---

Truthfully, had she put in an hour or two of practice the crutches would probably be a viable option. But insert Jess’ bullheadedness, her brother’s laughin and the little scene she had made on the ER floor and she wasn’t having any more of it. With the crutches tucked under her right arm and her left practically dragging Enzo down for support, she held onto her brother tightly as she carefully, and quite slowly hobbled towards the ER’s entrance doors. She gritted her teeth as she hopped along, her sprained ankle held awkwardly in the air. This whole being injured thing was exhausting.

“You know what…” Jess stopped and slowly let go of Enzo’s arm before grabbing the crutches from under her own. “Fuck it, let’s give it another shot.” The young woman planted the feet of the metal crutches down onto the ground before tucking the upper ends under her arms. With a shaky breath, she carefully shifted her weight along the crutches and moved forward, letting out a sigh of relief once her good leg made contact with the ground again. Only like 30-40 more of those until they got to the car. Her arms trembled as she moved along, not out of fatigue, but more out of fear of falling again. Not that her day could get any worse, but it would certainly hurt more to fall on the pavement than on the smooth tile floor of the ER.

By the time the siblings arrived at the car, Jess was breathing a little harder than usual. “That’s...harder than it looks..” She opened the passenger side door and sunk into the seat before pulling her crutches in after her. Jess let her head fall back against the headrest and closed her eyes as Lorenzo got in the car. The last thing Jess could remember was the hospital moving past the window before she fell asleep. This injury thing was more tiring than she’d thought.

When she woke up, Lorenzo was just pulling the car into the Horton property’s driveway. Jess blinked rapidly as the sun shone right into her eyes through the window before blocking it with her hand. With a gentle yawn, the brunette sat up straighter in her seat and undid her seatbelt as the vehicle came to a stop. She reached over and gently squeezed Enzo’s hand, sending him a warm smile. “I really appreciate it Enzo.” She looked over to the garage to see their father’s car still in the driveway. “Shit, hopefully dad’s not here right now. I really don’t feel like being lectured on how I should be more careful.”

After hobbling over to the front door and using her key to unlock it, the young woman looked to her brother and smiled again “I won’t keep you occupied, sounded like Grant needed you.” Jess turned and hopped inside, remaining still as she listened for signs of life. Nothing. Good, she wasn’t sure if she had the mental capacity to deal with the rest of her family right now. Lorenzo and her had always gotten along rather well, though obviously she did love her entire family even if they did occasionally drive her crazy.

Twenty minutes and a lot of struggling later, Jess had finally made it up the stairs on her own. Though people often commented on how stubborn she was, it certainly had it’s uses. Besides, stubborn was such a harsh word. Jess preferred determined. She looked over to her bedroom door, which had never looked so far away in her life, and began to hobble in its direction. After nearly crashing into it, she twisted the handle and opened the door to her haven. Jess’ room was almost always neat and tidy. She collapsed onto her bed and let out a sigh of relief. She’d made it. Home at last. Now it was time to relax.

Jess dug out her bikini top and bottom from her dresser; a light and friendly striped set coloured white and turquoise, and slowly and awkwardly began the process of changing into it. Everything was most definitely harder to do in a cast. It could’ve been worse though. She could’ve injured herself in front of the rest of her family and hear about it for years to come. Jess shuddered at the thought. No, this day was now only for relaxing. No more stressing, no more pain. That settled it. She need a drink.

The now bikini-clad brunette carefully maneuvered her way back down the stairs and hobbled into the kitchen. From there, she retrieved one of the beer bottles she’d stashed at the back of the fridge and popped off the cap, taking a sip before proceeding back to the door. Once outside, she limped and hopped her way over to the set of lounge chairs that sat in the yard before collapsing into one of them with a rather dramatic sigh. The sun felt wonderful on her skin, warming her entire body up and subconsciously bringing a slight smile to her lips. Jess carefully slipped in her earbuds and flipped through her phone until coming to her chill playlist, to which she promptly hit “shuffle” on. As the music began, she flipped down her sunglasses and closed her eyes. Finally, she could relax in peace. The only thing wrong with the image was that a rather unsightly air-cast adorned her leg, though it was probably better than showing off the horrifying bruising that had set in around her ankle.

---

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The moment her father came back to the picture with Colin’s coffee, Aliana could immediately smell the tension thicken in the air. Although not a devoted Christian like her parents, the redhead chose to elevate a silent prayer asking for peace. Miraculously, her request was answered, because neither Shawn nor Colin chose to go beyond a glance at each other. When the older man finally left to go back to his own devices, Ali breathed out a sigh of relief. Crisis averted!

Ali watched as her big brother took a sip off his coffee, and grinned when she saw him wince. “What? Too strong for ya, bud?” she teased, passing him some cream and sugar.

Colin decided to jest back in another approach. “Pretty sure Shawn and Caroline wouldn’t appreciate you using their lord’s name in vain,” he teased back, giving her a snarky smirk.

Aliana shrugged. “Good think I'm agnostic then," she replied just as snarkily, putting her elbow on the counter and resting her chin on her palm.

“You could always quit. You know they aren’t going to give this place up anytime soon.”

“Yeah, I know.” Ali admitted, letting out a resigned sigh.

”Maybe Zeke could help you get a position at the Java.”

Ali thought about it for a second. “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” she mused, but immediately shook her head. “I doubt they’re hiring though: Zeke would have said something.” The young woman looked around for any sign of her parents before talking to Colin in a low voice. “What gets to me is that they don’t seem to understand that one day they’re going to have no choice but to pass on the reigns. So why the fuck not take the chance that you have a daughter willing to learn the ins and outs for a smooth transition when the moment comes instead of pushing her away?”

Aliana’s conversation with Colin was interrupted by a newcomer. Olivia Horton -her boyfriend’s youngest sister- made her entrance to the pub: skateboard under one arm and her laptop in the other. “Hey Ali, I have somethin’ to show you.” she declared as soon as she was within earshot.

Ali smirked, eyebrow raised. “Oh, yeah? What is it?” she asked the girl. This could only go one or two ways: either Liv had some really juicy and enjoyable gossip about someone else that was too hot not to share... Or she had some really juicy and unenjoyable gossip about someone that meant something to her that was too hot not to share. She really hoped it was the former.

Without wasting any time, Liv placed her laptop on top of the counter, with the screen at an angle that was mostly facing Ali but enough that others close enough could see as well. On the screen was a candid photo of Elliot, which instantly cracked a smile on Aliana’s face. She’d always loved it when he got that adorably flustered expression on his handsome face. It reminded her of the first months of them dating, back when they had most of their ‘first times’. Eli would always get nervous whenever things started to get heated, thus ‘the face’ would make its appearance.

But then the logical question popped up: what was the context for this photo?

