Elsie had always hated coffee runs. She’d done them for years — waiting in lines, parroting Caroline Solano’s intricate orders and balancing the cups as she rushed back into the office. Even after she’d slithered her way into the woman’s closest circle, the lunch breaks turning into gossip sessions and her list of responsibilities growing, the coffee runs remained a constant. No matter how below her she felt it was, after spending hours on painting the Solano family in silvers and golds for the press. 

Not anymore, though. Ever since Luis Solano died and his wife turned into a ghost haunting the Solano estate’s halls, the only coffee she grabbed was her own. Something that felt both exhilarating and right. But habits were hard to break, muscle memory kicking in the moment her mind was distracted by a text in her phone, her hand closing down on both of the cups she’d caught placed on the counter from her peripheral vision. Only when spoken to, did she raise her gaze, brow arched in a perfect half-circle: “Yes?” 

Lissa couldn’t blame anyone but Adrian for the fact he’d gone sniffing around outside of his marriage. He was the one that had betrayed her. She knew that in all rational, adult conversations, she should acknowledge as such and treat Elsie as an unfortunate side effect of Adrian’s indiscretions and nothing more. But no logic or ideologies could protect her from the searing honest hatred that ignited in her chest at even the thought of his mistress, let alone the sight. Made only worse by the jealous way her stomach turned at the woman’s beauty. When Elsie grabbed for her coffee, the lack of self awareness was all Lissa could fixate on. It was unsurprising, she reeked in every way of someone who’d never learned not to touch things that were not theirs.

While little Sylvie was the best way to get this or any conversation going in a more positive, less aching direction, Caroline was quite the opposite. Every Solano had been going through a crisis of their own, but Caroline’s had been the most evident, painfully so. Mother was the center of her children’s universe and they all orbited around her, her moods affecting theirs. And to the youngest sibling it seemed as though each sibling was in its own part of the vast universe, emotionally aeons away from each other. A mild sense of panic began stirring in the pit of her stomach but the closer they were to the ocean, the more she appreciated the fresh salty air. How’s Caroline doing? It was a tricky question nowadays, and truth be told, it varied from day to day, even though the bad days were becoming more frequent. “Same old.” –eventually fell from her lips. To a random bystander, it might’ve seemed Lillian was deliberately withholding the information from her ex-sister-in-law but that wasn’t the case here. However, same old was simply a perfect way to put it. Lissa would understand, though. The images which might flash before her eyes were enough– the Briganti had been there at Caroline’s worst, Lissa had been one of the witnesses the moment everything’d changed. Yes, saying anything else would’ve worsened the situation, not to mention drain Lillian emotionally.

Not everything was as heartbreaking, though. Sylvie was a flicker of hope which had to be protected at all cost, the little girl was a reminder of innocence and peace and happiness long lost. “What a silly munchkin,” she remarked but with a healthy amount of affection in her voice. Lillian wasn’t a kids person, per say, but her niece had sneaked her way into her heart. With her chubby cheeks and a beautiful smile and a brilliant sense of humor. “Both? Oh wow, ambitious kid.” A beat. “I like it.” Both could be easily arranged so Lila, the cool aunt she was, made a mental reminder. In all honesty, it was a relief– with the Christmas season approaching, the little one had focused on it and hopefully hadn’t noticed how much her family situation had changed. Although, who knew what would happen on Christmas day at the Solano mansion, lord help them all. Lila selfishly didn’t voice her doubts as having Sylvie around might just save Christmas. “And you?” The blonde began in an almost playful tone. “What do you want for Christmas?” Just as Lillian thought she couldn’t be more endeared, Lissa told her she could visit her niece whenever she wanted. Taken by surprise, her feet came to a sudden halt and whatever was on her mind– vanished. “Liss– really? I’d– I’d love to see her,” a genuine smile lit up her feature, not even the mention of her eldest brother could ruin her mood.

Same old. That bad, huh? For all her anger that Luis had insisted upon splintering his son, rather than take his faux-daughters mercy; she was relieved that she did not live with the guilt of causing the emotional demise of the once radiant Caroline Solano. Then again, if she had gotten to hold him as he fell asleep rather than hear her son spatter his brains up the wall, maybe she would still have some shred of herself remaining. Even now, for all her rage she held for her estranged husband, she knew she would too be a ghost in the Solano halls if something like that were to happen to him. It wasn’t fair, none of it had been. “I miss her.” A hollow sentiment. They all missed her.

