explosuion

[explosuion]

chapter 2 - 'final notice' ⋆⁺₊✧

elise is crouched in front of a toilet, same dress from last night, mascara slightly smudged.

malia held elise's hair back as she threw up in the toilet, camila was filling a cup full of water for her.

malia looked the other way as she continued to hold her hair back. "you done yet?"

"i'm gonna die," elise groans into the bowl.

"you're not gonna die," camila says flatly, handing her the water. "you're dramatic."

elise slumped back onto her heels and took the cup with shaking hands. "where is mariana with my fucking aspirin?" 

"i'm here!" mariana's voice rang out from elise's living room. a rustle of bags followed, then she appeared in the doorway holding up a bottle of aspirin like a trophy in one hand and a crumpled bodega bag in the other.

"i got chips, ginger ale, pedialyte-- don't ask-- oh, and a breakfast sandwich i already ate half of."

elise turned her head from the floor, her eyes barely open. "i love you."

mariana crouched beside her, popping the aspirin bottle open and handing her two. "swallow."

camila took the bag from her and started unloading it onto the bathroom counter. "this is what you call breakfast?"

"i was hungover too," mariana said defensively. "i needed fuel for the mission."

malia let go of elise's hair and finally stood up straight, taking a hit of her weed pen before passing it to mariana. "well, mission accomplished. she was about two more dry heaves away from an exorcism."

"can someone put a pillow on the bathroom floor?" elise croaked. "i live here now."

later, the four of them were sprawled across elise's bed like casualities of a glamorous war. the blackout curtains were drawn, the tv played something none of them were watching, and a mostly empty bag of salt and vinegar chips lay between them.

elise was curled up in the middle, a damp washcloth on her forehead. "i feel like i got hit by a bus."

"who's driving this bus--" malia let out a giggle.

"you looked hot last night though," mariana's mouth was full of chips. "so. worth it."

"i blacked out somewhere between tequila number five and that guy trying to do a backflip on the DJ booth." elise muttured.

"that was around the same time camila disappeared," malia added, eyeing her playfully.

camila rolled onto her side, one perfectly shaped brow lifting. "i didn't disappear. i needed some air."

"in a penthouse." mariana snorted. "you were gone for hours."

camila said nothing, just stared at the ceiling with a smug little smile.

"so," elise groaned, shifting under the blanket. "are we going to nero tonight or what? i heard jade's spinning." 

"ugh, yes" malia said immediately. "i need a redo. this time, no shots before 10pm"

"i'm down." mariana added.

all eyes turned to camila, who was now sitting up and brushing hair off her shoulder. she reached for her phone on her nightstand.

"not tonight," she said absently. "i have plans." 

lie. lie. lie.

she just didn't wanna see him.

"can we order food? i'm starving." elise changed the subject.

much later, at camila's apartment

camila closed the door behind her and kicked off her heels with one precise flick of her ankles. her apartment was quiet, cool, lonely. she let out a loud sigh.

she made a beeline for the kitchen, poured a glass of wine, and downed half before even taking a breath. then-- habit-- she reached into her purse, pulling out her phone, gum wrappers, a crumpled $20 dollar bill, her lipstick, a lighter that wasn't hers.

she stared at it all splayed across the counter like evidence.

her purse rotation was sacred. one night, one bag. she liked the ritual of switching them out-- wiping them down, restocking, lining them up like well-trained soldiers on her closet shelf. that was her next step.

camila walked into her bedroom and opened the closet, the mirrored doors reflecting her in yesterday's makeup and still-good hair. she grabbed the white purse off her shoulder and reached to tuck it beside the others.

that's when she noticed.

her heart paused, like it needed a second to register.

the coat wasn't there.

not just any coat. 

her grandmother's coat.

a vintage cream mink, soft as breath, passed down with love and care. camila had only worn it a few times before. once on the anniversary of her grandmother's death, her engagement party, once for a gallery opening that turned into a tabloid headline. and now... last night.

no-- no, no, no. she wouldn't have just left it anywhere. she was careful. she was camila. she didn't throw heirlooms onto velvet couches and wander off with a gangster.

except... she had.

her pulse quickened.

she grabbed her phone, thumb hovering over malia's name.

she closed her eyes and saw it-- herself, last night, laughing too loudly in that stupid elevator, shrugging the coat off her shoulders, she could almost see it draped over the back of that absurd black velvet chaise.

her throat tightened and pressed the call button.

it took two calls for malia to answer, which didn't surprise camila. they were having fun.

"camila! what's up?" malia screamed into the phone as music blared.

"hey--"

"hold on it's too loud! let me go somewhere quieter." malia interrupted her.

camila sighed, tapping her foot against the ground as she waited for malia to get someplace quiet.

"okay i'm in the bathroom, what's up?" music blared quietly from the bathroom.

camila crossed her arms. "do you remember that coat i wore yesterday?"

malia took a hit of her vape. "camila, i don't know i don't look at your clothes."

"malia, please." camila breathed into the phone, "can you go to santino's penthouse and get it? i left it there last night." she hated to admit.

"woah! excuse me, what?" malia had to process what she was asking. "you want me to go up there in a gangster's house?" she said quietly into the phone so no one could hear her.

"please, malia!" camila begged, "it's my grandmother's favorite coat, i love that coat!" she whined into the phone. malia hated whenever camila whined.

"ugh fine! just shut up with that shit. you fucking owe me." malia sighed as she hung up the phone.

the elevator dinged.

malia stepped out, arms crossed, jaw tight. she was already regretting staying yes. the penthouse was exactly what she expected, exactly how camila described. slick black marble floors, oversized abstract art, a bar cart that probably costed more than her dress. every surface was too shiny. too clean. too male.

she wrinkled her nose, "what a bachelor pad this is," she muttered.

coat. coat. coat.

get the coat. get out.

her heels clicked softly as she walked into the main room, eyes scanning the furniture with surgical focus. she didn't wanna touch anything more than she already had to-- she didn't even want to be there.

a black velvet chaise lounged beneath the window. she moved toward it. 

no coat.

she couldn't help but make a face at the fact that there were probably bodily fluids on it. she crouched down and peered underneath, then around the back. nothing. her hand hovered over a low marble coffee as she shifted a folded blanket aside.

still nothing.

she stood up, already annoyed. "where the fuck isthis thing," she whispered to herself.

malia continued to look, "you're not camila." a voice from behind her had interrupted her. but she kept looking.

santino stood at the edge of the kitchen, shirtless, barefoot, drinking whiskey-- just standing there like it was the most casual thing ever.

"oh, really mr. captain obvious." malia rolled her eyes.

he tilted his head, amused. "then what are you doing in my apartment?"

malia turned around, crossing her arms. "i'm here for the coat."

he blinked. "the... coat?"

"cream mink. vintage. about yay-long" she gestured wit her hands. "belongs to camila. you took it off of her last night?"

santino took a slow sip from his glass. "she left it?"

malia nodded once. 

he turned, opened a sleek hallway closet she hadn't noticed, and pulled it out carefully, reverently.

"this one?" he asked.

malia's shoulder dropped. "thank fuck,"

his thumb brushed the collar. "you her assistant or something?"

"friend," malia said flatly, stepping forward and reaching out to take the coat.

he pulled the coat back, holding it high. "why is this coat so damn important?"

"it's not your fucking business, just give me it!" malia reached for it, jumping in the air to get it but is unsuccessful.

malia crossed her arms. "you are just evil."

he smiled at her words, like he already knew. 

"if  you want it so bad, you gotta give me something for it." he smirked.

malia rolled her eyes. "i have a boyfriend."

"not that," he lowered the coat. "something else."

malia narrowed her eyes. "i'm not bartering with you for a coat." 

if she didn't return with that coat, camila was going to kill her.

santino smiled, still holding the coat. "i want her number."

malia blinked. "camila's?"

he gave her a look like who else?

malia tilted her head. "you're kidding."

"nope."

"you want me to sell out my friend for a coat?"

he didn't say anything. just raised an eyebrow and gave the coat a slight, almost taunting shake. the mink caught the light like a threat.

malia weighed it.

she sighed, pulled her phone from her pocket and opened camila's contact.

"this is so dumb," she muttured as she turned the phone around so he could read off the number.

"yeah," santino agreed, smiling as he watched her, "but you did it anyway." he held out the coat. "pleasure doing business."

she snatched it from him, turned and walked toward the elevator like it might disappear if she didn't move fast enough.

4AM

the knock came loud.

camila was off the couch before her brain caught up, bare feat whispering across hardwood as she flung the door open.

malia stood in the hallway, her eyeliner slightly smeared, the cream mink coat hung over her shoulder.

"you owe me." she held the coat out to her.

camila made a sound halfway between a gasp and a sigh. she reached out, took the coat with both hands delicately. she rubbed her cheek against the mink for a moment. "thank you, this coat means so much to me."

she turned, walking deeper into the apartment. "i have joints rolled," she called over her shoulder.

malia followed, kicking the door shut behind her. "bitch, its four am." she groaned.

camila was already in the kitchen, setting the coat gently on a stool like it needed a moment to recover. she pulled a joint from the crystal ash-tray and lit it without ceremony.

"you smoke indoors now?" malia asked.

"i almost had a heart attack," camila said, exhaling. "that coat is the only thing i have left of her." she passed the joint to malia.

she sighed, "plus, a lot have things have changed since i was married." she was referring to the smoking indoors. one of leonardo's many many rules, always take it outside. 

malia scoffed, taking an inhale. "like what?"

camila paused for a moment, there was a lot of things that happened in her marriage that are so different from now. none of her friends really knew how bad it was.

"you don't have to tell me," malia hesitated before going on. "but it might be worth going to see a therapist."

camila cut her off as fast as she spoke. "i'm fine!"

"okay." malia said, not pushing it.

camila sat down on one of the stools, her arms folding across the countertop.

"i used to have to ask for permission to buy wine," she said suddenly. "like... literally. leonardo said i should keep club stuff and home stuff seperate. but somehow his whiskey collection was his personality trait."

malia raised an eyebrow. "ugh. men."

"i don't mean to trauma dump," she paused. "i think i'm still trying to remember who i was before."

malia ashed the joint. "i think you're doing a pretty good job."

"i gotta go. it's late." malia pulled camila into a hug before leaving.

6AM

camila was on the couch, scrolling aimlessly, when her phone buzzed.

unknown number

did the coat make it home safe?

she stared at the message, her spine straightened as she read it again.

another ping.

unknown number

dinner? or do i have to negotiate that too?

camila didn't reply.

she screenshots the messages and sent them to malia with no caption.

two seconds later, her phone rang.

"okay-- okay, listen---" camila could hear muffled voices, and the sound of sheets moving.

"you gave him my number?"

"i had to," malia said quickly." he wouldn't give me the coat otherwise and you were losing your mind! that's your grandmothers coat, i wasn't gonna come back without it.

"malia." camila could hear kissing sounds, and muffled shushing.

"i didn't think he'd text you," she said. "i figured he'd just jerk off to the idea of having it and move on."

camila didn't say anything.

"i forgot to tell you. it was like-- three in the morning and you were emotional and-- camila, you said that coat was all you had left of her."

camila sighed, she wasn't angry. just tired.

a beat of silence.

"you're not mad?" malia asked.

"no it's fine," camila sighed again. "tell adrian i said hey." she hung up the phone.

a trendy west village sidewalk cafe. sunlight hits everything like a spotlight. half the tables are filled with hangover-it girls, trust fund boys in sunglasses, and the occasional c-list actor trying not to be noticed.

camila arrives in a silk hermes headscarf knotted under her chin and vintage tortoiseshell sunglasses, like she just fled a tabloid scandal in the hamptons.

elise, mariana, and malia are already seated at a small round table, sipping iced coffees and picking at overpriced eggs.

camila doesn't say anything, she just slams a folded piece of paper on the table.

the girls jump a little, malia chokes on her cold brew. "the fuck is that?" mariana took it and opened it.

"i'm getting evicted." camila blurted out as she took a seat across from mariana. 

silence.

"i'm sorry, what?" elise looks at her.

"i found it taped to my door this morning. pink slip. big bold font. "final notice" just what i needed." camila's tone was laced with sarcasm.

"how behind are you?"

a beat.

"i'm not. that's the fucking problem. i just paid my rent!" camila's voice grew louder, angrier.

mariana was reading the final notice, "this doesn't even make any sense." she throws it back in the middle of the table.

"we'll figure this out!" elise rubbed her back trying to comfort her.

"there is northing to figure out. i am twenty-three, divorced, technically unemployed, and about to be homeless" camila scoffed. "i look this good and i am getting evicted?"

camila put her face in her hands, "my building is throwing me out." she lifted her face from her hands. "i pay 4000 a month for the shit hole i live in, i don't deserve this!"

"you know who could be responsible for this?" mariana glared at her, and she knew exactly who she was talking about.

camila looked at each of them. "no! no. leonardo wouldn't do this, right?" 

silence.

malia shifted in her seat. "babe, he literally locked you out of your joint bank account and made you return a blender."

"that was one time," camila muttered, immediately regretting it.

"one psychotic, controlling, manipulative time," elise added.

"i just don't think he'd stoop this low." camila's voice dropped, almost as if she was trying to convince herself more than them.

"girl," mariana leaned forward, deadly calm, "he once tracked your uber to the nail salon because he didn't trust the 'trust the russian man driving it.' he will absolutely stoop."

camila pressed her sunglasses higher up her nose, like they could shield her from the facts. "but i just paid rent. through my account. my name."

"which he probably still has access to," malia said, frowning. "did you change all your info after the divorce?"

"...some of it," camila said, way too quietly.

all three of them groaned in sync.

"you are too pretty to be this careless," elise muttered.

camila let her head fall back, the silk scarf bushing the back of the chair. "i cannot deal with this right now. i have a face mask appointment at two. my pores can't take this stress."

"okay. no. we're doing this," mariana pulled her laptop out of her bag. "we are checking everything. your lease, your bank statements, your building's owner, whatever shady shell company owns the building--"

"i know the building manager's name is edie and she has a parrot named boots," camila offered helplessly.

"wow, useless," mariana deadpanned.

"i didn't marry a mob-adjacent hedge fund villain expecting to one day be investigating fraud over brunch," camila snapped. 

"well, welcome to your villain expecting to one day be investigating fraud over brunch," camila snapped.

"well, welcome to your villain origin story," malia muttered, sipping her coffee.

camila paused, then grinned slightly. "you think i'm the villain?"

"you could be," elise offered, "in, like, a sofia cappola way."

"okay," camila sat up straighter. "then we handle it. old camila would cry into a la mer sheet mask. new camila?"

she plucked the eviction notice from the table, folded it neatly, and tucked it back into her purse.

"new camila might go pay leonardo a visit."

elise's apartment

the three girls have fully transformed the brunch hang into an amateur intelligence op. mariana is sitting cross-legged on the floor, her laptop open as she typed away.  elise has camila's lease printed and highlighted in two colors. malia's pacing, on speakerphone with someone who 'owes her.'

"i don't care if it is sunday. pull up who owns the building on broome and lafayette." she paused for a moment. "yes i'll venmo you. just text it."

mariana looked up from her laptop. "camila's building changed llc names six months ago. that's shady, right?"

"very shady. that's like... real housewives lawsuit shady." elise replied.

malia held up her phone. "got it. building's owned by marlowe holdings, which is owned by a trust called san lorenz capital."

the room was silent, they all just looked at each other. 

"san lorenz? like... the name of leonardo's yacht?" mariana looked at each of them.

"you've got to be fucking kidding." elise looked over at malia.

"nope. it's a shell company. he owns the building. he's her landlord." malia rolled her eyes.

"that is such a rich guy move. 'i can't control you anymore, so i'll control your square footage.' "

"well, she's about to be left with none." mariana's throat gulped.

"should we tell her?" elise raised her phone, like she was gonna dial.

"its too late," malia sighed. "she's probably walking into his building right now."

meanwhile on the upper east side

the ding of the elevator is too polite for how fast camila's heart is beating. her heels imported stone tile like punctuation. she walks in like she owns the place-- like she never left. because once upon a time, she did.

the elevator opened and she walked inside, she was hurt to see that whatever she did to this place was changed. clearly by his bold wall color choices and pure ugly accent pieces.

she rolled her eyes walking down the hallway to see leonardo at the breakfast bar reading the financial times-- tailored loungewear, smugness for days, "hateee what you did to this place," she dragged out her words.

"camila, what a surprise." leonardo looked over at her.

"cut the shit, are you my landlord? camila had her arms crossed and had a look like she wanted to kill somebody. 

he folds the paper. stands slowly. no denial. just a lazy shrug.

"technically, the trust owns the building" he twirled his index finger. "but i have... influence."

"so you're the fucking reason i'm getting kicked out..." her voice grew louder. "with no missed payments!"

"i wouldn't say kicked out... just a relocation." he was calm. he liked how mad she got though. 

camila's laugh is sharp, dry. "relocation? are you out of your fucking mind?" 

"you're living in an apartment that you paid for with by our divorce settlement," he paused for a moment. "we both know you are not hurting for options. it's just a property shift."