Her question would be answered as soon as she pressed the right button arrow on the laptop. A sick feeling washed over Aliana, and she quickly wished she’d never asked herself anything in the first place. The sequence of photos showed nothing out of the ordinary to an onlooker: just a young man looking embarrassed after spilling coffee onto an innocent bystander. But to the trained eye of Ali, she could tell that her boyfriend look nervous and flustered… And the blonde in his company was staring at him as if she’d found the answer to all her nightly prayers for her Prince Charming.

“What the-? she began to say, but was cut off by none other than Elliot himself storming into the pub, looking similar to an angry bull stomping towards the bullfighter.

As soon as he was close enough, Eli forcefully slammed Olivia’s laptop. “You! Outside... Now!” he shouted, his usually kind voice now shaking with anger,

“Jesus, Elliot, what’s gotten into you?!” Ali called out to the curly-haired man, scolding him at the way he grabbed his sister so forcefully to drag her outside. Frowning, she watched them argue through the glass windows of the pub’s double doors. If he indeed had nothing to hide, why was he making a scene? It was only making him look worse. She wished she could hear what was being said.

Once Olivia was dragged back inside the pub, it was Ali’s turn to take action. Leaving her spot behind the bar, she grabbed Eli by the arm and dragged him to her office, her face a similar shade of red as her hair. So many emotions were going through her head right now: embarrassment, hurt, betrayal, disbelief… It was hard to pinpoint if one overpowered the other. With the door safely closed behind him and away from the prying eyes of what seemed half the town, Aliana finally turned to confront her boyfriend in the no-bullshit manner that characterized her.

“You’ve got ten seconds to organize the thoughts in your head before you explain to me what the fuck was all that about.” the young woman declared, a deep scowl on her face, slender arms crossed in front of her chest.

Warmth radiated through the passanger window of the big black luxury SUV as Serg pulled into the open parking spot, some stone's throw from the front facade of the coffee shop. The humid air of summer was a shock from the climate controlled paradise of the luxury SUV's cab. The sun was was equal parts cruel and kind, the former before his recovering body adjusted to the sight, the latter as he stopped in the parking lot between parking spots and store front curb: basking in the glow like a big cat sunning, yawning, stretching--until a jolt of electric pain shot up from his right side, and brought him back to his former state.

Serg just walked to the coffee shop, ignorant and unaware of the world, except for looking this way and that; for danger, not roses to smell, or sun to surrender to. At the very least Alek had to allow Serg his responsibility: the man was loyal to a fault, and ever the guard dog. The coffee shop itself was a matter of Alek sitting in a deeply cushioned, tall backed, leather chair as Serg ordered and paid for the both of them. The blur of coffee scent, idle chatter among the other customers in the shop, and the low hum of accoustic coffee house music allowed Alek a micro-nap. It lasted less than five minutes, ending with Serg's tap on his shoulder, and the handoff of his dark roast with a shot of espresso. Some half and half, a few Splenda packets emptied into the steaming caffeine pool within the double-layered cup, and the lid was returned to the drink.

It was only that guard dog, Serg, that gave Alek any kind of warning. And that was more muscle memory than awareness; long ago Alek learned that Serg was as good an early warning system as it got when he, himself, was too preoccupied or in such a state that made his own senses dull. The coffee was in his right hand as it rose high in the air, to keep it from collision or danger of spilling. Between the collision, and the sudden extension of his right hand, thus extending his right side, Alek's tongue was firmly thrust into his cheek as waves of pain lapped at the back of his mind like storm waves on some otherwise forgotten shore. His sunglasses hiding any pained cringing, he hoped.

Then her heard the voice.

"...Evangeline?"

Serge guffawed at the sight of the Zima girl; Sergei had seen little more than photos of the girl in digital for the past five years. Outside the Zima welcoming party for Alek, a party that he had to duck out early in order to take care of loose ends at the order of their father, loose ends that ended in blood last night, Alek had seen little more of the girl than Serg had. Like a soldier years away from home in some foreign war struck dumb at his own homecoming, and the strange sights of those that barely resembled the loved ones he'd said farewell to before deploying, Alek was a maelstrom of emotions both intense and cooled.

The right hand brought down the coffee from it's safe height just as his left hand reached out, and hooked Eva's tiny body, pulling her in effortlessly into his tall height and wide muscular frame. He hugged her to his left side, no accident, but the hug and the accompanying smile was the true joy of the 3rd of July even as he let go and let her slip back to his own feet. When she dropped his appearance as soon through the prism of her eyes, he couldn't help but laugh into his coffee as he took a long, hard, sip. The bitterness helped suppres the laughter, but only just.

"I had to show these Americans how to party, sister. Rough business, hot summer nights. Hopefully the kind of partying you're long yet ignorant about. Speaking of parties: what is the plan for tomorrow? I brought Katinka's present home from Russia, the shipping crate arrived just yesterday at the airport. I hope she finds it peace offering enough not have me assassinated for some corporate monkey title."

His chuckle wasn't nearly as bitter as his coffee, but it was in the neighborhood. He adored Katinka, but little birds had chirped at him about how long a tunnel her vision had become over the years he was 'off to war' managing the part of the family business that had laid the foundations of what the Zima family currently was. "There are plans, yes? If not, we have some quick thinking to do, and that will be awfully expensive."

Not that he was supposed to mind that, he knew, in his mind as Serg greeted Eva. Strange seeing such a killer smile so happily, to hear Serg's voice reach joyful tones Alek hadn't heard since that Miami strip club well over a month ago.

“Jesus fucking Christ Olivia!”

Olivia jumped a little bit as her brother burst in the door and stormed up to her, slamming her laptop shut. Olivia’s eyes went cold and her head snapped towards Elliot’s hand, then to his face. Her face was no longer one filled with a smug grin, but now a stone cold look of anger. Olivia was a rather defensive person and she may have cared a little less if Elliot had just grabbed her. But no, he had mistreated the gear that she paid for out of her own pocket, money that she had worked for over the past few summers. So now she looked him dead in the eyes, her normally calm blue eyes now a stormy hurricane of emotion. “You lay another hand on my shit and I’ll end your social life.”

She wavered slightly as she shouted at her once again, this time grabbing her arm tightly and knocking the camera from her hands. As he dragged her outside, the camera that was now dangling from her neck freely bumped several tables and Olivia winced at every single hit. The moment they arrived outside, she opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by her brother once again. She stood in silence as her brother chewed her out, waiting patiently with rage in her eyes. After he had finished his piece, she shoved him backwards with both of her palms before pacing towards him. “Do you have any idea how much this costs? Are you fucking kidding me?! I worked my ass off to pay for this and you just knocked it against five god damn tables on the way out!” The anger overwhelmed her brain and she let loose, getting right back into her dear brother’s face. “And on top of that, you’re the one who looked like you were asking that blonde out! All I did was preserve the moment. So yes! Yes I did show Ali because it looked like you were cheating on her!” Olivia’s voice was breaking as she yelled back at her brother.