“I’m going to have to rent out a stable somewhere,” For all the love Lissa had for Lila, she knew not to mention her real estate endeavors. Lila might love her, but Adrian was her brother. Lissa could never be certain that their secrets would remain between them. Especially not if Elijah came to light. “There’s no cramming a Freisan into a two bedroom apartment.” She’d only just managed to talk the girl down from a Clydesdale. “Me? Lila, I don’t need anything, you know that,” She mumbled embarrassed. “A nice dinner between us sometime, that’s all I want.” Lissa had never accepted gifts well, with the exception of Adrian. She’d so often got him trinkets and gifts that they’d grown like ravens, bringing little surprises to one another with nothing but excitement. But that had been a long time ago, or at least it felt as thought it was.

where: outside in the streets of LA

Being on edge from the actions of his brother, that he supported, Milo was hitting the cigarettes a little harder than usual. Feeling the smoke in and out of his lungs made him relax a bit from the tension he was feeling. All he wanted to do was protect his son but how the hell was he supposed to do that if a fucking war broke out cause of Victor? Victor deserved it though. It was obvious that he killed Isla. After his cigarette was finished, he tossed it on the ground before crushing it with his foot. 

Looking back into his pack, he realized that he had just smoked the last one. His fucking thoughts must’ve been distracting him to even notice. “You got an extra cigarette? I have no idea where the nearest drug store is.” 

For all the handbags Lissa owned, she kept her basic black chanel in frequent rotation and had done so for the past four years. If you rummaged, you’d likely find at least one receipt that dated back as far. She was a clever woman, how many clever woman had cluttered bags full of things their over-anxious minds warned they might someday, somehow need. She still carried cigarettes for Adrian’s men, though she’d looked at the gold pack at least a dozen times and deliberated on throwing them away. She liked to be adored, she liked that the Solano family was surrounded by people who cared for her beyond their pay grade. Sometimes, that loyalty could be bought with just one cigarette and a soft smile at the right time. The smallest of gestures that they were appreciated in the subtlest of ways. She no longer had a need for that rapport, but she still carried them nonetheless, always waiting for the right opportunity to finally dispose of them.

location: literally any antique furniture shop

open starter.

It was to be expected that the city was on edge - even months after the deed was done. Roman liked to go against the grain, the path less travelled was where all the opportunity laid. Any Tom, Dick, and Harry could be consumed with the whispers on the streets but that shit would kill you quicker than a bullet. His fingers thumbed a price tag on a particular lamp. He might have no need to worry about money (ever) but one didn’t get rich by blowing all their money on stupid shit. It was a Tiffany lamp, circa the 40s. Taking out his phone, he snapped a photo. It was a lovely piece but he wasn’t quite sold on it. There was room for a new bar cart in his office that he needed to prioritize. “That lamp is truly a diamond in the rough. I’d recommend it, if you’re going to get anything.”

Lissa found hope in furniture stores. The self soothing revelation that she could morph her environment completely, that she was privileged enough to do so. That if one day she found the powdery blue of her master suffocating that she could afford to come home to any colour in the world with only a phone call. Antiques were another guilty pleasure. Relics of home. The Briganti Manor must’ve had half a forest contained in its finishings alone. Old, rich woods and pieces from all over Italy. It had been a sudden and stark transition to move among Solano’s, in more ways than one. Now that she had her own apartment to furnish, she began gravitating back to what she had once known, her father’s taste ran deep. But she wasn’t Adrian Solano’s wife in anything more than name these days, and a surgeon’s salary was chump change to an empire, she needed to be more stringent with her spending. Which meant no grandiose lamps, nor the gorgeous table it sat atop.

