Chapter 2

I check the time on my phone. It's 6:30 pm. Once the last customer has finished eating, I thank them for stopping by and flip the open sign to close. The work day was finally over. Having to run a business by yourself is never fun. The only reason my father wasn't here to help me is because he's getting too old to run a cafe.

He officially retired about a year ago. I was glad he was finally getting a break, because now he can focus on himself. He puts others before him, spending more time worrying about others and less time on himself. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it's drained him over the years. Which is why I refuse to ask for his help with anything. Because knowing my father, he would try and work another ten years and end up burning himself out completely.

Marcus is sitting at the counter with the same cup of coffee in his hand. "Hindi mo pa rin ubos yan? It's got to be cold by now. Akin na, hubugasan ko." I reach out to take it from him so I can reheat it, but he shakes his head.

"You've done enough today. I got it." I can't help but smile as he gets up and takes his mug to the sink. I've told him several times that it's my job, but he insists. Who am I to refuse a helping hand?

God knows I need the break anyway. Sumasakit na parati ang likod at mga binto ko sa pagod.

"Sasama ka ba sa akin sa bahay ngayon? They cooked for a dinner." He asks, rinsing and drying the coffee mug with a rag.

I want to say no, but I know he won't take that as an answer. Noong isang buwan pa ang huling beses na pumunta ako sa bahay nila. There's been a lot on my mind with the cafe and bills, that I haven't really had time for company. I've been giving him several excuses to avoid going, but I've officially run out. "You are here five times out of the week. Don't you have some Mafia business to attend to?"

"Tara na, nakahanda na ang sasakyan," he demands, completely ignoring my question. He knows I hate when he avoids answering my questions. But then again, that's exactly what I just did to him. Touché. I slip off my apron and hang it up on the rack. There was no point in arguing with him.

Kinuha niya ang purse ko sa likod ng counter at ibinigay sa akin. He walks over to open the door, stepping aside to allow me to exit first. I quickly sling my purse over my shoulder and head out the door, thanking him in the process. Arguing with a Fierdo is like arguing whether your life is worth being spared. And the answer is usually no. Sumasakit lang ang ulo ko sa kanya.

When we arrive at the Fierdo mansion in Marcus' limo, his personal chauffeur Ramzel, offers to open the door for me. When I refuse and reach for the door handle myself, Marcus grabs my wrist. Napatingin ako sa kanya at inirapan siya. He's so damn old fashioned. Ramzel proceeds to open the door for me. "Thank you Ramzel." I glare back at Marcus before stepping out of the vehicle.

The Fierdo mansion is insanely large. It fits perfectly with their large ego and multi-billion dollar lifestyle. Their father, Giovanni Fierdo, had this house built for them in the 1960s. So it still has that vintage Italian feel to it. Overtime, they had the house slightly modernized to fit New York's current style, but it still fits them perfectly.

"My pleasure Miss David," tugon ni Ramzel sa Mahinang boses habang nakayuko.

Marcus let's himself out and shuts the door behind him. We head up to the front steps of the mansion where their guard Rocco, a big burly man stands out front. He nods when he sees Marcus and opens the door.

As soon as we step inside the smell of gnocchi and focaccia permeate my nostrils. Sniffing the air, my nose leads me into the kitchen where Mrs. Alina Fierdo, ang Ina nila Marcus. Napangiti si Mrs. Alina nang makita ako ay agad na ibinababa ang hawak-hawak na sandok para yakapin ako.

She was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Although she just turned 60, she doesn't look a day over 40. Long flowing black hair and beautiful hazel eyes compliment her high cheekbones.

"Nuora!" bati sa akin ni Mrs. Alina Fierdo.

I asked Marcus what it meant the first time she said it, and he told me it meant daughter in-law. Mrs. Alina been referring to me as her daughter in-law for the past two years now, and it still makes me blush. Kailan ilang beses ko pa sinabi sa kanila na hindi ko type si Marcus ay ganon pa rin ang tawag niya sakin. 

"I missed you, Nuora. Where have you been?"

"I've just been busy with the cafe, Mrs. Alina. Pero ayos lang naman po ako." I say truthfully. With my dad being retired, I just don't have the time. I need to make sure things are running smoothly at all times. I want my dad to be able to enjoy his retirement without having to worry about the cafe's status. All he needs to know is that his business is in good hands.