“Just because something doesn’t look bad from your perspective doesn’t mean it looks all good from someone else’s. Do you honestly think I had any idea what the actual fuck you were saying to that Zima chick? No! I don’t have a clue what you said.”

The young girl now had tears in her eyes, but stood strong against her brother. Olivia took in a shaky breath, hoping that everyone in the pub heard exactly what she had to say. “I saw the way she looked at you! I saw the way you acted! If you really had nothing to hide, then why the hell do you seem so god damn defensive?! It shouldn’t be such a big deal if that was really just you fucking up like you always do!” She turned back to the pub and ripped open the door before stopping once again. Olivia wanted everyone to hear the last little bit of her piece “Call me shithead one more time, you human piece of garbage.” Now breathing quite heavily, the teen walked inside with a deathgrip on her camera. Olivia grabbed her bag from beside the stool she was sitting on, then her laptop from the counter. With a quick look over the camera nothing looked too damaged, just a few scrapes to the finish. Resuming her original position at the bar, she laid her baby down onto the counter with shaky hands and then looked over to Annalise, sending her a sheepish smile. “Still up to hang out?”

It was at this point that Elliot was dragged into the back room and Olivia couldn’t help but grin, even if it was only a little bit. She was about to turn around and leave when Colin scootched over closer to her and commented on the situation.

“You’ve created quite the stressful situation for my little sister, haven’t you, little Horton? Makes one wonder just what you showed Ali and how you obtained it. Care to comment? It’ll be off the record, of course.”

Olivia looked over to Colin and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. She looked at him until he turned to face her before standing from her seat and walking a few steps. Olivia stopped only a moment later while she knew his attention was still on her and spoke a few words before walking out the door, her voice having finally recovered from the huge display of anger she’d just put on.

“I plead the goddamn fifth.”

_{A collab with @Dirty Pretty Lies}

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“Oh. My. God Olivia!” Elliot let out a laugh in pure frustration. “You still don’t fucking see it do you?! No you didn’t know what was said, so why would you jump to that fucking conclusion? A look on my face? I think the fuck not! You wanted shit to go down so you created something in your head!” He felt like he could punch the wall, how could she be this thick headed?

“Why do you think I’m fucking defensive?! I can’t live my life even for one day back in this godforsaken town without being spied on. By my own sister! Why do you think you can sit in your dweeby friends apartment and spy on people just because you’re bored?!” He stormed after his sister.

“Or what shithead? You’re going to sic Mark on me?” He was just about to continue his screaming match but Ali came over and dragged him away.

Elliot’s breathing had stabilized somewhat when Ali closed and locked the door to the bars back office. There he stood staring at a case of Budweiser breathing heavy still, his anger refusing to ebb away. Some would say he had overreacted at the situation at hand, that his actions had only made him look worse. If he didn’t have anything to hide then he had nothing to worry about right? But it wasn’t what he had done that made him freak out the way he did: it was his sister’s actions. Having lived with Olivia for 16 years meant that Elliot had been forced to endure a lot of her shenanigans, and this was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. He could forgive her reading his personal notes, or her snooping around his room when they were younger because she was just a kid. But when she is messing with something that is the mostimportant thing in his entire world- which is his relationship with Ali: the girl he has loved since he was 10 years old staring at the back of her head in math class? He just couldn’t let her get away with that without consequences.

“I will make this as clear as I can right now.” Elliot said and sighed. “The only thing that happened is, I knocked out the poor girl’s coffee all over her and then I offered her to pay for her dry cleaning… That is it!” He chose to leave out the part where Eva had asked him to meet for coffee the next morning, because that would probably not help in this situation.

Aliana had heard his excuse with the scowl still on her face, tapping her foot on the floor as he spoke. When he was finished, she immediately piped up. “Elliot: those people have more money than we’ll ever see in our entire damn lives!” she began, shaking her head in exasperation. Leave it to her boyfriend to want to be much too kind for his own good. “I get that your parents raised you to be a gentleman, and that’s one of the qualities I love the most about you. But I think replacing the fucking drink would have been enough!”

“Who cares how much money they have? I was the one who spilled coffee all over her, then shouldn’t I be the one who makes it right?” Elliot challenged as he walked over to the small desk and sat down at the edge of it. “And do you not think I tried buying her a new drink? She said no.” he scoffed.

“You know what? That's not even the biggest issue here,” Ali pressed on, taking a few steps to where her boyfriend had chosen to sit. She wasn't going to let this go so easy. “The real problem is how that slut was looking at you, and how you flipped out at Liv as if she's caught you in the middle of something you shouldn't be doing! If you have ‘nothing to hide’ as you say, why act like that in the first place?!”

Elliot stared at her in disbelief, how was he the only one seeing it? How did everyone think it was normal for someone to sit with a camera with a telescope lense and take pictures of people, and then make up stories? He rubbed his face in frustration. “Ali, I don’t even fucking know her! And that’s besides the point! I am fucking furious at Olivia because she has no respect for me or anyone else! Why do you think she came straight here to tell you? To start something that’s not even real! And I am so done with her getting away with that just because she’s young and dumb or whatever!” He stood up again. “Why is it that you are so quick to take her word against mine, huh?” he looked at his girlfriend earnestly, who had grown silent.

“My reaction here has nothing to do with guilt and all to do with me being sick of her shit! If you knew half of the things she gets away with back home… you’d get it.” He sighed, took of his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose feeling defeated.

This last part made Ali stop in her tracks and actually think for a second. As much as she hated to admit it, Elliot was right. In the years that they had been dating -hell, in the years that they had known each other! Eli had shared more than a few stories about Olivia and her pot-stirring ways. According to her boyfriend, it had all started when she was a kid: snooping around the oldest siblings’ rooms, possibly trying to find something to get them in trouble for. When accused, she would get off with only a light slap on the hand. Then the incidents escalated, to the point that Elliot’s oldest brother Lorenzo had moved away after she’d exposed a relationship he’d wanted to maintain a secret. With Enzo out of the picture, she’d focused her attention on Eli: reading the love letters they’d exchanged, his private notes, etc. And no matter how angry he got or how much he accused her, in all occasions, she’d only gotten away with the lightest of punishments. No wonder he’d flipped out the way he did.

Now Aliana felt like a complete piece of shit. How had she been so dumb as to completely jump the gun and buy this story without bothering to confirm it with Eli first? Guess she was every bit a hothead like her parents and older brother before her.

“Shit…” Ali cursed, closing her eyes and letting out a tired sigh before taking a seat in her office chair. “This is too much shit for me too damn early in the morning.” she complained, fingers massaging her throbbing temples.

