Mag-log inMichael’s POVHenry walked beside me through the brightly lit corridor while two federal agents Director Hale assigned trailed several feet behind us.The hospital was quieter now due to the late hour, but there were still nurses moving quickly between rooms, doctors speaking in low urgent voices, machines beeping steadily from nearby wards.Everything felt cold, like the building itself was trying to hide how much pain existed inside it.My shoulder throbbed beneath my jacket with every step. I was exhausted mentally, physically, emotionally but adrenaline kept me upright.“Dad.”Henry’s quiet voice pulled me back immediately and I looked at him.“You think they’ll be okay?” he asked.The question hurt because he sounded younger when he asked it, not like the stubborn teenager constantly arguing with me.I swallowed slowly.“They’re strong" I replied. Before he could respond, a nurse approached us cautiously.“Mr. Michael?”I stiffened slightly then regained myself. “Yes.”“I was i
Michael’s POVHenry had been taken to meet a medic who checked a bruise along his wrist where Marlo’s men had restrained him.I sat a few feet away on a metal chair while Director Hale stood in front of me with his arms folded across his chest and for the past twenty minutes, I had told him everything.Or at least as much as I could.Hale remained quiet for a long time after I finished speaking. His sharp eyes studied me carefully then finally he exhaled slowly.“Well, that’s significantly worse than I expected” he muttered. A tired laugh escaped me before I could stop it.“Sorry.”“You should be.”There wasn’t real anger in his voice though, mostly disbelief.Hale shook his head slightly and paced a few steps away before turning back toward me again.“When Luca recommended you three to me, I knew something was unusual" he said slowly.I frowned faintly.“You did?”“Michael, you, Ashley, and Nick showed up in town with almost perfect documentation, military-level survival instincts,
Michael’s POVOne second Theo had been preparing to shoot me, and the next, Federal agents were flooding the building.Marlo’s expression twisted into something dark and furious as he looked around and realized the truth immediately.They were trapped and outnumbered.One of his men raised his gun nervously, but before he could finish speaking, several laser sights landed directly on his chest.“DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!” an agent barked sharply.The man froze instantly.Anabelle cursed under her breath beside Marlo, fury radiating from every inch of her.“This is impossible.”Mortis stepped protectively closer to Marlo automatically, his sharp eyes scanning every exit in the warehouse but there was nowhere to go.Agents surrounded every side now.I felt Henry suddenly slam into me a second later. His arms wrapped tightly around me so fast it almost knocked the breath from my lungs.“Dad—”His voice cracked badly. I immediately grabbed him tightly too qnd for the first time since all
Theo’s POVMy hand had never shaken like this before, but now, standing in the middle of that filthy warehouse with a gun pointed at Michael while Henry cried beside me, I felt completely broken.The weight of the weapon in my hand suddenly felt unbearable.Michael stood a few feet away from me with his eyes closed, like he had already accepted death.There was pain written all over him, hidden beneath the stillness qnd somehow, despite everything he had done, I couldn’t hate him anymore.My grip tightened painfully around the gun.“Do it,” Marlo said casually.I snapped my head toward him instantly and the bastard looked completely relaxed, like this was entertainment.Henry glared at him with so much hatred it almost startled me.“Shut up,” Henry hissed.Marlo smirked faintly.“You really are Fernando’s son.”Henry looked ready to attack him physically despite the guns aimed around us.Michael must’ve sensed it too because even with his eyes closed, he spoke quietly.“Henry.”Immedi
Michael’s POVTheo looked shattered. His arm was extended toward me, but not steadily. The gun wavered slightly, his breathing uneven, his jaw tight and his eyes looked haunted.I knew that expression. I had worn it before, years ago on the night Fernando died.My chest tightened painfully at the memory.Henry moved closer to Theo immediately, panic written all over his face.“No, no, no—” he said sharply, shaking his head. “Henry,” I murmured quietly.“No! This is insane!" He said.His voice cracked this time. He looked between Theo and me like he could somehow stop all of this if he just spoke loudly enough.Marlo looked mildly irritated now.“I’m beginning to lose patience with the dramatics.”“Shut up!” Henry snapped.Every gun in the room shifted toward him instantly and my heart nearly stopped.“Henry,” I warned immediately.But he didn’t care anymore. His eyes were wet with emotion as he glared at Marlo.“You said you wanted me, right? Then take me!” he said angrily.“Henry—”
Theo’s POVEverything inside me went cold the moment I heard Kim’s voice through that phone, the kind of terror only a parent could understand.The warehouse suddenly felt suffocating.The broken lights overhead blurred faintly as rage crashed through my chest so violently that for a second I genuinely couldn’t think straight.Kim was terrified and Marlo was smiling.That was the part that shattered whatever control I had left.I moved before I could stop myself.I grabbed the front of Marlo’s expensive coat violently and slammed him backward hard enough to make the chair behind him scrape loudly across the concrete.“You touch my daughter and I swear to God I will kill you" I said, my voice rough. The entire warehouse erupted into movement instantly.Mortis stepped forward sharply, several men raised their guns but Marlo laughed.The sound echoed through the warehouse and made my skin crawl. His hands remained calm at his sides while I held him by the collar.“No, you won’t" he said
Fernando’s POV Marlo kept his hands tight on the steering wheel as we drove through the outskirts of the city, the night stretching out before us.As i sat quietly in the passenger's seat and replayed the events of tonight in my head, I couldn't help but feel like it was my fault.“Boss” Marlo’s v
Fernando’s POVThe sound of the sea was louder than the beating of my heart.I stood at the one side of my yacht, the wind whipping across my face, carrying with it the scent of salt and fuel. Behind me, the men were gathered, their voices low and uneasy.I didn’t need to turn around to know what
Michael’s POVThe ocean stretched endlessly around Fernando’s yacht, the silence ment to soothing but it was anything but that. The force of what was happening dug into my wrists and knees, biting harder each time I struggled. Two of Fernando’s men pressed down on my shoulders, their duty etched o
Michael’s POV Fernando still couldn't believe his ears despite hearing the truth for the horses mouth.I knew he would feel stupid for not noticing the scars and I couldn't blame him. I would too.“How did I not notice?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone.I smirked despite the pain. “Guess







