Fernando’s POV(Few Moments Ago)I should’ve known something was wrong from the way Harold's voice cracked over the phone.“Fernando… You need to come. Now. Archer—he’s… losing it.”I had just gotten out of a late evening strategy meeting with my top enforcers when Harold’s call came through. At first, I rolled my eyes, thinking Harold was exaggerating again. Throwing tantrums wasn’t outside Archer's character—but I assumed this one would pass like all the rest.But Harold’s voice wasn’t theatrical. It was pleading and broken. I could practically hear the tension in his breath and the weight of responsibility bearing down on him.“Fernando, please. He’s drunk, yelling at everyone. He's spiraling. I thought you could come and talk to him. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”I didn’t say anything right away.Michael’s words from earlier that day echoed in my head like a dark gospel I hadn’t yet made peace with.Michael wasn’t the type to lie about something like this. And I knew Archer. I kn
Archer’s POV The glass shattered.It hit the wall like my fury had hit my chest—loud, splintering, and irreparable.I stumbled back, one hand gripping the edge of the long mahogany dining table.My legs trembled under me, weighted not just with drink, but with rage and a thick, bitter dread I couldn’t spit out.“He said no, Harold!” I bellowed, slurring slightly as I grabbed a half-empty decanter and poured more whiskey into my glass, not caring that my hand was shaking and some of it spilled onto my sleeve. “The bastard said no. He’s not going to run away with Henry. He told me to my face. Like I’m some kind of fool—like I don’t see it.”Harold stood a few feet away in his crisp dark suit, his gloved hands folded in front of him. His face, usually so composed, was tight with worry and weariness.“Sir, perhaps you’ve had enough for tonight,” he said gently, stepping forward with caution. “Your blood pressure—”“Oh, screw my blood pressure,” I snapped, laughing bitterly as I turned an
Fernando’s POVA light drizzle made the streets shimmer like wet tar under the tires of my black car as it rolled to a slow halt outside the warehouse. I didn’t need to step out to know what waited inside. The air was heavy with the metallic taste of tension, the kind that clings to the skin like smoke after a gunfight.I opened the door, the scent of oil, rust, and something darker hitting me all at once. The warehouse stood like a wounded beast—silent and watchful, its broken windows and twisted steel doors a testimony of the violence that had taken place just days ago.Marlo stood waiting outside, one foot tapping anxiously against the pavement. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his brown leather jacket, shoulders hunched from the cold or the pressure—maybe both."This had better be worth it," I said, stepping out with two of my guards flanking me like shadows.Marlo’s eyes flicked to mine. “I wouldn't call you here if it wasn't.”I said nothing, just lit a cigarette an
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 coins into a neat stack. A strange sense of anticipation—or dread—hung around me like fog.The door chimed.I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. His energy always came first. A calm that was trying too hard. Like a storm beneath glass.Fernando.He stepped inside, one hand clasped tightly around Henry’s small one, the other tucked deep into the pocket of his trousers. He looked calm, but his eyes told a different story.There was a storm behind them. Something brewing.“Michael,” Fernando said, flashing me a too-quick smile, like he hoped it would be enough to pass as casual. “Hey.”I raised an eyebrow and grabbed a clean dish towel from under the counter. “Hey.”Henry pul
Fernando’s POVMy expensive black car hummed beneath us as we pulled up to the front gate of Richmond Elementary School. The morning sun glistened against the tall white buildings with gold trimmings, casting a regal glow over the prestigious grounds. The lush emerald-green lawns were freshly mowed, and a line of expensive cars filled the drop-off area, driven by chauffeurs in suits and polished caps. It screamed wealth and legacy. Perfect for Henry.Henry sat beside me in the backseat, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape as he pressed his nose to the glass. His small fingers clutched his backpack tightly, his little chest rising and falling with anticipation.“Is this… my school?” he asked, his voice soft and awestruck.“It could be,” I said, smiling at him. “If you want it to be.”He blinked at me, then smiled back, a dimple showing on one cheek. “It’s so… big. And clean.”I chuckled. “That’s how you know they charge an ungodly amount.”Two of my guards stepped out immediately and
Archer's POV The sky was bright, too damn bright. Sunshine spilled over the street outside Kafé Verse like it had something to prove. My sunglasses did little to cut through the glare, and I found myself squinting as I stepped outside, Michael a step behind me, looking more confused than wary—a mistake he kept making with me."What is this about?" he asked, crossing his arms the second we were out of earshot from the rest of his coworkers. The front windows of the café glared like eyes. Ivy, Mateo, and Liam pretended not to stare, but I could feel their curiosity stretching like invisible wires between us.I didn’t answer him right away. I let my gaze drift down the street, scanning for pedestrians, possible eavesdroppers. This wasn’t the kind of conversation I wanted echoing through those walls.Finally, I turned to face him fully."Why is Henry living with you?"Michael blinked, clearly not expecting that to be my first question. "Because I’m the one he chose. He’s comfortable