Mag-log inFernando’s POVThe first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was pain.I stared at the white ceiling above me for several seconds, trying to remember where I was. The faint beeping of a monitor beside me eventually answered that question.I was in a hospital.Again.I let out a quiet groan and slowly turned my head toward the window.Late morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting pale golden lines across the room. For a moment, everything was strangely peaceful then I remembered everything that happened at the airport.My jaw tightened.I looked down at myself and carefully shifted beneath the blanket. Pain immediately shot through my side."Ah” I winced. "Okay. Definitely still alive."I closed my eyes again and sighed. At this point, I was beginning to think hospitals knew me by name.Maybe I should retire.I almost laughed at the thought.Retire from what? Being Fernando?Apparently, even when I tried to protect my family, trouble somehow found me. Maybe I should open a
Michael's POVFor several seconds, I couldn't move. Theo stood a few feet away from me, staring at Anthony's body and then at me.His expression was difficult to read.I slowly bent down and picked up the gun and Theo's eyes followed the movement."I can explain” I said.His gaze returned to mine."It’s fine" he said.I frowned."You don't know what happened.""I know you wouldn't just shoot someone for no reason” he replied.A bitter laugh escaped me."You'd be surprised."Theo's jaw tightened then I looked toward Anthony."He came after me because of Santiago. He introduced himself as Anthony Santiago. Santiago's nephew” I said.I watched Theo's expression change."You knew him?" He asked."No, but he knew me” I answered. "He said he had been looking for me for a long time. He said he wanted revenge for what happened to his uncle."Theo took a slow breath."What happened?" He asked.I stared at him."You already know what happened” I replied.His expression softened."He told me he
Michael's POVAnthony's eyes burned with hatred. He kept the gun trained on me as though simply looking at me reminded him of everything he had lost."You murdered him," he said. His voice trembled with rage. "You killed my uncle in cold blood."I stared at him."I didn’t” I said.Anthony's expression hardened."Don't lie to me. You shot him and you expect me to believe you had a reason?"I took a slow breath."I don't expect you to believe anything but I'm going to tell you the truth anyway” I said.Anthony said nothing."Your uncle kidnapped my son. Henry was a child” I continued."That doesn't matter” he said."It matters to me” I replied."You murdered Santiago!""And Santiago threatened to kill Henry!" I yelled back.My voice echoed through the empty section of the parking lot and Anthony flinched.For a second, I saw something uncertain in his expression then the anger returned."My uncle wasn't a monster” he said.I almost laughed."You weren't there” I replied."I know enough.
Michael's POVThe moment Anthony Santiago told me who he was, every instinct in my body screamed that I needed to be careful.I kept my eyes on Anthony as he stood a few feet away from me, studying me with an expression I couldn't quite understand. There was anger in his eyes, certainly, but there was something else underneath it.Hatred.My gaze briefly shifted past him. Henry was there, Kim was sitting beside him. They weren't far enough away. That was the problem.If Anthony was here because of Santiago, then I couldn't afford to let this become a confrontation in front of Henry.My son had already seen too much.He had been dragged from one dangerous situation into another, and the last thing I wanted was for him to watch someone threaten me with a weapon.I couldn't put him through that again.I forced myself to breathe then I forced my expression to remain calm.I looked at Henry."Hey."Henry turned toward me."Yeah?"I gave him what I hoped looked like a reassuring smile."I n
Ashley’s POVA deep, throbbing ache pulsed through the back of my head, spreading down my neck and settling behind my eyes. My body felt heavy, almost as though someone had poured cement into my bones while I slept.I groaned and tried to move but something was wrapped tightly around me.My eyes flew open. For a terrifying second, I couldn't remember where I was. I tried to sit up, but the movement sent another wave of pain through my head."Ashley?"The familiar voice immediately cut through my confusion.I blinked.Nick was sitting beside me, one arm wrapped around my shoulders as he supported me.His face looked exhausted. More importantly, he looked relieved."Oh, thank God," he whispered.I stared at him."Nick? What..."I touched the back of my head and immediately winced."What happened?" I finally managed to ask.Nick carefully helped me sit upright."You were unconscious” he said.I looked around. We were in a room I didn't recognize.There was a small window covered by curta
Michael’s POVThe moment the ambulance doors opened, everything became a blur."Move!""Get the stretcher!""He's losing too much blood!"The paramedics rushed Fernando through the hospital entrance, and I followed them without thinking.My shoes squeaked against the polished floor as I hurried after them."Fernando!"One of the nurses stepped in front of me."Sir, you need to stay here” she instructed."But that's my—"I stopped. My voice failed me."My family," I finally managed.The nurse's expression softened."He's being taken into emergency care. You can't go inside” she said.I stared helplessly as the doors swung shut. Fernando disappeared behind them and suddenly, I had nothing to do except stand there.I looked down at my hands. There was still blood on them, his blood. I rubbed my palms together as if I could somehow erase what had happened but it wouldn't come off."Michael."I looked up. Kim was standing a few feet away with Henry beside her.She looked devastated. Her ey
Michael’s POVI watched Eliot’s car drive away, the tires humming low against the dark pavement as the red tail lights faded into the night. That was one if the most awkward rides I've taken and I have been in Fernando’s car before. My arms were crossed, body leaning against the brick wall beside
Michael’s POV The night air was crisp as Ivy and I stepped out of the café, the heavy door swinging shut behind us with a satisfying thud. I glanced over at Ivy. She looked exhausted but content. I couldn’t help the question that had been gnawing at me all day.“Did you know?” I asked, shoving m
Michael’s POVI couldn’t sleep. Again.The room was cold—colder than it should have been. The kind of cold that seeped under your skin and curled around your bones. I sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, hands clasped so tightly they trembled. My jaw ached from how hard I was clenchin
Ashley’s POV It was peaceful. For once, it was truly, genuinely peaceful. There was a feeling in the air that I never knew I missed because I thought it had never been there in the first place.Michael sat across the dinner table from me, his hair damp from the long bath he had taken, wearing a







