LOGINFernando’s POVThe moment the hospital room door closed behind us, Michael pulled his hand away from mine, like my touch offended him.Michael immediately turned toward me with frustration burning all over his face.“What exactly is wrong with you?”I blinked once.“That’s a broad question" I replied. “Fernando.”His voice sharpened instantly. I sighed softly and leaned back against the wall casually, watching him.He still looked beautiful when angry.His cheeks were slightly flushed from emotion, his eyes sharp and bright with irritation. His hair still looked a little messy from this morning and and Theo’s scent was all over him.I noticed it immediately the moment he entered the room earlier. Now that we stood closer together, it was impossible to ignore.Michael crossed his arms tightly.“You shouldn’t have come here" he said.A nurse walking past glanced nervously toward us before immediately walking faster.Michael rubbed aggressively at his forehead afterward.“You could’ve w
Michael’s POVThe moment I saw Fernando standing inside that hospital room, my good mood died instantly.It was almost impressive how quickly it happened.Just seconds ago, Theo and I had been laughing outside the room because Theo had nearly spilled coffee on himself while trying to open the door dramatically with one hand. The sound of his complaining had actually made me smile for the first time in days.Then I walked in and saw Fernando.The universe apparently refused to let me breathe peacefully for even one day.Theo noticed the change in me instantly. I felt him glance sideways at me, probably realizing my entire body had gone stiff.Meanwhile Fernando stood there looking painfully calm and beautiful and infuriating all at once.I hated that he still affected me so strongly.Ashley looked ready to throw Fernando out the window despite still being connected to hospital monitors.Nick just looked tired, Ramon looked like he wanted somebody to sedate him and Fernando stared direc
Fernando’s POVThe silence inside the hospital room stretched so long it almost became uncomfortable.Personally, I was enjoying it.Ashley and Nick still looked like they had seen an actual ghost, which, technically, they had.Henry remained frozen near the side of Nick’s bed, staring at me with wide eyes that looked far too much like mine for my own peace of mind.Even after all these years, seeing him up close still did something strange to my chest.Ashley recovered first.Honestly, not surprising. Ashley had always been the loudest emotionally out of all of them.“You—”She stopped abruptly and stared harder at me.“You’re alive.”“Very observant,” I replied calmly.Ashley looked like she wanted to throw something at my face. Unfortunately for her, most objects in hospital rooms were apparently attached to machines.Nick still looked pale with disbelief.“You were buried,” he said weakly.“I know,” I replied.“You had a funeral.”“Yes.”“Michael mourned you for years.”That one h
Fernando’s POVRamon clearly regretted speaking too much already.I could see it in the tension sitting across his shoulders as he stood near the refrigerator section holding a bottle of water like it had suddenly become the most fascinating object in the world.Meanwhile, the young cashier behind the counter still looked personally offended that I had flirted with him while being married.“You really hid the husband thing until the last second,” the cashier complained while rearranging flowers dramatically.“I didn’t hide it,” I corrected calmly. “You simply failed to investigate properly.”“That sounds exactly like something a dangerous man would say.”Ramon sighed quietly under his breath.“So serious this morning,” I commented lightly while picking up the wrapped bouquet from the counter.Ramon glanced at me cautiously.“Mr. Ramirez—”“Fernando" I corrected. He hesitated.“Fernando" he said.The cashier leaned on the counter curiously.“You two work together or something?” he ask
Michael’s POVI woke up completely warm.Theo’s arm was wrapped securely around my waist from behind, his chest pressed against my back while soft morning light slipped through the curtains and painted pale gold across the room.For a few seconds, I just stayed there quietly.Theo’s breathing was slow and even against the back of my neck.The room smelled faintly like him, clean cologne, expensive sheets, and traces of last night still lingering in the air.My body ached pleasantly, especially my hips.The memory immediately made heat crawl up my neck.Theo had been surprisingly relentless once we returned upstairs.I shifted slightly beneath the blankets and immediately regretted it when the soreness reminded me of exactly how little sleep we had actually gotten.A quiet sound escaped me before I could stop it and Theo’s arm tightened instantly around my waist.“Morning,” he murmured sleepily against my shoulder.I blinked.“You were awake?”“No.”“You literally answered me.”Theo bu
Fernando’s POVThe chaos of the night before had faded into pale sunlight stretching across buildings and streets still waking up. Cars rolled lazily through intersections while pedestrians hurried with coffee cups in hand, trying to begin normal lives completely unaware of the violence and madness hidden beneath this town’s calm appearance.Meanwhile, I was standing in front of a roadside flower shop trying to decide whether Ashley would prefer white lilies or pink roses.Life was ridiculous sometimes.The old woman running the flower stand smiled warmly at me as she adjusted a bucket of sunflowers near the entrance.“You look troubled,” she said knowingly.I smirked faintly.“Do I?”“You’ve been staring at those flowers for almost ten minutes" she replied. I glanced back at the bouquets. Honestly, I barely cared about the flowers themselves. I only needed an excuse to visit the hospital again.My men stationed outside had informed me earlier this morning that Henry and Kim were st
Fernando’s POV The tires of my car squealed softly as we pulled up in front of Kafé Verse. The café’s exterior looked deceptively quaint with its flower boxes and chalkboard sign welcoming patrons with today’s specials. I knew better. Any place could hide a snake. Any smiling face could mask a
Michael’s POV The night air was thick with the scent of summer rain yet to fall, the clouds above hanging like dark curtains over the sleeping city. I kept my hand gently on Henry’s shoulder as we walked side by side along the cracked sidewalk, the orange glow of streetlights casting our shadows
Michael’s POV I sat hunched over the chipped kitchen table in Ashley’s apartment, staring at the cold cup of coffee in front of me. The night outside pressed against the frosted windows, a quiet darkness that made the silence between Ashley and me feel even heavier.Henry’s absence ached like a f
Michael’s POVThe first thing I saw was Henry’s face twisted in terror as the men grabbed him by the arms, dragging him off the paved park path toward a maintenance truck sitting at the curb.I was already moving before my brain finished processing it.Everything around me blurred. People in the p







