"It's you, it's you. It's all for you. Everything I do."—Video Games, Lana Del Rey

"It's dangerous." Hailey said. I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the man across the pool. The one who was seemingly having a serious talk with his men. Turning to her, I frowned in confusion.

"What?"

"Your feelings toward him." She stated simply. Sometimes with her, it was just useless to play dumb. Because observing people was something she was so good at. I stayed silent, looking at her amused eyes. "You know you'll get hurt, B." She added, grinning as if she was waiting for it.

"I don't mind." I replied, bold and unthinking. It was true. At this point, I didn't really care.

She laughed. "You're crazy."

I rolled my eyes, reaching for my cocktail on the table. Drinking it, I glanced back at him. It was involuntary and just for a few seconds, but of course Hailey caught it. She smirked. "Ah, you've got too deep already."

I pretended I didn't hear it.

Edward returned a little while later, taking a seat on the pool chair beside me. Sunglasses on and shirtless, the sight of him basked in the sun was beautiful. Maybe the summer in this hot humid city didn't sound so bad.

"Rose is back in town, did you hear? She will hold a party this weekend." Hailey started. All evil, up-to-no-good grin. Edward sipped his champagne nonchalantly, yet was completely aware I was listening.

"Can't. Busy."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Business or pleasure?"

"Business." He replied, annoyed. Like the answer was obvious. "I'll be staying in Havana until Monday."

I hid my surprise at the news. He never said anything about that. But again, we never talked about his business. Or else.

"Rose will be disappointed." The words were for him, yet her eyes were on me. I knew right away she said it on purpose. I didn't give her the satisfaction, of course. My reaction was cool and composed, even though inside I had been dying to know who this Rose they were talking about.

He ignored her as if she never spoke to him.

I got up because all of a sudden I felt like an outsider. The feeling became more and more difficult to handle these days. After that slip about his ex-wife, he grew a little bit distant and more careful. He thought I was oblivious to this. I was not.

He grabbed my hand before I had a chance to walk away. "Where are you going?"

"Swimming." My reply was quick and short.

He quirked his perfect brow, but let go.

"Okay."

"What will you be doing in Havana?" I asked as he packed up his stuffs. His side was on me so I could see it clearly. More guns, less clothes. The sight never failed to make me shudder even though it wasn't the first time I saw it.

"Business." He replied, didn't offer anything else. If he was surprised, he didn't show it. Because I didn't usually ask about his dirty works.

"What business?" I pressed, a bit testing his patience. It was about time I wanted to know. Hell, I needed to know.

The gun hit the suitcase loudly as he threw it. The atmosphere shifted. His mood turned sour. His flight was in an hour and I was kinda sorry for his men.

"I don't have time for this shit, bellissima." He warned, eyes cold and scary, but anger and curiosity drove me crazy. I wanted to know everything about him that he wouldn't tell. Because it was unfair how he knew all of me while I was still grasping a few pieces of him.

"You never have time." I commented. I knew I was so noisy, but I couldn't help myself.

"What do you want?" he asked impatiently, hand running over his bronze hair.

Tell me everything. Rose. The ex-wife. Your dark past. The business. Secrets.

My head was aching just thinking about it.

"I simply asked a question."

"Cut the bullshit."

"You don't trust me." I stated. His doubt to me was the root of the problem. He didn't trust me enough to open up about everything. It hurt the moment I realized it. "Why?" I wanted to scream, but it came out as a weak whisper.

He approached me with steady strides, eyes narrowed. I looked up to him as my chin was held between his fingers. He leaned in close and murmured against my lips. "I'll pretend this conversation never happens."

My midnights were always filled by silence and loneliness, even when Edward was here. So now that he was gone for a couple of days, it didn't change the routine.

I was sitting on the couch at the first floor with Snow lying beside me, half-asleep. The TV was on, playing something I didn't watch since hours ago, just to keep me a company.

My mind was at chaos.

I was staring blankly ahead, to the darkness the ocean hid, when I heard the footsteps. Snow was abruptly awake and jumped down, running towards the doorway.

She came back later snuggling in his arms.

Jamie.

