesia so he wouldn't feel anything.

I wear my gloves and mask, and start my work on his arm. I start to realign the broken bones. In order for it to stay in place during healing, I implant wires, some plates, and screws. I had to be very careful doing that even if it's a simple surgery for me.

When I finish, I throw the gloves and wear another pair. I then start working on the scratches, making sure they don't get infected. When I finish, I throw my gloves and close the curtain. I go to the other side of the room where Cody and Cash are.

"How's it going?"

"Not bad. The bullet didn't reach his liver, but it almost missed it. Want to help?

"Umm, I'd rather not," I reply, avoiding looking at Cash's body.

"It's okay, don't worry. The bullet is out and I am closing him up."

"Thank you, Cody."

In the next few hours, Rafael finally wakes up. He looks out of it as he stares at me like a lost puppy.

"What happened?" he mumbles enough for me to hear.

"This man..." Cody mumbles as he rearranges his desk. Cody has an OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. His type is more into ordering and arranging stuff. I don't see there's a problem with that, he just likes his desk arranged and clean. He sometimes rearrange stuff in the same day, but he tries to control it.

"How are you feeling?" I ask Rafael as I help him get up. I don't want him to fall down from dizziness.

"I feel like shit. What the fuck did you do to me?" he asks playfully.

"I poisoned you, Rafael." A smirk makes its way to my lips.

He winks at me, making my heart thump. I blink in shock and confusion before I compose myself.

Before I leave the infirmary, Andrew walks in. I avoid looking at him because I still have negative feelings towards him. As I walk out of the door, Andrew grabs my arm and stops me.

"Ana, we need to talk."