Chapter 1

The light bulb in the freezer begins incessantly flickering on and off. My hands are resting on my hips as I watch the light flicker. There's a faint spark, followed by a crackle right before it burns out and darkens the room. Damn this stupid freezer light. This is the third time this week that I've had to replace the light bulb.

Groaning with frustration, I grab the ladder leaned against the wall and place it under the light. Stepping onto the ladder, I climb up two steps. Nanginginig ako mga tuhod ko sa takot. I've had a fear of heights ever since I fell out of my bunk bed when I was six years old.

Kadalasan ay si Kyla ang gumagawa ng bagay na ito. Pero nagkataon na nagkasakit siya ngayon at walang ibang pwede gumawa ng trabaho niya kung hindi ako dahil lahat ay may kanya-kanyang ginagawa doon sa ibaba.

I suck in a deep breath and reach up to begin unscrewing the light bulb. I try my best not to look down as I stand on the tips of my toes.

Almost there.

Kaya ko ito. Kaya ko.

I give the light bulb a little tug. It finally pops off, but I end up losing my footing. I fall backwards, waiting for my body to hit the ground. But it never happens. Someone catches me in their arms. I sigh with relief and look up to see a pair of dark brown eyes staring down at me.

Marcus Fierdo...

Sunod-sunod ang naging paglunok ko. Parang tinambol ang puso ko sa sobrang bilis ng pagtibok. Muntik na ako roon, akala ko ay mababalian na ako ng buto.

Marcus Fierdo is a regular customer here in my father's cafe. Well my cafe now, since my father recently retired and passed his business on to me. Marcus has been coming here for the past three years now, and he always orders the same thing. One cup of coffee- black.

We've built quite the friendship since we met. A friendship that over time, has grown to be filled with an unmistakable amount of sexual tension. Madalas ay napagkakamalan pa ng iba na girlfriend niya ako. I've been contemplating exploring it for a while, but I can't read Marcus at all. Ang hirap niyang basahin. Minsan ay hindi ko siya maintindihan, may araw na sweet siya at may araw naman na nakakairita siya. I don't know if what I'm feeling will be reciprocated, and I'd rather not embarrass myself.

"Nice catch," bulalas ako at nginitian siya.

Marcus sets me down and adjusts the navy blue suit he's wearing. After his father was murdered last year, he took on the role as Mafia boss. Pero hindi lahat ay alam iyon. Mapili si Marcus sa pinagsasabihan ng tungkol sa sarili at sa buhay niya. Hirap din siyang magtiwa kung kanino lang. I know I should be afraid considering he's a very rich and powerful criminal, but strangely enough I'm not. In fact, I'm actually quite comfortable with his occupation and sometimes that scares me.

All of New York city knows who he and his three younger brothers are, except the fact that they are mafia. They are known famously around New York as "The Four." There's four brothers in total, each with their own role in the Mafia. Marcus is the oldest. Siya ang boss. Then there's Niccolo, who's the second oldest and who I like to call the erratic brother. He's always angry and seems to hate everyone, lalo na sa mga babae. Next are the twins. Luciano is the middle brother, and older than the youngest by two minutes. He's the brains. There's nothing he can't do. Lastly, there's Cesare. He's the baby of the group. The goofball.

These four Mafia men remain untouched and feared by all. Even authority figures avoid them. Some are even friends with them. You're either friend or foe when it comes to the Fierdo's. There's no such thing as in-between. I recommend keeping them on your good side, because once you're on their bad side- there's no coming back. Kung may pagkakataon ka na maging kaibigan sila ay huwag mo na tanggigan pa dahil hindi sila maganda maging kaaway.

Since Marcus is the oldest, everyone calls him Boss or Mr. Fierdo. Only family and friends are allowed to address him by his government name. And, admittedly, pakiramdam ko ay especial ako dahil kahit kailan ko gusto ay pwede ko siyang tawagin sa pangalan niya, dahilan kung bakit maraming babae ang gusto ako sabunutan. Like I'm actually a part of their family. I've even gone to their mansion a couple of times. Their home makes my little house look like a garage.

"Can promise me you'll be more careful next time, Madel? Paano kung wala ako? Paano kung nahulog ka, anong gagawin mo?" His Italian accent is thick with a mixture of his New York accent. Marcus is always worrying about me. Although it doesn't seem like it all the time, because he's always got this alpha male attitude going on.

His eyebrows are always furrowed like he's mad at the world and he never smiles. At least from the three years I've known him he's never cracked a smile. I find that very strange. Whenever I ask or make jokes about it he just says that there's nothing to smile about. His depressing ass is always ruining the mood.

"Pupunta sa hospital, ano pa ba?" biro ko at mahinang natawa.

Napasabunot siya sa buhok niya, tanda na malapit na siyang mainis. The beard he's been growing out for the past three years, and refuses to shave, has finally been trimmed down neatly. He was always attractive, but now he doesn't look so much like a rich homeless caveman anymore.

"I was just trying to change out the light bulb, okay? Hindi ko intensyon na magpakahulog."

He glares at me, that demanding persona of his making an appearance.

"Fine, fine," suko ko at napairap pa sa kanya. "I promise," I mumble in defeat. "Mag-iingat na ako sa susunod. Okay na po ba?"

He just nods and proceeds to push the ladder aside. He was definitely trying to show off the dramatic height difference between us. He was six foot four while I was only five foot six I barely reached his armpit.

He holds out his hand, palm upright. I place the new light bulb in his hand and watch as he quickly screws in the new bulb. He motions for me to throw out the other one. After tossing out the light bulb, I noticed a few customers walking in.

"Thanks! You're handsome today!" Kindat ko sa kanya. Napiling naman siya at sinamaan ako ng tingin.