LOGINReina’s POVHow would I have known that the peace I was beginning to enjoy would soon turn sour?It was just yesterday I was dancing barefoot under the chandelier lights during Joshua’s wedding, champagne glass in hand, spinning and laughing so hard my ribs hurt. The wedding had been beautiful, warm lights, laughter echoing through the garden, the scent of white roses and honey drifting through the air. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to breathe without a weight on my chest.I’d told myself that night…really told myself…that I was done with Cassian Morelli.I’d made up my mind to forget him after overhearing Leon’s call days ago, hearing the confirmation of what I already feared; Cassian didn’t want me anymore. And for once, I was ready to believe it.Andre had been here too…unexpectedly. Turns out, he’d been invited by the bride, and I by the groom. Life’s little coincidences. He stuck by me through the night, keeping me company when my heart still felt fragile and raw. And
Cassian’s POVFor a second, I forgot how to breathe. Do I exhale or inhale first?Her voice…soft, trembling, uncertain…poured through the speaker, stirring every nerve in my body.“Leon?” she said again, her tone tender, full of worry and concern.God. I’ve missed that voice.My throat tightened, my hand gripping the phone hard enough to crack it. I couldn’t speak. I just stood there, frozen, feeling every emotion I’d spent days hiding crawl back to the surface at once.Then, faintly, another voice bled through the call.A man’s voice.Deep. Calm. Familiar with her, like they are a couple.“Is that Leon? Is he okay now?” the man asked.Every muscle in me tensed. My pulse roared in my ears.“I don’t know,” she replied softly. “He hasn’t said anything yet.”The casual tone, the way she sounded at ease with him, laughing faintly between sentences…it sliced through me like a blade. She was comfortable. With him.With another man.My vision darkened at the edges, as all manner of images sw
Cassian’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, the first thing that hit me was the pounding in my head…heavy, rhythmic, like someone hammering from the inside. The ceiling above me came into focus, dimly lit by the afternoon light leaking through the curtains.I wasn’t in a hospital. I was in my bed.“Easy, boss,” a voice said beside me. I turned my head…Lucas. His eyes were rimmed with exhaustion.“What happened?” I croaked out, the pounding in my head building up.“You drove into a streetlight while trying to avoid colliding with a truck,” he said quietly, rubbing his neck. “Good thing you were not badly hurt. I brought you home because I know you hate hospitals. So, I got the doctor to check you here instead.”My throat felt like sandpaper. “And?”“Just a slight concussion. Nothing major. No internal bleeding, no fractures. You’ve been out since yesterday. It’s past noon already.”I tried sitting up, but the room spun like I was underwater. Lucas caught me by the shoulders, forcing me gently
Cassian’s POVThe weight of my gun felt like an extension of my hand…cold, certain, and ready to end a lie. Or a life.Leon’s eyes widened the moment the metallic click filled the room. His throat worked up and down in panic, but no sound came out. The bastard was frozen, staring straight into the black mouth of my Glock like it was the first time he’d met death up close.Then again I ask. How the hell did I let him be her bodyguard?!“You swore to her?” I repeated, voice steady but shaking underneath. “You swore to her?”His lips trembled. “Boss, please…you don’t understand…”“Then make me understand.” I stepped closer, the muzzle now pressed against his forehead. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re telling me that my fiancée disappeared with another man, and the one person who was supposed to protect her swore loyalty to her instead of me.”Leon’s breath hitched. “It’s not like that—”“Then tell me what it’s like,” I snapped, my tone low, sharp enough to cut steel. “Tell me why
Cassian’s POVMy hand tightened on Leon’s throat, fingers digging into the skin just below his jaw. His pulse hammered against my palm, fast and frantic, like a trapped bird trying to escape. The hospital room smelled of bleach, the beeps from the monitor behind him syncing with my rage. Lucas stood by the door, arms crossed, watching like he knew this was about to explode.“Why the hell are you acting surprised?” I snarled, leaning in so close I could see the sweat beading on his forehead. “Did that stab wound fuck up your brain or something?”“No, boss…” Leon gasped, his voice a ragged whisper as I squeezed harder. His face turned red, veins bulging in his neck. “It’s because…I don’t know where you got that information from.”My eyes flicked to Lucas…his jaw tight, nodding once in confirmation…then back to Leon. I released him with a shove. He collapsed back onto the bed, wheezing like a punctured balloon, clutching his bandaged stomach. Pathetic. How the fuck did I pick this wea
Cassian’s POVI didn’t want to turn around. Maybe that’s Candy’s new tactic to trap me further…to make me think something serious happened and prevent me from leaving. But when I heard her scream and hurried footsteps, I couldn’t stop it. I turned around so fast.Abby was on the floor. Unconscious, blood running from her nose like she was hit in the head.For fuck’s sake…what is going on this time?!I moved in a blink. Candy was already there, cradling her like she’d planned this whole scene, shouting…cursing me…saying it was my fault, that I hadn’t listened, that the doctors warned her Abby had a weak heart and now look what I’d done. She pounded my chest with one hand.I seized the wrist and pushed it away, cold as a blade.“Don’t ever try that again,” I growled, prying Abby from her with one hard pull. The little girl was limp in my hands, her hands dangling by the side as I propped her onto my chest.“What are you doing?” Candy screamed, panic laced with fake outrage.“It’s high