"Ah, you missed me too, didn't you?" he teased, stroking Snow's chin, but the smile was for me.

The last time we met, we were pissed at each other. Me, because of that club incident. Him, because Edward had messed with his Bugatti to revenge that club incident.

He sat on the table in front of me with Snow in his lap. Our knees were touching. I diverted my attention from the proximity, gazing at his loose soft blond curls instead.

"Boring night, huh?" he said as though he already knew the answer. That playful mood was back. The crooked smirk was in place. It was like nothing ever happened between us before.

"As you can see." I replied, leaning back to create some distance.

"I heard Edward left to Havana."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling brave. "So you're here because he isn't around?"

He chuckled at my words, but those eyes grew intense. "No, principessa. You know I'm not afraid of him."

True.

Pushing his buttons was his hobby. And he didn't give a fuck because he knew Edward wouldn't kill him, though. No matter how many damages he had done. Family before anything.

For a minute, silence surrounded us. Jamie moved now-sleeping Snow to the space beside him. He was watching her as if he was envy with her peaceful state.

"Do you know what he's doing there? In Havana?" I asked nonchalantly, looking down to my lap to realize I was only in my oversized t-shirt and boyshorts.

"The usual." He replied bluntly. Like it didn't bother him at all to tell me about it. "You know, monitoring our business. Hotels, casinos, clubs…brothel." He grinned at the last part. My stomach twisted, but I kept my expression neutral. "If you don't know, we have the best brothel in Havana." He added knowing my discomfort. I felt sick thinking about it. I felt sick hearing how easy he said it.

"You're disgusting." I couldn't help myself.

"Yet here you are." He mocked angrily. I stiffened as he leaned in. "Tell me, principessa, why didn't you leave when Edward offered you freedom?" I was surprised he knew. Did Edward tell him? "Why did you choose to stay? Tell me. Why? So he can keep fucking you?"

I was stunned at his harsh words. But only for a few seconds before anger overtook me. Jamie was fast, though. He grabbed my wrists before I could hit him.

"You don't know anything." I hissed.

"You're the one who doesn't know anything." He said, just as furious. "I know him better than anyone. Everything that he has been through, I was witnessing it all. My cousin has a very dark past, Bella. He can't ever have feelings. For anyone."

"Is it because of his ex-wife?" it was out before I could stop it. And the tone sounded so bitter.

His eyes widened at my question.

"He told you?"

"Does he still love her?" I asked back instead.

A beat of silence, then, "Yes. He does."

The words stabbed. And I saw no lie in those blues.

Edward didn't come back on Monday. He didn't call either. Nothing. I tried not to think about it, but this thing had kept me restless at night. Did something happen to him? Why did he not come back on Monday like he told he would?

I was a second away from being insane.

Hailey and I hung out almost everyday. She took my mind off him for a while with those crazy parties and shopping. She didn't tell me anything about him and I didn't ask. But somehow I knew she knew. Hailey was just enjoying my worry.

Jamie visited me again on Thursday. When I was all alone sitting by the pool, surrounded by midnight stars and black sky and the waves of the ocean. He stood beside me, hands deep in his pockets.

"Such a calming night." He said, much to himself.

I turned my head. "Is he okay?" God, even I sounded so desperate in my own ears. And I didn't ask where and why because I was afraid he wouldn't answer at all.

"He is." That wasn't enough to ease my worry, though. "Come on. The night is too beautiful to waste." He held out his hand for me to take.

I did.

The awkwardness and discomfort I once felt towards him had disappeared. He was a good man when he wanted to be.

"Where are we going?" I broke the silence as we were in his car. It was the matte black Bugatti Veyron he loved so dearly. The one that needed weeks to fix because of Edward. Because of me.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked back, tilting his head to me.

I exhaled, just feeling tired. "Far away from here."

"Miami sounds good to you?"

We arrived before the dawn. I was wide awake and he was too. So we went straight to the beach, waiting for sunrise. It was something I had never been bored to watch. And of course, so much better than those midnight TV shows.

We headed to some breakfast deli near the beach after that. He said it was one of his favorite places here. He didn't disappoint. The food really tasted delicious.