Mrs. Alina waves her finger at me, leaning in real close. Her petite frame is pressed up against me.

"If it's a problem in the bedroom, sabihan mo lang ako. Marami akong alam na makakapagpasaya." Her accent is thick, as she says this with no regard to how strange and slightly creepy her comment was. She literally just offered to give me tips on how to please her son sexually.

Mrs. Alina is bubbly and blunt personality was nothing new to me. There's never a dull moment with her. She's an open book, and will talk about anything, and I mean anything, without so much as a look of embarrassment on her face. She makes for a great listener and is very non-judgmental or bias. She's fair and isn't afraid to tell you the truth, even if it means hurting your feelings.

Nag-init ang pisngi ko at sunod-sunod na umiling sa kanya. Nakita ko Naman ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Marcus. Mrs. Alina was a horrible whisperer, so he definitely heard every word.

Before Mrs. Alina can make this conversation anymore awkward, the twins, Luciano and Cesare pop into the kitchen. I sigh with relief, so glad their timing was impeccable.

"Hey, Madel," Cesare says with a wave before attempting to steal and eat a piece of focaccia bread. Mrs. Alina laps it out of his hands before it makes it to his mouth. Luciano looks at me, acknowledging my presence before setting the table.

He and Cesare were complete opposites. Cesare can never take anything serious. The Fierdo's may be criminals, but Cesare was a bad boy. And I don't mean like one who robs banks, but one who flirts and breaks women's hearts. His inability to commit makes it hard for him to get in a relationship. He never brings the same girl home twice. Saksi ako sa kung ilang babae ang umiiyak dahil sa kanya. As for Luciano, he's more laid back and reserved. He has a big heart and sometimes people take advantage of that. Pinagsasabihan ko rin siya patungkol sa pag-uugali niyang iyon. Hindi maganda ang parating mabait.

It's not just their personality that makes the fraternal twins so different, but their appearance as well. Cesare has short curly dark brown hair and ocean blue eyes. While Luciano has medium length curly brown hair and green eyes. I don't know how that happened considering both their parents had brown eyes.

You wouldn't even think they were twins because of how different they are. When I first met them I thought they were just really close friends. But after a while you start to see the similarities. One is never without the other. They balance out each other pretty well.

"Luci, where's Nic?" Tanong ni Marcus sa kapatid.

I had forgotten about Niccolo. He's the Fierdo brother I try to avoid at all cost. Niccolo is a bomb that has gone off more times than I can count. He's got a serious attitude, and he's very possessive and short tempered. Think Marcus, but ten times colder and ruder. Sa tuwing nakakaharap ko si Niccolo ay pakiramdam ko nakakalimutan ko ang humingi.

There have been times where Marcus has had to put him in his place. And when I mean "place," I mean fight. Marcus wasn't one to just fight anyone, so he'd have to be really pissed off to get to that point. Luckily, Niccolo looks up to his older brother so he often backs down.

"He's in one of his moods again. Last time I saw him he was getting drunk at the bar and receiving a lap dance from some woman," Luciano tells him.

"Oh yeaaah." Cesare says biting into a piece of bread. "Her mouth is-"

Mrs. Alina takes off her shoe and chucks it at Cesare, hitting him in the face before he can complete his sentence. And I'm glad she did because none of us want to hear about his sex life.

"Damn Ma!"

"Watch your language. And didn't I tell you not to eat my shit?"

Cesare makes a run for it and Mrs. Alina wobbles after him. This family hasn't changed a bit.

Nag-vibrate ang cellphone ko kaya agad ko iyon kinuha. Nakita ko ang isang text. I opened the message. Napaawang ang bibig ko matapos mabasa ang mensahe.

Nilingon ko si Marcus pero naroon ang atensyon niya sa isang kambal. Hindi ko alam. Ang mararamdaman ko. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko, parang nanlalamig.

Binasa ko ulit ang mensahe.

‘You'll die, together with the Fierdo's. I'll make sure.’

Ito ang unang beses na nakatanggap ako ng ganito sa tatlong taon ko na nakakaaama ang mga Fierdo.