Elliot let out a long breath through his nose and put his glasses back on and looked to his girlfriend, “I...know” he walked up to her and spun the chair around so she faced him. He crouched down so he was face to face with her “This is not how I wanted our reunion to play out.” He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her lips. Elliot had an whole evening planned out with dinner and a night christening his new apartment for his first night back in Salem.

The young woman looked at him with green eyes that expressed her disappointment in herself and how this scene had occured. At his kiss, she gave him a sad half-smile. “El, I’m sorry I lashed out at you the way I did.” Ali apologized, taking his hands and biting her lower lip. “I know it doesn’t justify my actions- and I’m not looking for that either- but the thought of losing you to anyone like that just…” she trailed off, looking away with the beginning of tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what I would do. I hate to think about it.”

Elliot’s eyebrows bunched together when he saw the look on Ali’s face ”Hey…” he tucked a stray piece of red hair away from her face. ”You will never lose me to anyone ever, ok?” he reassured, kissing her again. He gave his watch a quick glance, his blue eyes widening in horror when he realized what time it was.

. “What? What’s wrong?” she asked, a little alarmed.

”Holy crap it’s already 11:30? Grant is going to kill me!” Elliot complained and straightened up. “I’m sorry babe, but I need to run! I can’t wait until this stupid celebration is over.“ he took Ali by the hand and pulled her up from the chair and held her close to him. ”I’ll make it up to you tonight… Come over after your shift?” He asked raising an eyebrow, hugging her closer.

Ali’s expression- one that moments before had been sad because of Elliot having to go so suddenly- brightened up instantly at his last two sentences. The proposition of spending some time together without having to worry about being interrupted or stumbled upon was without a doubt one to excitedly look forward to. And what better way to declare the peace to each other than some ‘kissing and making up’?

“Oh, I’ll be there, alright.” she replied, grinning at him while wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. She had her thumbs hooked on his belt loops. “What time is best for you?”

Elliot’s face cracked up in a big smile while looking down at his girlfriend “Well that makes me the happiest boy in the whole of Salem, that does!” he said in a sing songy voice and kissed Ali one last time before pulling away from his love. “I’ll be heading over to Mom and Dad’s to help out but I should be home by like 6! So whenever you are done you can just come right over.” he unlocked the door ready to exit the office praying his sister had left, he held out his hand for Ali to return to the pub with him.

Aliana followed his lead, leaving the office when he did. But instead of going straight to work, she took him by the hand, and together they made their way out to where Elliot had parked his car. “I’ll see you soon then, hun… I love you.” she told him sweetly, a soft smile on her face. The young woman planted another kiss on her boyfriend’s lips before watching him get into his car, start the engine and drive off.

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Adrían cursed under his breath when his sister said she didn't know who he was talking about. He had hoped she knew something that his men hadn't been able to find on the eldest Zima, she is on her phone most hours of the day and usually finds things that can be very useful. But a part of him was glad that he didn't have involve her in this situation. He was still reading in his files filtering out was his sister was saying, then he heard her squeal.

His head snapped up to see his sister scroll through her phone with a look of pure desire on her face. Adrían scowled at her and started to organize his papers “What now?” he demanded.

“The only thing I know after this quick Twitter research is that I would love to see his face between my legs,” she smiled to herself. “Marlena! Basta!” he growled.

His sister returned to her phone begrudgingly and kept scrolling for a while before letting him know what she had found out. It wasn't something he didn't already know. He stared at her, deep in thought about the plan that Hector had proposed to him.

Marlie's face changed from pride to confused “Wait a second, why are you asking about him anyway?” she pressed. A loud buzzing interrupted their conversation. Both siblings turned to look in the direction of the sound, and their eyes fell on Adrian’s phone.

Marlie raised her eyebrow at her brother. “You gonna get that?”

Adrían shot her a dirty look- to which she replied by sticking her tongue out at him- and answered the call, “Yes? Did you find him?” It was the Castillos’s main man Hector.

“We are tailing their car as we speak, they have stopped at the coffee shop.”

Adrían was still looking at his sister idly floating in the pool. She had her brown eyes locked on her brother’s face to try and decipher what the call was about. “I'll be right there.” he said, and ended the call.

“Soooooo...? What was that about?” Marlie asked Adrian the second his call was finished.

“Hermanita, do you want to go get coffee?” He said and stood up “There is something I need you to do for me...”

Marlie looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Coffee? At this time of day? No, thanks,” she said sassily with a slightly disgusted edxpression, waving a dismissive hand. “But what exactly do you need me for?”

Adrían sat back down contemplating if he really wanted his baby sister involved but then again she is an adult, he sighed “I need you to get more information on the Zima. And apparently your womanly charm is something Hector thinks could be of service.” He felt disgusted even saying it out loud but it could not be helped, it was a plan that could get them some useful information.

The young woman smirked suggestively at her older brother. “So you’re saying you want me to seduce the information out of that bizcochito?” Marlie asked Adrian, who rolled his eyes and nodded at her.

“But this is not your burden to bear, so, I will figure something out.” he added, and as she quickly began to protest he leaned back on the lounge chair. His phone vibrated again, and he checked it to see a text from Hector. Adrian cursed under his breath. “It’s too late, anyway. We’ve lost contact.”

Though a bit disappointed at having lost the most recent chance at making the moves on that delicious piece of candy that was Alek Zima, Marlie’s Cheshire cat smile returned in full-force as she remembered her night’s plans. “No te preocupes de eso, Gordo. Yo me encargo.” she told him cryptically, sliding back her sunglasses and allowing herself to peacefully float away.

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Alek tilted his head, the shadow of a smile crossing over his lips. "I got her a momento from where our family comes from. Who knows if she'll appreciate it, let alone like it." He shrugged, quickly, before making a mental note to never, ever, hand Eva a weapon of any sort. The smile disappeared as he stood there, taking the measure of the little sister he had barely spent much time with. It felt like the very first time he had seen her. Really seen her. When his head straightened the smile was fully gone, no sign of the humor of it left anywhere on any of his features. His voice went down an octave, his tone grim.

"Evangeline...if anyone ever gives you trouble I need you to tell me. I need you to tell me immediately, and I need you to promise me that. This is important, for reasons you won't understand for years to come. So for the sake of the blood in your body being the same blood that flows in my body, I need you to trust me."

Her pretty eyes went wide, the look of a girl not wanting to believe she knew what was happening, even if deep down she did. "What are you talking about, Alek? Of course I trust you. Why? Is everything okay?"

It was overwhelming, the instinct to protect Eva, certain as he was of the sun in the sky that Eva wouldn't be able to defend herself if it ever came to that. With the friends, and enemies, Alek knew his family had for possibly the first time in his life come to realize just how vulnerable someone like little Eva was. He wouldn't allow her to become another dead rich girl caught in crossfire. He wouldn't ever allow her to be bullied.

"Promise me, Eva."

"Now you're starting to scare me."