"you mean punishment--"

he cut her off, his tone grew louder. "i mean consequences," he steps closer, camila could get a whiff of him. he smelt like expensive cologne that always grossed her out. "you embarrassed me. santino's club? do you think the press doesn't link us together when they see your ame?

camila looked up at him, not scared. "you don't own me. you never did. and i don't care if i have to airbnb my way through manhattan-- you're not putting me out quietly." she turns around and starts walking towards the elevator.

leonardo smirks. "you'll be out in three days."

she stops, and turns around. "then enjoy the headlines when i tell page six your trust fund eviction stunt was because you can't handle a woman with a better divorce glow-up."

she turns to leave. stops at the elevator, back still to him.

"you used to tell me i was too emotional." she turns her head to look at him, "now you're evicting me because i make you feel something." the elevator opens, she steps in and pressed the button.

elise's apartment -- five minutes later

mariana was furiously typing, biting her lip, her knee bouncing like it was trying to crack the floor.

"i just found his linkedin profile," she announced. "guess what his current position is?

malia didn't look up. "ceo of being a dick?"

"founder and managing partner," mariana read off the screen. "of san lorenz capital. founded two months ago before their divorce was finalized." 

elise's eyes widened. "he literally created a fake company to become her landlord. that's deranged."

"it's obsession," malia said flatly. "expensive, tax-sheltered obsession."

mariana was clicking though property records now. "jesus he owns three other buildings under different trusts. this one's just personal."

"camila's personal," elise muttered.

malia pulled her hoodie over her head and groaned. "this is like if tom ford and joe goldberg had a baby and gave it a yacht."

"i feel like we need to warn her that he might be even crazier than we thought." elise lifted up from the bed, sitting up.

mariana clicked her tongue. "too late. she's probably already told him to go fuck himself in five languages and thrown a vase."

pause.

"should we go over there?" elise asked, already pulling her sneakers back on.

malia shook her head. "no. if camila wants us there, she'll tell us. but we are getting martinis the second she's back."

"strong ones," mariana added. "with tons of olives."

early evening

the door swung open hard enough to rattle the hinges. all three girls jumped.

camila stood in the doorway like she had just walked off a vogue shoot and out of a courtroom. hair slicked back. sunglasses still on. coat draped over her shoulders.

not a word. just a long beat of silence.

"i need a drink," camila finally broke the silence.

"martinis?" mariana asked, already reaching for her phone.

"no," camila said. "something stronger. and colder. and possibly illegal in some states."

"bitch," malia breathed. "what did you do?"

camila walked into the room, unbothered but electric. she dropped her sunglasses onto the coffee table like a gavel.

"i told him to go fuck himself in five languages," she said calmly. "and  then i told him he's not putting me out quietly."

elise clutched her heart. "god, i love when you talk mean."

camila flopped onto the couch. "he created a shell company just to evict me."

"we know," mariana said. "malia's guy tracked the llcs. it's giving financial stalking."

"i want to ruin his life," camila said matter-of-factly. "but i want to do it wearing couture."

malia handed her a joint. "then you'll need a plan."

camila took it, exhaled. "oh, i have one."

a pause.

mariana blinked. "you're smiling. why are you smiling?"

"because." camila said. leaning back against the cushions, legs crossed like royalty. "leonardo thinks i'm still the woman who asks for permission to leave the house." 

"poor little rich boy," malia said.

"he's not ready for what's coming." camila said.

rory's notes!

this chapter is so long bookies! you're welcome. chapter 3 is gonna continue the same night just later, but this chapter is reallyyy long.

[explosuion]

chapter 1 - 'pilot' ⋆⁺₊✧

camila's friends had told her to meet them at the club 'nero' she had never heard of it before, but was not going to complain.

this was her first time in awhile seeing her friends, she was trapped in that marriage for so long.

camila walked through the entrance of nero, the faint sound of music came louder as she walked through the club.

she was in a short mini dress, high heels. she was ready to enjoy her new single life.

she had spot her group of friends in the vip section, a smile came blaring to her face as she went over to them.

"oh my god!" she looks down at malia, who looks a lot smaller than before. "you look so skinny!"

"yes girl, i'm trying!" malia pulled camila into a warm hug which she returned immediately.

"camila get us some shots!" mariana screamed over the loud music as she danced to it.

"girl with what money?" camila crossed my arms.

elise pulls out a 100 dollar bill from her bra and handed it to me. "here!"

camila exited the vip section and made her way over to the bar, she was eager to get the shots.

she went in between these two men to get to the bar who were clearly engaged in conversation.

"excuse you?" a deep voice from her right said to her as she was about to speak to the bartender.

camila turned to her right. "excuse you?" she said in a tone.

she turned back to the bartender, "a round of shots!." she placed the hundred on the counter.

"what kind?" the bartender cleaned his shaker with a rag as he spoke to her.

she thought for a moment but just shrugged. "surprise me!"

"you're camila ferrazo!" the man to her right raised his voice slightly.

she a put a finger up to his face. "it's morelle now." she said seriously.

"is that so?" the man took a curious of interest.

the shots were placed down in front of her. "why does that concern you?" she didn't break her gaze.

"you have no idea who i am, princess?" he leaned in closer.

"who are you?" she tilted her head slightly.

he held out his right hand, "santino silvani." he brushed his arm against hers.

when she heard the name camila froze for a second, she had heard the name before.

camila probably heard the name before from her ex husband— leonardo ferrazo's dealings. he was known to be one of his rivals, they have a long past and have been at war since forever.

camila gulped, "that's nice..." she said sarcastically. she just wanted to get out of there.

she grabbed the tray of shots and got up from the stool, she strutted away not wasting a second.

she could feel his gaze lingering behind her, but she kept walking back to her group of friends.

camila stepped back into the vip section, she had a look on her face that told she was not okay.

mariana, who sat next to her shook her shoulder. "are you okay? what's going on."

camila put the shots down on the table infront of them, she turned to meet mariana's gaze. "i'm fine!" she turned back to her friends. "let's take some shots!"

while camila was three shots in, a waiter tapped on her shoulder and handed her a drink.

the waiter pointed over to santino, gesturing that he sent it over.

camila's throat gulped, she didn't know what to think. she wasn't sure if she wanted to get in that crowd again.

she took the drink, "thank you." she put on a smile as she took it from the waiters hand.

she took a glance over at santino, who was still at the bar. he couldn't take his eyes off her.

she held the drink up and put on a smile gesturing a thank you, she turned back to her girls.

"oh my god!" elise reacted, "go over there!" she pointed over to him.

camila shook my head, "hell no!" she looked at each of the girls. "do you know who he is?"

"uhh yeah!!" malia said in a high pitched tone. "that is santino silvani. he owns this club!"

camila looked at her with a look that said 'why the hell are we here' but malia didn't know how she knew them.

"is that a problem?" malia took a sip of her drink.

"well you guys." camila gestured over to him. "he's apart of the mafia..."

"no shit, who isn't apart of the mafia." mariana let out a giggle.

"well i know that but you guys know what i mean. you guys heard the rumors i'm sure." camila began to take a sip of the drink that the waiter had gave her.

they all looked at her with a weird look. "sweetie it's not like we expected to run into him. this is one of the most elite clubs in new york." elise had stated.

"hello this is his club?" camila took another sip of her drink. she had to admit, the drink was good.

"okay this is a weird conversation, let's just move on." she said shaking it off.

she turned over to look at mariana, "okay how are you and haiden doing?" mariana had just gotten into a new relationship with a vanderbilt.

malia shook her head. "hell no"

camila's brows furrowed as her gaze turned to malia. "what?"

malia kept shaking her head. "you just gave her an excuse to talk. why?!?!?"

camila shrugged in response, she had finished her drink. she let out a loud sigh.

mariana whispered in her ear, "so what. go over there. now." her words were always clear. she meant them.

she groaned, giving in.

camila strutted her way over, slightly stumbling but she hadn't really noticed.

she took a seat in the same stool she had left before. "why did you do that?" she turned to look at him, who was already staring at her.

"why are you and leonardo not married anymore?" he had a look of curiosity, he leaned in closing the distance between them.

camila had started feeling loopy, and hot.

she looked down and back up at him. "i need air."

santino smirked slightly, he could tell the affects were working. "i know a spot." he said getting up. his tall frame looming over her. "let's go baby."

she hesitated, just for a second. but her legs moved on their own.

he guided her through the crowd with an ease that made her nervous— like he'd done this before.

past the bathrooms. past the security line. down a narrow, darkened hallway she hadn't noticed earlier. a heavy metal door stood at the end, he pushed it open.

it wasn't outside like she had hoped. just a tucked away stairwell, dimly lit and echoing with distant bass from above.

camila leaned against the wall as his hands were beside her body pinning her to it.

she looked at him through hazy eyes. "what was in that drink?" she asked, not accusing— just... wondering.

santino tilted his head, running a hand through his hair. "something sweet. something strong." he looked down at her. "you'll be fine, princess."

he brushed a stray of hair behind her ear.

camila blinked slowly, her vision soft around the edges. her breath hitched as santino leaned in.

"i don't feel right," she murmured, almost to herself.

he smiled, the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes. "that's because you're finally relaxing."

his hand moved from her face to her waist, slow and deliberate. she didn't move— couldn't tell if it was fear or fascination pinning her still.

"you've been living in a cage, haven't you?" he whispered, his mouth close to her ear. "locked away, married off, silenced."

her heart pounded. somewhere inside her fogged-up brain, an alarm tried to go off— but it was muffled by the low throb of bass and the dizzying warmth in her chest.

she swallowed hard. "why do you care?"

"i don't," he said bluntly. "but i like what's mine."

"her brows knitted. "i'm not—"

he cut her off by tucking her hair back again, fingers grazing her cheek. "not yet."

her head thudded back lightly against the concrete wall, her knees wobbling slightly beneath her.

"i should go," she whispered. she didn't sound convincing, even to herself.

"you're not going anywhere like that." his voice was calm, measured. "you can barely stand, don't embarrass yourself out there."

he was too close to her, then the sound of the mariana's voice interrupted them.

"camilla?" mariana said urgently.

camilla exhaled sharply, grabbing onto the handrail for balance.

santino didn't stop her— he only watched her, like he was mesmerizing something.

camila turned, legs trembling, pushing the door open without another word.

the cool rush of club air hit her skin like a slap. mariana reached for her instantly.

"jesus what happened to you?"

camila didn't answer. she just walked with her back to their friends.

two weeks later

"no! hell no! absolutely not!"

that was camilas reaction when elise had told her we would be going back to nero for her 23rd birthday.

"i know you got drugged there!" elise hesitated before continuing. "but we had fun! and it's my birthday! you can't miss my birthday."

camila let her head fall onto elise's bed.

malia who was sitting in elise's vanity chair, "you have to go, it's her birthday." she swiped her face with the make up brush. "not everything is about you camila."

camila lifted her head off the bed and her face formed an o shape. elise was nodding her head in agreement.

"okay fine. you know what." she began to sit up on her knees. "i will go." she nodded in agreement, agreeing to her own words.

mariana took a hit of her vape. "just stay away from him!"

camila agreed, she did not wanna get drugged again.

the group of girls had been avoiding nero since it happened, and when i mean by group i mean by camila.

the girls went back without her a few times.

the three girls stepped out of the taxi, mariana leaned into the passenger window to tip the driver.

nero looked the same— same velet rope, same scent of expensive perfume and sin.

camila and her friends walked into nero, they went straight to the vip section.

camila took off her fur coat, setting it down behind her.

"let's get some drinks!!" elise said excitedly.

they ordered some drinks, the loud music blaring against her ears.

everyone was dancing, having fun. nero was always packed.

the girls saw hands wrap around elise's body, it was elise's boyfriend— ares.

"hey pretty." ares said looking down at her before placing a kiss to her cheek— then her lips. "happy birthday."

"fuck i wish my boyfriend was here!" malia sighed, taking a sip of her drink.

camila let out a laugh before she was interrupted by the same waiter that had handed her that drink the last time she had been there.

she could not believe— she took a glance from the waiter to the bar, where she saw santino sitting there. in the same stool.

camila took the drink and waved the waiter off.

mariana looked over. "camila no—"

camila interrupted her by getting up and storming over to santino, who wasn't looking at her this time but looking ahead.

she angrily put the drink down beside his, "try again." she told him before strutting away back to her friends.

the two exchanged glances as camila sat back down with her friends.

"god what the fuck is wrong with him?" elise said, looking at santino and then at camila.

ares looked at the bar, trying to figure out what they were talking about. "what? you want me to kick someone's ass?"

camila jumped in, "no. you can't" she warned him. "he will kill you"

she took a sip of her own drink, leaving it at that.

camila had went outside a little bit later on, needing some actual air this time.

she pulled out a joint from her bag, pulling it in between her lips and lighting it.

she inhaled and exhaled the smoke, letting her thoughts fade away.

it wasn't long before her smoke session wasn't interrupted.

camila turned around and saw santino approach, she groaned. "what are you doing out here?"

"i'm curious as to why you come back?" he walked closer to her.

she took a bit of the joint. "it's my friends birthday."

he put his hands into his pockets. "oh really? how old is she?"

her brows furrowed, "twenty three." she nodded her head.

camila was confused. "why are you talking to me?"

he let out a chuckle. "i'm sorry for drugging you." camila could tell that he meant it. it was genuine.

he held his hand out for the joint.

camila handed it to him, "what made you wanna do that?" she tilted her head.

santino took the joint, holding her gaze as he inhaled.

"you looked too put together. i don't trust people like that."

camila let out a short laugh, humorless. "you drugged me because i looked... what? confident?"

he shrugged. "controlled." then, slower— "like you were trying too hard not to fall apart."

that shut her up.

he handed her the joint back, his fingers grazing hers for a second too long.

"guess we both like control," he added.

camila took a hit, let the smoke sit in her lungs, then let it all go. "guess we do."

they stood in silence for a moment, the tension tightened in the air.

she looked at him— really looked at him. "you still want something from me."

he didn't deny it.

"you gonna give it to me?"

camila's stomach flipped. her heartbeat kicked up she hated the she liked the way he said it— like she already had.

she took a slow step forward. "what if i do?" she whispered.

santino didn't smile, didn't blink. his expression was blank.

he just opened the the back door to nero for her, she stepped inside.

camila stepped out first of the elevator and into his penthouse. she looked around.

marble floors. black velvet furniture, minimalist art. a bar cart with crystal decanters. it all very fit his aesthetic.

she walked slowly, taking it in, then—

she turned.

he was already behind her. jacket off. shirt undone.

he looked very sexy to her eye.

he kissed her without asking. without warning. his hands tangled in her hair has he pushed her back on the velvet couch.

everything happened fast.

camila didn't want slow. didn't want careful. she wanted to forget.

their clothes barely made it off. her dress hiked up around her waist, his belt unfastened just enough. he pulled her to the edge of the couch, one hand grabbing her thigh, the other on her jaw."

it was desperate. unfiltered. her nails left lined down his back. his breath was ragged in her ear. the city lights spilled across their bodies.

and then— it was over.

camila lay there, breathless, skin flushed, hair a mess. santino stood up, already stripping off the rest of his clothes, walking toward the bathroom.

"showers hot," he said over his shoulder. "come join me in a minute, baby."

the bathroom door clicked shut. steam started to spill out beneath it.

camila sat up slowly, her legs still weak. her lips still tingling.

she didn't move right away.

then— she stood. smoothed her dress. found her heels, slipped them back on.

she walked over to the bar, pouring her an inch of scotch and throwing back.

she left the glass empty on the counter.

as the elevator dinged open, she heard his voice faintly from the bathroom. "camila?"

she stepped into the elevator, she didn't reply. she just pressed the button.

she couldn't find her friends downstairs, she assumed that they went home.

but she really needed to talk to someone— mariana.

she called her, she didn't answer.

"mariana..." she spoke into the phone, "i need to talk to you," she whispered, voice tight. "i did something really fucking stupid." she stepped off the curb and raised her hand for a cab.

rory's notes!

first chapter! 🫣 🫣

[explosuion]

chapter 6 - 'chaos' ⋆⁺₊✧

i shot up from where i was kneeling, snapping out of my spiraling thoughts. my chest felt tight as i turned to face the smoldering wreckage of the crashed plane. smoke billowed into the air like a warning sign, and the metallic scent of destruction lingered.

"someone call the fucking policía! (police)" my voice cracked as i spun around, locking eyes with everyone, daring them to move faster. "or do i have to do everything myself?"

"i alrea—" mariana's voice was cut off by a sharp gasp that snapped my attention to the corner of my eye.

"oh my god!" elise shrieked, her knees hitting the ground as she caught malia's limp body. "malia! wake up!" her voice broke as she cradled malia, shaking her lightly.

panic surged through me. i darted over, dropping to my knees beside them. "shit, malia!" my hands found her neck, searching for a pulse. steady, thank god. "she's alive," i breathed, nodding to myself, but my voice was sharp. "we need to get her to a fucking hospital now."

mariana crouched next to us, her usually calm demeanor cracking as she looked between us and the chaos around the crash. "is she breathing okay? is it—?"

"mariana, focus!" i snapped. "get her legs or something; we're not waiting around." castello and atlas finally looked our way, their stunned faces doing nothing to help the situation.

sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as emergency vehicles began swarming the scene. the flashing lights felt like salvation for the first time in my life. relief washed over me, but it was fleeting.

