MasukMichael’s POV"The surgery was a success but we still need to monitor him" the doctor said before leaving. The doctor had reassured us that Theo was stable and the surgery had been successful but hospital procedures meant none of us could immediately rush into his room.So we waited and waited.Kim paced nervously, Henry kept reassuring her while Fernando stood nearby with his arms folded.I sat quietly, occasionally glancing toward Theo's room. Every time a nurse emerged, my attention immediately shifted, every single time.Kim eventually stood up."They're really making us wait."Henry smiled softly."They just finished surgery.""I know, but I want to see him" she sighed dramatically.A nurse eventually approached us."You can begin visiting" she said.Kim immediately stood.The nurse pointed at her."One person at a time."Kim nodded so quickly it was almost funny."I'll go first" she said.She disappeared into the room and the door closed behind her while the rest of us resumed
Fernando's POVI knew exactly what was coming. The moment Theo woke up, everything would change, maybe not immediately or dramatically but eventually.The truth had a way of finding its way into the light and if Theo decided to tell Michael what really happened tonight, then the small amount of progress I had managed to make with Michael would disappear overnight.Or worse.Michael would take Henry and move even farther away from me and then New York would become impossible.The thought irritated me.For years I had watched from a distance, I had convinced myself it was necessary and I had accepted it.Now that they were standing in front of me again, I wasn't willing to lose them a second time, especially not to Theo.The hallway remained quiet.The only sounds came from nurses moving through the building and the distant beeping of hospital equipment.Michael sat in one of the chairs nearby. His elbows rested on his knees while his eyes remained fixed on the operating room doors.He
Michael’s POVThe silence that followed felt heavier than any argument we had shared all night.Fernando had stopped walking and now everyone in the hallway seemed to be waiting to see what I would say next.Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure myself.A few minutes ago, I had punched him, now I was standing here feeling guilty about it.Fernando turned around slowly, his expression calmer now. Though I could still see the redness on his jaw from where I had hit him.The sight made me feel even worse."Why did you stop me?" he asked.The question was simple but the answer wasn't."I shouldn't have punched you" I said.Fernando raised an eyebrow. That was apparently not what he had expected to hear.Ashley looked surprised, Nick looked equally shocked and Fernando stared at me for several seconds then a small smile appeared."I'll remember this moment forever" he said.I immediately regretted apologizing."Don't make it weird."His smile widened."I can't help it."I let out a long sigh an
Fernando's POVThe punch landed far harder than I ever would have expected from Michael.I staggered backward, the taste of blood immediately filling my mouth.For several seconds, I couldn't even process what had happened.Michael had hit me and the entire hallway had gone silent.A nurse stood frozen near us, Nick looked stunned, Ashley looked shocked and even Henry looked horrified.I slowly lifted a hand and touched my jaw."Damn," I muttered.Michael looked furious. His eyes were blazing, his chest rose and fell rapidly and his fists remained clenched at his sides.I had seen Michael angry before many times but this was different."What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded.The hallway echoed with his voice and I stared at him, still trying to understand how things had deteriorated this quickly then I noticed something else.Beneath all that anger was fear and immediately I knew why.Theo.Of course.My jaw tightened as Michael took a step forward."Did you do it?" He asked.
Michael’s POVEverything happened so fast.One moment Theo was standing in the doorway, the next he was collapsing into my arms and now doctors and nurses were rushing him through the hospital corridors while I struggled to keep up.My hands were stained with his blood but the realization wouldn't leave my mind.I stared at the dark red streaks on my skin as I jogged alongside the moving stretcher.The sight made my stomach twist.Theo's eyes were closed now, his face had become alarmingly pale. Machines beeped around him, voices echoed from every direction and the medical team moved with frightening efficiency."BP is dropping.""Get another line ready.""Move!""Let's go, let's go!"I tried to stay beside him, I really did but eventually a nurse stepped in front of me."Sir, you need to stop here" she said."What?""You can't go any further."I stared at her."What do you mean I can't go any further?""The operating area is restricted" she replied. "They just brought him in.""I kno
Fernando's POVThe night felt colder than before, or maybe it was just me, especially after everything that had happened since the sky turned dark.The streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement as my men moved around the scene, speaking into radios and handling the aftermath of the confrontation.They removed the dead bodies of those bastards who thought they could mess with the heir of the Ramirez family empire. As they worked, I barely paid attention. My focus remained entirely on Henry.He stood a few feet away from me, frozen in place, the plastic snack bag hung loosely from one hand.His face had gone pale, his eyes looked distant and I hated seeing him like that.For years I had imagined what it would be like to have my son back in my life. I had imagined conversations, arguments, awkward reunions, maybe even resentment but I had never imagined this.I exhaled slowly."Henry."He didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the ground."Henry" I called again.
Michael's POV I didn’t have time to waste.My mind raced as the full weight of the situation sank in—Fernando was being played. Someone had orchestrated the FBI attack, purposefully baiting him into a war he wasn’t supposed to be fighting. And knowing Fernando, if I didn’t stop him now, it would
Michael's POV Who the hell were these guys?Kidnappers?But not just any kidnappers. These weren’t some random thugs off the street. The way they handled themselves, the way they executed the grab—it was professional. Efficient.Which meant this wasn’t about money.No, this was about me.And ther
Fernando’s POVThe second I saw that man put his hands on Michael, my vision turned red.I was standing in the middle of the supermarket aisle, my body still, my hands relaxed at my sides, but inside?I was boiling with complete rage.The man had him pinned against the shelves, gripping his shirt,
Michael’s POVThe kitchen felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just me.I gritted my teeth as I opened the fridge door with more force than i was supposed to, grabbing a handful of ice cubes and tossing them into a cloth. My fingers curled tightly around the fabric, my knuckles turning white as







