Heron Hotel, Stilwater:

So this was it.

Waking up, turning the head to your side and at the sight of your sweetheart sleeping next to you, realize that everything changed forever.

His dear face was barely distinguishable in the darkness of the room, but my lips, they were already splitting in an uncontrollable smile as I strangled a sob. I let the tears run down my face silently.

'Carlos, Carlos…' I thought, my fingers caressing his cheeks.

'Te amo.'

I still didn't have the guts to confess it to him. But yesterday when Max asked me to tell the truth I knew there was only one answer to that question.

It was only then that the image of my ex crossed my spirit, making my heart contract painfully.

I bit my lip worryingly, thinking:

'Poor Max. He doesn't deserve this. I hope he's doing all right. He'll get over it, he'll find someone.'

But I knew I was simply trying to deflect the thought that he was surely still aching because of me.

Amongst my perfect happiness, that was the only shadow.

One look back at Carlos, though, was enough to make me forget everything.

For a few minutes, I just stood there staring at him, leaning on my elbows.

Finally, I let go of my adoration pose and rose to a sitting position, with extreme care not to wake him up.

I knew he was going to freak if he saw me going out with my injuries, but I had business to take care of.

The shirt Carlos wore the previous day was left on the floor, I hastily traded it for my PJs. Since he was much bulkier than me the fabric of the shirt almost arrived to my knees, so I didn't see the need to put anything else and simply slipped in the first pair of shoes I found.

He shifted to find another position on the bed, half asleep. I stretched my hand to the nightstand, without making a sound; waiting for him to fall back to sleep, reaching for my favorite gun and delicately retrieving it so the metal wouldn't make any noise against the wood. I left him a little note, slipped the gun in the back of the shirt and closed the door on the tip of my toes.

'Ah.' At first Carlos melted at the affectionate words on the note but immediately frowned with worry. He massaged his eyes to wake himself up.

'I'm gonna cuff this woman to the foot of the bed, that will be the only solution to keep her inside!' He complained out loud while putting up his boxers.

'Left with my shirt.' He mused, then turned his head and looked straight to the nightstand to see if her gun was still there, only to have his suspicions confirmed.

Driving to the Suburbs with A-Ha on the radio felt like I was high and on vacation. That is, not that I've been on one before, but this is exactly what I imagined it would look like.

Sun shining, every second of life was amazing like I didn't ever recall before.

When I reached Tidal Springs, I had that stereotypical (a word Max used once and I googled up) 'romantic sight'.

With a grin, I stopped the car and checked the bullets on the pistol. Thinking of Carlos and reliving our moments together had became the main activity of my brain whenever he wasn't around.

The car was parked in front of this very nice residential building. I remarked it a couple of times before when me and Gat used to drive to Aisha's.

My head turned up to the top of it:

The Penthouse.

This is where I had to pay a little visit. Both for business and pleasure of revenge.

When I got upstairs there was this noise so loud coming out of the flat that it could be heard while still on the elevator. Those cop assholes where having a party, taking by the voices and music.

I shot straight on the lock of the door. With that much noise it would probably take a while for everybody inside to figure out what was going on. But I didn't waste any time and busted in, I didn't want to give that prick any chance to slip away. The boys did worst than I could with his crew, but since he was the one behind it, there was no way that bastard was going to leave that building alive.

On the other side of the door, a good handful of people were dancing under the dim club lights of the living room or drinking in small groups. About 20 or 30 in total. Strippers passed through, occasionally longing on a guy to perform. Above the scene, pot and cigarette smoke formed a permanent cloud.

'BANG!'

The sound of the shot went, indeed, almost unnoticed. Even when The Boss kicked the door open and intruded the crib, only a few people turned towards her. However, this lack of reaction lasted only for a second. Two strippers nearby screamed at the sight of her piece. This other dark haired guy, hugging them, pushed both to the floor and tried to escape.