"move!" a paramedic shouted as they rushed over. i stepped back, letting them take malia from elise's trembling arms. elise looked shell-shocked, her tear-streaked face staring at the medics like they were her only lifeline.

as malia was loaded into the ambulance, i flagged down a nearby officer. "hey!" i barked. he turned, startled by my urgency. "can you give us a ride to the hospital? me and my friends?"

the officer glanced at the group—disheveled, wide-eyed, and half-covered in ash from the crash site. he hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "yeah, get in the patrol car. just—don't touch anything." his tone was gruff, but i didn't care. we were getting to the hospital.

"let's go," i said sharply, pulling mariana and elise with me. castello and atlas trailed behind, silent for once. the tension was suffocating, and my patience was nonexistent. we piled into the cramped back seat of the patrol car.

as we sped off, the adrenaline started to fade, leaving only dread in its place. i glanced at elise, who was clutching her hands like a prayer might fix this. "dios mío, qué desastre..." (my god, what a mess) i muttered under my breath.

the officer glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "this some kind of accident?" he asked, his tone dripping with skepticism.

i shot him a glare. "you think we caused a fucking plane crash? seriously?" my voice was venomous, and mariana elbowed me, hissing under her breath.

"calm down," she muttered. "no necesitamos más problemas." (we don't need more problems.)

"yeah, well, we don't need this asshole's attitude either," i snapped back.

the rest of the ride was silent, the weight of everything settling over us like a suffocating blanket. all i could think about was malia's pale face and the moment she collapsed. whatever had happened wasn't over. not even close.

"what do you mean we can't fucking see her?" my voice reverberated through the sterile hospital lobby as my fists came down hard on the counter. the sharp pain barely registered. "you haven't told us a damn thing since we got here!" my throat burned from yelling, but i didn't care. i was done with the runaround.

the woman behind the desk flinched but kept her composure, her tired eyes narrowing at me. "ma'am, just calm down and have a seat," she said, her tone clipped and dismissive as she pointed to the row of chairs like i was some unruly child. "someone will talk to you soon."

"that's what you said twenty-five fucking minutes ago!" i shot back, my voice cracking as the weight of it all hit me. tears blurred my vision, but i refused to let them fall. the tight knot in my chest threatened to choke me. 

"enough!" mariana hissed, stepping forward and grabbing my arm. she yanked me back with more force than necessary, her eyes darting around the room. "cálmate, estás perdiendo la cabeza!" (calm down, you're losing it!)

i shrugged her off, spinning to glare at her. "don't tell me to calm down! you're fine sitting here, but malia—" my voice cracked, and i felt my defenses crumbling.

a strong arm circled around me before i could spiral further. castello pulled me against him, his voice low and steady in my ear. "you're not helping, okay? just breathe. we'll figure this out." his hand rubbed my back in slow circles, grounding me in the moment.

i let out a shaky breath, the fight draining out of me as my forehead fell against his chest. "they're not telling us anything," i mumbled, the tears finally spilling over. "what if—what if she's not okay, castello?"

"she's going to be fine," he said firmly, though his voice wavered just enough for me to catch it. "she's tough. tougher than all of us put together."

mariana gave an exasperated sigh, muttering under her breath as she paced. "esto es ridículo..." (this is ridiculous.) atlas and elise sat silently in the corner, their faces pale and drawn as if they'd been carved from stone.

i sank into the chair castello guided me to, feeling utterly defeated. the quiet hum of the hospital seemed louder than my own thoughts, the sterile smell mixing with the sour taste of helplessness in my mouth.

"someone better come out here soon," i whispered, more to myself than anyone else, "or i swear to god, i'll—"

"you'll what?" mariana snapped, her voice sharp. "start another scene? because that's worked so well so far." her words stung, but i couldn't find the strength to argue.

before i knew it, more time had slipped through my fingers, dragging on like some cruel punishment. i was drained, completely and utterly spent. the harsh fluorescent lights above made the sterile hospital feel more like a prison. they still weren't telling us anything.

we were stuck in this hospital in fucking connecticut of all places—a state where none of our power, our connections, or our money meant a damn thing. we were just another set of desperate faces in the waiting room, and it was suffocating.

my head rested on castello's shoulder, the weight of it barely a conscious decision. my eyes were closed, but i wasn't asleep—no, sleep was impossible. exhaustion clung to me like a second skin, but my mind wouldn't shut off. every thought was a loud, spiraling mess of what ifs.

his arm was draped loosely around me, his hand occasionally brushing over my arm in a lazy attempt to soothe me. it wasn't working. nothing would work until i knew malia was okay.

i shifted slightly, not wanting to disturb castello but also unable to stay still. "esto es una pesadilla..." (this is a nightmare.) i murmured under my breath, the words barely audible.

he let out a low hum in response.

"they're just leaving us here to rot," i whispered, my tone bitter. "like we're nobody. like malia doesn't fucking matter."

castello sighed heavily, his shoulder rising and falling beneath me. "they're doctors, not gods," he muttered. "they'll come when they can."

"yeah, well, they better hurry the hell up," i snapped, though my voice lacked the venom it usually carried. i was too tired to fight, too tired to care how i sounded.

silence settled over us again, heavy and oppressive. the faint sounds of the hospital—beeping monitors, hurried footsteps, the occasional cough—only made the waiting worse. i could feel the weight of time pressing down on me, each second stretching longer than the last.

if this was purgatory, i must've done something really bad to deserve it.

soon after, i glanced up to see a police officer approaching me directly. my jaw clenched, my stomach twisting into a tight knot. was this about malia? did something happen?

"camila romano?" he asked, his voice steady, professional.

i nodded, my throat too dry to speak. he held out a familiar bag—my bag. my pulse quickened. i hadn't even realized it was missing since the crash.

"we managed to recover your belongings," he said, his tone clipped. he gave a slight nod and turned to leave, not waiting for a thank-you.

"thank you," i muttered anyway, though my voice barely carried. i pulled the bag closer, the worn leather cold in my hands. digging inside, i fished out my phone. just as i pressed the power button, footsteps echoed in the quiet tension of the waiting room.

mariana gasped audibly, drawing all our attention. my eyes flicked up to see him. haiden.

she didn't hesitate. mariana practically flew across the room, colliding with him in a blur of emotion. their lips met in a desperate kiss, her hands clutching at his jacket as though afraid he'd disappear again.

"i was so worried about you," he murmured against her, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist. he pulled her flush against him, holding her like she was his anchor in a storm.

but something about him felt... off. his expression was carefully composed, but his eyes gave away an unsettling edge, something cold lurking just beneath the surface.

mariana didn't seem to notice—or maybe she did but was too relieved to care. when she finally pulled back, her face crumpled. "they're not telling us anything," she sniffled, her voice thick with unshed tears.

haiden's gaze shifted, cutting sharply to the lady behind the desk. his jaw tightened before he gave mariana a reassuring look, the kind that screamed control. "wait here," he said softly, brushing a hand over her cheek before striding toward the desk.

we all watched in tense silence as he leaned over the counter, his movements deliberate. his lips moved, words whispered too low for us to hear. whatever he said, though, hit its mark.

the woman's face changed instantly, her professional detachment dissolving into urgency. she shot up from her chair so fast it screeched against the floor.

"i'll get the doctor," she announced, already hurrying down the hallway.

i exchanged a glance with castello, who raised an eyebrow. whatever haiden had said, it was enough to cut through the red tape we'd been tangled in all night.

mariana stood frozen, her wide, tear-filled eyes fixed on haiden. she whispered something to herself that i couldn't quite catch.

"what the hell did he say to her?" i muttered under my breath, gripping my phone tightly.

castello shrugged, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "guess he's good for something after all."

i leaned back in my seat, letting out a shaky breath as the weight of everything pressed down on me. the buzz in my hand startled me, snapping me out of my thoughts. my phone.

i lifted it, squinting at the caller id. nico.

my stomach flipped. i rose from my seat abruptly, the legs of the chair scraping against the floor. castello's gaze burned into my back, but i ignored him. with the phone to my ear, i strode away, my heels clicking against the floor as i sought privacy.

"...nico," i whispered, my voice cracking under the strain.

"camila, what the fuck is going on?" his voice was sharp, laced with barely restrained panic. "why isn't malia answering her phone?"

my grip on the phone tightened. i blinked hard, trying to keep my emotions in check, but the lump in my throat made it hard to speak. "there's been an accident—"

"an accident?" he cut me off, his tone rising.

"algo le pasó al avión—" (something happened to the plane)

"what?" his voice dropped, simmering with fury. nico didn't ask about the crash. he didn't care about the details. all he cared about was malia.

"just tell me if she's okay," he demanded, his words sharp and clipped.

i hesitated, my silence betraying the fear i hadn't spoken aloud.

"the silence is just making me angrier, camila." his voice dropped lower, dangerous now. "drop a fucking pin. i'm coming."

before i could respond, the line went dead.

i lowered the phone slowly, staring at the blank screen. my heart was pounding, my head spinning. the last thing i needed right now was nico showing up and throwing more gasoline on an already raging fire.

thirty minutes later, nico appeared, stepping out of the elevator like a storm ready to break.

i shot up from my seat immediately, my pulse quickening. mariana and elise were right behind me, their faces mirroring my unease.

his sharp gaze swept across the waiting room as he strode toward us, his movements purposeful, his jaw clenched. "where is she?" his voice was low but brimming with urgency, his eyes darting around like he could will malia into existence.

"how the hell did you get here so fast?" i asked, my brows furrowing as he brushed past me.

"helicopter," he said bluntly, his tone dismissive, his attention laser-focused. "where the fuck is she?" he demanded again, his voice rising.

before i could answer, a doctor approached, clipboard in hand, his expression tight. "romano?"

all our heads snapped toward him.

"you can see her now," the doctor said, his tone curt. he turned and gestured for us to follow.

atlas, haiden, and castello rose from their seats without a word, falling into step behind us as we trailed the doctor down the sterile hallway. the fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, the sound grating against my already frayed nerves.

when we entered the room, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of it.

malia was lying in the hospital bed, her face pale, her eyes hollow as they stared blankly at the wall. she didn't even glance our way, her silence louder than anything she could've said.

"malia," nico said, his voice softer now, almost tender. relief washed over his features as he saw her alive, but it was short-lived.

i moved to her side, slipping my hand into hers. her fingers were ice cold, limp against mine.

the doctor cleared his throat, drawing all our attention. his expression was grim, the kind of look that made your stomach drop before he even opened his mouth.

"there's something i have to tell you," he began, glancing at each of us like he was searching for the right words—or the courage to say them.

"well, tell us!" elise snapped, her exhaustion and frustration boiling over.

the doctor's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "due to the impact of the crash..." he hesitated, his voice faltering. "the baby didn't make it."

the words hit like a sledgehammer, reverberating through the room. for a moment, none of us could breathe, let alone speak.

i turned to malia, who hadn't moved. her face was utterly blank, but her eyes... her eyes looked like she was hearing the news for the first time all over again, reliving it in real time.

on the other side of the bed, nico's expression was a stark contrast. his face twisted in raw, unfiltered rage, his fists clenching at his sides. the air around him felt dangerous, like a storm ready to explode.

"who," nico growled, his voice low and venomous, "the fuck is responsible for this?"

"nico," i warned softly, but he wasn't listening. his gaze never left malia, though his fury seemed directed at everyone and everything.

malia's lips parted as if she were about to say something, but no sound came out.

i tightened my grip on her hand, trying to anchor her, trying to anchor all of us. but deep down, i knew this wasn't something we could fix.

"i'm gonna kill whoever did this." nico blurted out, looking at haiden who nodded in agreement.

rory's notes!

poor malia... :( 

[explosuion]

chapter 5 - 'disaster on board' ⋆⁺₊✧

there was a long pause, and i just stared at her. every second i looked at her, i could feel my anger spiking, bubbling up like lava threatening to erupt.

elise sat next to her, arms folded neatly in her lap, her face a permanent resting bitch face that screamed disinterest.

i glanced between the two of them, trying to piece together the absurdity of what i was hearing. my gaze finally locked onto malia.

"you can't be fucking serious," i hissed, my fists clenching so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

i wanted to slap this hoe. screwing my brother? unforgivable. but having his kid?

that was a betrayal so deep it made my chest ache.

i let out a laugh, sharp and disbelieving, but when i saw her brows furrow at the sound, the truth hit me like a punch to the gut. she was serious.

"oh, so you're serious?" my voice dripped with sarcasm, but deep down, i was begging for her to say this was some kind of sick joke.

she just nodded, the tiniest, most pitiful nod, and that's when i felt the tears building. sadness. anger. betrayal. it all swirled together until it threatened to spill over.

"oh my god," i muttered, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. i stood up abruptly and leaned in, pulling her into a hug. what else could i do?

to my surprise, she hugged me back, and for a moment, i thought, this is it. i'm just going to have to accept this. support her. it's not like i'm going to tell her to get rid of it. i'm not that awful.

but my brother? seriously?

when i pulled back, my cheeks were wet. i wiped the tears away quickly, trying to regain some composure. "i'm gonna be a tía! (auntie)," i said, forcing excitement into my voice.

before anyone could respond, mariana walked in.

"hey, so, haiden--" she stopped mid-sentence, her eyes darting to my damp cheeks.

her head tilted slightly, a silent question in her eyes.

"mariana, we're gonna be tías! (aunties)," i blurted, jumping up and down like a kid hyped on sugar.

her jaw dropped, forming a perfect o as she stared at me. it was almost comical.

we finished talking after what felt like hours of back-and-forths, emotions still lingering in the air like the smell of burnt toast.

"come back to new york with us!" elise blurted out suddenly, breaking the awkward silence.

i looked up from my phone, eyebrows raised. "i wish i could," i sighed dramatically, slumping back in my chair.

"why can't you?" mariana asked, barely sparing me a glance as she applied another layer of lip gloss.

"well--" i paused, actually considering it for the first time. why couldn't i go? "did you guys bring the jet?" i asked, my eyes narrowing as i looked between elise and malia.

they exchanged a glance, and i knew immediately something was up.

"whaat?" i asked, my face scrunching up as suspicion crept in.

they stayed silent, and i tilted my head, staring them down. "don't tell me you guys flew economy," i said, clenching my fists at the thought.

malia shook her head, sipping her water nonchalantly. "not really."

i turned my attention to elise, who seemed lost in her own world. "hello?" i waved my hand in front of her face, snapping her out of whatever daydream she was in.

"oh, right," she muttered, clearly hesitating. she looked like she was debating whether or not to tell me something. finally, she blurted it out. "we flew with the vasilio brothers."

my eyebrows shot up, my confusion evident as i glanced between them.

malia cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable. "after what elise did... we practically deserved it," she said, taking another sip of water.

"and what did she do--"

"i had sex with him," elise interrupted, her voice tight.

my mouth dropped open, forming an exaggerated o as i ran my fingers through my hair. the audacity.

elise crossed her arms defensively when i didn't immediately respond, but all i could do was shrug.

"whatever," i finally said, standing up and slipping on my sunglasses with dramatic flair.

"well, let's go!"

i was in my bedroom, packing with a sense of urgency, folding clothes with precise movements. i was heading to new york for the week—no real reason to tell anyone. no one needed to know.

the door slammed open with a force that made me jump. castello stormed in, slamming it shut behind him with a sharp thud. his eyes burned with a mix of frustration and something darker.

"did you really think you could leave without telling me?" his voice was low, controlled, but the anger was unmistakable as he stalked toward me.

i stood from the floor, letting the tension build as i crossed my arms defiantly over my chest. "i didn't think to tell you," i replied, rolling my eyes as i focused on the suitcase. "how did you even find out?"

a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, though his eyes remained intense, unreadable. "i'm going with you," he declared, his voice icy but laced with authority. he towered over me, his presence consuming the room.

my throat tightened, and for a split second, i couldn't move. his proximity made the air thick, heavy. his gaze locked onto mine with such intensity it sent a tremor through my body.

i swallowed, my heart pounding in my chest, but i refused to show weakness. "whatever," i scoffed, shaking off the fluttering feeling he sparked. i pushed past him, my body brushing against his in the tight space, my breath catching at the sudden contact. i couldn't help the way my pulse quickened.

i walked to the closet, opening the door and reaching for another sweater, but i could feel him behind me, his presence like a constant, irresistible pull.

"you think you can just leave without me?" his voice was closer now, dangerous in its softness. i could feel the heat radiating from him, his shadow falling over me as i rifled through my clothes. "i'm not letting you go that easily."

my fingers froze on the fabric in my hands as i heard the hint of challenge in his tone. without turning to face him, i responded coolly, trying to mask the anticipation bubbling inside me. "you can try."

i could almost hear the dangerous smile tugging at his lips, and the air between us seemed to crackle with unspoken tension.

he stepped closer, his breath warm against the back of my neck. "i always get what i want, principessa. (princess)"

me and mariana pulled up to the private runway, and i ran my fingers through the ends of my hair, my nails lightly grazing the strands. with a soft sigh, i unbuckled my seatbelt, my movements fluid and deliberate as i scavenged for my bag and phone.