Sudden as a light coming on, Alek chuckled, smiled again. His left hand took her body in close to his again, hugging her, and his voice becoming a whisper. "I know. I love you, Evangeline..." In close his face tilted down to her's, a smile becoming a half-smirk proceeding the coming tease, "but I've seen your level of coordination. You ever get in trouble, tell your big brother. I'll always have your back. I'll be there."

He let go, tempted to muss her hair, if not for the knowledge of how protective most girls were of their hair. "I don't mean to be weird, Eva, but mother Russia isn't always a friendly place. Even for the young."

Especially for the young.

"Get out of here, and please...wear flats." He couldn't help the jape, or the devilish grin that followed it. "I'm out. I've got a meeting at a night club. I'll see you tomorrow at the party."

---

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Humming to himself, Lorenzo danced his way through the halls to the beat of his own song. There was that feeling again, the call of the song, the urge to let go and do nothing but dance and drink until the sun came out. For many years, Lorenzo considered himself a creature of the night, coming alive only when the moon hung in the sky. Admittedly the club scene hadn't quite gotten old just yet, though he did prefer the end where he would take a lovely lady home, but right now he just wanted to go have a good time.

After picking up Jess, Lorenzo had chosen to loiter around the house. And by loiter it meant emptying the cupboards of anything that had chocolate in it, raiding the fridge, lounging on the couch, and loudly complaining. He tried not to annoy his sister too much (as he figured getting hurt was tough as it is) but the boredom started to seep. After hours of nothing, finally the night had come, and he was alive.

Bursting into Grant's room without hesitation, Lorenzo strode in and threw himself onto Grant's bed. "I'm bored!" He whined, letting himself sink into the comforter. At the lack of response, he propped himself onto his elbows, only just then noticing Grant with his head in his arms. "Oi, wake up!" He called, lobbing a pillow at the napping figure.

Jolting awake, Grant rubbed his head, confused as the sleepiness clung to him. "What?" Grant mumbled, pushing himself away from his desk. "What time is it?"

"Time to get dressed and go," He grinned, watching Grant stretch.

"Go? Yeah, go to bed," Grant let out a groan as he dropped his arms.

"No! Go out! To party!" Lorenzo rolled off the bed and onto his feet. "The night is young and so are we!"

Wrinkling his nose, Grant seemed abhorrent to the idea. "So you can ditch me once you get someone to grind on? No thanks," He declined.

"That happened once."

"That happens every time," Grant corrected him. "Remember Memorial Day? With that new coworker you got?"

Lorenzo definitely remembered Miss Booty. "She was coming onto me, was I supposed to decline?" He asked, offended.

"And St. Patrick's Day?"

"It was the luck of the Irish!"

"How about my graduation?"

"I was talking to her for you!"

"By making out with her?"

Oh yeah, he had forgotten about that. "Come on, we haven't hung out in a while," Lorenzo frowned at Grant as his younger brother would begin to organize the mess of papers he had at his desk. "You could use the break, you've been working nonstop!"

Lorenzo's observation seemed to have hit the mark as he saw Grant hesitate for a moment, though he returned to his papers. He wasn't quite saying no just yet, though he seemed to be contemplating things. Giving him his space, Lorenzo sat down on Grant's bed and simply watched him. Grant was very organized, to the point that he was convinced the guy had OCD and just didn't know it; his room was so spotless it looked more like a showroom than someone's living quarters. Grant didn't even have to look where he was going, his eyes on his work as he walked around putting everything away.

Finally, he came to a halt in front of Lorenzo, who perked up upon seeing him. "I'm serious about my job," Grant said, crossing his arms.

"There's nothing wrong with that, but you need to let loose before you wind yourself up too much," Lorenzo replied. "We can see if the rest of the clan wants to come along!"

Rolling his eyes, Grant shrugged in defeat. "Fine, whatever," He gave in as Lorenzo cheered, immediately whipping out his phone.

"Time--To--Party--Who--Is--In--?!" Lorenzo said out loud as his fingers mashed the buttons, quickly sending out the message before looking back up at Grant with a stupid grin on his face.

---

Blu set his pen down next to the short letter he just wrote himself. It was letters like these that got him through the teenage angst and college struggles, he found the technique in a self-help book a while back and has been doing it ever since. The technique was simple; write a letter to your future self with some sort of pep-talk (or in Blu's case guidelines) and inspiration. Blu has the habit of "getting out of pocket" on holidays, all the hope and happiness in the air gets to him, Blu being Blu can't help but eat that shit up. That why the letter to the future is important, it should gently remind him of the important stuff without ruining his fun... too much.

Right now Blu was at work, a safe space, filing papers away and setting some meeting or another for his father. Abraham was ecstatic to hear his oldest wanted in on the family business and immediately took it upon himself to mentor his child. Little did he know, Blu didn't want to get caught up in small-town politics, he wants to put someone in office, hell even take the nice leather chair himself one day. It was a stupid, unrealistic and ambitious life plan but it was his life plan and he was sticking to it. The office he worked in was simple; wooden desk, computer, printer, some guest chairs, and a bookshelf in the corner. The only object out of place was the oversized headshot of his father sitting up against his desk that he could not find the time to hang (Blu refused to hang the "fathead", saying the man liked to go around reminding everyone how he won his little race, Abraham had no real competition but you know that's none of Blu's business is it).

Today was the perfect day, no hiccups, no last minute changes, hell he is pretty sure that no one of importance was even in the office. His father was probably at home testing out the brand new grill that never got used, mother off in some corner fixing her face while smiling for the cameras that wanted to capture the "family man", his mom nearby checking clothes and making sure she was the definition of "perfect". As much as it hurt to admit, becoming the Mayor's family turned his parents shallow. Blu and his sister had to come to terms with that fact in order to survive in their house when it came down to the senior Carvers you had to give a little and take a lot while they weren't looking (which was most of the time). Speaking of his sister, he hoped she was enjoying her secret rebellion, the girl did not give him many details just where she would be going and who she was with, give him many reassurances that she would be safe and not worry. Honestly, he wasn't, she had a good head on her shoulders and would return safely in good time.

The only thing that was left was to finish his work and go home, hopefully avoiding any distractions along the way. The city was in full swing and all the bars, pubs, and clubs would be waving those red white and blue flags. They had been like this since the end of June, and it has only gotten worse. His summer had been calm and boring, just like he wanted but Blu was determined to keep his record clean, with that in mind he set off to work.

---

Later on that Day

The sun was long gone and time had surely run away from Blu. Work was work but he enjoyed it so no harm was done staying until 11 at night. But he was getting tired and considering tomorrow was one of his favorite holidays, Blu was gonna need all the sleep he could get. Tearing his latest letter from his notebook, Blu grabbed his blazer and briefcase and walked out the door of his office. His car was sitting in the nearby parking lot for staff, a short little walk, plus he would get to admire the "law" that surrounded the city hall. When the sun is out this part of town was busy, filled to the brim with officials running the town, officers running after donuts, and vultures waiting to get their next big case. At night though, it was not quiet but there was a beauty to Salem's Downtown.

