Sorry this isn't a very long update for such a long wait. Hope you like it. I don't own anything I don't own.

Sara's family had what seemed to be the nicest apartment in the entire building. It was decorated just like a real home, furniture and family pictures and flowers. Everything was perfectly cleaned and the whole place felt comfortable. As Carlos sat at their dinner table with a full plate of food, he couldn't help but think that this was the best he'd felt since they left Los Angeles.

Sara sat to his right and she continued to discreetly smile at him when no one was looking. Based on the look of her father, it was probably a good idea. George was the well-mannered practical type, and it showed in every aspect of him. Usually Carlos didn't care much for formalities or acting his age but he wanted to make a good impression on the family. He liked being around Sara, and her family was so inviting.

"Thank you for dinner Mrs. Powell," he said gratefully. "It's delicious."

"Well we don't get to see our neighbors very much here," Laura Powell told him. "Everyone here is so private and secretive."

"They have good reason." George kept his head down as he said this. "Everyone's here because they can't trust anyone out there."

"Yeah, but we can trust people in here," Sara chimed in.

"Can we?" Carlos started to feel slightly uncomfortable and continued eating. Sara seemed slightly irritated at her father's statement.

"Of course we can. These people are in the same situation as we are."

"You don't trust anyone, Sara. If anyone here got caught they'd sell you out for their own life."

"Would you?" George dropped his fork and glared at his daughter.

"How dare you ask me that? I am still your father."

"You're my father that got us into this situation in the first place. Who was it that pissed off the Syndicate in the first place? Oh yeah, it was you. And you have the nerve to be so condescending about everyone else that's here?" She set her own fork down and pushed out her chair, taking Carlos' hand. "Mom, dinner was delicious. If you don't mind I'm going over to Carlos' apartment. Let's go." George kept his head down and didn't say a word as Carlos allowed himself to be pulled to the door.

"It was very nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Powell," he stated before the door was opened.

"You as well Carlos." Laura's words were the last thing and then they were in the hallway and the door had slammed. Sara sighed deeply and brushed her hair out of her face.

"I am so sorry. You shouldn't have had to be there for my family drama."

"It's alright," replied Carlos with a smile. "I've had a little bit of family drama myself."

"My dad just makes me so angry. I was happy with my old life. I was doing well in school; I had a lot of friends. Then one day it just goes away and I have to leave everything because these guys want to kill my whole family. I've never forgiven him for that."

"Maybe it's not so bad. I mean, if we weren't both here we never would've met. And I think that's pretty great." Sara couldn't help but giggle. Before Carlos knew what was happening she kissed him on the cheek.

"You're kind of adorable." Carlos felt like an idiot with such a wide grin but he was so happy that he couldn't shake it.

"Do you, do you want to come in?" he inquired softly. She nodded and he opened the door to his apartment, expecting to see Kendall inside waiting for him. What he didn't expect was to see Kendall standing there with Kelly.

Griffin wasn't very monitored when he was put in his hospital room. Of course being a rich man he'd been given several security personnel, but he'd quickly dismissed them when the hospital staff had left. From what he'd learned Fabian was going to survive being stabbed and he was being held in a different room. So he had a bit of time where he could do whatever he pleased.

He sneaked out of his room and proceeded down the hall, cautious not to be caught. There was one room in particular that he was searching for and he had a suspicion about where it would be. Perhaps he hadn't succeeded entirely in his mission but that wouldn't stop him from sending the Syndicate's message anyway. Gustavo was still unconscious when Griffin entered his hospital room, the pain meds having put him out. In any case he was weak from the blood that he'd lost.

To tell the truth he never really had liked Gustavo. He'd hired the man because he thought he sensed a real cutthroat attitude, the kind of attitude that he liked in his employees. But then the boys had softened him into a pitiful excuse of a man. Softness was weakness, and it caused people to throw away the smart choices because of their sentimental impulses. He was sick of pretending anyway, the act was over.

His hands wrapped around the plush pillow and he steeled himself for what he was about to do. Then the pillow pressed into Gustavo's face and he held it firmly in place. As his baser instincts kicked in the injured man woke and started to struggle. Nails scratched at Griffin's arms, leaving bloody lines running down his skin. But this wasn't the first time Griffin had performed a murder. It was a Paladin's job to deal with threats and that was all Gustavo was. Finally the struggling hands fell to the side and Griffin smiled the smile of a psychopath. One less pawn to deal with.

"You're fired," he whispered before he left his kill to be found.

He won't be the last main character to die, it made me sad but there was nowhere for his character to go. Hopefully I'll start update more regularly. Let me know what you thought.