"i need a fucking joint," i muttered, glancing at mariana, who was glued to her phone with her airpods in. she didn't even look up.

i rolled my eyes, the irritation bubbling just beneath my skin, and shifted toward the door. with a push, i stepped out of the black suv, the cool air biting at my exposed skin. my fingers rummaged through my chanel bag, feeling for the familiar texture of my black case. when i found it, relief washed over me. inside were my perfectly rolled joints, my personal salvation.

pulling one out, i placed it between my lips and lit it with practiced ease. the first drag was euphoric, calming the chaos in my head, if only for a moment.

seconds—or maybe minutes—later, two black suvs pulled up and parked on the runway. i groaned, the sound low and guttural, because of course, the peace i had was short-lived. all i wanted was to smoke my shit in peace, but life rarely granted me such luxuries.

malia stepped out first, her movements graceful and unhurried as she made her way over. instinctively, i held the joint out to her. she reached for it, but before she could take it, elise stormed over, her brows furrowed in disapproval.

"uhuh" elise snatched the joint from my hand, her thick spanish accent rolling off her tongue like a melody laced with steel. "¿estás loca? (are you crazy?)"

malia crossed her arms, her posture defensive. "i forgot," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

elise didn't let up. she brought the joint to her lips, taking a small inhale, only to cough violently seconds later. the sight of her struggling with the smoke brought an amused smirk to my face. she quickly handed it back to me, her coughing fit not entirely over.

atlas appeared like clockwork, his hands finding their place on elise's waist. he pulled her closer, leaning into her ear with a chuckle. "you sound like you're hiccupping when you cough," he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

i couldn't help the look of disgust that crossed my face. "great, this is a thing i have to witness too?" i muttered, rolling my eyes dramatically. my attention shifted to the workers unloading my bags.

"be careful with that!" i snapped, my tone sharp, as one of them jostled my louis vuitton duffel.

mariana finally emerged from the car, her expression indifferent. she spotted the joint in my hand and reached for it without hesitation. "hey! save me some," she muttered, taking a hit before mumbling something under her breath. probably calling me a bitch, but i wasn't in the mood to confront her.

out of the corner of my eye, i saw castello step out of the suv. he moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, his tailored black suit clinging to his frame like a second skin. he was looking too fine to be here, and i hated how much i noticed.

"are we going to get this show on the road or what?" castello's voice was sharp, cutting through the idle chatter. he pocketed his phone and gave each of us a look, one that made it clear he'd kill someone if they stepped out of line.

"you mean in the air?" i said with a laugh, taking the lead. the heels of my boots clicked against the pavement as i walked to the jet, climbing the steps without a backward glance.

inside, i found a seat that looked like a booth, perfect for the four of us girls. i slid in, my legs crossed, waiting for the others to board. mariana and malia entered together, settling across from me. their conversation was light, but i wasn't paying much attention.

when atlas and elise boarded together and sat together, i nearly lost it. the sight was nauseating. i rolled my eyes and buried my focus in instagram, aimlessly scrolling until a shadow loomed over me.

castello.

he slid into the seat next to me, his presence as commanding as ever. i shot him a confused look, but he didn't say anything. instead, his dark eyes bore into mine, unyielding and intense. it felt like he was peeling back layers of me, seeing things i didn't want him to.

the air between us was charged, dangerously so. i broke the tension by looking back at my phone, pretending i wasn't affected. out of the corner of my eye, i could see he was still staring.

mariana had her face buried in her show, and malia was already dozing off, her head leaning against the window. the soft hum of the jet's engine filled the cabin, but from the other side, laughter erupted. elise and atlas, of course.

i sighed, leaning back in my seat. it was going to be a long flight.

we were supposed to land at jfk...

30 minutes ago.

the usual calm of the flight shifted into a slow-building tension that prickled at my skin. i looked out the window, and instead of the familiar city skyline, there was nothing but endless clouds and a fading sun.

then, the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom.

"ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. we've encountered an unexpected issue and will need to make an emergency landing. please remain calm and fasten your seatbelts."

"what the fuck does that mean?" mariana's voice was sharp, her hands gripping the armrests so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"how should i know?" i snapped back, fumbling with my seatbelt. my pulse was racing, the anxiety clawing its way up my throat.

"we're not even near new york," malia whispered, her voice trembling. she peered out the window, her face pale. "all i see is... clouds."

elise's breathing grew heavier. "this isn't happening," she muttered, her hand clutching atlas's arm like a lifeline. "tell me this isn't happening."

"it's fine," atlas said, his tone forced and unconvincing. "everything's fine."

"you don't know that!" elise shot back, her voice cracking. "we're... we're going to crash, aren't we?"

"shut up!" castello barked, his voice cutting through the panic. "panicking won't help anyone. just... stay calm."

the plane lurched violently, sending drinks and phones flying. i let out a scream as my body slammed against the seatbelt. overhead compartments burst open, spilling bags into the aisle.

"oh my god, oh my god," mariana chanted under her breath, tears spilling down her cheeks. "i... i don't want to die."

"stop saying that!" i shouted, gripping her arm. "we're not going to die. just... breathe."

"brace for impact!" the pilot's voice boomed, the final warning before chaos erupted.

the plane hit the ground with a sickening crunch, the force of the impact rattling my entire body. screams filled the cabin as we skidded violently, the sound of metal grinding against earth deafening. my head slammed against the window, pain exploding behind my eyes.

i don't know how long i was out, but when i came to, the cabin was unrecognizable. smoke filled the air, making it hard to breathe. the acrid smell of burning metal stung my nose. around me, people were crying, coughing, shouting.

"are you okay?" castello's voice was rough, urgent. his hand was on my shoulder, shaking me slightly.

i nodded weakly, my vision still blurry. "i... think so."

"we have to move," he said, helping me unbuckle my seatbelt. "can you stand?"

"i think so," i repeated, though my legs felt like jelly as i tried to get up. mariana was coughing violently, her face streaked with soot. elise was pulling malia up, her own hands trembling. atlas was at the emergency exit, shouting at everyone to move faster.

"move! now!" atlas bellowed, forcing the door open. cold air rushed in, a stark contrast to the suffocating heat inside the cabin.

one by one, we stumbled out into the open field. the plane was a smoking wreck behind us, its tail section completely severed. i collapsed onto the grass, my body shaking uncontrollably.

"is everyone okay?" elise's voice was hoarse, her eyes scanning the group.

"define okay," mariana muttered, her voice shaky. "we just fucking crashed..."

i heard atlas talking to castello, "it was obviously a fucking threat.' he blurted out. 

rory's notes!

bet u didnt expect that one didn't u hehe...

[explosuion]

chapter 4 - 'perra, you fucked my brother?' ⋆⁺₊✧

i woke up to the feel of hands on my back. "ma'am..." the flight attendant's voice dragged me out of my sleep like nails on a chalkboard.

i groaned, rolling over and sitting up, rubbing my temples as i muttered under my breath, "odio cuando las perras me despiertan de mi sueño. (i hate when bitches wake me out of my sleep.)"

she revealed a food cart, offering me a bowl of fruit. i nodded begrudgingly, taking it without a word. as she moved out of the way, my gaze landed on castello, seated across from me, shirtless and completely unbothered. his fingers danced across his laptop keyboard, his focus unbroken.

"good morning, principessa, (princess)" he greeted, his deep, morning tone laced with teasing warmth.

i rolled my eyes, barely sparing him a glance. "don't call me that," i snapped, turning my head toward the window. "ugh, are we almost there yet?" irritation dripped from every word.

he glanced at his watch. "thirty minutes, if the food's out."

i leaned back in my seat, muttering incoherently as i popped a grape into my mouth.

when the plane finally began to descend, i pulled out my phone and dialed malia. after what felt like forever, she picked up.

"habla en español para que este idiota no pueda escuchar. (speak in spanish so this idiot can't hear.)" i put her on speaker while adjusting my hair in the camera app.

there was muffled noise on the other end, her voice distant. "hola? malia? (hello?)" my brows furrowed.

"sí, sí, estoy aquí. (yeah, yeah, i'm here.)"

i heard faint shushing. "con quién estás?? (who are you with?)" i demanded, suspicion sharpening my tone.

before i could get an answer, castello abruptly stood. he muttered something under his breath in rapid italian as he stormed out of the cabin.

"who's the drama queen now," i mumbled, rolling my eyes.

"no esto—"

"talk in english," i cut her off. "he's gone."

she sighed, her tone turning sharp. "i'm with no one, camila!"

"okay, okay, i'm sorry," i relented, though my curiosity simmered.

"are you okay?" her voice softened, though it sounded distant, distracted.

"not really," i admitted, looking around the cabin. "his brothers stayed behind, so it's just us... on this tiny-ass jet."

she laughed softly, though it wasn't at me. "that must be awkward. are you almost to sicily?"

"twenty-five more minutes," i sighed, pulling out my skincare. "mariana is coming, too. she lands a few hours after me."

"wait, your sister's coming?" malia's voice piqued with interest.

before i could respond, castello re-entered the cabin with all the grace of a thunderstorm. his sharp gaze pinned me, fists clenched at his sides.

"who is mariana?" he demanded, his accent thick. "you didn't tell me someone was coming."

i tilted my head, feigning innocence. "oh yeah, her plane lands an hour after ours."

his expression darkened as he slammed his fist onto the table, making the fruit bowl rattle. "you didn't—"

"oh my god, malia, i have to go." i hung up mid-protest and stood, closing the distance between us.

"my sister is fucking coming," i hissed, my tone daring him to challenge me.

he stepped closer, his frame towering over mine, a sly smirk curling his lips. "ask nicely..." his voice dropped to a low, almost sultry whisper as he leaned in, his breath brushing my ear.

i pressed a hand against his chest, pushing him back with a scoff. "i'm not asking for shit."

before i could escape to the bathroom, his hand caught my wrist, spinning me around and pinning me against the wall. my breath hitched as his gaze locked onto mine, searing and unrelenting.

"are we not going to talk about what happened?" his voice dipped, dangerously smooth. "you know... between us." his hand trailed down to grip my waist, his lips brushing my ear. "i'd very much like to do it again."

"i can promise you this," i said, meeting his gaze defiantly, "we won't."

with a firm shove, i freed myself and slipped into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

as i tried to collect myself, i could hear him muttering curses under his breath outside.

"camila, come on!" his voice broke through my thoughts, followed by a loud knock. "i have to take a piss!"

i ignored him, taking my time.

"i swear to god—"

the door swung open before he could finish. i shot him a pointed look before brushing past him, my shoulder bumping his.

the rest of the flight was tense, the air thick with unspoken words.

when we landed, i gripped the seat for support, the descent more nerve-wracking than usual. castello noticed, his lips curving into a knowing smirk, but he said nothing.

as the plane doors opened, i stepped out, the warm sicilian air hitting my face.

castello followed closely, watching as i hovered near the luggage, eyeing every movement like a hawk.

"if you're done babysitting your bags, i'm leaving," he called out, already heading for the car.

i rolled my eyes but hurried after him.

i sat in the car with my arms crossed over my chest, feeling the irritation bubbling inside me. we were on our way to his damn 'villa,' and it was already starting to piss me off.

so fucking annoying.

i decided to break the silence, "i'm gonna need a car sent out for my sister." i blurted, not even thinking twice. he glanced at me, scoffing in disbelief. "whatever," he muttered, rolling his eyes like i was the one being unreasonable. i wasn't having it.

"don't fucking have an attitude about it," i snapped, leaning into his space, getting in his face a little.

i then tried to swing at him, but he was quick. before i knew it, he had my arms pinned down on the seat. i gasped, caught off guard by his sudden movements.

"que mierda? (what the fuck?)" i gritted out through heavy breaths, trying to squirm my way free.

he was trying to assert control over me, but the bastard didn't know when to stop. the way he grabbed me, it stung—a little too much. in a split second, my hand was free, and i managed to scratch at his jaw. he winced in pain, tightening his grip on my arm, before finally letting go.

i glared at the marks he left on my arm, irritated. he felt his jaw, eyes narrowing when he turned to look at me. i could tell the scratch had left a mark.

the rest of the car ride was silent. the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. i stared out the window, trying to ignore the prick sitting next to me. sicily was beautiful, though, and i couldn't deny that.

my phone vibrated in my pocket, and i glanced down to see elise had snapped me. it was nearly 8AM here, which meant it was almost 2AM back in new york.

i opened the snap, rolling my eyes in jealousy. there they were, elise and malia, posing in the club. tall figures surrounded them, their backs turned.

camila: 'i wish i was there!!!'

no response. they were probably off doing their thing, having fun without me.

another 15 minutes passed in complete silence.

we pulled up to the gates of the villa, and holy shit, it was breathtaking. manicured lawns, tall trees surrounding the place—everything screamed luxury.

the gate opened, and the black car rolled smoothly through.

when we stopped, the driver jumped out quickly, opening the door for me. castello stormed into the house, not even bothering with a tour. what a fucking asshole. i rolled my eyes as i grabbed my sunglasses, stepping out.

i guess i'd have to show myself around. and so, i did. the villa was stunning, no doubt about that. it was clear that i was living in a place that many could only dream of. i met a few of the staff, offering polite introductions, but my mind was elsewhere.

i froze when i heard raised voices from behind a nearby door. curiosity got the better of me, and i pressed myself against the wall to listen in.

"— you told me i needed a wife!" castello shouted, his voice angry.

"not from the fucking spanish mafia!" his father, christos, yelled back, his voice laced with disdain. he downed his whiskey in one go, slamming the glass on the table.

christos glanced down at the contract in front of him, eyes narrowing as he muttered, "well, we are gonna have to make this work." he looked up, briefly meeting castello's eyes before turning away, his voice darkening. "i can't even look at you right now."

castello turned to leave, his footsteps heavy. "good, let's not."

i quickly darted out of the way, moving up the stairs.

as i did, i caught a glimpse of someone bringing in familiar bags into a room. that's when it hit me.

that was my room.

OUR room.

i sighed heavily, stepping toward the door. staff members nodded as they passed me, exiting the room. i entered, and—honestly? it was cute. but basic. nothing special. i had seen better.

the one thing that caught my eye was the large portrait above the bed. and of course, it was of castello.

what a narcissistic prick.

before i could even process it, the door opened, and out he came.

shirtless.

"god! put a shirt on, you freak!" i exclaimed, trying to hide my eyes from his exposed chest. he chuckled, unfazed, as he reached for a shirt on the bed.

"don't worry, i'm not interested," he said, his jaw clenching as he shot me a look.

perra. (bitch), i thought.

i barely held back a roll of my eyes, annoyance bubbling up. "don't worry, i'm not either," i shot back before quickly changing the subject. "anyway, where the hell are my bags?"

he smirked slightly and pointed toward one of the doors.

i walked towards the door, feeling castello's eyes burn into me, watching every single one of my movements. as soon as i opened it, i gasped at the sight.

the closet was massive—floor-to-ceiling space wrapped around the entire room, drawers built into the walls, and a small vanity tucked into the corner. a circle rug covered part of the floor, adding to the luxury.

my bags were in the corner by the vanity, and the first thing that hit my mind? i needed mariana here... so we could smoke a damn joint.

i slammed the door behind me as i stepped into the closet. i just wanted to get high, to forget about everything that was happening.

i pulled out my dab pen and took a few hits, feeling the familiar calm wash over me. my thoughts cleared, even just for a moment.

i opened my trunk, filled to the brim with shoes, and began to organize them into neat categories—casual, outgoing, and so on. i couldn't focus on anything else right now, so unpacking was all i could do.

just as i started to hang up my clothes, my phone rang. it was elise, and i could hear the slur in her voice. she was definitely drunk, probably still out at the club.

i answered the call, propping my phone up on the vanity as i continued unpacking.

"hey, perra!! (bitch)" she giggled, clearly not making much sense.

i couldn't help but smile, though i gave her a side-eye. "that's your closet?" she asked, noticing the massive size of the space.

"i know! it's huge, right? at least i'm getting treated right here," i replied, giggling a little.

but my smile faded quickly, replaced by something else—a sinking feeling in my gut. i stopped what i was doing and stared at the phone, trying to steady my voice. "i have a question..." i began, my tone more serious.

"are you alone?" i asked, and she nodded, her chewing slowing as she seemed to catch on. "is malia seeing someone new that you guys are keeping from me?"

i saw her pause. the laughter from her side of the phone stopped. her face was unreadable, and i could feel my heart rate spike. "okay..." she hesitated before speaking again. "i'm only telling you this because we're cousins. you know i think of you like a hermana. (sister)"

i shook my head, feeling the panic rise inside me. "okay, you're really starting to freak me out. just tell me." i glanced around the room, trying to brace myself.

her voice dropped, and she sighed before dropping the bomb. "okay... malia is fucking nico."

my jaw dropped. my mouth formed an o shape as i stepped closer to the phone. "i fucking knew it!" i hissed, anger flooding my veins, but deep down, the shock of it all still hit me hard.

"and you fucking knew about this?" i shouted, the rage bubbling up. "you're my fucking cousin, elise! you should've told me!" she started to speak, but i cut her off. "no. don't even fucking bother coming to sicily. you're my fucking cousin, and you didn't even tell me this shit!"

"camil—"

i hung up on her before she could finish. disbelief gripped me as i stared at the screen, my heart pounding in my chest.

now, more than ever, i needed mariana. i checked the time and debated whether or not to call nico. i was almost certain he was the one in the photo, the one standing next to malia.

he picked up, his voice slurring with drunkenness. "c-camila!" he giggled, barely able to get the words out.

i couldn't keep it together anymore. "who are you with?" i demanded, waiting for him to answer. when he didn't reply immediately, i repeated myself, louder. "tell me who the fuck you're with!"