It was when a tall and muscular man in a suit, probably placed there for security, pulled his submachine and aimed at her.

The Boss ducked as the door behind her almost disintegrated under the hail of bullets.

She counter shot the guard on the legs, aiming quickly and executing him as he fall on the ground. The man between the two strippers was caught in their exchange as he tried to flee. He now contorted himself over a couch, filling the clear tissue of the furniture with unmistakable red liquid.

After a morbid silence, came a wave of screams, broken glass and more shots. Total panic broke into the place as people bumped into each other trying to escape. Some eventually fell to the ground with a bullet as The Boss didn't care in the slightest if she was hitting them as well. Another armed man soon came down the stairs shooting in her direction, followed by a woman carrying a small rifle.

On the mezzanine where they came from, a group of men tried to peak on the lower floor while keeping cover under the furniture. All they could hear was the loud chain of bullets over the music, and see the gun flashes briefly illuminating the walls along with the light effects. Funny enough, it all looked like a nightclub.

The man and the woman shot at the new intruder, but the people still running all over the place made the task difficult. In the meantime The Boss stunned a stripper with a chair in the head. The poor woman barely had the time to understand that she was to be used as a human shield. Just as The Boss dispatched her enemies on the top of the stairs, and her body was pushed to side. Lifeless, it had more wholes than one could count.

By then, people evaded as fast as possible, literally walking over each other in their intent. After a while no more shots were heard. No one screamed anymore. For several minutes, nothing but the electronic music dominated the atmosphere. Slowly, carefully passing over bottle debris and dead bodies, The Boss climbed the stairs leading to the mezzanine.

They were having a poker night, chips and half full glasses of whiskey divided space over the center table, along with pistols and piles of cash.

At the sight of the delicate woman, arm resting on a sling, none of the three guy there moved, certainly not considering her at the origin of the threat.

Only John panicked and got up, recognizing The Boss and remembering how she savagely killed his friend with a bite while still tied up. He fired his gun and ran best as he could towards the balustrade. He jumped below, cursing for not being able to get up and run faster.

She picked up a butterfly knife on her pocket, tossing it in the air as her good hand picked up the handle and in the same motion shoved it in the throat of the nearest bastard until the spine.

The remaining man shot back at The Boss but she retreated to hide herself behind the bar.

But almost immediately she came out of cover and hit the cop with two shots on the chest. She then rushed to the balustrade and aimed at John, calmly hitting his leg.

'Told you I would fuck up your right one too!' She thought with a grin, watching the cop suffer the hit and desperately try to drag himself towards the exit.

Satisfied, she walked towards the vintage sound system and turned down the volume. The Saints never liked electronic shit…

'You need cash? We can make a deal.'

'Not interested.'

'What about this penthouse?'

'Oh, I absolutely love it. But I was thinking that it's going to be mine as soon as I kill you, so don't bother.'

He tried and crawled to a submachine gun on the floor but I calmly kicked it out of the way. John then turned his head automatically to where the threat came from and we crossed glances. But his nasty eyes were soon hypnotized by the barrel of my gun.

I was so happy lately that revenge was not the number one thing on my mind. To see intense the fear in those unpleasant eyes and his trembling limbs was more than enough to placate my fury to what he did to me. With one tired motion I placed the gun closer to the top of his head and shot. End of subject.

To be honest I was more interested in the surroundings, even before settling foot in that amazing penthouse.

The place was definitely worth all the trouble.

It was ours now! All it was missing was a little call to make sure we wouldn't be bothered about it.

I grabbed the cell phone John knocked out on the floor during the shooting and dialed the PD number. I asked for Troy.

'You? Are you fucking crazy calling here…?!'

'Aren't you glad to hear from your old buddy, Piglet? I said with fake disappointment, calling him by an old and affectionate pet name Lynn gave him.

Troy sighed, I guessed a bit uneasy. The nickname seemed to have an unpleasant effect on him, reminding our ex-friend of guilt and long forgotten days.

