MasukMichael’s POVThe meeting had gone better than I could have imagined.For once, I had walked into a room filled with some of the most dangerous men in New York and walked out without anyone pointing a gun at me.That alone felt like a miracle.I sat in the back seat of the car as we drove through the city, staring out at the familiar streets passing by the window.Beside me, Henry was practically glowing."Dad," he said excitedly, "did you see their faces?"I laughed."I saw them.""They looked terrified” he mocked.Across from us, Fernando chuckled."I'd say they were more shocked than anything” he said.I looked at him."Still counts."He nodded."It does."I leaned back against the seat.For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to breathe.The meeting had worked. Every single one of the dons had signed the agreement, they had agreed not to attack Fernando, me, or Henry, they had agreed that none of them would attempt to interfere with our lives.And most impor
Theo’s POVI had spent the entire day pretending I wasn't worried. It was becoming exhausting.By the time evening came, I was sitting on the edge of the bed in the hotel room, staring at the city lights through the window while my thoughts continued running in circles.Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of the end. At least, that was what Michael had called it.His plan of making sure the other dons would finally stop coming after him and Henry was taking place right now.Yet somehow, knowing how unpredictable the mafia world could be made it difficult for me to believe that anything could truly be that simple.A soft knock came from behind me."Dad?"I turned to see Kim standing by the door, already dressed for dinner.She raised an eyebrow."Are you coming?" She asked.I glanced at the clock."Yes."We left the room together and headed downstairs.The hotel restaurant was elegant without being unnecessarily extravagant. Soft golden lights hung from the ceiling, reflecting aga
Fernando’s POVI couldn't stop smiling. The expressions on their faces were priceless.Some looked terrified, some looked confused. Others looked as though they were desperately trying to convince themselves that the man standing before them couldn't possibly be me.I enjoyed every second of it.After all, how often did a dead man get the opportunity to walk into a room full of people who had already divided his empire among themselves?Never.I slowly looked around the conference hall, taking in every face.A few uncomfortable laughs came from around the table.One of the older dons leaned forward."Fernando, where have you been?" He asked.I looked at him."Somewhere peaceful” I said."How did you survive?" Another man immediately asked.I smiled."That's a long story."I walked toward the table and slowly pulled out one of the chairs."You have all spent years convincing yourselves that I was dead. I don't feel particularly obligated to ruin the mystery for you."I sat down and the
Carlos's POVIt had been weeks since I had walked out of Theo's basement. Weeks since I had been tied to a pillar, wounded, humiliated, and left wondering whether I would ever see the streets of New York again.And yet, somehow, I was back in my penthouse, back in my tailored suits, back behind tinted windows with a driver waiting downstairs.It was almost as if the entire nightmare had never happened.I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the large apartment, staring at the Manhattan skyline while swirling a glass of whiskey in my hand.The city looked beautiful from up here.But despite everything returning to normal, something still didn't feel right.I hadn't heard from Fernando. I even tried contacting Michael but nothing came back and that was when I became suspicious."Carlos. I didn't know you were coming."I turned around to see it was Don Felicio, a disgusting man known for trafficking and other disgusting acts.I put up a fake smile to appear calm."I heard th
I couldn't stop staring at Michael after he said those words which kept repeating inside my head, but somehow, they still didn't feel real.Anthony had come after Michael because of me.I lowered my gaze."I don't like that you had to kill him” I said.His expression immediately hardened."Fernando—“"No." I shook my head. "I mean it. I don't like the fact that Anthony came after you because of me.”Michael sighed."He came after me because of his uncle” he corrected.I looked at him."And if I wasn't in your life..." I paused. "You wouldn't have met him."Michael's eyes narrowed."You don't know that.""If I hadn't brought danger into your life—""You need to stop” he said.His voice was firmer this time then I looked at him.Michael leaned forward."You're acting as if I'm some helpless person who got dragged into your world and couldn't defend himself” he said.I opened my mouth, but he continued."I was an FBI agent, Fernando. I've dealt with dangerous people long before you came
Michael’s POVI stared at Fernando and I understood why he was saying all of this. I really did.He wasn't trying to push me away because he didn't love me. He was trying to push me away because he loved me enough to believe that I would be safer without him.I looked at him lying in that hospital bed then swallowed."Fernando..."He waited. I could see the anxiety in his eyes even though he was trying to hide it."I understand what you're trying to do. But...I don't know if I can give you an answer right now” I said. “This isn't something I can decide in five minutes."I glanced toward Henry. He was standing quietly beside me, listening to every word."I have to think about Henry and I have to think about myself” I added.Fernando’s expression softened."I know."I looked down at my hands."Part of me thinks you're right” I admitted.Fernando's eyes flickered."About leaving?""Yes."The words were difficult to say."If we were far away from you, Henry and I would probably be safer."
Fernando’s POV The bathroom was still warm, thick with the scent of body wash and oils in the air. Droplets of water clung to my skin, tracing lazy lines down my torso as I stared at myself in the fogged-up mirror. I wiped the mirror with the edge of a towel, revealing my own reflection — damp
Fernando's POV The bathroom light buzzed softly above me, flickering once as if the bulb were trying to decide whether to stay on. I still stood in front of the mirror, my arms braced on the cold porcelain of the sink, staring at a version of myself I barely recognized anymore. I looked… tired.
Michael’s POVThe soft buzz of conversation and the low hum of the espresso machine filled the warm air at Kafé Verse as I wiped down the wooden counter for the fifth time in ten minutes.I looked around the café, catching Ivy at the register organizing the tip jar, her long fingers brushing the co
Ashley’s POV It was already past 10 p.m. I stood by the window, arms crossed tightly over my chest, the soft hum of the city lights below barely reaching my ears. My mind was too busy spinning through a dozen worst-case scenarios. I kept staring out into the night like I was expecting it to br