"is it malia?" i pressed, knowing damn well the answer.

"how do you—"

"save it!" i cut him off, disgust creeping into my voice. "fuck you both."

i ended the call before he could say another word, anger coursing through me like wildfire.

i checked the time again—one more hour before mariana's plane landed. i could already feel the weight of everything settling over me.

i just wanted to hide in this huge closet, away from everyone, away from the mess.

i never thought malia would do this to me. she was my best friend, and she couldn't even tell me she was fucking my brother? i couldn't even process it, but the reality of it made me sick.

i spent the rest of my time unpacking, sorting clothes and trying to ignore the gnawing pit in my stomach. i just needed mariana to get here.

the time flew by as i finished unpacking. let me tell you, organizing a new closet was almost therapeutic. i was sitting at the vanity, scrolling through social media, when i heard the closet door creak open. and then... mariana appeared. i gasped at the sight.

as soon as the door closed, i jumped up and wrapped her in a hug, feeling the warmth of a familiar face. she hugged me back, and for a second, everything felt right again.

after a few exchanged words, we finally sat down, the tension between us easing.

"... i met castello..." she blurted out, making a face like she had just tasted something sour.

"whaat?" i asked, my brow raised as i took a hit from the joint between my lips.

"he's cute! that's all i'm saying," she added, taking a hit from her vape, her eyes never leaving me.

"girl, you are married!" i giggled, the smoke from the joint curling in the air.

"yeah, married to the love of my life. thank you very much..." she reassured me with a smirk.

"lucky bitch," i muttered under my breath, scrolling through my feed, but sneaking glances at her every so often.

"girl, he is fine. you need him to treat you right," she said, her voice full of amusement as i passed the joint to her. she took a long drag before handing it back to me.

"yeah, he already did..." i said, my words laced with bitterness. she froze, eyes widening in shock as she took another hit.

"wait, when?" she asked, her fingers running through her hair, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"... hmm. almost a week ago," i replied, lighting another joint between my lips. "but we didn't know who each other were back then. it's completely different now," i added, the smoke filling the air, the bitterness still lingering on my tongue.

my mind drifted back to the shitstorm with nico and malia. i stared at the crystal ashtray in front of me, then glanced at the mirror, trying to keep my composure.

"... okay. what's wrong?" mariana asked, exhaling a thick cloud of vape smoke.

"i found out some shit about malia--" i started, but she cut me off.

"what happened now?" she asked, her voice full of concern. i let out a giggle, trying to shake off the anger bubbling inside me.

"apparently... she's..." i shook my head, trying to push away the frustration. "... apparently, she's fucking nico, and elise knew about it." mariana's face shifted, her expression serious. "i'm not even mad she's fucking my brother—everyone knows i think of malia as a sister, so it would be nice if they were together." i took a long drag of the joint, then passed it to her. "i'm just mad everyone knew about it but me." i rolled my eyes, my voice tinged with disbelief.

"do you know if elio knew?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in thought.

i laughed, bitter and disbelieving. "i mean, i wouldn't be surprised," i said, shaking my head.

our conversation flowed easily, just like old times. we caught up on everything that had happened in the past week, and mariana couldn't stop raving about her trip to dubai. apparently, it was nothing short of amazing, and she had a million stories to tell.

we both eventually made our way into the kitchen, looking for something to eat. the place felt unusually quiet today—everyone was either out of the country or doing their own thing. it was just us, castello, his father, and his wife left in the house. we didn't mind though, it gave us a chance to just hang out and relax.

we spent the entire day exploring the villa, taking in the breathtaking views from the windows. the whole place felt surreal—like a dream, honestly.

"what are you gonna do about malia and nico?" mariana asked, breaking the comfortable silence as we strolled down the hall.

i glanced at her, then looked down at my feet, the weight of the situation sinking in. "i'm not saying shit. they know i know, it's just up to them now." i flicked my hair over my shoulder, trying to brush off the irritation that was simmering underneath. "they know what they did is wrong. i didn't do anything. it's their mess to clean up, not mine."

we were about to turn the corner when we heard footsteps by the front door. mariana paused mid-bite of her yogurt, and we both quickly ducked behind a wall to listen.

"come on, eliana!" christos commanded, his voice stern.

eliana's voice followed, sounding a little breathless as she scurried down the stairs. "i'm coming!" she called out, catching up with him.

they made their way out of the house, and i let out a quiet breath. mariana turned to me, curiosity lighting up her face.

"who the hell was that?" she asked, her brows furrowed.

"whoever it is, i don't care," i muttered, already pulling her up the stairs. "come on, let's go."

i laid down on mariana's bed, propping myself up on my stomach, and took a hit of her dab pen. the smoke filled my lungs, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow down.

"i think i'm gonna go to bed," she said, her voice a mix of tiredness and contentment as she let out a yawn.

i glanced at the time and stretched a little. "yeah, it's getting late," i replied, a frown creeping across my face. i shifted to sit up and pulled her in for a side hug. "goodnight, bitch. sleep tight."

"you too, perra, (bitch)" she giggled, hugging me back tightly. "text me if you need me, okay? i'm just down the hall."

"always," i said, my voice light as i released her from the hug.

as i walked out of the room, i heard her voice call after me. "don't do anything i wouldn't do," she teased.

i rolled my eyes as i exited her room. "trust me, i'm not planning on it."

i made my way down the hall, the quiet of the house almost suffocating as i walked to my room. or rather, our room. i pushed open the door and froze in the doorway for a moment.

it hit me again: i had to share a bed with castello tonight.

i let out a sigh, frustration bubbling inside me. my mood instantly soured. "great," i muttered to myself, walking further into the room.

after i was done taking a shower, i wrapped myself in a towel, running my fingers through my damp hair. once i finished that, i applied my skincare, admiring the soft, moisturized glow of my skin in the mirror. i turned around, ready to step towards the door.

"—ugh!" i gasped, stumbling back as castello's phone hit the floor with a loud clatter between us. my towel slipped, revealing the creamy swell of my breasts and the curve of my collarbone, the soft flesh teasing the air.

castello's dark eyes locked onto me, a wicked glint in them as they roamed over my barely covered body. a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, and he slowly straightened, towering over my smaller frame. he didn't move to pick up his phone. instead, his gaze lingered, appreciating the way my towel strained against my chest.

"the fuck you staring at?" i rolled my eyes, shoving past him to the closet. i could feel his eyes still burning into me as i walked, every step exaggerated in my peripheral vision. i shut the door behind me, knowing he was still watching.

i slipped into a silk white cami slip, letting my dark hair cascade down my back. i applied carmex to my lips, the cool balm soothing as i tried to ignore the lingering tension.

when i walked back into the room, he was standing by the bed, phone in hand.

"what are you doing?" his brows furrowed as he eyed me.

"what does it look like?" i snapped, yanking at the pillows to create a barrier, pretending i was unaffected.

he set his phone down, peeling off his shirt before climbing into bed. "that's not necessary," he muttered, turning off the lamp.

i rolled my eyes, climbing into the bed beside him and turning off my own light. "whatever," i muttered, adjusting my hair before closing my eyes.

the night dragged on, filled with kicking, yelling, and stealing blankets. he was clearly doing it on purpose to piss me off. i shoved at him, but he only grinned wider, making it worse.

the next morning, i rubbed my eyes, adjusting to the sunlight. castello wasn't in the bed. thank god. i quickly checked my phone.

9:52AM

shit. i had a breakfast to attend, and i was meeting the rest of his family. his brothers were flying in from new york, and i had to face them.

... great. if you don't recall, his brothers were the ones pointing guns at my family not too long ago.

i scrambled out of bed, rushing through my morning routine. casual clothes, a touch of makeup, and bam—still looking good.

i rushed downstairs, nodding at the staff as i passed, trying to make it to the dining room before i exploded.

i entered to see mariana already seated. castello and his brothers stood nearby.

"good morning!" mariana beamed as she pulled me into a side hug.

"hey," i murmured, hugging her back, glancing briefly at castello before sitting down next to him.

i massaged my back with my hands, i did not get much sleep last night.

the two brothers came in from the kitchen and took their seats, followed by bianca, walking in with her brunette hair and a baby on her hip.

"bianca," castello greeted her with a nod. but she barely spared him a glance.

"who the hell are you?" bianca's voice was sharp, her eyes sizing us up.

"i'm—" i started, but castello cut me off with a firm tone.

"bianca," he said, his voice sharp and demanding, "this is my... fiancée." he hesitated, but finally spoke the words.

"fiancée?" bianca raised an eyebrow, making a face of disbelief.

mariana didn't hold back. "no hagas esa cara, perra! (don't make that face, bitch)" she shot at bianca, glancing at me before glaring back at her. "bitch."

"treat us with respect," mariana added, her eyes blazing with fire.

"i'll cut you." bianca stood abruptly, her chair scraping the floor.

mariana stood too, ready to match her energy. "hazlo! (do it)" she spat back with attitude.

"stop, come on!" i grabbed mariana, pulling her down into her seat, whispering desperately to calm her down.

just then, i glanced at my phone—it was malia. i hesitated, answering with a frown.

"what, malia?" i asked, irritation clear in my voice.

"camila, i know i fucked up," malia's voice sounded rushed, with the noise of traffic in the background. "me and elise are in sicil—"

"why the fuck are you guys here?" i cut her off before she could continue.

"me and elise got a ride from atlas and ares... we're at caffetteria del corso in sicily."

"okay... we're coming." i hung up, turning to mariana and telling her what just went down.

we quickly headed upstairs to get ready, choosing designer outfits and making sure we looked flawless.

after we finished, we strutted downstairs and were met with castello's presence in the foyer.

"going somewhere?" he asked, stepping forward, arms behind his back, sizing us up.

i looked up at him, my gaze unwavering. "i'm meeting my cousin and my sister," i said coolly, brushing past him, dragging mariana along with me. "not like it's any of your business," i muttered under my breath as we exited.

"... he's so fucking annoying," i murmured to mariana as we walked the streets, deciding to walk to the café instead of driving.

we arrived at the coffee shop, and i spotted elise and malia sitting in the corner booth.

"i'm gonna go smoke a blunt and try to get ahold of haiden," mariana said quickly, heading out of the café.

i approached the table, sitting down awkwardly. "hey," i said, trying to sound calm, but the anger was boiling just below the surface.

the waiter came by, and i ordered a cappuccino, trying to settle my nerves.

malia and i exchanged glances. she could tell i was losing control of my anger.

"so you wanna tell me why you fucked my brother behind my back?" i asked, my voice quiet but dripping with venom.

"i didn't do it to hurt you..." malia replied softly, but i could feel her guilt in the air.

"perra, you fucked my brother! (bitch)" i shot back, barely containing my rage.

i stood, ready to unleash, but before i could move, elise jumped in front of me, surprising me.

"oh, so now you wanna protect her?" i hissed, just inches from smacking the hell out of her.

"no—she—" elise started, but malia stopped her.

"elise," malia whispered, a quiet plea.

"what?" i demanded, my anger still simmering.

elise looked straight ahead, a moment of hesitation hanging in the air.

"no, tell me!" i snapped.

"malia's pregnant!" elise blurted out.

what...?

rory's notes! another doozy! tell me what yall think.

[explosuion]

chapter 3 - 'remember me, principessa?' ⋆⁺₊✧

FLASHBACK SCENE

castello slammed the hotel room door shut behind us, his dark eyes roaming hungrily over my smaller frame as he backed me up against the wall. the air was thick with tension and the scent of sex, the city lights flickering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. he could feel the heat radiating off my body, could see the way my chest heaved with each shallow breath. "fuckkk" he growled, one large hand coming up to grip my chin firmly tilting my face towards his, he leaned into my ear, "you're so fucking sexy." he whispered into my ear seductivly.

i let out a soft whimper, my eyes fluttering shut as i felt the hard length of him pressed against my  stomach. i could feel every inch of his muscles, could imagine the way they would flex and ripple as he fucked me senseless.

his hands slid down to my ass and squeezed. his fingers sinking into my supple flesh as i let out a soft moan, "mierda...  (fuck)" i said softly, as he walked me backwards towards the king—sized bed in the center of the room. with a sudden, rough jerk, he pushed me down onto the plush mattress, crawling over me and pinning my wrists above my head.

"keep these here, principessa. (princess)" castello commanded, voice rough and demanding. His dark eyes bored into mine, filled with a primal hunger that made my heart race. one hand remained gripping my wrists while the other hand slid down my thigh, and up my inner thigh.

END OF FLASHBACK

i snapped out of my thoughts, realizing i had been staring at him. the anger inside me was building, bubbling over with every second i looked at the man before me. it was early in the morning, the kind of hour when everyone's still in their pajamas, groggy from sleep, and unprepared for chaos. yet here we were.

the man standing in front of us, castello, held a gun. not just at me, but at all of us.

i glanced at elise and malia, panic thrumming beneath my skin. switching to spanish so the "italians" couldn't understand, i hissed, "¡ese es el chico con el que me cogí! (that's the guy i fucked!)" my voice came out louder than i intended, catching their attention immediately.

elise and malia whipped their heads toward me, both wearing the same wide-eyed expression of shock. their faces screamed, what the hell are you talking about?

castello tilted his head, his dark eyes glinting as a slow smirk spread across his face. "you wanna say that in english, principessa? (princess)" he asked, his thick spanish accent wrapping around the word "princess" like a velvet threat. the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine, though i'd never admit it.

before i could respond, my father snapped his head toward me. his voice cut through the tension like a whip. "¿a quién te follaste?! (who did you fuck?!)" he demanded, his tone equal parts anger and disbelief.

i ignored him, my focus still locked on castello. my father repeated himself, louder this time. "camila, ¿a quién te follaste?! (who did you fuck?!)"

the room seemed to close in on me until the sound of approaching footsteps broke through the chaos. my gaze darted to the door, where nico appeared. his arrival immediately drew castello's attention.

"fanculo— (fuck)," castello muttered before nico interrupted.

"put them down." nico's voice was firm, commanding.

for a moment, castello's eyes flickered with something—annoyance, perhaps? then he sighed, motioning for his men to lower their weapons. most complied immediately, but one of them, atlas, kept his gun trained on elise.

elise, undeterred, locked eyes with him, their silent standoff charged with intensity.

"i said to fucking drop it!" castello barked, snatching the gun out of atlas's hands. atlas finally snapped out of his trance, glaring as castello shoved the weapon aside.

nico sighed, his impatience clear. "can we just get this over with, castello?" he gestured toward my father's study a few doors down.

without another word, the men filed out, leaving us all to let out shaky breaths of relief.

everyone started to rise, the tension in the air still palpable. i walked over to where my brother stood with elise and malia, my arms crossed tightly against my chest.

"god, what the fuck was that?" my voice wavered, my shock still evident.

elise fanned herself dramatically. "i don't know, but that guy was so hot."

i rolled my eyes, ignoring her. elio, standing nearby, cleared his throat, drawing our attention.

"i know what that was," he said hesitantly.

i raised an eyebrow. "well, go on then."

elio hesitated, his gaze flicking between us. "i overheard some things..."

malia stepped forward, her expression sharp. "what things?"

before he could answer, elise chimed in. "god, i really want the tip of that gu—"

"elise!" i snapped, cutting her off. "stop. i'm trying to listen."

elio swallowed hard before continuing. "al parecer, antonio y emilio deben un par de millones a los sicilianos. (apparently, antonio and emilio owe a couple million to the sicilians.)"

malia gasped, her voice trembling. "my father?"

elio nodded grimly. "sí."

i crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, trying to process whatever the hell elio had just said. his words echoed in my mind, a mix of disbelief and anger swirling in my chest.

"there might be a way to get out of it..." elio said, his gaze darting between me and malia, like he was about to drop a bombshell.

"what?" malia asked, her voice tight.

elio hesitated for a beat before speaking. "alguno de ustedes podría casarse en su familia... ofrecerse como pago. (one of you could marry into their family... offer yourself up as payment.)"

my brows furrowed as i turned to malia, watching the way her face twisted in shock.

the idea lingered in my mind for a moment—a ridiculous, infuriating possibility. then, before i could fully process it, my frustration boiled over. without another word, i spun on my heel and stormed out of the room, my cute pajamas fluttering around me as my hips swayed with each determined step.

the muffled sound of shouting hit me before i even reached the study. i stopped just outside the door, my breath catching as the voices grew louder.

screaming.

my body moved on autopilot as i shoved the door open, not caring about what or who i might interrupt.

inside, the scene hit me like a punch to the gut. my father and brother were being beaten to a pulp by castello and his brothers. fists flew, grunts of pain filled the air, and the sight of nico crumpling against the wall made my heart stop.

"what the mierda!? (fuck!)" i yelled, my voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

all eyes turned to me, and for a brief moment, everything froze.

one of castello's brothers had just landed a punch on nico, and my protective instincts flared. pointing a sharp finger at my father, i marched into the room with all the fury i could muster. "no me ibas a decir que les debes millones a estas perras? (you weren't going to tell me that you owe millions to these bitches?)"

my father, slumped against a chair, looked at me through bloodshot, bruised eyes. "it wasn't your place to know, mija. (darling.)"

before i could retort, malia burst into the room, her expression a mix of confusion and fear. she froze for a moment, taking in the scene, before her gaze landed on nico.

