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Chapter One

It was a beautiful Septeht breeze, and a warm and friendly sun above Pyro wasn’t in the best mood as he ordered two cups of hot coffee from the café downstairs from the rehabilitation facility Mateo had been transferred to the best rehab center in the city, and Pyro was footing the bill It had been a long few ress was excruciatingly slow

Pyro h the busy lobby, and took the elevator to the sixth floor, where Mateo was fighting to regain his life day by day, h Mateo ake, he wasn’t showing signs of ive up on his friend—his brother from another mother He needed Mateo by his side as his business partner They had plans They had a lot to accoether, and this wasn’t the end for the duo Pyro wanted to believe that He had to keep his head up and hopes high, especially in front of Chanel

Chanel was a faithful and loyal girlfriend, and Pyro had nothing but respect for her She refused to leave Mateo’s side in his darkest hour, and she illing to take care of him It was a love that Pyro wished he had

When he got to Mateo’s roo for her man—the man she was truly in love with It wasn’t fair They were supposed to be honey in Hawaii Now it see to come true—not anytime soon

“How you holding up?” Pyro asked her

“I could be better,” Chanel replied, sadness coloring her eyes and tone

“Don’t worry about hi anywhere He’s too stubborn and vain to die at his age” Pyro held up one of the cups and said, “I bought you some coffee”

“I’m not thirsty”

Pyro took a sip fro down on him He had taken on a lot since Mateo was shot Pyro was solely running their business, paying for Mateo’s hospital and rehabilitation bills, and keeping Chanel and her mother booked in the luxury suite at The Manhattan hotel The expenses were a small fortune He wanted to keep Chanel safe because Mateo would have done the same for him, but he knew the money would have been put to better use on the streets or in the stock market Still, with God and Charlie out there, Pyro felt he had to keep Chanel somewhere out of their reach

“Why him?” Chanel muttered sorrowfully

Pyro approached closer and placed his hand on Chanel’s shoulder “I don’t know, but I know this—he’s gonna onna be a’ight, you feel me?”

His words carried strength to Chanel, but inside Pyro was broken up seeing his friend lying in that bed, looking nearly lifeless Mateo had this perpetual blank stare on his face with nition Every now and then he would squeeze soer or attempt a half-s to get his life back

Chanel was trying to be the rock that Mateo needed her to be, but Pyro could see in her eyes that she needed just asover Mateo’s condition

“Where’s ya moms?” he asked

“She’s back at the hotel,” Chanel replied, her eyes still glued on Mateo

Of course, Pyro thought Bacardi barely came to support Chanel and Mateo What she cared about was living the life of luxury via someone else’s misery and troubles

Chanel turned to Pyro “And speaking of that, the hotel is way too expensive for you to keep spending all your money on It’s not necessary, Pyro I want you to know that I appreciate all you’ve done, but it feels wrong to e of you”

Pyro agreed, but staring into Chanel’s chestnut brown eyes and seeing her pitiful deood, Chanel Don’t worry ’bout a like you been doin’ and help hiet better”