MasukMichael’s POVThe world narrowed to the space between us.Marlo Ramirez stood across from me, gun raised, his posture relaxed in a way that only made him more dangerous. Around us, the chaos hadn’t stopped, gunfire still cracked through the air, men shouting, metal clanging, but it all felt distant because right now, it was just him and me.I steadied my grip on my weapon, forcing my breathing into something controlled, something measured. My finger hovered near the trigger, but I didn’t pull it, not yet, not unless I had to.“Drop the weapon,” I said.My voice came out lower than usual but rougher so he won't recognise me.Years of training, instinctively kicking in. I couldn’t let him hear my real voice.Marlo didn’t move. Instead, that faint, almost amused smile touched his lips again.“You first,” he replied calmly.I shook my head slightly.“That’s not how this ends.”“And how does it end?” he tilted his head. “With you in custody.”There was silence between us then Marlo let o
Michael’s POVThe air felt wrong the moment we stepped out of the car, like the ground itself was holding its breath, waiting for something inevitable to happen.I adjusted the sleeves of my jacket slightly as my eyes scanned the area in front of us. The location Hale had given us was just outside the main part of town, an abandoned industrial site that had long been forgotten by anyone who didn’t have a reason to come here.Perfect for something illegal.“You sure this is the place?” Nick muttered beside me, his voice low as he shut the car door quietly.I nodded once.“It matches the coordinates.”Ashley stepped forward slightly, her gaze sharp as she surveyed the surroundings.“No civilians, and no movement either” she said.“Which means they’re not here yet,” Nick added.“Or they’re already hiding” I corrected.That earned a brief glance from both of them. We all knew that was more likely.I reached into my jacket and pulled out the mask, holding it for a second before putting it
Michael’s POVThe office felt smaller than usual, not physically, but mentally, like the walls had closed in just enough to remind me that there was no space left for mistakes.Papers were spread across my desk, files, reports, surveillance notes, fragments of information that barely scratched the surface of what we were dealing with.Even seeing Marlo's name written in black ink across official documents made something tighten in my chest.I leaned forward slightly, my elbows resting on the desk as my eyes scanned through another report.I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down my face.This wasn’t just a visit, it was an operation and operations like this didn’t end quietly.“Dad…”Henry’s voice cut through my thoughts, soft at first.“Focus on your work" I said but I didn’t look up.“I’ve been focusing" he replied. I flipped a page.“You can focus more.”He let out a sigh, louder this time.“I’ve been doing this for hours nonstop" he said.“Good" I said plainly. “That’s not good, t
Theo’s POVI hadn’t planned for this, not like this, not this fast. One second, I was in watching, calculating, blending in like just another face in the crowd, the next Marlo Ramirez was sitting across from me, looking at me like I was something he had already figured out.My heartbeat was loud in my ears, but I forced my breathing to stay steady.Panic would get me killed here.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, keeping my tone neutral, my expression blank.Marlo didn’t react immediately. He just watched me, like he was peeling through layers I didn’t even realize I had then he smiled.“You should,” he said quietly.That smile didn’t reach his eyes.I leaned back slightly in my chair, forcing myself to relax into the role I was playing.“You’ve got the wrong person, I just came here to eat” I replied, shrugging faintly. “Did you?”The question wasn’t loud, but it carried weight.“Yes.”“And the car?” he asked.I frowned slightly.“What car?”“The one that has been be
Theo’s POVI should have turned back.That thought crossed my mind more than once as I followed the sleek black cars cutting through traffic like they owned the road.But I didn’t, I couldn’t because now that I had seen him there was no going back to pretending this was just another problem I could solve logically.My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I kept a careful distance, my eyes locked on the car ahead. I made sure not to get too close, just enough to keep them in sight, just enough to track their movements without drawing attention, at least that was the plan but my mind wasn’t calm enough to fully execute it.Everything inside me was on edge, hungry for answers.“What the hell are you doing here?” I muttered under my breath, my gaze narrowing slightly.The cars took a turn and I followed.My phone rang and the sound cut through the tension, loud and abrupt.I glanced at the screen. I hesitated for half a second before answering, keeping one eye on the road.“Yea
Theo’s POVThe line went dead, just like that with no warning, no hesitation or explanation.Michael had hung up on me.I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my jaw locking so hard it actually hurt. The faint hum of the engine beneath me did nothing to calm the storm building in my chest, instead, it only made everything feel louder, more irritating.“What the hell is your problem, Michael” I muttered under my breath.The empty passenger seat beside me felt heavier than it should have. It still carried the ghost of him, his silence, his distance, the way he looked at me like he wanted to say something but never did.It was getting old.I exhaled sharply, running one hand through my hair before gripping the wheel again. My thoughts refused to settle. They circled the same questions over and over again, each one more frustrating than the last.Why is he hiding things from me? Why does he keep shutting me out? And most importantly, what the hell is he involved in?Nothing about Mich
Michael’s POV The car tore through the night like it was trying to outrun the past. Ashley drove with both hands locked tight on the steering wheel, her knuckles white, her jaw clenched so hard I thought it might crack. Every bump sent fresh agony through my leg. I bit down on my lip, refusing
Michael’s POVThe room was still, not the kind of still that feels safe, but the kind that presses down on your chest, makes your lungs feel heavy and your ribs tight.I lay on the bed, sweat plastering my shirt to my body, my muscles trembling, every breath shallow and painful. My leg throbbed vi
Michael’s POVEvery step toward the open road felt like we were walking toward either salvation or execution.Nick moved slightly ahead of us, clearing the way, his movements sharp and controlled despite the exhaustion. Ashley walked beside Henry, her hand wrapped tightly around his, guiding him ov
Michael’s POVFor a second, everything ceased to exist like reality had been violently cut away and I had been left standing in the hole aftermath. My arm remained extended, frozen in the exact position it had been in when the trigger gave way beneath my finger. The gun trembled uncontrollably in