"what the hell is going on?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

i didn't bother answering her. "get nico out of here," i ordered instead, gesturing toward the door.

to my surprise, nico reached for malia—an odd gesture coming from someone as stoic as him. there was no time to question it. malia helped him up, supporting his weight as he leaned heavily on her. they stumbled out of the room, leaving me alone with castello, his brothers, and my father.

i turned my attention back to castello, crossing my arms as i glared at him. "tell your brothers to leave."

they exchanged glances, but before either could respond, castello raised a hand. "stop," he commanded as they moved toward the door. he motioned for ares to leave, but atlas hesitated, turning back around.

"just ares," castello clarified. atlas frowned but obeyed, though not before shooting me a look of disdain. ares shut the door quietly behind him.

my gaze sharpened. "why is he allowed to stay?"

"oh, shut up, cagna (bitch)," atlas snapped, only for castello to cut him off.

"he's my right-hand man."

i rolled my eyes, the weight of everything threatening to crush me. "what the fuck is this debt?"

castello's jaw tightened, his patience visibly thinning. "your father owes my family..." he took a deliberate step closer, his presence suffocating. "... eight million... dollars." his words landed heavily, each syllable a nail in the coffin.

i stared at his chest, the proximity making my pulse race, before lifting my eyes to meet his. then, turning to my father, i said firmly, "me voy a ofrecer. (i'm going to offer myself up.)"

"you min—" castello started to protest, but i cut him off, turning my focus back to him. "what about me?"

his brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering in his expression. atlas looked at him, his face a mix of disbelief and rage.

"you?" atlas barked.

my father slammed a hand on the desk, his frustration boiling over. "mija, piensa en lo que estás haciendo! (darling, think about what you're doing!)"

i turned my head to glare at him. "i know what i'm doing."

castello seemed to be processing my words, his intense gaze never leaving mine.

atlas scoffed, his anger bubbling over. "bro, you're actually considering this? she's part of the spanish mafia, for christ's sake!"

castello glanced at him, his expression unreadable. then, his lips curled into the hint of a smirk. "it's not a bad idea..."

he looked back at me. "papà vuole già che io abbia una moglie. (dad already wants me to have a wife.)"

i couldn't believe it. he was actually considering it.

"you get a marriage, my family's resources..." i let the words hang in the air before continuing, "my family's debts get paid."

castello turned to my father, his tone calm but firm. "posso avere contratti redatti entro un'ora? (i can have contracts drawn up within the hour?)"

my father, reluctant but resigned, nodded. "sí. (yes)"

he agreed. and just like that, my fate was sealed.

within two hours, my life changed.

i was signing... and signing... and signing.

it felt endless, the weight of every signature pressing down on me. the pen felt heavy in my hand, and i swear, if i signed one more page, my finger might've fallen off. each stroke felt like sealing my fate—an irreversible act of surrender.

this was hell.

i stood in my father's office, the atmosphere suffocating. castello lingered in the corner like a shadow, his presence impossible to ignore.

"this perra (bitch)," i muttered under my breath, glancing at him.

this was the first time we'd been alone since that night. and, let me tell you, the air was charged. thick with tension—the kind that made your skin prickle and your heartbeat quicken. it wasn't just anger. it was something deeper, darker, and far more dangerous.

"is there a problem, principessa? (princess)" his voice was low, teasing, as he poured himself a glass of whiskey from my father's collection, the amber liquid catching the light.

"don't call me that," i snapped, rubbing my temples. the pounding in my head was relentless, a mix of stress, exhaustion, and the overwhelming realization that my life was no longer my own.

his smirk deepened as he took a slow sip, watching me like he could see every thought running through my mind.

i glanced down at the thick stack of papers in my hand. i'd only skimmed through the contract while signing it—pressure mounting with every page shoved in front of me.

probably a bad idea. scratch that—definitely a bad idea. chalk it up to my first big mistake as an adult.

and now, here i was. trapped. no way out. just me and him.

"you should go pack up your stuff," he said, his tone as sharp as the edges of the whiskey glass in his hand.

i froze for a second, the words settling in. then, standing with as much dignity as i could muster, i clutched the contract and started for the door.

just before stepping out, i glanced back at him, my lips curling into a defiant smirk. "oh, i guess i will! just so you know... i don't pack light."

his dark eyes glinted with amusement, and as i turned, i heard his reply, smug and dripping with condescension. "i wouldn't expect anything less from someone like you."

he chuckled, the sound low and grating, and it ignited something in me.

without missing a beat, i turned around and flipped him off, my middle finger raised high in the air like a victory flag.

he didn't stop laughing, and as much as i hated to admit it, his reaction only made my blood boil more.

i went upstairs to my room, the weight of everything crashing down on me. as i pushed the door open, the first thing i saw was elise perched on the edge of my bed, scrolling through her phone with a frown of concentration. nico sat in the nearby chair, his face battered, while malia carefully dabbed at his wounds with a damp cloth.

"nico, are you okay?" i asked, my voice cracking as i crossed the room.

"yeah, i'm fine," he said, though the angry black eye on his face told a very different story.

"the real question is, are you—" he started, but i cut him off sharply. "don't," i said, the lump in my throat threatening to spill over into tears.

malia glanced up, concern etched into her features. "what happened?" she asked gently. elise, completely ignoring my entrance, stood up from the bed, her attention locked on her phone.

"okay, you wanna pu—" elise began but stopped short when her eyes finally met mine.

i swallowed hard, looking at each of them in turn. "well..." my voice broke, and the tears i'd been holding back finally came. "i'm getting married... in three weeks."

the room fell silent as the words hung heavy in the air.

"i'm so sorry," nico began, holding out a hand as though to comfort me, but i backed away.

"i'm fine," i muttered, though it was anything but true.

i retreated into the en suite bathroom, turning the shower on full blast as if the sound of rushing water could drown out everything crashing through my mind.

"this is all my fault," nico said after a moment, his voice heavy with guilt. he winced as malia cleaned a particularly nasty gash on his arm.

"no, it's not," malia replied firmly, flicking him lightly on the side of his head. "it's your father's fault. don't take on his mess."

nico let out a shaky sigh, his head hanging low.

elise, clearly uncomfortable with the heavy mood, got up abruptly. "i'm gonna grab a dr pepper," she announced, heading for the door without waiting for a reply.

with elise gone, the room was quieter—more vulnerable. nico tugged lightly on malia's arm, pulling her closer. "i love you," he whispered, a single tear slipping down his face. he didn't try to hide it; he knew he could be vulnerable with her.

malia hesitated only a moment before leaning in, and their lips met in a soft, tender kiss.

i stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, the steam following me like a shroud. thankfully, i didn't notice anything going on between them—i was too distracted, too broken.

my eyes barely registered them as i walked to the closet, sliding the pocket doors shut behind me. i pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a loose shirt, tying my hair up into a messy bun.

when i came back out, elise was returning, her hair slightly tousled.

malia smirked. "who did you fuck?" she teased.

elise grinned, completely unabashed. "oh, just that hot guy who pointed a gun at me earlier. he put it in—best... sex... ever!"

they exchanged laughter, though it faltered as the sound of muffled sobs reached their ears.

"we should leave her alone," malia said softly, and elise nodded, taking a sip of her dr pepper as they quietly exited the room.

alone in my closet, i started packing. the silence was deafening, broken only by the rustle of clothes and the soft thud of my suitcase being filled. tears spilled freely down my face, no longer able to hold them back.

desperate for comfort, i grabbed my phone and dialed mariana's number.

it only took two rings for her to answer. "mariana..." i sobbed, her name barely audible through my cries.

"camila, son las 5 am... ¿qué pasa? (camila, it's 5 am... what's going on?)" her voice was groggy but instantly alert with concern.

the realization hit me—she was in dubai with haiden for the week. i shouldn't have called her.

"oh... siento haberte molestado. estoy bien. (sorry for bothering you. i'm fine,)" i said, my breath shaky as i quickly ended the call.

but mariana knew me too well.

she would never believe that everything was fine.

because it wasn't.

i continued packing, the process stretching on for what felt like hours—because it was. by the end of it, 90% of my wardrobe was gone, carefully folded and tucked into six suitcases and a trunk.

with every item packed, the reality of my situation became heavier. the next step was the ceremony, now scheduled to take place in two weeks... in sicily.

i wanted to get married in spain.

once the last suitcase was zipped and hauled to the foyer, i said my goodbyes.

i looked at elise and malia, my voice barely above a whisper. "i guess i'll see you in two weeks..."

they both hugged me tightly, offering quiet reassurances i barely registered.

my goodbyes with everyone else were short—strained. i shared a longer moment with my younger brother and my mom, though even those words felt hollow. as the staff loaded my bags into the waiting cars, a single thought crossed my mind: at least the debt was solved.

i slid into one of the blacked-out cadillacs, the leather seats cold beneath me. castello was seated beside me, already on his phone.

he didn't look at me. he was yelling, as he often seemed to do, barking commands in italian to whoever was unfortunate enough to be on the other end of the line.

the car ride to the airport was otherwise silent, save for the faint hum of the engine. every second made me question what i'd done, whether this was the right choice—or even a choice at all.

when we pulled up to the private jet, i stepped out, clutching my coat tighter as a sharp breeze cut through the air. the cold hit like a slap, JFK's runways unforgiving in winter.

i watched as my luggage was carefully loaded into the jet's cargo hold, anxiety bubbling up in my chest.

"what are you doing?" castello snapped, his tone sharp enough to slice through the cold.

i turned to glare at him. "i'm making sure they don't damage my shit!" i shot back, my voice louder than i intended.

he rolled his eyes.

before i could react, i felt his arms around my waist as he hoisted me over his shoulder like i weighed nothing.

"castello!" i yelled, pounding at his back with my fists. "put me down!"

i squirmed, kicking my legs in protest, but it was useless.

he carried me onto the jet, ignoring my protests, and unceremoniously dropped me onto one of the plush seats.

"stubborn as hell," he muttered, settling into the seat across from me.

i glared at him, crossing my arms and refusing to dignify his comment with a response.

it was a long flight, and i wanted no part of him. turning away, i curled up in my seat, the hum of the engines lulling me to sleep.

somewhere in the middle of the night, my phone buzzed.

castello was asleep—finally.

rubbing my eyes, i fumbled with my phone, the dim glow of the screen making me wince. the wifi on the jet had finally kicked in.

i answered quickly, slipping into the bathroom for privacy.

"mariana..." i whispered, pressing the phone to my ear.

her voice came through, groggy but laced with concern. "dad just told me what happened... i'm coming to sicily."

my breath hitched, the tears forming again.

"thank you..." i choked out, leaning against the cold bathroom counter.

we talked for what felt like hours, the first real comfort i'd felt since this nightmare began. i vented everything—my anger, my fear, the deep ache of being thrust into this situation.

but the call ended abruptly as she boarded her own flight.

the line went dead, and i stared at the screen for a moment longer, letting the silence fill the small space.

for the first time in what felt like forever, i wasn't alone.

even in this mess, mariana was coming.

rory's notes!

this chapter is shorter BUTTT ANOTHER DOOZY!!!

malia... sleeping with your best friend's brother is NOT CUTE! elise and atlas? girl me 2

[explosuion]

chapter 2 - 'first meet' ⋆⁺₊✧

the blaring sound of my alarm clock jolted me awake, eliciting a groan as i instinctively reached out to silence it. my body protested with every stretch as i swung my legs off the bed and stood up. the familiar aches of morning stiffness faded as i raised my arms, stretching fully.

i glanced to my left and saw the girls sprawled out across the bed, their soft snores filling the air. careful not to wake them, i tiptoed across the room and slipped into the bathroom, closing the door with a quiet click.

once inside, i took a deep breath and made my way to the toilet. the cold floor tiles under my feet jolted me further awake. after finishing my business, i washed my hands thoroughly, the cool water a refreshing start to my morning routine.

as i stood at the sink, brushing my teeth, my phone buzzed on the counter, displaying a caller id. i paused mid-swipe, squinting at the screen. mariana. a small smile crept onto my face.

mariana was my older sister, and among all my siblings, we shared the closest bond. she had an uncanny ability to brighten my mood, and on a nerve-wracking day like this, i knew her voice would be a balm to my nerves.

i answered the call and pressed the phone to my ear. "hey!" i greeted her, my voice bright despite my sleepy state.

"i'm almost there," she said, her voice warm and reassuring.

"ahh, yes! finally!" i exclaimed, the excitement bubbling in my chest.

"you're bringing alcohol, right? martinis?" i asked, a teasing lilt in my voice.

she let out a mock scoff. "you and your damn martinis," she chuckled.

"come on, you know they're the best," i replied with a laugh.

"okay, i'm pulling up now," she informed me.

"great—"

before i could finish, the call ended abruptly.

"this puta, (whore)" i muttered under my breath, shaking my head with a smirk.

i set my phone down and returned to the bedroom, my footsteps intentionally heavy. the sound stirred the girls awake, their groggy faces lifting from the pillows.

"wake up, putas! (whores)" i declared with mock authority.

malia groaned first, sitting up with a dramatic flair. "perra, no interrumpas mi sueño. (bitch, do not interrupt my sleep)"

i rolled my eyes. "cállate la boca, perra. te desperté porque mariana probablemente ya paso seguridad. (shut the fuck up, bitch. i woke your ass up because mariana is probably past security by now.)"

malia opened her mouth to argue but was cut short by the sound of my bedroom door swinging open. all heads turned as mariana strode in, a bottle of alcohol in her hand.

"hey, perras, (bitches)" she greeted us with a playful grin, crossing the room to pull me into a warm hug before turning to malia. elise remained buried in the covers, unmoved by the commotion.

"elise, wake up!" i nudged her with my foot.

"why the hell are you yelling at 10 am?" she grumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow. "i don't want to get up."

"lazy ass," i shot back, rolling my eyes. my attention flicked to the bottle in mariana's hand, and i snatched it gently. twisting off the cap, i took a long sip, savoring the taste.

elise peeked out from under her blanket. "do you have pink whitney?"

mariana smirked and handed her a bottle. "of course."

elise sat up and took a swig, while malia took hits from her dab pen.

malia exhaled a cloud of smoke and turned to me. "when are you meeting the groom-to-be?"

"10PM" i replied, wiping my mouth.

she nodded, her attention shifting back to her pen. mariana took a puff from her vape and blew the smoke playfully in my direction.

"uh-uh!" i protested, waving the smoke away. "gross."

the moment was interrupted by the door bursting open. nico, my brother, stormed in, his disapproving gaze sweeping over the scene—the alcohol, the dab pen, the laughter.

"drugs and alcohol. why am i not surprised?" he said dryly, shaking his head. his tone dripped with disdain. "mariana," he greeted with a nod, "welcome back. i hope marriage is treating you well."

mariana rolled her eyes. "like you actually care about my marriage."

"you're right. i don't," nico admitted with a smug smirk.

their glares clashed in an unspoken battle, the tension in the room thick.

i broke the silence with a sigh. "what the hell do you want, nico?" i crossed my arms, glaring at him.

"just reminding you about today," he said, his voice laced with condescension. "and maybe try staying sober for it?" he smirked before walking out.

"fuck off," i muttered, flipping him the bird as he left.

mariana chuckled, and elise stretched, finally looking more awake. "should we start getting ready?" she asked, stifling a yawn.

i checked the time and nodded. "yeah, let's get ready—and maybe do some shopping after."

the girls and i sprang into action, gathering our clothes and makeup. as we prepared, elio joined us, cracking jokes and making the morning feel less daunting.

while we were sifting through outfits, elio had already slipped out of the room. i turned to mariana, breaking the silence. "so, how are you and haiden?"

haiden was the leader of the american mafia, and their marriage was arranged by our father. what started as a business deal turned into love—they had been smitten with each other from the beginning. now, two years into their marriage, they were still deeply in love.

mariana glanced up from where she sat on the edge of the bed, her hands fiddling with the strap of her bag. i leaned against the doorframe, watching her expression soften. "we're really good," she said, her lips curving into a small smile. "he's already talking about kids, though. but, i just wanna live out my twenties first, you know?" she added with a frown, her fingers absentmindedly twisting a ring on her finger.

i chimed in. "and, as father would say, you need to give him an heir soon."

mariana's glare could have melted steel. "yeah, but i don't fucking want to, and he needs to get over it. there's plenty of time for all that," she snapped, her voice sharp with defiance.

i turned back to my closet, finally pulling out an outfit that screamed sexy casual but still carried a touch of class—a statement that said i wasn't a puta. i slipped it on and paired it with one of the designer bags i'd splurged on with my inheritance. some sleek heels completed the look.

as i stepped out of the bathroom, the faint click of my heels echoed through the room. i glanced at my phone to check the time. "okay, girls, let's get shopping!" i said, a grin tugging at my lips.

we grabbed our things and headed down the stairwell. as we descended, my mood soured at the sight of nico blocking the front door. his arms were crossed behind his back, a smirk plastered across his face.

"what the fuck do you want?" i spat, rolling my eyes so hard i thought they might get stuck.