He reached the parking lot and noticed the nightly custodian coming in for his shift and waved goodbye as the man went inside.When Blu got in his car, he immediately let go of everything he was holding onto. His shoulders sagged, he leaned his head back on the headrest and let out a long sigh. Then started his car and noticed the gas light turn on and let out an even deeper sigh.

"Shit" he mumbled, remembering that he did need gas and going out on this venture would mean less time spent sleeping and more time having to deal with other people. These thoughts and more polluted his mind and ruined the mood as he drove to find a gas station.

---

---

It was nearing midnight on the 3rd of July, and Marlie was ready to have some fun. After a boring day spent on the pool of her house, dinner and a much-needed nap had recharged the young woman’s batteries for the long night of drinking and dancing ahead. In typical Marlie fashion, she’d spent over two hours preparing herself for her time out: flat-ironing her hair, doing her makeup, searching for and picking out the perfect maneater outfit that was a periwinkle mini dress paired with some cheetah print ankle heels and a few accessories. There had been a slight hiccup in her plans when Adrian and her father had demanded to know where she was heading and insisted to have their driver Nacho take her to the club and back, an offer which the Mexican girl fought against strongly. In the end, Marlie had come out victorious as always, and after kissing her two favorite men goodbye she was off into the night behind the wheel of the beloved rose chrome Ferrari 458 Spider she’d gotten as her high school graduation gift.

She hadn’t been driving for a whole five minutes when the orange icon of an empty gas tank began to flash in the dashboard. Cussing herself for not checking this sooner and having somebody else do this for her, Marlie sighed and pulled into the nearest gas station against her will. It was only after she’d turned off the car and looked up that she’d realized the mistake that she’d made. The Latina knew the car parked in the pump in front of her very well... And she knew the car’s owner more than she’d liked to admit.

“Puta madre!” Marlie cried out, slamming the palm of her hand on the steering wheel in a sudden fit of anger. What were the odds that she’d happen to run into who was probably the biggest regret of her life? Like, who even left their damn office job at Daddy’s Town Hall at this time of night, anyway? And why decide to fill up the damned gas tank right now, at that, and effectively ruin the mood when all she was supposed to be hyping up for an evening of partying down at the VIP of The Edge? Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead on the same spot she’d just slammed, taking a moment to control her heavy breathing.

The truth was that Blu Carver and Marlena Castillo shared some history between them that went far beyond the ‘best friend’s brother’ relationship everyone thought they’d had. Last year’s summer, back when she and Annalise were still best friends (it seemed like forever ago, when Marls stopped to think about it), the Latina had been invited on holiday with the Carvers to their cabin at Smith Island. On one particular night, after Abraham and Lexi had long gone to bed, the kids had raided the liquor cabinet, and proceed to play a handful of drinking games that ultimately left them all giggly and tipsy. At one point, Anna had excused herself and gone to bed, leaving Blu and Marlie on their own. It was then when Blu, after admitting he’d been attracted to her for some time now, had asked the favor that had been the beginning of the end...

He’d wanted Marlie to be the one to take his virginity.

At first, even in her slightly-drunk state, Marlie had hesitated. This was Blu they were talking about: soft, sweet, kind Blu, who she’d known for over ten years and didn’t want to hurt in a million years. But the influence of the liquor running down their veins that night had been stronger than anything else. The sexual tension between them after the high-voltage request had grown past bearable levels as the minutes went by. And all it had taken was a mind-blowing kiss from Blu to prove he was serious about things for them to rush off to the bedroom and finally make his dreams a reality.

The morning after had been somewhat awkward, with Marlie having to sneak out at dawn to Anna’s bedroom so they wouldn’t get caught. But, ultimately, both parties had enjoyed the experience so much they had decided to do it again. And again... And again. This was how, for the rest of that summer, Marlie and Blu had began an impromptu friends with benefits relationship. He would sneak her into his house whenever nobody was around every chance he got, their interactions crossing the boundaries of what was considered ‘vanilla’ at every encounter. In the end, their run had been short, but filled with an intensity and passion that translated into pure fire between them whenever together: a true rollercoaster of feelings and sensations that neither of them had imagined living with the other. But all good things must come to an end, and Marlena ultimately put a stop to things at the end of the summer.

She’d tried to break it off as gently as possible, knowing fully well how sensitive Blu was. She’d thanked him for the good times they’d had together, and made a joke out of how now he would be ready to fully please all future partners he’d come in contact with like she’d done with her. What she hadn’t expected was for him to have caught deeper feelings for her that went past the friendship they had shared. He never outright admitted this, but she saw the change in him before anybody else, and it was hard to miss the way he would flinch whenever he saw her. Feeling like the biggest scum of the Earth, Marlie had decided to spare the poor man of the pain. She’d started to visit the Carver home less and less, until she was ultimately banished forever from it after Anna put two and two together and the girls had had the blowout that destroyed their friendship.

Even now, nearly a year after the series of unfortunate events, the sight of Blu still made Marlie felt a pang of guilt in her stomach. She’d had her reasons for ending things, of course; she wasn’t the heartless monster Anna made her out to be. But her pride had always bigger than anything else; and she would be damned before admitting that she’d lowered her guard, let Blu slip right through and give her ‘the feels’ of any kind. In her eyes, there was no way things would have worked out between them. He was the Mayor’s son, after all. He deserved a partner who was nothing short of exemplary; someone would make him and his family proud to include and show off.

Bottom line? Blu Carver was much too good for the spoiled daughter of a cartel kingpin.

‘Respira, Marlena. Tu respira y relájate. Párale a lo de pendeja y ándale, que no tienes toda la noche.’

Marlie repeated this mantra to herself over and over again, until she felt she’d taken the words to heart.Taking a deep breath, Marlie exited her car and sauntered to the station, high heels clicking through the pavement as she walked with the arrogant confidence that characterized her family. Head held high and pout in place, she took position behind the painfully attractive Blu- in his very sexy business suit, one might add- on the line for the register, waiting patiently for her turn to pay and silently praying that she would go unnoticed.

---

Translations:

• Puta madre!- A way of saying “Mother fucker!”.
• ‘Respira, Marlena. Tu respira y relájate. Párale a lo de pendeja y ándale, que no tienes toda la noche.’- “Breathe, Marlena. You just breathe and relax. Stop being a pussy and get a move on, because you don’t have all night.