Nothing about this current situation was easy. Or fair, as a matter of fact, to any of them. Their lives were so intertwined; Lissa Briganti wasn’t just some random woman her brother had introduced to his family coming home from college but practically a sister. Growing up with two older brothers had been challenging and as much as Lila liked it, there were times when it’d been just as aggravating. Especially around the time she hit puberty and consequentially became more sensitive. She sought comfort of a female friend– or a mentor. Either way, someone who understood and wouldn’t scrunch their nose in disgust once she brought up feelings. Caroline had never had been as open-minded and fun as Lissa either. Perhaps they hadn’t been bound by blood but at times, Lissa understood her better than any of the Solanos. Something Lila could never erase from her mind, no matter how royally her brother had screwed up. “Me neither,” Lila replied shortly. Truly, Lila rarely showed up at her family home anymore. Her own sign of protest, possibly or her way of expressing disgust with the current situation. After THE separation, all rules dictated Adrian’s sister took his side and left Lissa behind. Well, those rules are completely idiotic. Once more, Lila decided to defy them, as long as Lissa would let her. Sure enough, she had given Lissa some space to adjust to her new life and she had no idea how comfortable the other would be because, well, Lila would always be not only Adrian’s sister but also one of his closest associates in the mafia business. “Sounds good.” Gelato always seemed to be a good idea, ever since they’d been kids, sweet and innocent. It’d eemed to fix any situation, why not give it a try this miserable afternoon too? “How is Sylv?” The most important question Lila could ask, of course.

“How’s Caroline doing?” Lissa managed. Truthfully, she’d thought about putting her pride aside a thousand times to reach out to the former matriarch. Caroline had been Lissa Briganti’s mother far longer than her own ever had, she felt it only right to try and soothe the hole Luis left beyond the curt greetings she’d given dropping Sylvie off. But each time she held the phone, the anger seeped back into her veins. Caroline had given Elsie the in she needed to the Solano family and while she held no punches in the regard that she’d come to loathe her husband for what he’d done, she knew an opportunistic snake when she saw one. She slithered by her mother-in-law’s feet, right to her marital bed and while she was obligated to one day forgive Adrian for the sake of the daughter they shared, so she wouldn’t grow to dread every birthday, graduation, wedding and any other significant event she would need them both for; she truly didn’t need Caroline’s companionship anymore. It was only stress and heartache. She would nod and greet, but Lissa didn’t know if she could ever really be content around the woman again.

They began to stroll towards the pier, awkwardness felt like a shackle on Lissa’s ankle, screeching as she dragged it behind with every step. “She’s doing good. Christmas has got her bouncing off the walls these days. Santa this and that.” Christmas, another sore spot. Sylvie wanted to spend it with daddy, and Lissa regretfully agreed. She supposed wine and a bath alone would be her substitute this year. “Want’s a horse and an iphone.”

Phoebe was on a walk with Matteo. Pushing him in his stroller as she walked through the park, she held various one-sided conversations with her son as he just cooed in response to hearing his mother’s voice. Phoebe had a book she wanted to read and a chance in environment would be good for her; she couldn’t stay cooped up in her home forever, even if she felt safest within those walls. 

She approached a bench, with a woman situated there with her very large and intimidating dog. The blonde eased the pup and shifted down on the bench to make room for Phoebe to sit. “He’s a handsome man,” Phoebe complimented, taking a seat. She ensured Matteo was settled and comfortable, before she pulled out her novel. 

Looking over to the woman she joined, Phoebe noticed the various documents on her lap. Seemed like real estate listings. “Wanting to move?” Phoebe asked. “Not to pry, but looking through real estate listings is sort of a hobby of mine,” she added. Zillow is one of Phoebe’s most visited websites; her desire for escape, she was sure, fueled her interest more than anything else.

“Think’s he’s a lot tougher than he is,” Lissa lied goodnaturedly. Sylvie called it her ‘doctor voice’. That calm, reassuring sort of lie that spilled from her so naturally in times of stress. Eventually, it had bled into other parts of life too and become second nature when communicating honestly felt like too much work. Most days felt like too much work lately, as a result, Lissa spoke predominantly like a checkout girl on her last legs; life just kept adding more coupon hoarders to her queue. 

“Look’s like I’m not the only one with a handsome man though, huh? He’s beautiful.” Lissa had wanted more children, she always thought she and Adrian had so much time left, even though she was getting older, the years were still on her side. Adrian, not so much. “How old?”

Lissa Briganti. The light of Lila’s life. Not just Lillian’s– Adrian’s, Henry’s, Elijah’s– all of Solanos’. This current misery made it all the more clear as without her, life was gloom. Although the youngest Solano hadn’t expressed it much or maybe enough, she really appreciated her ex sister-in-law. Lila loved how loyal she had been to her family, how good of an influence she was on Adrian– all his god-forsaken life–, how good of a mother she was to her niece. God, she truly had been taking her Lissa and her warm presence in her life for granted. Perhaps all of them had made the same mistake.

