LOGINFernando's POVThe atmosphere in the house remained tense long after the confrontation with Henry.I sat alone in the living room for a while after Henry disappeared upstairs. The house itself was nice, nothing like the massive estates I owned back in New York. This place actually felt lived in with photographs sat on shelves, books stacked carelessly on tables and a blanket had been tossed over the couch.There was evidence of life everywhere. Evidence of years I had missed."You're staring at that picture again."Michael's voice pulled me from my thoughts and I turned to see he was standing in the hallway, arms crossed watching me.I glanced back toward the photograph I had been looking at. It was Henry, maybe ten years old standing beside Michael both smiling.Neither aware they were being photographed so it was genuine moment."He's grown" I said.Michael softened slightly."Yeah."A brief silence followed then he nodded toward the hallway."Come on."I stood."Where are we going
Michael's POVI still didn't know what had possessed me. Even as I sat behind the steering wheel and drove toward my house, I couldn't figure it out.Maybe it was the explosion. Maybe it was seeing Fernando throw himself over me without hesitation.Maybe it was the fact that Marlo was free again and the world suddenly felt far more dangerous than it had twenty-four hours ago.Or maybe I was simply tired of fighting and pretending Fernando wasn't still a huge part of my life.Whatever the reason was, I had somehow invited Fernando to stay at my house.The realization hit me again and I groaned. Fernando was sitting in the passenger seat then immediately, he smirked."What?" He asked."Nothing.""You groaned.""I know.""Why?"I glanced at him."Because I'm questioning my life choices" I replied. His grin widened."Too late now."I rolled my eyes."Don't get comfortable " I told him."Michael—""We need to establish rules" I cut him short.Fernando immediately looked offended."I don't
Fernando’s POVI was beyond furious.I paced across the hotel lobby like a caged animal, my shoes striking the marble floor hard enough that several people kept glancing in my direction before quickly looking away.The entire hotel was in chaos. Guests were crowding around the reception area, security personnel were rushing back and forth, and employees were speaking frantically into radios.Police officers had started arriving, paramedics moved through the building checking for injuries and through all of it, one thought kept repeating inside my head.Marlo, that bastard. Whether he had sent the bomb or not, everything had started because of him.I clenched my jaw then oe of my surviving guards approached carefully."Sir—""What?"He visibly hesitated."The police are asking questions" he replied. "Then answer them.""Sir—""I said answer them."The guard immediately nodded and retreated.I ran a hand through my hair and the smell of smoke still lingered in the air as the explosion
Michael’s POVThe moment I had stepped into Fernando’s suite, I immediately regretted it, not just because of Fernando or because of the tension already sitting in the air like a loaded weapon.But because Carlos was there, now leaning casually against the counter like he belonged in the space, like he hadn’t already caused enough problems.For half a second, when Fernando turned around probably to think, my brain did something I didn’t approve of. It tried to connect dots between Carlos, Fernando and their night together but I immediately shut that thought down.That was not my business and I refused to make it my problem.Carlos turned his head slowly towards me, his eyes scanning me like he was assessing competition.I hated that immediately.“You probably could have said all this on the phone though,” he said lightly.I ignored him but Fernando, however, did not.“Leave,” he said without even looking at him.Carlos blinked.“Excuse me?”Fernando finally turned toward him.“I said
Fernando’s POVMorning light in the suite didn’t feel like peace, like everything I had tried to control the night before had left traces in the room and the lingering presence of Carlos, who had clearly decided that my living room was his bedroom.I stood for a moment near the hallway, staring at him. He was sprawled across the couch like he owned it.For a second, I just watched him then I exhaled slowly.Carlos had somehow managed to make everything worse just by existing in the same space.I walked closer to the couch, stopped right in front of him then nudged his shoulder with my foot.“Wake up" I commanded. Carlos didn’t move and I nudged him harder.“Carlos" I called out to him but he groaned softly, shifting slightly.My patience snapped instantly but I grabbed his arm and pulled him upright.“Get up" I thundered. Carlos startled awake immediately.“What the—Fernando?” He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust but I was already done.“Leave" I said, the word landed heavily.Carlo
Michael's POVFor several seconds after seeing Marlo, I couldn't move.My pulse hammered against my ribs as I stared at the man who had nearly destroyed so many lives.Every memory of what he had done came rushing back at once and now he was standing in front of me smiling as though none of it mattered.As though prison had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.I immediately took a step backward then another. My first thought wasn't myself, it was Henry.Every protective instinct inside me came alive and I turned slightly, ready to head straight back inside to get to Henry but before I could take another step, two large men appeared behind me, blocking the path.I immediately tensed. The old instincts I had developed years ago surfaced without effort.I slowly looked back toward Marlo and my voice came out cold."Move" I ordered. Marlo laughed."I haven't even said hello properly" he said."I don't care."He smiled and that made me hate him even more.My jaw tightened."Stay
Michael's POVAgreeing to listen to Fernando felt less like a decision and more like surrender.Not because I suddenly trusted him again, not because my doubts had magically dissolved, but because every path I had taken to find the truth had ended the same way with doors closing, eyes averting, sil
Fernando’s POV The drive back to my mansion felt different, not lighter, not calmer, but sharper.Like every nerve in my body was awake and alert like I’ve just stepped out of a warzone and realized that I won. I rested my elbow on the window, watching the city blur past.Marlo kept glancing at m
Fernando's POVI left Michael’s room with a ridiculous smile on my face.It was much more than the usual one I had whenever I left him.Not the controlled, calculated smile I wore in meetings. Not the cold curve of my mouth that made men lower their eyes and women stiffen with fear.This one was re
Fernando’s POVThe door closed behind Mortis with a dull, final sound.It wasn’t loud, yet it echoed heavily. Across from me, Emilio sat perfectly still, his fingers laced together, his gaze sharp and assessing. Marlo leaned back in his chair, one ankle resting on his knee.“We need to assume Sant







