LOGINFernando’s POVThe sound of the ocean is a strange thing. It doesn’t care who lives or dies, it just swallows everything.By the time I realized my hands were shaking, Damian was already crawling toward the shadow of the generator, blood trailing behind him like a failure. I had wanted to keep him pinned down but it was funny watching him crawl like that.The metallic hum of the yacht vibrated through the soles of my shoes, and the air felt charged.Marlo’s voice came from behind me. “He’s losing too much blood. He won’t last long.”“Neither will we if we let him set another trap,” I said.Michael stood a few feet away, his face pale under the emergency lights. He looked… tired and torn, like he was standing on the edge of something he didn’t want to see but couldn’t avoid.“Boss,” Marlo said, his voice snapping me back. “What are your orders?”I inhaled deeply, pushing down the weight in my chest. “We head back to shore. Keep your eyes on him Michael and stay behind me this time.
Michael’s POV If you had told me yesterday that I would be standing beside the man who was meant to kill me, I would have laughed bitterly.But today, there was no time for either.Fernando stood near the console, his back to me, his jaw tight as he watched the monitor flicker with Damian’s signal which flashed weakly somewhere in the lower deck. Marlo was pacing behind us, muttering under his breath as he loaded his weapon. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “So… what now?”Fernando didn’t look back. His voice was calm and steady in a way that unnerved me. “We go down there and we finish it.”“That’s it?” I asked quietly. “No plan? No backup?”Marlo scoffed. “You think there’s time for backup? Damian is like a goddamn rat and if we wait, he will vanish into the ocean before dawn.”Fernando’s hand flexed over his gun.“We won’t give him that chance,” he said.There was no emotion in his voice, no hesitation, just focus. The same focus that would have been turned on me if Damian ha
Fernando’s POV He shoved me hard as my words settled over him like a dark cloud he would have preferred to ignore. My back hit the rail, pain shooting through my shoulder and the guards flinched but didn’t move.“You don’t get to psychoanalyze me!” he shouted. “You and Michael took everything from me. My name, my future, my goddamn soul! You both deserve to feel my pain and a thousand more for making me like this.”I pushed off the rail, stepping into his space. “No, Damian. You lost those long before we met.”He raised his gun, his hand trembling. For a moment, I saw something in his eyes like conflict or hesitation then it was gone.“I should shoot you right now,” he said.“Then do it,” I replied, staring him down. “Put a bullet in me and finish your masterpiece of revenge, but remember you will still be the same pathetic liar afterward.”Michael’s gaze moved between us."Fernando, I don’t think it's smart to anger Damian right now' he said with caution.I stared at him for a fr
Fernando’s POVThe sound of the ocean was a roar in my ears, the kind that drowned out everything else like reason, fear, and even the environment were I stood rooted to the ground.For a moment, I couldn’t tell if the trembling in my hands came from anger or disbelief at the sight I behold.I stood there, watching as my men, my own men, turn their weapons toward me with the aim to shoot if i moved wrongly. The barrels of their guns glinted under the sun, the air humming with betrayal. Michael was still on his knees, his face filled with anger, the ropes that bound him digging into his wrists. Marlo had moved beside him with a gun in his hand, breathing hard.And Damian was smiling as if he was the grandmaster of games.God, that smile. I had seen it before in the dark of my bedroom, in the dim glow of cigarettes as he whispered lies to me, but now it looked different.“How long were they in your pocket?” I asked quietly. My voice was steady, but only just because the rage was bui
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 you were too busy being impressed with yourself in bed.”Fernando’s glare shot to me, but Damian’s laughter was over the tension. “Oh, Michael,” he said, still laughing, “you haven’t changed. Always running your mouth when you should be praying.”Marlo stepped forward suddenly, his rage breaking through his calm. “You lying piece of trash,” he growled. “After everything Fernando did for you—”“Shut up!” Damian snapped, the command sharp as a whip. “You think I care what he did for me? He took him from me. His bullet, his empire and his arrogance. He made me into this!”The deck fell silent except for the sound of the wind.I swallowed hard, guilt rising in throat. I had done that to him.
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 on their faces.It was almost poetic to be on my knees, surrounded by men who once took my orders, while the ghost of the past stood watching me with another man’s face.Even though I had been the one to reveal the truth, it still came as a shock to be right.“I can’t believe it's really you,” I whispered. My voice barely carried over the roar of the sea.The man in front of me, no, not a man, but a phantom wearing a mask made of flesh and lies, smiled faintly. “Oh, it’s me, Michael.” His tone was calm, almost tender, but it chilled every bone in my body. “You just never thought I would crawl back from hell, did you?”Fernando stood a few feet away, motionless, the wind tearing through his e







