Avery's POV"I'm so sorry for burning your house. It had to be done. I wouldn't do it if there was another way," Leo said."You're my brother," I said through the tears flowing down my face. "Yeah, I am," Leo replied with joy evident in his tone as he wrapped his arms around me. It still hurt that everything that I had was taken away from me, but knowing that Leo is my brother and that I still have someone other than myself, made me feel better. Leo rubbed my back as I cried on his chest. I can't believe that I truly have a brother. Leo pulled away and took my hand as he led me to the bed. We sat beside each other as he wiped the tears off of my face."Arturo said we might be half brothers," I said."Yes, we might be. We can't really know since mom is gone," Leo chuckled humorlessly."What does it mean for me?" I asked."I don't know. All you need to know for now is that I'll protect you no matter what," Leo said before placing a kiss on my forehead. "Dinner is about to start. If yo
I woke up the next day with Arturo nowhere to be found when Leo came into my room to bring me some breakfast. We ate on the couch like the night before and the memories of what happened last night entered my mind and I almost choked on the pancakes I was eating. "Are you okay?" Leo asked as he handed me a glass of water."Y-yeah," I mumbled before taking a sip of water. "Where's Arturo?" I asked."Just out for work. He'll be back soon," Leo replied. "What do you want to do for your birthday tomorrow?" Leo suddenly asked.I whipped my head toward him, looking confused. "How did you know my birthday?" I asked."We did a background check on you," he casually said."Do you do that to everyone who stays here?" I asked."Yep," Leo replied.That makes sense, I guess."So what do you want to do?" Leo asked before shoving a spoonful of pancakes in his mouth."A carnival," I said.Leo looked at me for a moment before nodding. "Have never been to one before?" he asked."No. Mom didn't allow me
"Happy birthday, baby," Arturo whispered in my ear as I woke up."Thank you," I said before pulling him into a kiss. Arturo chuckled against my lips before kissing me back. I pushed him on his back and straddled him as we kiss. I slipped my hand under his waistband but he grabbed my hand, stopping me from making any further move. I pulled away from the kiss, pouting at Arturo, making him chuckle. "We need to take a shower first. It's already twelve in the afternoon. We have to get ready if you still want to go to the carnival," Arturo said.I sighed and got off the bed and went inside the bathroom. Arturo followed behind me and helped me undress. I tried covering myself, still feeling shy despite Arturo already touching me more than once. Arturo start to undress in front of me and I quickly turned away, not trusting myself to react calmly after seeing him naked. I stepped into the shower and Arturo stepped in behind me.Arturo grabbed some soap and started washing me all over my bod
Arturo's POVIt's been fifteen minutes and the two still haven't come back from the restroom and I was starting to get worried. I got out of the car and ran to the restroom area to look for them, but I was immediately met with a large crowd gathering by the restroom. I pushed through the people blocking the way to the restroom and found Leo laying on the ground with the paramedics tending to him. I cursed under my breath and immediately ran to his side.His face was beaten black and blue and he looks like he was barely breathing. The paramedics asked me to stand aside as they lifted Leo into a stretcher. I tried looking around for Avery as I followed Leo as he was being carried to the ambulance, but couldn't spot him. My heart dropped as soon as I realized that something may have happened to Avery and I couldn't get ay answers until Leo woke up."Sir, we're sorry, but you can't get in the ambulance with us," one of the paramedics said."Was he alone when you found him? Was someone els
Avery's POV The sound of the door opening awoke me from my sleep. I was about to get up, but memories flashed of what happened earlier so I kept my eyes closed and laid still. I felt the bed dip beside me and my heart felt like it was going to burst from beating so hard out of fear. "I know you're awake," a deep voice said behind me. I still didn't move, fearing that the man might do something to me as soon as I opened my eyes. "Elio," he called out. My whole body tensed, hearing that name once again. My mother was the only person who called me that. She never told me why she called me that name. All this time, I just thought it was an endearment. "Ah, so she did call you that," the man chuckled. "Come on now, get up so we can talk," he said softly. I took a deep breath before opening my eyes. The sun had already risen and it was shining through the windows. I took a deep breath before slowly sitting up on the bed. I still didn't look at the man, I kept my back towards him.
"Why do you call me Elios?" I asked Lorenzo as it was the only two of us left at the dining table."That's what I wanted to name you back then," he said. "Come, I'll show you something," he said as he stood up from the chair.I didn't have any other choice but to follow him. We walked through the hallways until we reached the end where a large double door rested on the wall. He opened it to reveal a spacious office. The desk and bookshelves were made from dark wood and all the furniture had a leather finish. he asked me to sit in front of the desk so I reluctantly did as I watched him walk behind the desk. The painting behind lifted, revealing a small safe behind it.He opened the safe and grabbed a small box from inside before closing it. Lorenzo then walked in front of me before gently holding my right hand. He opened the box, revealing the same ring Leo and I found at my home. The thought of the home that I lived in for the majority of my life made my heart ache. It suddenly felt u
Arturo's POVIt's been two months since Avery was taken away from me. I could barely think straight without him here with me. They told me that he was doing okay and that he was being trained by Lorenzo. It also seemed that he had tight security around him and was never allowed to leave the property. Arturo knows he couldn't just come in and take Avery back. It would start a war between the two families and cause unnecessary bloodshed.Tiago has been handling most of the operations since then and Leo was affected as well, but he was handling this better than I am. I just wanted Avery back in my arms. There was not a day I didn't miss him. I tried coming up with a plan on getting him back, but since Lorenzo has already declared him as his heir, there wasn't a plan that wouldn't end up in bloodshed.I couldn't even contact him. I needed to hear his voice once again. I just want to be able to see him again. His scent was already gone and I couldn't sleep right. I've spent more of the d
It was the next day and true to his word, my father was nowhere to be found. I quickly went back to my room after breakfast after feeling the hostile environment of the people at the table. Milan followed behind me and went inside the room with me. As I was sitting on the bed, Milan handed me an old phone. It was one of those Nokias that would break the floor if you drop them."What's this for?" I asked Milan."Arturo," he simply said.I looked back on the screen and found Arturo's name in an ongoing call. I quickly brought the phone up to my ear. My heart is beating rapidly in my chest. It felt like it would break at any minute."Hey, Avery," Arturo's voice said through the call.Tears started to flow uncontrollably out of my eyes. "Arturo," I cried out."Hey, baby," he chuckled. Arturo tried calming me through the phone as I cried. I can't believe that I'm hearing his voice right now. After two months, I finally get to talk to him again."I'm so happy to hear your voice again, Ave