Calling him that was meant to hurt him, but it did hurt me just as much to think of it.

I continued with a phony tone as if we were still best buddies:

'I am just calling to tell you that I just busted a little party your subordinates were having at the Suburbs flat. Of course there are a lot of dead bodies in and out of the place and I am counting on you that the police won't come.'

'What… What the fuck are you talking about?'

'Don't act surprised, you knew all about it. We're keeping their place and I don't want any questions asked. Do we have a deal?'

There was silence on the other side.

'I have footage, Troy.'

After another, very long pause, his voice was heard again, except in a uneven tone. His rage must've been such he spoke really fast, had a hard time coming up with words:

'Surprise… this… This comes to light, I mean! The day after your white knight resigned. I could send this dipshit to jail for all I...!'

'…You leave Max fucking alone, Troy.' I warned, for the first time showing genuine emotion. 'Escúchame bien! You ain't got the right to call him anything, you motherfucker. You and I are two pieces of the same shit, but he isn't. If I didn't kill you for what you did before I swear I will if you ever do anything to Max. Besides…' I continued in a more neutral tone, calming my hard feelings: 'Granted that you miraculously manage to avoid me killing you, which you wouldn't… If you accuse him you would go down too.'

There was only fast pacing on the other side, and exhaling smoke from Troy's well known habit of fucking up his lungs. I imagined him walking around beyond pissed, trying to keep his shit together since he was left without an option.

'Why?' He asked, fucked up.

'He told me it would keep you at bay from trying anything against me. He isn't around to keep an eye on you anymore. Apparently, he found out you swept some crap under the rug.'

'So much for loyalty…' Troy said, referring to the fact that Max gave away so much confidential info.

'Heh. Are you one to talk?'

'Enjoy your new flat.' Pissed, but convinced, he congratulated me bitterly and hung up.

'Oh, I see you've been decorating already.' Gat noticed a dead man's body over the chair, with a knife pinned to his throat. He and Carlos entered the Saints' new apartment. Both looked around, impressed at the costly decoration. The place was not only spacious with two floors but also had a jacuzzi, a full size bar and a home theater.

'Though of giving it a nice touch to make it look like home.' The Boss smirked from the bar as Gat sat on a stool next to her and reached for a bottle of liquor over the counter.

'Anyone care for a glass of Brandy?' He asked checking the label on the expensive drink, and continued with irony: 'We're in the wrong business, Boss. Been a cop pays way more than we thought.'

'Hmph, Right? Have you seen this flat guys?!' She opened her arms, encouraging them to look around.'Think of all the parties we can have here. It's our crib now!'

'Fucking yeah!' Johnny nodded with delight.

Carlos, on the other hand, wasn't pleased and crossed his arms. He shrugged sourly as he spoke:

'It's all very nice, but I didn't like you taking over their turf all alone in that state.' He addressed an angry glance towards The Boss. But soon as she smiled to him and gave him a long kiss before putting her glass on his lips for him to drink, his expression softened a tad:

'So, did you get him?' He gave her back the glass and stroke her hair with the back of his hand softly.

'Over there.' She pointed behind herself as she kissed his hand.

Carlos followed towards a trail blood. He lifted the body's head by the hair to look at the man's face. 'Asshole. That was totally him that other night.'

He took a sec to spit on the cop's face before releasing it back in the blood pool with a splash.

Looking at the face of the cop brought Carlos involuntary flashbacks of that horrible night when the Boss went missing.

Her body covered in blood, her clothes torn down. Those two bastards screaming and still alive, the heavy sound of that trash compactor…

It was like someone had shoved a knife right into his stomach. And again, just like in the car, he felt himself to be intoxicated with that same hate…

To think that The Boss risked her life so irresponsibly, to come after him in such a situation! How could someone not care in the slightest about her own life like this?! Yes, she knew her shit or she wouldn't be a gang leader, but all it would take was a single mistake or mishap and then it would have been the end for her.

