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OversteppingLeo had been in the penthouse for two days. I had kept him hidden away, tucked under expensive sheets and fed well, but he wasn’t himself. He was quiet. He spent most of the time staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the rain hit the glass. The spark he usually had—that defiant, cocky fire—was flickering low. It killed me to see him so subdued.I was still pissed. I was angry at his father for laying a hand on him, and I was still simmering with frustration that Leo had acted so impulsively at that party. He had almost ruined everything for a moment of temper. But seeing him look so small on my sofa made it hard to stay stern.I had retrieved his phone. I won’t say how, but a few calls to the right people at the Hayes estate and the device was back in my possession. I hadn't given it back to him yet. I wanted him to focus on resting, not on the chaos at school.I was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a black coffee, when the phone on the counter buzzed. Then i
The Breaking PointI sat in my office with the lights dimmed, staring at the security footage on my laptop. It was the video everyone was talking about. Leo, my Leo, throwing punches like a man who had nothing left to lose. I had watched it twenty times. I was angry that he had disobeyed me, but seeing him snap like that—seeing that raw, untamed fire—did something to me that I couldn't explain.Then he went silent. No texts. No calls. For twelve hours, the boy who usually couldn't stop seeking my attention had vanished.I poured another glass of scotch, the amber liquid glowing in the light from the city skyline. I told myself I didn't care. I told myself he was just a student, a part of a game I was playing to keep my world in order. But my hand was shaking as I reached for the glass.Suddenly, the private elevator chimed.I frowned. It was two in the morning. No one had the code except for my top security team and—The doors slid open.Leo stumbled out. He wasn't wearing one of the
The Long Drive HomeThe drive to my parents' house felt like a funeral procession. I sat in the back of the car my father had sent for me, staring out the window at the trees blurring past. My duffel bag was on the seat next to me, smelling of gym sweat and the stale air of my dorm. Every time we hit a bump in the road, the bruises on my ribs from the fight twinged, reminding me of exactly why I was being sent away.The driver didn't say a word. He didn't even look at me in the rearview mirror. He knew. Everyone knew.When we pulled into the long, gated driveway of the family estate, my stomach twisted into a tight knot. The house was huge, white, and perfectly manicured. It looked like a palace, but to me, it felt like a cage. I had spent my whole life trying to be the son that deserved a house like this. Now, I was the son who had brought shame to the front door.I stepped out of the car, and the silence of the neighborhood was deafening. I walked up the marble steps and pushed open
The Falling StarThe Dean’s office was too bright. The morning sun hit the white walls and made my head throb. I sat in a hard wooden chair, my hands tucked under my thighs so the Dean wouldn't see my split knuckles. I smelled like stale beer and copper. Across from me, Dean Henderson was looking at a file like it was a piece of rotten meat."I don't understand, Leo," he said, finally looking up. "You’re an honors student. You’re on the Dean’s list. You’re the face of the soccer team. And now I have a report that you nearly broke a transfer student's jaw at an off-campus party.""He said things, sir," I muttered. My voice felt like it was coming from the bottom of a well."He says you attacked him without provocation. There were witnesses. There are videos, Leo. People have already posted them," the Dean said. He sighed, leaning back. "The university has a zero-tolerance policy for violence. Given your record, I’m not expelling you. But you are suspended. Two weeks. Effective immediat
The Breaking PointThe music in Liam’s apartment was so loud I could feel it in my teeth. It was a deep, thumping bass that drowned out the voices of the fifty people packed into the living room. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, expensive cologne, and spilled beer. I stood by the kitchen counter, gripping my red plastic cup. My body still ached from David’s belt, but the alcohol was starting to numb the edges of the pain."You're not drinking fast enough, Leo!" Liam shouted over the noise. He appeared at my side, bumping his shoulder against mine. He looked energized, his eyes bright with the thrill of the party."I'm pacing myself," I said, forced to lean in close to his ear so he could hear me."Forget pacing! We won the scrimmage, and you survived a day of finance. Live a little," Liam said. He reached out and grabbed my hand, the one wrapped around the cup. His fingers were warm. "Come on. Let’s go to the balcony. It’s too crowded in here."I let him lead me through the
The ProvocationThe room was quiet after the punishment. David was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands resting on his knees. I was sitting next to him, my skin still buzzing from the sting. The air felt thick, like a storm had just passed but the clouds were still hanging low. I should have felt humbled. I should have been quiet. But the fire in my gut hadn't gone out; it had just changed shape.I reached for my phone on the nightstand. It buzzed right as my fingers touched the glass."Who is that?" David asked. His voice was sharp again.I looked at the screen. It was a text from Liam.Liam: Great practice today, Leo. We’re having a private party at my place tonight after the game. Just the inner circle. You have to come. I’m not taking no for an answer.I felt a surge of reckless energy. I turned the screen so David could see it. "It's Liam. He’s inviting me to a party tonight. He says it's for the 'inner circle.'"David’s face went dark. He snatched the phone out of my
The CommandThe subway ride felt like it took hours. I sat on the plastic seat, my leg bouncing up and down. Every time the train screeched to a halt, I checked my phone. No more messages. Just that one command. Come now.I didn't go through the main lobby this time. David had sent a follow-up text
The Breaking PointDavid PovThe rain was coming down heavily, blurring the city lights. I couldn't sit in my office anymore. I couldn't sit in my living room. Every shadow looked like him. Every time the wind rattled the glass, I thought it was his knock. I was a grown man, a man people feared, an
The Quiet BeforeThe screen of my phone was bright enough to make my eyes ache. I sat up against the pillows, the silk sheets sliding against my skin. There were so many notifications. My mom had sent five texts, each one getting more frantic. Maya had sent three. Even Chloe had messaged me twice,
The FeverMy head felt very heavy. When I finally forced my eyes open, the light in the room was soft and golden. It wasn't the harsh buzzing light of my dorm, and it definitely wasn't the cold, blue streetlamps of the park.I blinked, trying to clear the blur. The ceiling was high. The sheets unde







