For a cold hearted gang leader you sure know how to steam things up.

Nice garden.. if u knw wht I mean **wink wink**

Another upload

Alison POV

Maria was fuming as she stalked to my car. I tried keeping up but she was decided on getting off this beach ASAP. So, logical conclusion : we'd tan another day.

"hey Maria, don't let him get to you. He's just looking out for you." I said those words with a pinch of salt. I've had my fair share of ghetto victimization to know that Antonio's enemies would be absolutely ruthless if she fell into their hands.

"Alison! I can't do anything because of him. I never asked for any of this. It's his life and because he's so messed up I have to get dragged into it. I just want a tad bit of independence for Christ sake, but he's always there checking on what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with. I'm 19, I think I'm entitled to some autonomy but he treats me like a little defenseless girl!" she shrilled in a catatonic furry making me backup a step. She shoved her bag on the grown next to the car in a tantrum. Although she was furious about this situation I could tell how deeply poignant this issue was, and her eyes sparkled with tears threatening to cascade down any moment revealing how really torn up she was.

"Awh, come hear Mari" I said taking her into a hug. "There's no point no point in dwelling on what could be. We all wish some things were different about our lives. No one has the perfect family and all we have to do is make with what we have." -I swear this is such a soap opera thing to say- "maybe you don't have all the freedom you wanted but you have a brother who would do anything for you Maria. He adores you and you know that." I can't believe I'm taking Antonio's side right now but I got to say, the dude has some leverage this time. For once he's head isn't that far up his ass.

"To be honest Mari, sometimes I wish I had a little less freedom and a little bit more attention from my dad you know?"

Maria sniffed once and pulled out of the embrace with a grin on her face. "Dude, that was pretty deep." I chuckled.

"Didn't take me for the psycho-analytical type did ya?" I said achieving another smile from her. Well, at least the mood had lightened down a notch now.

"And geez, I never thought I'd see the day you and my brother would be on the same side." She giggled.

"Hey, hey.. let's not get carried away there. This slight lapse of character that has caused us to share a mutual moment is a quick faze. So let's change the subject fast before Antonio becomes my motivation for blasphemy once again. Kk?" I picked up her bag and chucked it in my boot and we drove off, the atmosphere slowly finding its old mellow temperament.

"So, where we going by the way?" I enquired once we had reached the motorway. I took a side glance at Maria and noticed her staring at the blue strip of endless ocean, consumed in her own thoughts as we chased with the infinite line on the highway. Despite having brushed off the incident of earlier I knew that she had come to a point where she had had enough and she knew that some things had to change which I can imagine was a huge weight on her shoulders. Snapping out of her daze she looked at me giving me a weak smile. "we could go to your place if you'd like, and tan there." I nodded in agreement.

"sounds good to me." I responded.

"I'm sorry Al for ruining today." She appologised.

"what?" I waved my hand at her. "nonsense. We still have whole day ahead of us and the night if needed." I said winking at her.

At our arrival at home we wasted no time in making cocktails and headed straight to the pool to resume our tanning. "see? The day is nowhere near wasted. "I said sipping on my pinacolada and kicking off from the side of the pool on my inflated water bed.

After some quality girl time (gossiping), and some friend bonding I decided to tackle the subject of earlier again. "you know, I've been thinking." I said pushing my shades further up the bridge of my nose. "things would be so much easier if Antonio new about Marco. He'd be less paranoid for sure considering he'd know that Marco would always be there to protect you."