'Stupid.' He thought out loud, more to himself than to he others.

'What was that?' The Boss asked distracted.

Carlos' eyes went from a lost spot on the wall to hers. His gaze was addressed to her, this time, as were his words:

'That was one fucking stupid thing to do. What the fuck were you thinking?'

She stepped back, a bit surprised:

'Well, we needed a new crib so…'

'So… What?!' His voice raised a notch, with frank hostility.

The Boss kept silent and looked at the bottom of her glass with an heavy expression. The change of tone of the Lieutenant's voice, usually so loving, was enough to make her go defensive.

Feeling the tension, Gat raised from the bar carrying his glass and excused himself with all subtlety:

'Erm… Guys, I am out of here. I ain't in a relationship, so no way I am in for a couple fight.'

'Qué te pasa Carlos?'

'I've had enough with this life!' He shouted, finally exploding all the feelings of the last two days. 'I've had just enough with The Saints!'

She backed up, like someone just hit her in the most vulnerable place. Of all people, he was the last one she could imagine capable of saying this. Since that day in jail, she always thought of Carlos as one of the most loyal Saints, just like her and Gat. She couldn't understand his reasons, it just felt like betrayal. Like somehow he was going to abandon her. 'What is wrong with our life?'

'What is wrong? Nothing! It's fucking great.' He greeted through his teeth with irony, grabbing her shoulders painfully, too angry to be aware of the pressure he was using. 'It's great to watch you go out not knowing in what state you are going to come back, and if you are going to be back. To lower my godamn head just in time to keep my brain in one piece at every drive by. It's amazing! Best life ever!'

In a sudden outburst and without really thinking about what he was doing, Carlos pulled his coat over the Boss. He picked her up by the arm and walked them both to the door.

'What the hell are you doing?' She yelled, surprised.

'We're leaving.' He replied as he kicked the door open.

'We?! You fucking serious?'

With a frenetic, possessed motion, he kept dragging The Boss behind himself towards the parking lot. Her resistance in doing so caused them to miss steps several times while going down the stairs.

'Even if I have to drag you out of this life, I swear!'

'Like hell I am! I can't just give up on the gang just because you're not feeling it!' She focused enough to free her arm.

'You don't get it!' Carlos joined his palms with exasperation. 'It's not about a career, it's about the high bet that one of us will get a godamn bullet in our skulls any day now!'

'What the fuck do you want me to do?! THIS is my life! This ALL I fucking had so far!'

She yelled as she stared at the Atrazzione parked next to where he was now. Even if she gave it to him as a gift, each step he took towards it made her more nervous. She kept waiting for that moment when Carlos would say he couldn't go on with their relationship, just like it happened with Max. She felt a bit of relief to see that he didn't start the car, but she needed to be sure:

'You're… You're not going are you?'

Altered, he left the seat and banged the door of the car with violence:

'No I will stay.' He screamed with all anger. 'Because I am a dumbass and fucking love you, but I know I really, really shouldn't!'

And then, without expectation The Boss uttered words neither Carlos or herself would believe possible:

'Maybe not now but someday, for you, when the gang is back to its old glory…I could…' She was still furious, even more for considering such words. 'You see?!'

All of Lieutenant's anger melted immediately. His expression turned to delighted gratitude, as if her words healed his bad feelings:

'You're saying this for real?'

Still overwhelmed by her feelings, she simply looked away and nodded.

Disturbed and silent, the couple started to head back to The Penthouse.

We both rode back up quietly, unable to stare or say a word to each other.

With my back turned, I could get a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror of the elevator. I felt that maybe that it was trying to connect and reach out for me.

His reflection was conciliatory, but, in that moment, I was pissed at him. And maybe more at myself.

At what I said. And, of course, because I knew I meant it.

'Shit. I can't just give up on The Saints like that just because… Fuck, if he didn't say he would stay, I swear… I would've gotten in that car with him.'