“Olivia! … … … OLIVIA! We’re trying to sleep!” Tom and Alice Horton yelled from their room, almost in sync. Olivia was oblivious to it, her fingers gliding across the strings of her six-string Les Paul Standard guitar as she played the opening riff to Greenday's Holiday. The distorted sound of the guitar resonated out of the amp and echoed through the house despite Olivia’s bedroom door being closed. And she couldn’t have given less of a damn about what anyone thought of her. The little dispute with Elliot had put her in an off mood for the rest of the day and now all she wanted to do was drown it out.

It was only a few more moments before Tom Horton stomped down the hallway and knocked on Olivia’s door, and once again, the young woman did nothing but keep playing her tune. Olivia heard the handle turn and watched the door as she continued to play, but no one entered. She cocked her head slightly before shaking it and resuming her playing, her loose hair flying around as she bobbed her head to the rhythm. Outside, the voices by her door were drowned out by the guitar leaving Olivia none the wiser.

“Dad, she’s had a… … …an interesting day. Let me deal with this.” Jess’ soft voice was a pacifying one, one that seemed to be able to bring down almost every heated moment. Something she had used to her advantage in the ER more times than she could count. She looked her dad in the eyes and watched as he slowly calmed down, before he nodded to his eldest daughter and walked back off to his room.

Jess took in a deep breath before taking hold of the doorknob and twisting it slowly, cautiously entering Olivia’s room. “Liv? You alright? I heard there was an… incident today, one that involved you. Wanna talk about it?” Jess spoke calmly, watching her sister carefully to see how she would react. Most of the time, the two sisters got along quite well. Being the only two girls out of the five siblings brought them closer in a way. But even then, there were some days that it seemed as if Jess’ bullheadedness had rubbed off on a Olivia, except Olivia had a more...aggressive way of showing it.

“I’m fine.” The younger sister spoke quietly as she let the final notes ring out from her guitar. Olivia took in a breath and glanced over to her camera momentarily, then back to Jess. With slight reluctance, Olivia put down her guitar and motioned for Jess to enter, before she sat down on her bed. As Jess hobbled her way in, she placed a hand on the back of the desk chair and dragged over to Olivia’s side before taking a seat.

“So, I heard you really pissed off Elliot today.”

“I don’t want to talk about it…” Olivia grumbled.

“Something about a blonde girl and coffee?”

“It looked like he was cheating on Ali! Besides, I wasn’t watching him, I was trying to watch her. Rumor has it that they’re involved with some serious criminal stuff.”

“Right. So this relates to Ali and El how, exactly?”

“She gave him those I want you eyes, and then Eli gave her some piece of paper.”

Jess blinked, cocking her head for a second. She’d never known Eli to be unfaithful to Ali. They’d been together for four years, it seemed unrealistic that he’d ever cheat on her. Plus, Elliot wasn’t the kind of guy who’d do that in the first place. Jess took in a deep breath before returning her gaze to her sister.

“And was there anything else to suggest that Elliot was cheating?”

“Well… … ... no.”

“God damn it Olivia, you have to think these things through. Just becau--” Jess was interrupted as both Olivia’s phone and her own buzzed in sync. Jess pulled the sleek metal brick from her pocket and glanced over the text from Lorenzo. A smirk came to her face as she realised what he’d meant, and proceeded to quickly type a response back. I thought you’d never ask. Can I get a ride? <3 With her message sent, she looked back to a now very irritated Olivia.

“What?”

“Of course, you’re all going out to the club right? Somewhere everyone but I can go.”

“Sorry Liv, I’ve had a long day too. Just remember, tomorrow’s the big day and we can all go to that.”

Jess stood awkwardly from her chair and hobbled over to her crutches, making her way out of Olivia’s room slowly. She then made her way back to her own room and shut the door behind her. Jess needed to look stunning for the club tonight to distract anyone from her bum leg, and she wasn’t going to settle for anything less than perfection right now. She slipped on a short, black dress and opted to leave her hair down, before beginning to work on her makeup. Conservative and well rounded, but not over the top. After she’d finished up, she used her crutches to walk over to Grant’s room where she’d heard him and Enzo talking, giving a gentle knock before entering. “Shall we, gentlemen?”

Meanwhile, Olivia grumbled in her room. She laid on her bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking of absolutely anything she could do tonight. And then it hit her. Anna was old enough to get into the club, wasn’t she? Maybe they could conspire and she could sneak Olivia in. Olivia grinned to herself, before pulling out her phone and firing off a quick message to Anna.

Hey, I have an absolutely horrible idea. Up for it?

Olivia then made her way over to her dresser and looked into the mirror that sat on its top. After staring into it for a solid minute as she waited for a response, another idea popped into her head. Pulling open her drawer, she grabbed a few bottles of hair dye that she’d had for months now, along with a pair of scissors. Looking in the mirror once again, she held the scissors in her hand smirked. “Fuck it.”

---

---

---

---

With the day Elliot had, he really needed to relax an this evening had been focused on just that. When he had gotten back to his hovel from helping his brothers decorating for the 4th of July festivities, he had started to work on unpacking. Which in some weird way relaxed him quite a bit maybe because he had started with the kitchen stuff and anything that has to do with the kitchen always put him in a good mood. Besides that, getting the kitchen ready was important for what he had planned for his girlfriend. A three course dinner with dishes that she loved followed by some alone time together finally.

Elliot and Ali had just been lying around in bed when his phone had buzzed with the message from his brother about the night out he wanted them to join. Elliot had to think about it before he decided, was he really in the mood? In the end he really wanted to see his brothers and Jess. It took some convincing but in the end Ali agreed that they needed a night of fun. After snuggling in bed for a few moments more Ali had left to get ready. Elliot took this chance to hop in the shower and get ready himself.

Elliot stepped out of his bathroom with the towel he was drying his hair with still covering his head. He threw the towel on his already messy bed and made his way over to his small chest of drawers and pulled out an outfit for the night consisting of a flannel shirt over a plain t-shirt and casual jeans. Elliot was known to put effort in to his outfits but tonight he really couldn't be bothered. He spent some time in the mirror perfecting his hair though since that is something he couldn't let go of. When he was finally ready, Elliot sat down on his bed and sighed. Almost all of the excitement he had felt when his brother had texted him had evaporated but now it was to late to back out. He pulled out his phone to text Jessica



He stowed his phone away back in his pocket and willed his way up of his bed and out of his apartment door. He had decided to drive there because he wasn't sure if he would even drink anything because he had the lunch shift tomorrow and that meant starting at 8 am. Elliot got in to his old ford fiesta and started his drive towards The Edge. He had put his phone on a holder connected to his dashboard and typed in Ali's number, yet again he only reached her voicemail.

“Hey babe I'm on my way over now, I'll just wait for you outside so we can walk in together! See you there, love you!”

