LOGINMichael’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 POVBy the time I reached the hospital, my patience wasn’t just gone, it felt like it had been scraped out of me and left somewhere back on that road between the restaurant and here.Every red light I hit on the way felt personal, every second Fernando’s name flashed on my phone felt like pressure building behind my eyes and every time I ignored him, he called again like the idea of silence was unacceptable to him.I finally stopped checking my phone altogether because if I kept looking at it, I might have done something stupid like throw it out the window.The hospital entrance was brighter than I wanted but I had to deal with it.I stepped inside carrying a large paper bag of food which was Ashley and Nick’s dinner that had turned into a late-night apology for the chaos they had been dragged into.A nurse at the front desk looked up.“Good evening, sir.”“Evening,” I muttered without slowing down.I didn’t stop walking until I reached the private wing.The corridor was qui
Fernando’s POVThe night air felt strangely calm, especially after what had just happened.I sat in the backseat of my vehicle as the convoy moved away from the intersection.Nobody spoke, none of my men dared to.The sound of gunfire still echoed faintly in my memory. The shattered glass, the bullets hitting Theo's vehicle trapped between ours.The entire thing had happened quickly and now it was over.At least, that was what I told myself.I stared out the window, streetlights passed by one after another.The city looked peaceful, as if nothing had happened. As if a few minutes ago I hadn't ordered armed men to open fire on another man's car.I rubbed my jaw.For some reason, my thoughts weren't on Theo. They were on Michael.Everything always seemed to come back to Michael.I pulled out my phone and for several seconds I stared at his contact information then I pressed call.The phone rang and rang but no answer.I wasn't surprised.Michael was angry, furious, actually. The image o
Theo's POVI hated this feeling, absolutely hated it.The restaurant parking lot had emptied considerably after Michael left, but his absence somehow made everything feel louder.His disappointment lingered, his anger lingered and the image of him getting into his car and driving away without looking back lingered most of all.That bothered me far more than I wanted to admit.A few minutes earlier, several people had still been standing between Fernando and me, making sure neither of us did something stupid.Not that I was planning to.Fernando, however, looked more than willing.The moment Michael's car disappeared from sight, Fernando jerked away from the people holding him."What the hell is wrong with all of you?" he barked at his guards.The men exchanged nervous glances and one of them cleared his throat."Boss, people were recording" he said."I don't care.""Boss, that's reckless," another guard replied carefully.Fernando turned toward him and the guard immediately straighten
Michael’s POVI stood there in the restaurant parking lot surrounded by police officers, restaurant employees, curious customers, and far too many people holding up their phones recording what was happening.And right in the middle of it all were Fernando and Theo.Two grown men who apparently lost all common sense whenever they were within fifty feet of each other.I couldn't believe them.Actually, no. I could believe them. That was the problem.I rubbed my forehead. For a second I wondered if I was developing a headache then I remembered the day I'd had.The headache suddenly felt justified."Are you both serious right now?" I asked angrily, my voice cutting through the parking lot.Both men looked at me, just like everyone else did too but I didn't care.I was too angry to care.Fernando opened his mouth."Michael—""Not a single word" I said.His mouth immediately shut but he frowned and I could tell he was preparing a defense.Unfortunately for him, I wasn't interested."You thr
By the time the gas station came into view, the world had narrowed to three things and i could only recognise the wet heat soaking through my trousers, the dull roar in my ears, and the way Ashley kept glancing at me like she was afraid I would disappear if she looked away for too long.The big, br
Michael's POV The safe house stayed behind us, quiet and deceptively peaceful, nestled between tall trees and silence. The main road stretched ahead of us while we thought how we would get to our destination. Cars passed occasionally, most of them moving too fast to notice two people standing at
Fernando's POVThe night felt wrong. I knew it the moment we killed the engines and let silence swallow us whole.The engines clicked as they went cool, the faint smell of hot metal and oil lingering in the air. My ears registered the sound of gravel crunching softly under our shoes as my men melt
Michael's POVThe gunfire doesn’t stop, it only grew louder and closer as if it was slowly advancing towards the small hall where we had gathered. Sharp cracks tore through the night air outside the safe house, and whatever illusion of safety this place once had was completely gone.The walls felt







