Mia’s POVI stood there in the quiet of the room, still holding onto Kraven after those last words he whispered. His arms were warm around me, but the weight in my chest had only gotten heavier.The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable as it was just thick with everything we hadn’t said yet. And at that same moment, my phone buzzed again.Not now, I thought, tightening my grip on Kraven.But it didn’t stop.Buzz.Buzz.Buzz.I pulled away gently, forcing a small smile as I stepped back. “I’ll be right back,” I muttered, grabbing my phone from the counter.I didn't need to look at the screen to know who it was.Grandma. Again.The call log alone could tell the story I didn’t want to explain. Seven missed calls in the past three days. Voicemails I couldn’t bring myself to open. And now, here it was again, and I think I just need to pick this up to know exactly what it is.I stepped into the balcony, out of Kraven’s line of sight, and swiped to answer."Hello?"“Mia!!! Mia!! Mia!” her
Kraven POVI sat on the edge of the couch, with my elbows on my knees, and still had my hand from the call that had just ended. My grandmother’s words rang in my head, hitting the same sore spot over and over like a wound being poked.“They’re already speaking of a replacement, Kraven... They’re calling Jack in.”Jack. Of all people, that was really a slap on my face.I stared at the ground, my hands balled into tight fists. The same Jack who used to sneak coke into family meetings and was almost as good as useless. That’s who they were considering as the next head of the empire?Because I wouldn't be able to give them an heir?A dry laugh escaped my lips, but it was bitter and quiet. That’s what it had come down to. My ability to reproduce. That was all I was worth to them.The ache in my lower abdomen was still there, dull but persistent—a constant reminder of what had happened. Of what I lost. The doctor hadn’t needed to say it with flair. The test results that Mia later showed me
Jack’s POV“You’ve finally remembered your way home?” my granny asked.I knew she wouldn’t exactly throw her arms around me when she saw me again. Grandma was never one for theatrics, and I hadn’t exactly earned the warmest welcome. Still, she didn’t throw me out either.She sat on her usual high-backed chair, the same one that had practically become her throne over the years. Her silver-gray hair was pulled into a tight bun, not a strand out of place. She didn’t smile. Didn’t scowl either. Just looked at me with that calm, unreadable expression that had terrified grown men for decades.I sat across from her, not bothering with excuses. “I came to talk about Kraven.”Her gaze didn’t shift in any manner. “I suspected as much.”I inhaled slowly, steadying myself. “As you already know about his health… health condition. He is not fit, not just physically. There’s been talk, whispers about his decisions lately. The way he’s running the empire—”“Whispers?” she interrupted softly, raising
Giovanni’s POVHe came late and wasn't even looking surprised.Jack was always cautious from the little investigation that I have made about him. More like lurking on the edge of the fire while pretending he wasn’t interested in the warmth.Still, when he finally walked in, having a black shirt on, no tie, his collar was slightly open—I would say that he looked like a man trying hard not to look like his cousin, Kraven.“Giovanni,” he muttered as he slid into the seat across from me.I didn’t offer a handshake because somehow I felt that he wouldn’t take it anyway.“You got taller,” I said casually. “Or maybe Kraven just looks smaller now.”He frowned. “You didn’t ask me to come here for jokes.”“No,” I agreed. “I asked you here for an opportunity.”He said nothing at first, he just waited.So I poured us both a drink and let the moment stretch.“You’ve seen Kraven, haven’t you?”He nodded once.“And?”“He’s recovering.”“Physically, maybe,” I said. “But a man doesn’t walk away from a
Kraven’s POVAs Mia was still talking. I could see her lips moving and also heard the words. But for some reason, they didn’t register. Not all at once. And I had my eyes fixed on her to know exactly what she wanted to say, even before then I felt something was off."And after you were stabilized, they looked deeper into the damage. The area around your scrotum—"My stomach tightened and I flinched.Damn it. I didn’t even realize I did that until I saw the pause in her eyes.I clenched my jaw, forced my face blank. If there was ever a time to pretend it didn’t sting like hell, this was it.“There was more,” she said.I already knew. I saw it in her face before she even continued."What more?" I asked, trying so hard to maintain my voice to be even.“They found trauma to the testicles. More like, an internal damage.”I blinked slowly. My body didn’t move, but I felt like I’d been slammed against a couch.“What kind of damage?”Her voice was a breath, barely even that. "Enough... that t
Mia’s POVComing back to the house after three weeks in that hospital felt somewhat unreal. Like time had been paused for too long and now someone hit play without warning.Kraven stepped inside first, slowly and carefully. Like he wasn’t sure his legs trusted the ground yet. I watched him drop onto the edge of the couch, shoulders loose, but his jaw still locked like he was holding something in.I was holding everything in all the while.I stood by the door for a moment, with my hand still on the knob. Not ready to face what came next.After a little while, I let the door click shut behind us, and I swear, I finally exhaled.At least, Kraven and I are home now.He dropped onto the couch like his body was still trying to remember what comfort felt like. His head fell back against the cushion, with his eyes closed, and just then a soft groan slipped out as he relaxed.I still stood by the door a second longer, my hand still on the handle. I don’t even know why. But a greater part of me