"going out, are we?" he said, eyeing each of us with exaggerated curiosity.

i tried to sidestep him, but he shifted to block my way, his teasing grin growing wider.

"get the fuck out of my way, nico," i snapped, shoving past him with a force that made him stumble slightly.

he spun around, laughing as he caught his balance. "oh, come on, sis. i'm just teasing you," he said, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation.

as he turned to the other girls, his gaze landed on malia. their eyes locked for a moment, a tension sparking in the air that no one else seemed to notice. the moment passed quickly, and nico resumed his usual antics, but the lingering weight of that glance hung in my mind as we stepped out the door.

we made our way to the mercedes-benz that the chauffeur had kindly brought around. the four of us slid into the car, buckled up, and settled in as we pulled away from the residence, security vehicles following closely behind.

elise was in her own world, busy snapping selfies and adjusting her angles for the perfect shot. malia had her airpods in, scrolling endlessly on tiktok and taking casual hits from her dab pen. mariana, always the dj, was scrolling through playlists to pick the perfect songs for the ride. i sat in the driver's seat, my hands on the wheel as i navigated us through the streets.

"i'm gonna get something to wear tonight," i announced as we stopped at a red light.

"like what? lingerie?" elise quipped, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.

"ew, elise! i am not a puta! (whore)" i shot back, rolling my eyes at her. the light turned green, and i pressed the gas, the hum of the engine filling the momentary silence. "but no, i was thinking something classy. maybe a fur coat? i mean, they're russian, right? isn't it always cold in moscow?"

malia didn't respond, her attention still glued to her phone. mariana, however, chimed in. "you better still be able to contact us if you end up in russia."

i adjusted my hair, keeping my focus on the road. "honestly, i hope he's the biggest asshole so i can just say no," i declared as we stopped at another red light.

malia finally took out one of her airpods, her eyes darting between us. "what are you guys even talking about?" she asked, looking mildly confused.

mariana gave her an unimpressed look. "you need to be cut off like elise," she said, nodding toward malia's dab pen.

malia's hand instinctively tightened around it. "hands off!" she snapped defensively.

mariana rolled her eyes, smirking. "fucking druggie," she teased.

malia's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp. "what did you just fucking say?"

"yo, calm down. it was a joke," mariana said, holding her hands up in mock surrender.

elise quickly put her hands between them, her tone soothing. "guys, relax. let's not fight."

i let out a scoff, gripping the wheel tighter. "yeah, especially while i'm driving. don't make me pull over and leave your asses on the curb," i warned, half-serious but still annoyed.

the tension dissipated, and the car settled into a calmer rhythm as the city rolled past us, the playlist mariana finally picked playing softly in the background.

the car settled into a calm silence as we pulled up to the mall. stepping out, we were immediately flanked by our security detail, their presence subtle but unmistakable. it didn't matter where we went—especially as a group—all eyes always seemed to land on us.

inside the mall, it was the same story. whispers, glances, and lingering stares followed us through the high-end stores. we didn't pay them any mind. instead, we indulged, darting from shop to shop, swiping cards without hesitation. thousands of dollars spent in mere hours, and none of us batted an eye.

it's a rich people thing.

i found myself in the changing room of a luxury boutique, slipping into an outfit i had picked out—a sultry black dress that hugged my curves perfectly, paired with a lavish black fur coat. i adjusted the coat on my shoulders and walked out to join the girls, striking a playful pose. "so? what do we think?"

mariana's lips parted, but before she could respond, elise cut in. "i think you should get lingerie," she said with a smirk, crossing her legs and taking a slow hit from her vape.

my jaw clenched as i tried to keep my voice low. "i am not getting fucking lingerie!"

"why not?" she pressed, her tone light but teasing. "it could be sexy."

rolling my eyes, i retorted sharply, "there is nothing sexy about tonight. i am not having sex with him!"

malia, who had been scrolling through her phone, barely looked up. "that's a first," she said under her breath.

i whipped my head toward her, fixing her with a death glare. "you better shut the fuck up," i snapped.

her eyes narrowed, her voice turning cold. "don't speak to me that way." she raised her dab pen and took a long hit, the faint cloud of smoke curling around her like a shield of defiance.

the tension between us was palpable, but i bit my tongue, deciding not to escalate further. instead, i turned back to the mirror, brushing off the moment as best as i could.

we walked around the mall, bags in hand, with some of the security team carrying even more bags behind us. it wasn't unusual for our outings to end like this—half shopping spree, half spectacle.

"should we go home?" mariana asked, her voice laced with exhaustion.

"my feet are killing me!" elise groaned, leaning heavily against one of the many bags she carried.

malia glanced down at elise's stilettos, a smirk forming on her lips. "well, look at your shoes, idiot," she shot back with a teasing tone.

elise rolled her eyes, already gearing up for a retort. "you know wh—"

"relax, guys," i interjected, cutting her off before the bickering could spiral. "let's just head home."

we made our way to the elevator leading to the parking garage. the small space felt even smaller with all our bags, security, and ourselves crammed inside. somehow, we made it work without stepping on each other's toes too much.

once we reached the parking garage, we wasted no time. the trunk of the mercedes-benz was popped open, and we quickly stuffed the bags inside before climbing into the car. the soft thud of doors closing signaled we were ready to leave.

i slid into the driver's seat and buckled my seatbelt, the faint clicks from the other girls doing the same echoing in the car. flipping open the mirror on the sun visor, i began applying a fresh layer of lip gloss, checking my reflection as i worked.

"god, i could really use an orgasm right now," elise blurted out, breaking the silence.

i froze for a moment, glaring at her through the mirror. "you are disgusting."

malia, who had been scrolling on her phone, looked up with a deadpan expression. "that's not classy. that's not cute," she added, shaking her head disapprovingly.

elise wasn't having it. "malia, shut the fuck up! because we all know who was balls dee—"

malia cut her off sharply. "elise, let's not. we all know there's someone new in your bed every other day."

i raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them before focusing back on the road. "malia, what is she talking about?" i asked, smirking slightly. "balls deep? who?" i added, letting out a small laugh.

malia waved it off, brushing the comment aside. "she has no idea what she's talking about."

mariana, as usual, stayed out of the chaos. her attention was fixed on her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen as she texted haiden.

i snapped the mirror shut, put the car in reverse, and backed out of the parking spot. shifting into drive, we began the journey home, security close behind to ensure our safety.

the car ride was unusually quiet, with everyone absorbed in their phones. honestly, i didn't mind—it gave me a moment of peace while navigating the roads.

when we pulled up to the house, elio was already waiting at the front door. as soon as we parked, he jogged over to the car, reaching for some of the bags.

"don't damage my shit," elise said bluntly, exhaling a cloud of vape smoke as she handed him a few bags.

elio frowned, clutching the bags tightly. "i'm not one to break things," he muttered, clearly annoyed.

inside the house, we were greeted by my mother and brother. i groaned internally at the sight of nico, but thankfully, he didn't say anything this time.

the girls and i walked past him and headed straight up to my room, where mariana closed the door behind us. i pulled out my phone to check the time. "it's already eight," i sighed.

"why is the meeting so damn late?" malia asked, flopping onto the bed.

"they want to meet over a late dinner at some random restaurant," i explained, walking to my nightstand. opening the drawer, i grabbed my dab pen, taking a long inhale before exhaling a cloud of smoke.

elise glanced at me, examining her nails. "you're gonna need as much of that as you can get to ease your nerves," she said casually.

malia stood up suddenly. "i'll be right back," she announced, heading for the door.

"where are you going?" i asked, but she didn't respond. she shut the door behind her, and i figured she was grabbing some water or something.

twenty minutes later, malia returned, her hair slightly disheveled and her skin glistening with sweat. we all turned to look at her.

"where did you go?" i asked, standing in the doorway of my closet.

"i just... went to take a shit," she replied quickly, her tone defensive as she took a hit from her dab pen.

i raised an eyebrow, pointing toward the en suite bathroom. "there's a bathroom right there," i said, skepticism lacing my voice.

there was a pause before she snapped back, "yeah, well, i didn't want anyone listening while i'm trying to take a shit."

i shrugged, deciding not to push further, but something about her explanation felt off.

an hour and forty minutes later, i glanced at my phone to check the time again. the night was creeping closer, and so was the meeting.

9:40 pm

shit. we were supposed to be there by 10. i was rushing to finish getting ready, the heat of the curling iron warming my hand as i twirled another strand of hair.

the door suddenly swung open.

emilio stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room, taking in the scattered drinks and faint clouds of smoke curling around my friends.

"of course," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

i peeked my head out from the bedroom, still tethered to the outlet. "dad!"

mariana's voice was filled with surprise. she hadn't seen him in months, and she was quick to jump up and give him a hug. emilio returned it warmly before his attention turned to me.

"camila, we're almost ready to leave," he said, his tone clipped but calm.

i met his gaze, curling wand still in hand. "okay, well, i'm not," i replied, lacing my words with irritation.

i could see the flicker of frustration in his eyes, the kind that came right before he'd lose his temper. "i don't understand why you couldn't have gotten ready earlier."

"deal with it," i muttered under my breath, watching him leave the room with a shake of his head.

the girls and i blasted music while i finished getting ready.

by 9:50, i was finally done. i stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection. the outfit i chose was stunning—sophisticated yet striking. it was perfect.

stepping out of the bathroom, i gathered my belongings, stuffing them into my purse as quickly as i could.

"you look beautiful!" mariana said with a genuine smile, her voice cutting through the low hum of music.

elise and malia were already passed out, sprawled on the couch and bed. it was just us two awake.

"thank you," i replied, returning her smile. i checked my reflection one last time in the mirror. "well, i guess i'll see you guys after."

i left the room and made my way downstairs, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

emilio was waiting by the door, his phone pressed to his ear. he didn't say a word to me, and i didn't bother breaking the silence as we waited for the car to be brought around.

when the car arrived, we slipped into the backseat. the chauffeur was already in the driver's seat, and we pulled away from the house.

the ride was quiet, tension simmering between us. my father was obviously annoyed that we were running late, but i wasn't in the mood to acknowledge it. he'd have to get over it.

finally, he broke the silence.

"camila, realmente necesito que cooperes conmigo. déjame hablar cuando lleguemos allí, (camila, i really need you to cooperate with me. let me do the talking when we get there.)" he said in a calm but firm voice, his thick spanish accent wrapping around the words.

i scoffed, turning to face him. "are you fucking serious? you must be joking right now."

his tone softened slightly, trying to ease the tension. "es solo para nuestra seguridad, mija. (it's just for our safety, darling.)"

i crossed my arms, slumping back into the seat with a dramatic sigh. turning my attention to the window, i watched as the lights of the city blurred past.

as we pulled up to the restaurant, the driver got out first and made his way around the car to open the door for me. i stepped out as he held the door open. "thank you," i said softly. he nodded and waited for my father to get out after me, then closed the door behind him.

security followed us as we walked through the restaurant and into a private dining room.

"stop."

we were greeted by vladimir's security. i rolled my eyes as one of them reached for my bag, rummaging through the contents before handing it back to me.

after the search, we were allowed to approach the table. a tall blonde man with piercing blue eyes stood up and turned to face us.

he greeted my father first, offering a firm handshake before his gaze fell on me.

"... and you must be—"

"camila," i cut him off, my tone sharp. he nodded slightly, clearly taking note of my demeanor.

my father and i sat down next to each other, a deliberate choice on my part so i could nudge him if i felt uncomfortable.

the conversation started civil enough, with vladimir diving into the details of the contract.

and then, the tone shifted.

he smirked, leaning back in his chair, and said something that made my stomach churn.

"... could i have her tonight?" he asked my father, his eyes flicking back to me. "you know... like a test run?"

the words hung in the air like poison. my father slammed his hands against the table, the sound echoing in the room. he stood abruptly, his expression a mix of fury and disgust.

"fucking pinchazo, (prick.)" he spat, his voice dripping with venom, before grabbing his whiskey and taking a long sip.

i snapped out of my daze, the full weight of vladimir's words settling in. my face twisted in disgust as i glared at him.

"you're fucking disgusting," i said, my voice cold and steady.

my father grabbed my hand, not giving vladimir the chance to respond, and practically dragged me out of the room. our security followed closely behind as we made our way to the car.

once inside, the silence was deafening.

my father finally broke it, his voice low and tinged with regret. "you know, i would never put you in a situation like that, right?"

i turned to him, clutching my fur coat tightly around me. "yet, you're forcing me to marry someone," i shot back.

he looked at me, his jaw tightening. "camila... it's protocol. i don't understand what the big deal is. mariana did it, and you see how well it's working—"

"it's working out for her because they've been in love since high school!" i interrupted, my voice rising with frustration.

he clenched his jaw, his silence heavy with unspoken words.

"yeah, whatever," he muttered finally, turning his gaze out the window.

we pulled up to the house after some time, the headlights of the car illuminating the driveway as we came to a stop. i got out of the car, slamming the door behind me in a fit of anger. the cold air hit my face as i stormed up the steps to the front door, my heels clicking loudly on the pavement. the house felt too quiet, like it was waiting for something.

malia woke up from her slumber as the door slammed shut, groggily rubbing her eyes. "bro, can you shut the fuck up?" she muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow.

i rolled my eyes in annoyance. she was probably still half asleep. she rolled back over and went back to bed, not caring about my obvious frustration. i took off my fur coat, tossing it haphazardly around my room. the luxury fabric barely made a sound as it hit the floor. it was always like this—everything perfect on the outside, but empty on the inside.

as i undressed and got ready for bed, my thoughts were still clouded with what had happened that night. i had almost been sold off to a disgusting man as some kind of prize, all for a so-called "contract" my father kept mentioning. it made me sick.

finally, i crawled into bed, the cool sheets soothing against my skin. i closed my eyes, hoping for some escape, but sleep didn't come easily.

five days later, after multiple miserable meetings, we found ourselves face-to-face with more potential suitors. but none of them seemed right. the first one was a creepy old man who couldn't stop staring at me like i was some sort of object. the second one barely spoke, only grunted and sipped his drink. the third had the audacity to whisper something about chaining me up when we got married.

i shuddered just thinking about it.

that evening, we sat around the dinner table, my family trying to pretend everything was normal. the meal was just as stiff as the air around us. i could feel the tension like a thick blanket, suffocating me.

"mommy?" i said softly, trying to break the awkward silence. "could you pass the mashed potatoes?" i looked up to find her staring at me, her face cold and emotionless as she handed me the bowl.

as i began scooping the potatoes onto my plate, mariana broke the silence with a wide grin. "so, camila! how's the husband searching going?" her voice was annoyingly chipper. i gave her a pointed glare. "horrible," i sighed heavily, pushing the food around my plate.

i heard haiden walk into the room, his phone still in his hand. he quickly tucked it into his pocket before leaning down to kiss mariana on the cheek. "sorry about that," he mumbled, pulling out his chair and sitting down beside her.

malia and nico entered shortly after, taking their seats. the sound of silverware clinking against plates filled the room as everyone continued eating, though no one seemed to be enjoying the meal.

my father, ever the authoritarian, looked at nico across the table. "nico. remember, we have a meeting with the sicilians," he said in his usual cold tone, taking a bite of his food without looking up.

nico nodded stiffly, his eyes barely meeting my father's.

romeo and amelie, malia's and elise's siblings, joined us at the table. they found seats and began eating, but the atmosphere was suffocating. there were no real conversations, just the mechanical movements of people pretending to be a family.

once dinner was over, mariana and haiden left. then malia and romeo, followed by elise and amelie. as i said my goodbyes, i quickly made my way upstairs to my bedroom, eager to be alone.

in the bathroom, i slathered on a face mask, trying to calm myself. after brushing my teeth, i changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed. i took a hit of my pen, the cool vapor soothing my nerves as i turned on a random movie to pass the time.

the minutes dragged on as i waited for the timer to go off. once it did, i got out of bed, removed my face mask, and completed the rest of my night routine before climbing back into bed.

sleep finally took over me, but it wasn't peaceful. the thoughts of what happened at the meeting kept intruding, and i couldn't shake the feeling that something worse was coming.

the next morning, i was jolted awake by the sound of ruckus downstairs. i heard shouting, the deep rumble of male voices mixed with the shrillness of female voices. something wasn't right.

i quickly climbed out of bed and crept toward the door, trying to be as quiet as possible. the voices grew louder as i descended the stairs, and when i reached the living room, i froze. the sight before me made my blood run cold.

a young man with dark hair and a dangerous look was standing in the middle of the room, a gun aimed directly at my family. my heart raced as i looked around. several more men stood nearby, all armed. the once peaceful living room now felt like a warzone.

"god, how many people are there," atlas muttered from behind the gunman, rolling his eyes. i immediately threw my hands up in surrender. "what the hell!" i yelled, my voice trembling.

i quickly took in my surroundings. my family was all seated, hands raised or on the floor in compliance, as men with guns stood around them. panic gripped me—where was our security?

before i could process what was happening, someone shoved me to the ground. their hands were strong, firm, as they guided me across the floor. i stumbled but didn't fall, my knees scraping against the floor.