Elliot decided to park a little bit further away from the club so he could have some time for himself while he walked over to the front of the club. Standing by himself with the music pumping behind him from inside of the club he looked around to see if someone he knew nearby, when he thought the cost was clear he dug around in the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out the pack of lucky strikes he had stashed there. He took a cigarette out lit it and took a long drag, on the exhale he could feel his body relaxing. Usually he only smoked when he was working but after the day he had he needed one bad. Though he had to be quick about it, if his sister saw him smoking she would murder him. But in this moment he couldn't care less.

The man spent the better part of an hour telling him up, down, and back around about the operation. It was simple money laundering gone complex in crypto-subtleties. He was tall and bald and thick, pale skin and small dark brown eyes hidden behind thick rimmed glasses. If Hollywood were to cast a "weird but brilliant and socially incapable money laundering guy", Philip K. Exeter would have been the result. That thought alone proved to him that he was so far past the point of fully understanding this shit with narcotics (that would've been prescribed had it not be just part of the off the books doctor thing) and the appalling strangeness that was this new slice of the world he found himself in.

His little sister was hopeless. Every bird that hovered the great family tree sang songs to him of other siblings with ideas about him one or the other. He'd rather just leave--but for the awful timing and the sad desire to stay long enough to see if family was anything he had remaining to him, or if he was the only one who bought the talks about everything for their bloodline, for their family. That's what he'd always been told by father. That's what he told the men (and women) that followed him into the danger and the glory and the darkness that dwelled between the two.

A long, drawn out, sigh and focus had graced him once more through the haze of both understanding the laundering, and dealing with family, and...the world. "Fuck it. We'll talk some time in the next week about it. Just make sure the system purrs, please, Philip." His immediate impulse was that of the lonely figure that had been waiting around for him since he sat down: his drink. Scotch, old, incredibly intoxicating. A double, no less. One sip and the bitter bite was enough to cut right through that haze as he turned his body away from Philip and the door, and out onto the floor.

Floors.

There were three dance floors. One in the bottom that was especially dark, with wild lighting, and a funky mood. The 2nd Floor was hardcore, wasted and horny, house party vibe--if you knew how to have a house party, at least. The main floor was the only one he could view from windows. Of eight windows, the four central windows were real. The two that flanked the center screens were simply incredibly hi-def video: two the bottom floor, the other two the second floor. It wasn't just lights and a big space with bars and doors on the edges. It wasn't just the crowds.

From his view he could see the dealers, the players, the pimps. He could see the pick pockets, usually, there were tells if the same pickpocket kept coming back to the same honeyhole once too many times. Most good pickpockets would never be so desperate, at least, he wouldn't be and he was an excellent pickpocket, a thought he took another drink to.

"Anything interesting?" Serg asked.

Alek shrugged. "Not really. Just kind of trying to get used to new crowds, new places. This was so much easier in Europe."

It was his eleventh club. They were useful in the criminal underworld, and in the legitimate business world. Especially if they were good ones. Hush was good enough; it's interiors coming across closer to a favorite high-class hotel, just with darker tones and more playful lighting. None of the construction was cheap, no shortcut taken. The walls were really that nice. Standing room tables near the dancefloors, one main bar for each floor with at least one supporting bar, three on the main floor. The sound system was all, he was shocked to learn, American made.

So far he liked the results. Fiber optics, maybe? A detail he'd have to circle back to later.

At the moment his eyes were back to the game, as Serg distracted himself with a blonde that kept looking Alek's way when Serg wasn't looking, a better use of his time finding the players to this old game in a new location. It was after switching on night vision for the lower level cameras that he spotted the switch, and the face of one of the two "boys" taking part--he knew no better way to describe such idiots. "Serg--" Alek stopped, and suddenly smiled at Serg, and the idea of leaving his companion here alone with the blonde. "You got the office. I'll be fine. My luck isn't bad enough to get shot a day after getting grazed with a bullet."

Right?

^{LOCATION — Carver Household — Horton Residence
INTERACTING WITH — Olivia Horton (@SpicyMeatball)
MENTIONS — Abraham Carver
TIME — 11:20 PM}

_{{ "So tell my enemies that they can't injure me
I know that irritates, you have my sympathies" }}

---

---

After a very eventful afternoon and evening, Anna decided to spend the rest of her day moping around her house. She would have done so earlier, right after she'd left the Brady Pub, if it weren't for her exasperating father; he called Annalise right after she'd retrieved her skateboard from home and started towards the nearby park, requesting that she come assist him and a couple of others in putting up a few last minute decorations around town. The young woman begrudgingly obliged, trading her board for the bike once more and slowly pedaling to her father's office. By the time her father allowed her to leave, the sun had already set, which meant that she wouldn't be able to take that trip to the skate park, after all. Instead, she headed straight home and settled for a large bowl of mint chocolate ice cream and a Harry Potter marathon. She lay on their living room couch, her blanket wrapped warm and snug around her body like a human burrito as she admired the good looks of Draco Malfoy. Thankfully, her mother was out doing whatever it was that she did when she wasn't working, so she had the entire house to herself. She was actually about to see what some of her friends were up to when she received a text message from none other than Olivia Horton. "Hell yeah," Anna muttered under her breath as she typed out a quick response, her acrylic nails tapping loudly against the glass.

Texts [+]

The two girls texted back and forth for a minute before Anna rolled off the couch, unwrapped herself from the blanket, and practically sprinted up the staircase to her bedroom. In swift motions, Anna grabbed an overnight bag from the top of her closet and stuffed it with a few essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, perfume, makeup, curling iron, pajamas, heels, and multiple clubbing outfits just so that she'd have a few options to choose from. Soon, it was about thirteen minutes past eleven, and Anna's overnight bag had been filled to its capacity; you would've thought that she was packing for another road trip. Before walking out to her car, Anna jotted down a quick note on the dry erase board that hung on their refrigerator, telling her parents that she'd be sleeping over at Olivia's house and that she'd see them in the morning. Sure, Anna was an adult in the eyes of the law, but she wasn't crazy enough to think that she could come stumbling into her house at three or four in the morning without facing some sort of consequence from her parents.

Anna sped down the road, as usual, her radio on full blast and her windows rolled down. The wind blew her hair in all directions as she cruised down the street; she only slowed down when she spotted a police cruiser sitting on a corner up ahead. While she knew that the chances of her getting pulled over were slim thanks to her family's connections, she did know that word of her speeding would get back to her father quicker than a politician forgets his promises after election day; she didn't feel like having to deal with her father's lectures and her mother's attitude. As she pulled into the driveway of the Horton family residence, she quickly rolled the windows back up and turned down her music. "I'm here," Anna unconsciously spoke aloud as she typed the message to Olivia and grabbed her duffel and purse from the backseat.

Anna didn't even have to knock after she'd reached the door; it opened as soon as she stepped onto the first stair. "What in the hell did you do to your hair?" Anna stared in shock at her friend that stood in the doorway. Her bewildered expression, however, was immediately replaced by a broad grin. "I love it. Hurry up, let's go get ready. I have to put on my face."