로그인Fernando's POVI stared at Theo and all i could think about was regret. I wished i had finished him off with a bullet in the head when my men attacked his car.He had the guts to interrupt a conversation that should have been between Michael and me, and worst of all, Michael had actually listened to him.I sat quietly at the kitchen table while everyone gathered their thoughts. The atmosphere felt heavy and nobody seemed eager to continue the argument, especially Michael.I knew that look on his face. The slight tension in his jaw, the exhaustion in his eyes, the way he kept rubbing the bridge of his nose meant he was tired.The last few days had been one disaster after another and now another threat hanging over all our heads.I watched Michael carefully. For a brief moment, I considered pushing the conversation further, trying again to convince him, to make him understand that New York was the safest option.But I stopped myself.Michael looked one sentence away from throwing all o
Michael's POVThe moment I saw Theo and Roberto standing at the entrance to the kitchen, my heart nearly stopped.Not because they had startled me, but because of the timing.A few seconds earlier and they would have seen Fernando's hands on me, my hands on Fernando and the kiss.I silently cursed myself.Fernando, meanwhile, looked far too calm. That alone irritated me.I immediately took a step away from him then another, creating distance, trying to look normal.Unfortunately, I had spent years working alongside trained investigators, and one thing I had learned was that people always looked suspicious when they were trying not to look suspicious.Theo's eyes moved between Fernando and me, far too carefully and my stomach tightened.Please don't ask.Please don't ask."What are you two doing?"Of course he asked.His voice sounded casual and I immediately knew he was suspicious.Fernando opened his mouth but I instantly cut him off."Nothing" I replied.Fernando glanced at me."You
Theo's POVThe moment I heard Marlo's voice, the room suddenly felt colder. Across from me, Roberto had gone completely still.I tightened my grip on the phone."What do you want?" I asked.Marlo laughed again."Straight to business.""I don't have time for games" I said.Even through the phone I could hear the smugness in his voice. The man always sounded like he believed he was the smartest person in every room.Unfortunately, he was often dangerous enough to make people tolerate it."I heard you've had a rough few days," Marlo continued."That's funny.""I thought so."The silence stretched briefly then his voice became colder, more serious."Tell me, Theo. How does it feel being on my list?"I frowned."What list?""My revenge list" he replied. Roberto immediately straightened. I could practically feel the tension rising inside the room.I leaned back against the headboard."Should I be scared?""Probably" he said.I laughed, mostly because I refused to let him hear my shock."I'
Fernando's POVFor the first time since arriving at Michael's house, I felt like fate was finally giving me a break.Roberto had gone upstairs to check on Theo.The annoying rival who seemed determined to appear every time Michael and I shared even a single meaningful moment was temporarily out of sight.And Michael was standing right in front of me, alone.Well, as alone as we could be in a house filled with complicated relationships and unfinished history.The sunlights cast a warm glow across the room. Outside, the warm sky pressed against the windows, quiet and cool.Michael stood by the counter with his arms folded which usually wasn't a good sign.Whenever he folded his arms like that, it meant he was preparing to disagree with me, or lecture me.Or both."You need to stop glaring at me," he said.I raised an eyebrow."I'm not glaring" I replied. "You absolutely are.""I prefer the word observing" I corrected. Michael rolled his eyes.God, I had missed this. Not the arguing. W
Theo's POVThe moment Michael left the room, I opened my eyes.The door clicked shut behind him, silence followed and for several seconds, I remained exactly where I was, staring at the ceiling.If anyone had walked in right now, they would have assumed I was asleep.That was exactly what I wanted.Slowly, carefully, I pushed myself upright then pain immediately shot through my side."Son of a—"I stopped myself.The doctors had been right. I had no business leaving the hospital. Every muscle in my body felt like it had been run over by a truck but that wasn't important.What was important was Fernando.I looked toward the bedroom door and my jaw tightened.I didn't trust him, not even a little, especially after everything that had happened.The threats, the lies, the suspicious timing of his arrival and the fact that I had ended up in surgery after he conveniently decided I was a problem.No. I wasn't taking chances.I reached into the small bag Roberto had brought for me and Inside
Michael’s POVIt took much longer than I expected to get Theo to fall asleep, partly because he was stubborn and mostly because he clearly didn't want to sleep.Every time his eyes started closing, he would somehow find a reason to continue talking.At first it had been about the hospital then Kim, Henry, Ashley and Nick then somehow he had started talking about the terrible quality of hospital food again.I was beginning to suspect he was deliberately trying to stay awake."Theo, you need to sleep" I said."I'm trying" he replied. "No, you're talking" I corrected. "I'm multitasking" he argued. I rolled my eyes then pinched the bridge of my nose as Theo smiled weakly."I like when you worry about me" he said."That's not helping your case" I replied. Eventually exhaustion won and his voice became slower. His words started slurring together and finally his eyes closed completely.I sat beside the bed for another minute just to make sure the rise and fall of his chest became steady.
Fernando’s POVI hated this version of him.I hated the way Michael’s eyes had gone dark like someone had poured gasoline over a fire that had never fully gone out.I had seen that look once before, when he had thought though Andrew attempted to kill Ashley. Back then, rage had been the only thing
Michael’s POVThe room felt wrong the moment Santiago finished that sentence."Do you have the boy?"I fired off a warning shot angrily but it only hit the shelves. Santiago barely moved as if he knew i wouldn't be able to do anything. "What you do right now determines if Henry lives or not" Santi
Michael’s POV I had just finished helping Henry with one of the homework his teacher gave him for the break which involved a sheet filled with colorful pictures he had to label and a simple math section he pretended not to understand just so I would sit beside him a little longer. By the time he
Michael’s POVAnabelle must have sensed the storm building between me and Fernando, because the moment our voices sharpened she slipped into the room and gently placed a hand on Henry’s back.“Come with me, sweetheart,” she murmured to him.Henry glanced between us, worry flickering through his eye