"you," the man growled, pointing at me. "over there." he ordered, like i was some servant or lesser being. i could feel the rage building inside me, but i kept my head down, not daring to fight back. i crawled over toward my family, my body shaking with adrenaline.

out of the corner of my eye, i saw elise. she was eye-fucking one of the men who had been pointing a gun at me, but now his attention was fully on her. it sickened me. how could she act like that in a moment like this?

i lifted my head just enough to make eye contact with the man standing in the center of the room, his face frozen in recognition. my breath caught in my throat.

it was him.

the guy i had slept with nearly a week ago.

he stared at me for what felt like forever, his jaw clenched tight as he processed the situation. the air between us thickened, a thousand questions unspoken between us.

but one thing was clear.

this was far from over.

rory's notes! the ending??? hello? i wonder what will happen next chapter😛😉

this chapter was a doozy. 😭😂

[explosuion]

chapter 1 - 'pilot' ⋆⁺₊✧

my head was pounding. last night was my 19th birthday, and somehow, i woke up in a stranger's hotel room.

great.

this couldn't be real. with the hangover pounding through my skull, i half-wondered if i was hallucinating. i rolled over and grabbed my phone from the nightstand, squinting at the screen.

8:42 AM.

it was too fucking early for this.

i groaned as i sat up, the oversized bed making me feel even smaller than i already did. looking around the room, i spotted my discarded clothes scattered across the floor. i scrambled out of bed, snatching them up one by one and slipping them back on.

after running my fingers through my hair and tossing on my sunglasses and coat, i reached for my purse to leave. but before i could head out the door, something caught my eye.

a couple hundred-dollar bills were sticking out of the man's pants pocket. in the other pocket, i saw something darker, heavier—a gun.

panic flashed through me. without a second thought, i bolted out of the room, practically sprinting to the elevator. as the doors closed, i forced myself to block out the image of the gun, shoving it to the back of my mind.

once i was on the street, i pulled out my phone and immediately facetime'd elise and malia.

elise is my cousin—our moms are sisters, which made us inseparable. malia is our best friend, basically family. the three of us had been through everything together.

it didn't take long for them to pick up.

"whaat?" malia snapped groggily, her irritation clear.

my mouth fell open slightly at her tone. "perra, no me grites, apenas son las 9 am!" i yelled back in spanish. (bitch, don't yell at me, it's only 9 am!)

"shut the fuck up, camila. the fuck is the matter with you?" malia shot back.

"can you guys just shut the fuck up?" elise groaned, rubbing her temples. "i have a headache."

i rolled my eyes as i walked down the street. spotting a coffee shop, i suddenly craved donuts and caffeine.

snapping out of my thoughts, i glanced down at my phone. "hey, do you girls wanna meet me at this coffee shop on..." i quickly rattled off the address, and they both agreed.

it took them fifteen minutes to get there. as they approached, i rolled my eyes behind my sunglasses, already annoyed. once they sat down, i didn't waste any time.

"you guys, last night was el mejor sexo de mi vida." i declared, taking a sip of my coffee. (the best sex of my life.)

malia burst out laughing. "puta," she teased, her voice dripping with mock judgment. (whore.)

"i am not a puta!" i protested, crossing my arms and shooting her a disgusted look. elise, of course, giggled at malia's jab.

"i hate you guys," i muttered, glaring at them both before taking a bite of my donut. "i have no idea what i'm gonna do today."

"what's today?" elise asked, her face blank with confusion.

my blood boiled. "do you not listen to anything i tell you?" i snapped.

malia nudged her arm. "remember? she's picking her husband."

i rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. "you say that with pride, yet it's not going to be fun."

"you need to embrace it," malia said, grabbing my hands and locking eyes with me. "this is the man you're gonna be tied to for the rest of your life."

realization finally dawned on elise's face. "ohh, that husband!"

i stared at her, incredulous. "are you fucking stupid?" my voice dripped with irritation.

"when are you choosing him?" elise asked, sipping her iced coffee and crunching on the ice loudly.

malia slapped the back of elise's head. "can you stop fucking doing that?"

"god, you guys are so annoying," i muttered as elise retaliated, hitting malia's arm in defense.

"fucking stop!" i yelled, my brows furrowing as I slammed my hand on the table. "what the fuck is wrong with you two?"

they froze, staring at me, the tension thick in the air. after a few seconds of silence, elise pointed at malia.

"she fucking hit me!" elise said, glaring daggers at malia.

"i do not give two fucks," i snapped, pushing my chair back as i stood. slipping on my sunglasses with deliberate precision, i added, "i have bigger things happening than sitting around watching you two bicker all day."

without waiting for their reactions, i grabbed my purse and strutted off, my heels clicking against the floor with confidence. i didn't look back—I didn't need to. i could feel their stunned silence behind me, but i didn't care. there were more pressing matters to deal with, and wasting time with their petty arguments wasn't one of them.

later on the day, i opened the door quietly, before i quickly closed it behind me.

elio appeared from the nearby hallway. "finally you're home. where the hell did you wander off last night?" his voice sounded genuinely worried, but also a bit annoyed.

he was referring to the guy, i escaped the club with last night, but he didn't know about the guy, and he certainly did not need too.

"i crashed at malia's." i lied quickly, before scurrying up the stairs to my bedroom.

he scoffed, not buying the act. "liar." he muttered under his breath before leaving the entryway, not wanting to budge, and i was thankful.

after slipping into my bedroom, i closed the door behind me with deliberate care, the soft click of the latch confirming it was shut. from across the house, the sharp, unmistakable sound of yelling carried through the walls. i recognized the voice instantly—my father. of course. as usual.

i let out a heavy sigh, pressing my palms into my face, as if the pressure could somehow dull the pounding headache his shouting only made worse. dragging myself to the en suite bathroom, i opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed the bottle of aspirin.

popping two pills into my mouth, i turned on the faucet, cupped some water in my hands, and swallowed them down, the cold liquid a small reprieve.

before i could even straighten up, the door to my bedroom burst open.

"nico!" i snapped, startled.

he stood in the doorway, exasperated. "camila, what the mierda?" (fuck)

as i walk out of my en suite bathroom, i throw my hand up at nico and head straight for my bed. "nico, i have a fucking dolor de cabeza," (headache) i mutter, pulling the covers over me. i look up at him briefly. "shut the fuck up."

he glares at me, his brows furrowed in frustration. "camila, do you not understand how important today is?"

"is that all you fucking care about?" i snap back, rolling my eyes in disbelief. "are you kidding me?"

he doesn't answer. the silence hangs heavy between us.

i push myself up onto my knees, trying to match his height, my voice sharp and unyielding. "solo porque acepté esta farsa de matrimonio no significa que puedas usarme como un peón en tu propio juego solo para obtener lo que tú y papá quieren," (just because i agreed to this farce of a marriage does not mean you can use me as a pawn in your own game just to get what you want and father want) i say, my thick spanish accent slicing through each word.

his expression hardens, and his tone is icy. "you agreed to it. you said you would do it, so let's get it over with already."

"yesterday was just my birthday!" i snap, anger burning in my chest.

"exactly my point," he says without hesitation.

"god, can we wait a bit first? like, holy shit." i rubbed my temples, trying to ease the tension building in my head.

"no es posible," (not possible) nico said, his tone stern, his expression unwavering. "father arranged meetings with a few men in the industry. you should consider yourself lucky. some families don't even let their child pick."

i rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. "is that a threat, nico?"

"nope," he said casually, shrugging. "just a reminder. you should be grateful." without waiting for a response, he turned and walked to the door.

"fuck you," i muttered, raising my voice just enough to let him hear me.

he chuckled under his breath as he left the room, at least having the human decency to close the door behind him. thank god.

i curled up on my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. the thought of having to choose a husband felt like some twisted joke.

this was going to be fun... or not.

truthfully, i was dreading it.

in the last 45 minutes, i had showered, brushed my teeth, and gone through my skincare routine. the only thing left was my hair, but i couldn't muster the motivation to deal with it.

so, i called elio. he loved doing my hair, and honestly, i needed his calming presence right now.

i was scrolling through my phone when he walked in. without saying a word, he grabbed my hair dryer and got to work.

after a few minutes, he turned it off and started brushing through my hair, the silence between us almost deafening.

"are you nervous?" elio finally asked, his voice soft, breaking the heavy quiet.

"yeah..." i admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. if there was anyone i could be vulnerable around, it was elio. he was always there for me.

"i'm a little scared," i added, letting out a small, nervous laugh. "i'm a total train wreck." i laughed again, trying to lighten the mood, but the weight of the situation still lingered in the air.

"no, you are not," elio reassured me, meeting my eyes through the reflection in the mirror. "it's going to be hard in the beginning, but it's not gonna be so bad." he gave me a small smile before adding, "you are a bad bitch."

i laughed at his words, shaking my head. "you're ridiculous."

"i'm serious!" he insisted, grinning.

"ok, ok, let's stop talking about it," i said, rolling my eyes. "father wants to meet me soon anyway."

his brows furrowed. "you haven't spoken to him yet?"

"no..." i admitted, shaking my head. "i'm dreading it." i glanced down at my phone, busy texting the group chat.

"malia and elise will be here in a few minutes," i told him, setting my phone aside.

"ouu, is malia bringing bud?" he asked, looking at me through the mirror as he turned on the straightener.

"yes, but none for you," i replied, narrowing my eyes at him and making a face. "you're eighteen—hell no."

"i'm a grown adult," he argued, setting down the straightener dramatically.

"fine," i said with an exaggerated eye roll.

just then, elise walked into the room and hopped up onto the sink. i glanced at her through the mirror, then back at my phone. "hey, elise."

a moment later, malia strolled in, joint in hand, as expected. she passed it to me with a teasing smile. "hey, bride-to-be," she said with mock enthusiasm.

"shut up," i muttered, snatching the joint and rolling my eyes before taking a long drag.

"oh, please," she said, grabbing it back and settling next to elise.

elise hit her vape, as usual. she wasn't allowed bud—it made her go nonverbal, and that always drove me nuts.

once elio finished my hair, he left the room, and i started on my makeup.

i glanced down at my phone and froze when i saw a new text message from my father. "oh my god," i said, my voice sharp.

"what!?" elise exclaimed, taking another hit of her vape.

"he just sent me the dates and candidates," i muttered, staring at the screen.

this felt like some twisted version of the bachelorette—except it wasn't about romance. it was just a business transaction. nothing more.

malia and elise immediately got up from their spots, crowding over my phone as if the list on the screen were some forbidden treasure map.

"russians?" malia muttered, her brows raising slightly. she exchanged a glance with elise before looking at me through the mirror.

"i could not imagine you living in russia," elise said, exhaling a puff from her vape.

the thought sent a chill through me. i silently prayed they lived somewhere else—somewhere exotic and far removed from russia's cold winters and stoic culture. but knowing my luck, that was wishful thinking.

"please god, let them have a villa in the south of france or something," i muttered, scrolling further down the list.

my family had roots here in new york, with businesses spread across the city and parts of spain. moving somewhere completely foreign? terrifying.

i scanned the next name on the list, reading it aloud. "mexican cartels... those are a no, right? don't they, like, abuse women?" i spun my chair around to gauge their reactions.

"oh yeah, absolutely not," malia said firmly, her lips pursed. she leaned closer, her finger gliding over the screen to see what was next.

"italians, greeks..." she read aloud, pausing dramatically.

"i think i'm gonna be sick." i muttered, my hand flying to my mouth as the thought of navigating an entirely different culture overwhelmed me.

"well, don't throw up on me," malia said, backing away as if I were contagious.

i rolled my eyes and swiped to the final details on the list. "okay, well, the meeting with the russians is tomorrow at 10PM." i sighed, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me.

malia made a face, "damn, late as hell." she said.

i set my phone down, "father wants to see me." i let out a dramatic sigh.

"then let's get you dressed." elise declared, already heading to my closet with determination. malia and i trailed after her like a pair of lost puppies.

we settled on a tight-fitting dress that hugged my curves perfectly, pairing it with classic louboutins. after smoothing out the fabric and double-checking my reflection, i took a deep breath and walked out of my room.

as i descended the grand staircase, my heels clicking against the marble floors, i focused on each step, letting my hips sway naturally. when i reached the sitting room, i spotted my father standing near the fireplace.

"father," i greeted coolly, sitting down with practiced poise.

"camila," he said, his tone sharp and businesslike.

i held up a hand before he could launch into one of his tirades. "i know, blah, blah, blah—you're disappointed in me," i said, rolling my eyes. "same bullshit, different day."

my father adjusted his suit jacket, his jaw tightening. "as you know, you are meeting vladimir petrov, the leader of the russian bratva."

"okay," i said, shrugging, feigning nonchalance.

"camila, this is not the time to be picky." he said, his voice carrying a warning edge.

"i didn't even say anything!" i snapped, my patience already wearing thin.

he narrowed his eyes, leaning slightly forward. "so you understand then?"

"yes," i said, rolling my eyes as i stood abruptly. without waiting for his response, i turned and made my way to the kitchen, eager to escape the suffocating tension.

when i entered, i found my brothers and friends waiting for me. malia and nico were standing close together, clearly in the middle of some lighthearted exchange, while elise was perched on a stool next to where i sat. elio stood by the fridge, rummaging for a drink.

"hey guys," i greeted flatly, dropping onto the island stool with a frown.

nico glanced up, his expression unreadable. "how did it go?"

"oh, like you fucking care," i snapped, my voice laced with bitterness.

elise turned to me, her voice soft as she leaned in closer. "are you okay?" she whispered gently, her eyes full of concern.

"no," i muttered, my voice low as I grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl and began peeling it absentmindedly. "emilio is such a dick." the bitterness in my tone matched the sharp scent of citrus that filled the air.

malia glanced over at us, leaning casually against the counter. "you want us to stay the night?"

"yeah!" elise chimed in, her expression brightening as she turned to malia and then back to me. "we can help you get ready tomorrow."

"please," i said, looking at them both with genuine relief.

without another word, the three of us headed upstairs, leaving the heaviness of the day behind as we climbed toward the sanctuary of my room to get ready for bed.

rory's notes!

ouu... what do we think is gonna happen tomorrow? btw, first chapter pls give notes 😭

[explosuion]

🍃 RORY ‘explosuion’

about me !!

she/her. bisexual. stoner girl. the weeknd. lana del rey. lorde. writes series. schizophrenic and insane.

you can also find me on wattpad, which will probably get earlier releases.

if you don’t like what i write, i don’t care. i do this for fun lol.

masterlist. req: open!

est 2025. ©

please do not copy or upload my work onto any other platform.

[explosuion]

masterlist

✫ series - twisted. - nero.

[explosuion]

nero. ♛

CAMILA MORELLÉ walks away from a loveless marriage, ready to reclaim her life —only to find herself entangled with SANTINO SILVANI

1, 2, 3 (if you can't see the links then i haven't posted them yet)

MAIN CHARACTERS.

↓

CAMILA MORELLÉ

( LEAH KATEB )

TWENTY THREE.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

SANTINO SILVANI

( ZAYN MALIK )

THIRTY.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

MALIA ACCARDI

( BROOKE FLECCA )

TWENTY TWO.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

ADRIAN FALCO

( BRADY DEENE )

TWENTY THREE

⋆·˚ ༘ *

ELISE CARAVELLA

( ROMY MARS )

TWENTY THREE.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

ARES MOREO

( MATT STURNIOLO )

TWENTY SEVEN.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

MARIANA BELLEZA

( MADISON BEER )

TWENTY FIVE.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

HAIDEN VANDERBILT

(DYLAN MINNETTE )

TWENTY EIGHT.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

SIDE CHARACTERS

↓

LEONARDO FERRAZO

( RANDOM MAN OFF PINTEREST )

TWENTY EIGHT.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

ATLAS MOREO

( CHRIS STURNIOLO )

TWENTY SEVEN.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

[explosuion]

twisted. ♛

CAMILA ROMANO gets locked up between feelings for her arranged husband, CASTELLO VASILIO- who is also the upcoming mafia boss of this decade, and her life as it has known to be.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (if you can't see the links then i haven't posted them yet)

ROMANO FAMILY.

↓

CAMILA R.  ROMANO ( MIKEY MADISON ) NINETEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

NICO M. ROMANO ( LEONARDO DICAPRIO ) TWENTY. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

ELIO L. ROMANO ( DREW STARKEY ) EIGHTEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

MARIANA B. ROMANO ( MADISON BEER ) TWENTY ONE. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

ALESSIO FAMILY.

↓

MALIA B. ALESSIO ( BROOKE FLECCA ) NINETEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

ROMEO M. ALESSIO ( MASON THAMES ) FOURTEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

LUCIANO FAMILY.

↓

ELISE G. LUCIANO ( JULES LEBLANC ) EIGHTEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

AMELIE J. LUCIANO ( HAYLEY LEBLANC ) THIRTEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

VASILIO FAMILY.

↓

CASTELLO C. VASILIO ( KAYLO E. ARANTES-LIMA ) TWENTY ONE. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

ATLAS O. VASILIO ( MATT STURNIOLO ) NINETEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

ARES Y. VASILIO ( CHRIS STURNIOLO ) NINETEEN. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

SIDE CHARACTERS

HAIDEN A. LORENZO ( DYLAN MINNETTE ) TWENTY THREE. ⋆·˚ ༘ *

rory's notes! well this is an interesting cast - there might be changes.