Avoiding his glance, I entered the flat and he followed, insecurely, closing the door behind himself.

I didn't know how to act. I could never keep my cool in an argument, specially with people I cared deeply for.

I went upstairs and sat in bed, trying to relax a bit.

To my surprise I felt a weight on the mattress close to me.

A lip on the back of my neck.

I squinted my eyes, feeling it deeply.

Despite being pissed, all I wanted was to give in to it and make it out, forget that fight ever happened. But, I was never really used to kindness, or how to react to it. That tender gesture had me confused, in that whirlpool of emotions. So out of instinct of preservation my lips muttered the opposite of what my heart meant:

'No fucking way this gonna happen tonight.'

'Fine! Get your room all to yourself then.'

He grabbed a pillow in the bed, his jacket in a hurry and left banging the door.

'Shit.'

A lot later that night Carlos went back in the room.

I sank my nose behind the cellphone as a meaning of shutting down any potential conversation.

He didn't say anything and went looking for a bag that was on the floor. I figured he needed to get something for the night, so I just shrugged and let him do. But, weirdly, he reached out for a black dress inside, tossing it over the bed.

Then, picking me up, he started to undo the buttons of my shirt without much explanation.

I watched him take it out and toss it on the floor, completely clueless.

'Hey…! Whatchu doing?'

'Dressing you up. We are going out.'

'Huh?! Where to?'

'Restaurant. I owe you a date, remember?'

'In your dreams! I am not in the mood.' I fell back to bed with a frown.

I was still pissed from before and thought he would be reacting just like myself by needing his time to cool off, but no.

'Do you really want me to leave?' He asked as I pouted.

'No... Stay.'

Unexpectedly, his hands pulled me by the legs causing my body to slid to a lying position over the sheets.

Then he laid down as well and passed my both legs over him, carefully pulling my weight over his body. His hand searched for my bra and grabbed it, pulling it out with expertise.

'What…? …Is got into you?!' I pushed him away using a bit of martial arts skills. He landed away from the bed, stumbling. Against all expectation he had his eyes squeezed, tears coming out from laughter.

He came closer to me again, his expression clear that he was really enjoying playing with fire, if not passionately aroused. His little mischief ended up making me smile, seing this he pulled me so I fell on top of him on the floor.

'So pretty when you get angry.' He purred in my ear, his voice pure honey while making sure my body was still pressed on his. ' Kiss me…' I pulled back to look at him, and saw that he was almost begging, his eyes locked on mine with all that sweet belonging that had the power to cast away all the shadows of my heart.

I forfeited, kissing him immediately and repeatedly. Heart now taken by the most sweet and turbulent emotions, I pressed my avid lips over and over his cheeks, his forehead, his neck, listening to his muffled groans and rapid breath, as closed his eyes with all abandon in the world. My fingers then dug in his hair, I pressed their tips at the back of his head and he shrugged. It was so obvious that my touch was causing a deep and extreme reaction, it mirrored a strong reaction in my body too.

And things would've been perfect from that moment on, and you'd guess what we would end up doing, if his intentions weren't to piss me off more than anything.

He jerked his head back, breathing rapidly. Then, regaining control he raised us both from the floor.

'…Baby?' My eyes widened in shock as he bent casually and picked up the dress that had fall to the ground with us.

He came from behind, pulled me by the shoulders and turned to our reflection in this large mirror on the wall.

'What the fuck…! Where did you get this slutty dress?' I bitched watching it get put on me. It was total bullshit though, the more I cared to look in the mirror, the more I saw that this black gown was really beautiful, but of course I wasn't in the mood to admit it.

'Impressions.' He replied with a nonchalant smile while zipping it up and looking at our reflection in the mirror. 'Ah, you look gorgeous on it.' He said as he kissed my bare skin through the open back of the dress.'Wait. There is more.' He said with a caress, turning on his heels.

'Carlos, what kind of effect you had on me?'