"You surf?" he asked when we were back at his massive yet empty beach house. I bet this man had residence everywhere.

I curled up on the couch, yawning. "Aren't you tired?"

He shook his head. "Nah, I don't usually sleep in the morning."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course." These men were so weird. "How long will we be here?" I asked, realizing we didn't bring any spare clothes.

"As long as you want." He shrugged. Like it wasn't really a big problem.

Turned out he had taken care of everything. From the stocked fridge to the full-of-clothes closet. Well, everything we needed was here. With him, with them, this family, life seemed so much easier.

We went to the beach again after lunch. He said he missed surfing. So he did play with the waves while I floated on the surface of the water. It felt so good being here. I didn't really mind the bright sun above or the humid air. All I could think about was the blue that was united in the horizon. It was perfect and beautiful. I loved every inch of it.

I dived in again, twisted and danced under water. For a moment I forgot who I was and the problems back home. It was only me and the ocean.

When I drifted back up, Jamie was floating nearby, sitting cross-legged on his surfboard, staring at nothing particular. I swam to him, taking a breath while holding onto his surfboard.

"You're pretty good at it." I confessed.

His smirk was effortless. "At what? Surfing or spoiling girls?"

I lifted an eyebrow. "Both, I think."

He laughed.

"In case you're wondering, actually Hailey and I grew up here." His gaze seemed so far away, recalling the memory. "We moved to Tampa when Edward's mother was dying. My dad is her elder brother, by the way." He told me. I noted that Jamie was more open than Edward. That was one of many differences between them. "I remember how this family became a mess as soon as she passed away. Zio seemed so depressed about it so Edward had to overtake the organization, acting as the Don. Well, practically Edward is the Don now because zio is still drowning in his sorrow."

"Must be hard for him, losing the love of his life." I said.

"Pretty much." He shrugged. That topic was over. "Anyway, I will be throwing a party tonight, so don't be surprised to see so many unfamiliar faces in the house."

"Do you even have enough time to prepare?"

"Believe me, Bella. It's more than enough." He winked.

Hailey came all the way down to Miami. Wearing a loose white off-the-shoulder dress and some cute flower accessories on her hair, she almost looked like a pixie. Well, pixie with an evil mind more exactly. God knows why I had this love-hate situation with her.

The house was packed by midnight. Girls were dressed to impress. Men were lingering close behind. Liquor in hand and other substances in the body.

I stood in the balcony for minutes, hardly sipping my champagne and just watching people from here. Another dull pathetic crowd.

"You gonna stand there all night, B?" Hailey said, pulling me out of my musings. I turned around and stepped inside.

"Yeah, why?"

"Come on. I want you to meet someone."

That suspicious smile again.

My forehead furrowed, trying to guess her intention.

She led me to some spacious sitting room that was more private and less crowded. Jamie was there, surrounded by his girls with a bong in hand. While on the other of the couch was occupied by a gorgeous blonde with killer body. Joint between her fingers, smoke was out of those lips.

I already had a bad feeling about this woman.

"Bella, this is Rose. And Rose, this is Bella." Hailey introduced, gesturing to each of us.

Rose didn't say anything, not even a hi. So, neither did I.

Those sharp blue eyes were assessing, though.

"Who is she?" she asked rudely after a moment, nodding at my direction.

Jamie snickered, amused as ever.

"Edward's girlfriend." Hailey said without missing a beat. Even I cringed at that.

"No way." Rose snorted out loud. As if she knew it was impossible.

"Ask him yourself." Hailey shrugged nonchalantly. But when Rose didn't see, she grinned widely at me.

"Tell me you're not serious, Hails." She warned. Her tone was ice cold.

"I am."

"He didn't say anything about it." She argued, crossing her arms.

"Oh, right. Like you didn't say anything about moving to Sicily eight months ago?" Hailey bit back. It shut her up immediately. "And since when you two talk to each other again, anyway?" God, this girl was savage.

Jamie laughed out loud at that, but still trying to stay out of it.

Rose got up from her seat, completely furious. "Whatever, bitch. I'm out."