Faustini ✔️

trentaquattro

Rita, Leo, Elena and Hilbert took a sharp turn into an alleyway as they heard sirens. "Call Catalina or Roman, see if they know anything." Rita demanded as she then grimaced at the sight of Hilbert. "Check him for any weapons, as far as I'm concerned, he's the strangler-blackmailer- whatever!"

Elena had her lips pursed. "I'm sorry- this is all my fault. I shouldn't have invited you guys. If I weren't here you could've easily just taken a car."

"Yeah, you're right about that." Hilbert confirmed before Leo struck the back of his head. 

"Hey, no, we weren't going to leave you behind." Rita reassured Elena, placing her hands on Elena's shoulders. "We'll find a way to get out of this, we always do."

The group overheard some cluttering, it caused panic and Rita dashed up a fire escape. On instinct, Elena and Leo followed her up. Hilbert was hesitant. "That's someone's house!" He shrieked. The trio ignored him and continued up the stairs, causing him to go along with them. 

Leo closed the door behind Hilbert, after waiting a few moments, Rita pushed Hilbert. "What is wrong with you?" She growled. 

"I came here to see what you were up to, you've been sneaking off- you didn't even show up to Dina's house." He placed his hands on his hips. "I'm telling Colette when we get home."

Leo chimed in. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe it wasn't your concern?"

Hilbert shook his head. "It became my concern the moment Cameron broke into our home!" 

Leo and Rita looked around in confusion, but Elena knew what he meant. "Sebastian. Cameron is a cover name." 

"I don't believe him. I want him restrained and I want Sebastian to thoroughly investigate him." Rita looked up to Leo. "I want your father to search his computer or something."

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Hilbert insisted. "I'm telling Colette!"

"Yeah, see how well that holds up." Rita rolled her eyes, following Elena and Leo out of the room. 

Claudio and Catalina walked along the streets of New York. "Claudio, have you ever been in love?" Catalina asked sadly. 

"No." Claudio answered without hesitation. 

Catalina was surprised. "You didn't even need to think about it.  You didn't even have a: 'Well, at the time I thought I was- but I was just hungry,' thought."

"Love is weird." Claudio said bluntly. "I'm in love with the job that got taken away from me by your father. Now Ravoux doesn't even want me." Claudio paused. "Not to get too personal- I've had experiences that should've bounded me to the ideals you have, people told me something would click and I'd eventually go back, but it's been nearly a year now and I can't see myself ever wanting that." Claudio shrugged. "I could have handled it better, but that's life I suppose."

Catalina shook her head. "I don't know why I expected something wholesome from you."

Claudio stopped suddenly and turned around. "Wholesome? No. But I'll give you some advice. You're not going to find what you want in Roman Montana, you're in a superficial environment which murders your chances and Richboy Roman is the final nail in the coffin." Claudio began to walk again. "There are great people out there, but don't let that be your driving force." Claudio noticed Catalina wasn't following him anymore. He looked over his shoulder and saw her staring at the lights. 

She had a tear roll down her cheek. "How can the world be so beautiful- and yet so ugly? How do people do it? How do they go on with their lives when that's the harsh reality?"