Lissa was spooked. Lila sensed it right away– she’d grown up with the woman and they didn’t have to be the best of friends for Lillian to know some of her reactions. Thus, Lila’s expression softened and she put on a gentle, genuine smile. “Hello, Liss.” A beat. “It’ll be weird if we make it weird.” Lila said decisively, even though the blonde herself had some doubts. Nevertheless, she was determined to spend some quality time with Lissa. “I’m in the mood for something sweet. What do you say? Should we treat ourselves?”

If she thought about it even a moment too long, Lissa knew she could tear up even days later at the genuine nature of Lila’s smile. Her nerves dissipated, if only for a second, just to know that she hadn’t been entirely replaced. Lissa loved Lillian, she loved them all. Lila was six years her junior and with no sisters of her own, the Briganti daughter had doted on her soon after they met, eager to be around feminine energy after only brother, only enough to feel like a second father at times; so truly, Lissa never felt as though she really had siblings until she had been sent to the Solano’s. The sisterhood that ran between Lila and herself was deeper than Adrian. You were wrong to doubt her, she scolded. It’s still early days, I’m sure Elsie won’t stop at Adrian and Caroline. She knew better than to believe herself irreplaceable. Look where her husband had ended up with thoughts like that.

“You’re right, I’ve been meaning to call. I just... I don’t, well, I don’t come by anymore, even for drop off’s so it’s been hard catching you,” The awkwardness returned to her belly, knowing it was a weak excuse for the lack of text, but what could she say? What once was just sheer grief keeping her aloof, she now had the guilt of kissing Elijah plaguing her, especially on the nights she stared at her email, waiting for some sudden notification that would return her divorce papers and know that the final nail had finally clamped the coffin shut.

The dog bristled as Lissa looked over the documents on hand. A slew of printed realestate listings, some interstate, others just out of the valley. She’d been to visit another property this morning, finding it as cold and unmoving as each before it. Her mouth was set into a tight frown, five bedrooms? What use did she have for that? It was only her and Sylvie now. Frank stood, puffing an irritated breath out as his tail thumped against Lissa’s leg, pushing himself between her and the form suddenly blocking her sunlight. It didn’t matter if he’d seen you every day of his life or for the very first time, Frank would treat everyone with suspicion, especially when Lissa was distracted. She put a hand between his shoulder blades gently and the dog dropped back to his haunches between her feet, though he continued to stare with those big, watchful amber eyes. Liss’ shuffled to make more room on the bench when she realised she had been hogging the last available. “Don’t mind him,” She assured neutrally.

OPEN STARTER. LOCATION: streets of LA TIME: around 8 pm

A light overcoat hid the gold sequin evening gown Lila had chosen for the fancy gala one of her mother’s socialite friends was throwing. Lillian’s mother, Caroline was feeling a bit under the weather– was what every other guest heard when asking about her. The truth was, Caroline was having one of the worst days since Luis’ death, she could barely get out of the bed so Lila had to step in for her. And she did so, brilliantly. The youngest Solano had chosen a perfect outfit to compliment her figure and a matching set from Tiffany’s to match it. She was life of the party as always– as it was expected of her, sweeping each and every one of those snooty faces off their feet. None of them, however, gave her anything in return or sparked her interest– not a single intellectual conversation was initiated, not a single attractive person was there– so the blonde decided to ditch the dinner– just because she could, even before foie gras was served. Not ten minutes later, on one of the most buzzing avenues in the city, she spotted an intriguing face and a smirk instantly found its way to her red-painted lips. “Join me for dinner,” she called out, her tone as light as it was made it clear she wasn’t exactly asking. “My treat.”

Like a deer in headlights, Lissa’s knee’s locked at the sound of her sister-in-law’s voice. Soon to be ex sister-in-law, she supposed. Lissa had known her most of her life, she knew the Solano’s better than the Briganti’s by now. Severing from Adrian had been difficult, removing herself entirely from the only family she’d truly known had been like removing a limb. And these days, she hardly knew where she stood. She imagined she’d be an immaterial thing by the time the assistant had her way. Slithering into her nest, feeding on the hatchlings she’d nursed like some foul reptile.