My anger was once again decreasing to zero at the touch of that loving hand and that innocent gaze.

He was gone for a bit before coming back with his arms filled with shopping bags. There were so many that there wasn't space over the bed for them all.

He started to pull the items out and I gasped in wonder:

Dresses, heels, bags and jewelry. A gold plated gun.

That kind of luxurious shit I loved so much, AND exactly what I would've bought myself. It was safe to assume that he put an insane amount of thought to pick it up just as an equally insane amount of cash.

The idea that someone could do such a thing for me left me speechless. I was feeling so happy, and at the same time embarrassed as fuck.

'T-thank you… This is…!' I could finally mutter after a while.

'It's to make up for all the things you lost in the fire.' He said, smiling widely at my reaction and placing a kiss on my burning cheeks. Since I still had the sling he kneeled and helped me put up the shoes.

On purpose, he touched and kissed me tenderly everywhere as he did so.

'Love to see you in heels.' He trailed adoring kisses on my leg.

'If you keep doing this, I am not sure we'll make it to the restaurant.' I sighed with frustration as his hot lips played on my inner thigh, feeling the arousal build up again.

At this he grinned quickly and pulled a serious face.

'Can't wait to get a little piece of me, huh? Get a hold of yourself, girl.' He teased and pushed me back, just enough to get me pissed again.

My eyes lit sinisterly, darting my beloved with a choleric glance. His smug grin widened, as it was thriving on my reactions. In his eyes passed an overwhelming flame of extreme passion he was quick to push back, but for the short moment it went out of control, was enough to send me the goosebumps. For a second, his forehead touched mine and all we did was breath very quickly while staring at one another.

I was trembling. Carlos hand stopped on my shoulder, feeling it. He inhaled deeply and swallowed some saliva, momentarily fighting himself to regain control.

I guess I was kind of expecting it when, out of nowhere he abruptly rose and left my side.

'Sorry babe. I think you were right and I do need some time to cool off too.' He mocked.

Jesus Christ! He knew how to push my buttons for best and for worst. Leaving me begging for him like that after all this provocation!

He walked towards the door but in the last moment laughed heartily at my expression. He quickly picked me in his arms, tossed me into bed, took off our clothes and made love passionately to me before I lost my patience again.

A while later, the gangster couple was lying together at the king size bed of the Saints' new property. His arms around the Boss, while her head rested on his chest, Carlos lit some Loa on a bulb. With a gesture of tender laziness and extenuated satisfaction, he passed it to his girl so she could enjoy a drag herself.

'Listen… I know this is too fast. But, with the life that you and I have, time goes by at a different speed.'

'Whatchu talking about?' The Boss asked softly as she blew some smoke, her voice puzzled.

Carlos sighed and stretched his arm to his jacket without breaking their embrace. He went straight for the inside pocket as if he knew exactly what he was looking for, or if he rehearsed what he was about to before. His hand, however, was shaking as he showed The Boss this small box covered in black velvet.

She gasped in surprise as he opened it and picked up her hand then slipped a diamond ring across her finger.

'Let's do this properly, right?' He kissed over her hand passionately and turned over to get more Loa, simply shifting while making himself comfortable.

Thought everything seemed casual about him, the Lieutenant's heart was pounding with all the expectation one can have about the other person accepting to be forever happy with you.

'Bueno.' The Boss replied, finally. He voice was strangely changed, and this time it wasn't out of fear to commit.

He moved his arm, giving her free access to his chest. One of his hands went on her back, he moved it up and down in small strokes.

And even if the room was in the dark, Carlos knew the Boss enough by now to tell just by the way she snuggled closer, how she was just as beyond herself joy as he was.

'Come.' The Boss said with a playful kiss. She sat in bed and started looking for their clothes in the floor. 'Let's go out.'

'Yeah, we need to celebrate.'

Across town, in a classic building, stood 'Le Fion du Pigeon', the most pricey restaurant in the High End district of Stilwater.

