33

Alexander’s Point of View

The plane touched down with a jolt, and for a second, I wondered if the universe was giving me a sign. I hadn’t been back in months not since I left to get Nico and Missy out of my damn head. And yet, here I was, back where everything began, carrying a storm behind my calm expression.

I tugged the black hoodie further over my head and walked through the terminal like I didn’t belong to anyone. No crew, no mansion, no memories. Just me. And the truth I now held like a ticking bomb.

Nico shot Missy's brother.

And that smug bastard never told a soul.

He just carried on like he wasn’t dragging guilt behind every step. Like he deserved her.

"Sir, your ride’s outside," the driver said.

I slid into the black SUV waiting for me, head low, heart loud.

My plan was simple blend in.

Observe. Wait. And when the time was right, burn everything down with the truth.

I wasn’t going to yell it. I wasn’t going to make a scene.

I was going to wait until Nico got comfortable. Until Missy smiled at him like he was the only air she could breathe. And then I’d cut the cord between them.

Let her know who she’s sleeping next to.

Let her know he was the reason her brother wakes up sweating at night, flinching at gunshots no one hears.

Noelle's voice echoed in my head.

"He’s not who you think. He never told you he had a twin, did he?"

No, he didn’t. And now I knew why. The perfect little soldier had secrets hidden under all that brooding silence.

I spent days replaying her words in my head, her eyes fierce when she handed me the truth. At first, I thought she was lying.

But Noelle knew too much dates, names, the way Nico froze when someone mentioned a mission gone wrong.

Now I carried her truth with me, wrapped like a gift I was going to place gently in Missy’s hands.

The city skyline crept into view. Same chaos, same smoke. Same place I tried to leave behind. I rested my head against the window and let out a sigh.

“You alright, sir?” the driver asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. Just missed the smell of betrayal in the air.”

He gave a tight laugh and focused on the road.

The mansion looked untouched, but I knew better.

I could already feel the shift in energy. Nico was probably inside with Missy right now, acting like he owned her heart.

I wouldn’t storm in. I’d wait. I’d smile. Laugh even.

Let them think I was back for closure or whatever weak excuse Nico would believe.

But I was here for war.

I walked through the gates, duffel bag slung over my shoulder. The guard paused, blinking twice before recognizing me.

"Alexander?" he asked.

"In the flesh," I replied, not slowing down.

The door opened before I reached it. Theo stood in the hallway, face stunned.

“Dude...”

“Sup,” I said, patting his shoulder as I walked past.

“The hell? You just disappear and come back like”

“Where’s Nico?” I asked without looking.

Theo stared at me. “With Missy. In the garden, I think.”

Of course.

I nodded and went upstairs to drop my bag. I didn’t need to see them yet. Not today.

Today, I needed to watch. To listen. To gather the final pieces of the puzzle before I delivered the truth like a bullet between the ribs.

As I stood at the window, I saw them.

Nico sitting under the tree. Missy in his lap, laughing at something stupid. His fingers brushing her arm like she was a painting he couldn’t stop admiring.

I hated that laugh. Hated how soft she became around him.

But soon she’d know.

Soon that laugh would turn into questions.

Into silence.

And then into hate.

I smirked as I closed the curtain.

Let the game begin.

The house was quiet too quiet for a place that used to echo with footsteps, arguments, and bad jokes.

My stomach growled as I made my way down the staircase, the scent of warm food drifting from the kitchen.

I hadn’t eaten since morning. The plan was simple: grab something light, stay unseen, and slip back upstairs before anyone noticed.

But, of course, fate had other plans.

As I turned the corner toward the hallway, I heard the soft padding of bare feet. Then a sudden gasp.

I froze.

“Alexander?” a soft, familiar voice called.

I turned, already knowing who it was.

Missy.

She stood at the end of the hallway like a ghost hair tied up messily, wearing a large hoodie that probably belonged to Nico. Her eyes widened like she’d just seen someone rise from the dead.

“Holy crap,” she breathed.

Before I could say a word, she ran toward me.

What the hell?

“Missy”

She leapt into my arms, hugging me so tight I forgot how to breathe.

“I thought you weren’t coming back!” she said, giggling as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

My hands hovered awkwardly before I slowly wrapped them around her waist, forcing my heart to calm down.

She smelled the same. Like jasmine and something sweet I couldn’t name. My jaw clenched.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

“You’re actually here,” she whispered, pulling back to look at me, her face glowing with joy. “I missed you so much.”

Missed me?

“I thought you hated me,” I said, voice rougher than I intended.

Her smile faltered for half a second before she shook her head.

“I was confused,” she said. “When you left... everything just got messy.”

Yeah, no shit.

I cleared my throat and looked away. “Didn’t think I was missed.”

“You were,” she said, serious now. “You were my best friend, Alexander. You still are.”

That word. Friend. It burned worse than any insult.

She still had no clue.

No idea what I knew.

No idea I was standing here holding a truth that would shatter her.

And yet, here she was in my arms, eyes soft, smiling like I’d never broken her heart by walking away.

I forced a smirk. “You’re still tiny.”

She laughed and lightly punched my chest. “And you’re still annoying.”

The kitchen door swung open behind her, and Nico stepped out, face blank, but his eyes said everything.

I let my arms drop from Missy’s waist slowly.

Nico froze when he saw us.

Missy turned around. “Hey! Look who’s back.”

Nico didn’t speak. Just stared. Like he was trying to read my mind.

Go ahead. Try.

I smiled at him.

“Long time, Nico,” I said, voice light.

Missy stepped closer to him and grabbed his hand. “He just got back now. Isn’t it great?”

Great?

I wanted to laugh.

I just nodded, pretending like I didn’t see how Nico’s jaw tightened the second she touched him.

Pretending like I didn’t want to tell her right there, right now.

But not yet.

I needed her to trust me again. To smile like that again.

Because once I told her, she was never going to look at either of us the same way again.

And when that moment came.

I needed her to believe me.

Not him.