Se connecterAshley’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 POVThe sirens were the first thing I heard.They grew louder with every passing second until an ambulance came racing onto the airport tarmac, its red lights flashing against the dark shy.For a moment, I couldn't move, I was still kneeling beside Fernando.His blood was all over my hands, ll over my clothes and I couldn't stop staring at it."Please," I whispered. "Please, Fernando."The paramedics rushed toward us with a stretcher."Sir, we need to move him."I immediately shook my head."No, let me hold him” I cried."We need to get him into the ambulance” they said hurriedly."Is he going to survive?" I asked.The paramedic glanced at Fernando's wound."We need to treat him immediately” he said."Is he going to survive?" I asked again.He looked at me."We're going to do everything we can” he replied.That wasn't the answer I wanted but it was the only one I was getting.I reluctantly moved away then the paramedics carefully lifted Fernando onto the stretcher.His head r
Fernando's POVFor several seconds, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Michael was standing in the middle of the tarmac with a gun pointed directly at Theo.I couldn't help but feel an almost absurd flicker of pride."Michael," I called.His eyes immediately found mine and I glanced at the gun in his hand."You're full of surprises today."His lips twitched, but the expression disappeared almost immediately.Theo looked furious."Don't encourage him!" He said.I looked at Theo."You've done enough" I replied. "Stay out of this.""I don't think that's possible anymore" I said.Michael kept the gun trained on Theo and I slowly raised both hands."Michael, bring Henry to me."Michael nodded then Henry looked at him."Go to your father" he said."What about you?" Henry asked."I'll be right behind you" Michael answered. Henry hesitated but Michael gave him a reassuring look."Go."Henry finally moved and he walked carefully toward me. I stepped forward and reached for him. The moment
Michael’s POV My heart was pounding so hard that I could barely hear anything else. Theo stood several yards away from me, surrounded by his guards, while Fernando stood opposite him with Mortis at his side. And somehow, despite everything that had happened, the only thing I could think about was getting to Fernando and getting Henry away from this madness. "Theo," I said firmly. "Move your men." Theo's eyes immediately found mine. "No. I'm trying to protect you" he replied. I clenched my jaw. "I don't need you to protect me from Fernando." Theo shook his head. "You don't understand what you're doing" he replied. "I understand perfectly." I pointed toward the guards surrounding Henry and me. "You're holding us here against our will." Theo's expression tightened. "Don't make this harder than it already is" he said. I felt my anger twist painfully inside my chest. "You already lost me when you decided that my choices didn't matter" I said. Theo flinched then behind him
Fernando's POVMy lungs were burning. My legs felt like they were about to give out beneath me, but I refused to slow down.Mortis was running beside me, breathing heavily, but neither of us said anything.We had one destination and as soon as I could see the private aviation area ahead, my heart slammed against my ribs."That's it!" Mortis shouted.I followed his gaze and then I saw them. My entire body froze for half a second.There were guards everywhere. Several black vehicles were parked near the aircraft, their doors open and surrounded by those men were Michael and Henry.Kim was standing beside Theo as they were preparing to get into the vehicles."No."The word escaped my lips before I could stop it."MICHAEL!"My voice echoed across the tarmac and everything seemed to stop. Michael's head snapped toward me, his eyes widened."Fernando?"Henry turned then his entire expression changed."Dad!"Relief flooded Michael's face so quickly that it nearly broke me. He looked exhauste
Fernando’s POV I had always thought nothing could surprise me anymore.Not betrayal, not death, not the way the world liked to twist the knife when I thought I had already bled enough. But tonight, standing in my own dining hall, with the air still heavy with the scent of roasted lamb and spiced
Michael’s POV When I woke, the bed was cold.The silken sheets still smelled of Fernando, his cologne, that faint trace of smoke and something darker, like gunpowder laced with cinnamon, but his weight was gone. I blinked into the pale morning light streaming through the curtains, squinting at th
Fernando’s POV I have lived through nights of gunfire. I have walked into ambushes where my heart pounded against my ribs as bullets rained down. I have sat across the table from men who would slit my throat if I dared to blink. But this quiet evening at the dining table with Henry chewing on hi
Fernando’s POV When you’ve clawed your way up from dirt and blood into the large halls of a mansion, every corner of the place becomes a reminder of what you survived. My estate is not just a home, it’s a monument. Every gilded stair, every piece of imported art, every carved stone is proof that