The place had all the class and bling from the old world: Marble statues sent straight from Italy, gold plated chandeliers, and of course the best of French culinary.

At that hour, though, the fancy staff seemed intrigued at the entrance of a young couple. Both were dressed in evening attire and expensive items from head to toe, actually, way too many items.

Both spoke Spanish (taking by their accent), the man was athletic and handsome. He had a fine purple shirt over formal pants. Its buttons were opened until halfway, revealing part of his chest and a thick chain of gold with a cross hanging from it. His attention was all on his girlfriend: A beautiful woman that, with those high sparklingly heels, stood quite taller than he did. She wore a tight black dress with a plunging neck line, and held a tiny designer bag. Anyone with some knowledge about brands could guess the fortune that was spent on it. She also seemed hypnotized by her companion, silently looking at him while he spoke to others while gently striking his arm. She also checked on her hand once, and kissed his cheek.

They came in without reservation, but the huge tip that was given to host the opened the way.

But very soon they started to draw attention from their table neighbors and waiters.

Both spoke loudly, laughing even louder at everything the other said.

They ordered almost everything on the menu. From booze to entrée, just to taste every expensive meal while leaving a mess over the table, without the slightest clue of what should be eaten together or not.

Not only that. They… Made out a lot. Very explicit tongue kisses, his hand sliding almost under her dress, between her thighs and way beyond the limits of the appropriate for a place like that. Muffled and provocative sounds from The Boss' part into Carlos' ear, were still loud enough to be heard. And taking by his significant shivers maybe her hand was 'casually' passing over something else as well.

By the looks on the staff's faces, they were more prone to call the cops rather than to take their order again.

'The place surely got emptier after they walked in…' One waiter pointed sourly to his colleague. 'Ok, I'll go this time…'

He walked towards their table:

'Please sir, I am to insist again that you keep it down or…'

'What do you mean we keep it down?' Carlos raised from his chair and pulled on his shirt as if readjusting it, but allowing the waiter a full flash of the piece stuck on the sides of his pants. 'Me and my girlfriend are just having a romantic dinner.'

With an apologetic smile, the man retreated immediately, muttering an excuse.

'You scared him.' Boss commented with a chuckle. 'Pass me that chocolate thing.'

She pointed to a frosty dessert and Carlos fed it to her himself. They were interrupted while another order was presented.

Carlos rubbed his hands in anticipation:

'Come on, let's taste this bad boy!'

As he grabbed his fork and inspected his fancy starter better, he seemed disappointed. 'Oh no. Look.'

'What is it?'

'It's raw, babe. What the fuck?' He pointed at his Carpaccio.

'Wow. With these prices, I'd expect things to be perfect, huh?' The Boss replied. 'We never got this kind of stuff at Freckle Bitch's.'

Carlos tapped on the shoulder of the waiter with scandalous familiarity:

'Yo buddy, I don't think you cooked it right…' He whispered indicating the think slices of raw meat on his plate. 'Could you take it back there and roast it again?'

'This is Carpaccio, sir. You're supposed to eat it that way.'

'Ah. You eat it… Raw?' Carlos pulled a face while he and The Boss repressed laughs. 'Ok. Thanks, I guess.'

The two Saints exploded with laughter as soon as the waiter turned, rolling his eyes with indignation.

'I didn't know it could be like this…' The Boss said.

'What, the food?'

'No. Life… I've never been happier. Ever.'

With ecstatic recognition, Carlos grabbed her hand and kissed it longly. Something behind The Boss called his attention, though. He thought he saw a familiar face.

'Wait, isn't that Gat over there?'

'Oh. That's right. And Pierce too.' The Boss turned to look.

'I wonder what they are doing here?' Carlos said, waving in their direction.

Happy 2019 everyone! I hope this year will be amazing for each one of you!

Long time since last update but they will come quicker now. Reviews are welcomed and always motivate me to write faster. ;)