MasukMichael’s POVBy the time I reached the hospital, my patience wasn’t just gone, it felt like it had been scraped out of me and left somewhere back on that road between the restaurant and here.Every red light I hit on the way felt personal, every second Fernando’s name flashed on my phone felt like pressure building behind my eyes and every time I ignored him, he called again like the idea of silence was unacceptable to him.I finally stopped checking my phone altogether because if I kept looking at it, I might have done something stupid like throw it out the window.The hospital entrance was brighter than I wanted but I had to deal with it.I stepped inside carrying a large paper bag of food which was Ashley and Nick’s dinner that had turned into a late-night apology for the chaos they had been dragged into.A nurse at the front desk looked up.“Good evening, sir.”“Evening,” I muttered without slowing down.I didn’t stop walking until I reached the private wing.The corridor was qui
Fernando’s POVThe night air felt strangely calm, especially after what had just happened.I sat in the backseat of my vehicle as the convoy moved away from the intersection.Nobody spoke, none of my men dared to.The sound of gunfire still echoed faintly in my memory. The shattered glass, the bullets hitting Theo's vehicle trapped between ours.The entire thing had happened quickly and now it was over.At least, that was what I told myself.I stared out the window, streetlights passed by one after another.The city looked peaceful, as if nothing had happened. As if a few minutes ago I hadn't ordered armed men to open fire on another man's car.I rubbed my jaw.For some reason, my thoughts weren't on Theo. They were on Michael.Everything always seemed to come back to Michael.I pulled out my phone and for several seconds I stared at his contact information then I pressed call.The phone rang and rang but no answer.I wasn't surprised.Michael was angry, furious, actually. The image o
Theo'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 POV The 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 o
Fernando’s POVFrom where I stood, I saw Michael still near the fountain, his posture tense, jaw locked. Henry clung to his leg laughing as they played.I hated the sight more than I wanted to admit. Not because it was ugly, but because it was beautiful.A beauty that didn’t belong to me.Michael h
Michael’s POV My eyes fluttered open, and the sunlight slipping through the curtains burned against the dull ache in my head. I blinked a few times, trying to piece together where I was, then it all came rushing back. The argument, the truth and Fernando’s face when he stared at me went around in
Fernando’s POV The moment Marlo’s name flashed across my phone screen, I knew something was wrong. I had left Michael with the wedding planner but my mind was more focused on Marlo whom I met in the hallway. “Marlo,” I said, my voice edged with tension. “What happened?”“It’s Dominique. He didn’
Michael’s POV The storm outside was nothing compared to the one inside me. I stood in the doorway and kept my gaze on Fernando as he looked at me as if I were a ghost. He didn’t answer, he didn’t even try, and that silence told me everything. “You can’t even deny it,” I whispered, my voice raw.







