LOGINTheo'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
Fernando's POVI was absolutely furious, but not the usual kind.I was so furious that made rational thinking seem optional and every muscle in my body was tense with the need to do something.Unfortunately, that something was currently standing in front of me wearing an innocent expression that fooled absolutely everyone.Well, almost everyone.Theo Park looked as if he hadn't just orchestrated the most ridiculous robbery attempt I had ever witnessed.I stared at him, he stared right back and somehow that made me even angrier.Around us, people were watching, restaurant employees, customers, police officers finishing paperwork and my guards who were on standby.Theo's people hiding somewhere nearby, no doubt and most importantly Michael's eyes were fixed on me.I could feel them following my movements. I knew exactly what he was seeing.A jealous man, an unreasonable man, a man making accusations without proof.The problem was that I didn't care, not at the moment. Not when Theo was
Michael’s POVThe restaurant was still buzzing with nervous energy long after the robber had been taken away.Police officers moved through the building, taking statements from customers and employees. Red and blue lights flashed outside the large front windows, bathing everything in alternating colors that felt strangely surreal.One moment I had been trying to eat dinner. The next, I had been wrestling an armed robber to the ground.My life had a terrible habit of becoming complicated.I sat in a chair near the counter while a police officer finished asking me questions for what felt like the tenth time."So you acted alone?" he asked.I nodded tiredly."Mostly.""Mostly?"I pointed toward Fernando."He helped make sure the guy didn't get back to the weapon" I replied. The officer glanced over.Fernando was standing several feet away with his guards and even from this distance, I could tell he was annoyed.Annoyed wasn't the right word. He looked deeply offended, like the universe
Fernando’s POVI saw Theo outside the restaurant, watching and my jaw tightened so hard it almost hurt.So that was his plan.Disrupt my dinner with Michael, create chaos and push himself back into Michael’s attention.Pathetic.And yet, effective in the most annoying way possible because now Michael was tense again.I could feel the shift in Michael's energy, the way his shoulders had gone rigid, the way his instincts had snapped back into survival mode instead of calm conversation.Theo had ruined the moment completely.I exhaled slowly through my nose.“That fucking bastard.”The fake robber inside the restaurant was still holding his gun up, trying very hard to look intimidating but failing miserably.Michael was staring at him with sharp focus, one I remembered too well and I both respected and hated it because it meant he was already thinking three steps ahead.I could tell exactly what was going through his mind. He was already making mental scenarios of how he'll take control
Theo's POV(An Hour Earlier)I was already in a bad mood, the kind of that made everyone around me suddenly remember urgent appointments somewhere else.The shipment had arrived late, the paperwork had been wrong, one of the drivers had nearly caused an accident while unloading and because apparently the universe enjoyed testing my patience, I had been forced to stay and supervise everything personally.By the time I finally left the warehouse that served as one of my many "perfectly legitimate" businesses, the sun was already beginning to set.I should have gone home, I should have taken a shower, I should have had dinner. Instead, I found myself driving toward Michael's workplace.I told myself I was simply checking on him, making sure he was safe, making sure nobody from Marlo's people had somehow slipped through the cracks.But it was a complete lie.I wanted to see him. That was all.I wanted to see his face.After everything we had been through recently, I had become far too acc
Michael’s POVThe soft buzz of conversation and the low hum of the espresso machine filled the warm air at Kafé Verse as I wiped down the wooden counter for the fifth time in ten minutes.I looked around the café, catching Ivy at the register organizing the tip jar, her long fingers brushing the co
Ashley’s POV It was already past 10 p.m. I stood by the window, arms crossed tightly over my chest, the soft hum of the city lights below barely reaching my ears. My mind was too busy spinning through a dozen worst-case scenarios. I kept staring out into the night like I was expecting it to br
Archer’s POV The waves were restless today. It was not the kind that soothed or whispered you into calm—their crashing roared against the jagged rocks like fists, like threats. The bright morning sun painted a golden slash across the ocean, reflecting light into the wide glass windows of my bea
Michael’s POV The spoon clinked softly against the side of Ashley’s mug, the sound threading into the quiet hum of the dishwasher behind us. The scent of herbal tea—lemon and mint—wafted between us, gentle and oddly grounding, considering the weight of our conversation. Henry’s laughter floated







