Arturo's POV
I heard Avery hiss in pain as he bent down to pick up the glass pieces. I crouch down beside him and saw that his finger was cut.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Y-yeah. It's just a small cut." He said before looking down and seeing that his finger was bleeding.
That is when he suddenly fainted. I quickly caught him in my arms, preventing him from falling to the floor. I'm guessing he's scared of blood. I stood up with him in my arms and went inside the house. I gently placed him on the couch, making sure that he won't fall off before going back outside to fetch my first aid kit.
I went back inside with the kit and tended his wound. There was no visible glass shard on the wound so I'm guessing it won't need anything major since the cut was not that deep either. I wrapped a band-aid around his finger before placing his hand on his chest. I look up to see his face was quite pale. I sat on the edge of the couch as I observe his face. He looked so sweet and innocent. I brought my hand up to his face, caressing his cheek with my thumb.
His skin felt really soft under my finger. He looked like a sweet innocent angel. A face I rarely come across. His eyelids slowly start to open so I pulled my hand away and stood up from the couch. Avery woke up and I helped him sit up on the couch.
"Did I faint?" He asked as his eyes adjust to the light.
"Yeah. Were you scared of blood?" I ask.
"Yeah. Sorry about that." He apologized.
"No worries. I'll help you clean up the glass." I told him and he nodded in response.
I went back outside and cleaned up the glass that shattered on the floor. I felt someone looking at me so I look up to see Avery watching me from the window. His face turned red as soon as our eyes met and he quickly averted his gaze. I chuckle at his actions as I stand up and throw the glass into the garbage. I go over to my work bag and picked up an extra shirt before putting it on. As I was cleaning up my tools I hear Avery come up behind me.
"Thanks for this, by the way." He said as he holds up his wounded finger.
"You're welcome," I said as I sling my bag over my shoulder. "I should get going for now. I'll message you when we can start looking for plants to add to your garden. For now, try to keep what's left alive." I teased.
Avery rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yep, I'll try my best to keep them alive. I'll see you then."
"Yeah, I'll see you," I said before waving goodbye and going back to my truck.
I start the car and left the driveway. I was looking forward to seeing him again. Something about him draws me. His face hasn't left my mind since we first met. I just want to hold him in my arms and never let him go.
I soon reached my home, and I parked my truck alongside the cars parked in front. One of my men greeted me as soon as I got out of the car.
"For the love of god, please park your ugly ass truck somewhere else. It stands the fuck out in between these wonderful, high-class, sleek sports cars." Leo complained as I walk with him inside the mansion.
"No. I like ruining your day." I said before patting his back.
Leo rolls his eyes before parting ways with me. Tiago then approaches me with a folder in his hand and instantly grimaced at the sight of me.
"You know what. Take a shower first. You look and smell... not nice." He said.
I rolled my eyes and slung my arm around his shoulders and he desperately tried to get away from me.
"Just say what you have to say right now. And I smell good, btw. My sweat smells good." I told him as I pull him closer to me.
"Ugh, fine. Oscar the Grouch." He said before handing me the folder. "These are the shipment coming in for tomorrow. We're expecting twenty million worth of cocaine. No more no less."
I unwrapped my arm around his shoulder as I open the folder to review the details of the shipment. "It's from Sero? Well, we don't need to worry too much then."
"Nah, now is not a good time. He's having wifey troubles so we can't be lenient." He replied.
I let out a sigh and handed him back the folder. "Fine, I'll oversee it."
"So..." He dragged out.
"So what?" I ask.
"You look chipper today. You saw him again?" He teased and I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, I saw him." I tried to keep my face straight, but a smile crept onto my face.
"Careful about that Arturo. He's just a kid." He said, his tone suddenly serious.
I sighed, knowing that he was right. I can't drag him into this life. For fuck's sake the kid could barely keep the plants alive and he faints at the sight of blood. I just need not be too involved in his life. I need to keep my distance.
"I know that. I just couldn't get him out of my head." I said, shaking my head.
"Just make sure he's not going to get involved in all of this. He seems like a good kid. I stalked him yesterday." He says somewhat proudly, making my head snap towards him.
"Why the fuck would you stalk the kid?" I asked.
"What? You seem so sulky these past few weeks you haven't seen him so I got curious. He's cute, by the way. Might snag him if you won't." He teased.
"Haha so funny. Go back to work before I hit your head."
"Yes, boss." He said with a mock salute.
I roll my eyes and made my way upstairs to my room when I received a text from Avery.
Hey. I'm sorry to inform you so late. I'm only available for tomorrow. I'll be too busy with work for the next few weeks since my workmate went on vacation leave. I'm afraid if I wait too long before replanting, the garden will be back the way it was before.
I let out a sigh after reading the text. I guess the shipment overseeing can be passed to someone else. I'd rather see Avery.
Avery's POVIt's the day when Arturo and I are about to go pick up some plants for the garden. He said he'll pick me up so now I'm waiting anxiously on my front porch. I took my phone out of my pocket and checked to see if Arturo sent me a message. A while later, his truck pulled up the driveway. He rolled his window down and waved for me to come over. I walk to his truck and got inside the passenger's seat."Any particular plant you want for your garden?" He asked as he drives off."Tulips. They're my favorite, and so was my mother." I replied and he gave a soft smile."We could work on that. Anything else?" He asked and I just shrug.In all honesty, I didn't know much about plants. All I know was that I wanted tulips. They're the only flowers I can take care of. We soon reached the plat nursery and flower shop and we both got off the truck. Arturo led me inside and pointed out all the different kinds of plants. I was fixated on how Arturo was knowledgeable about all the different k
Arturo's POVAs I was driving my way back to the mansion, my phone suddenly rang. I pulled it out from my pocket and saw Avery's name in the caller I.D. I immediately answered the call and brought my phone up to my ear."Hello, missed me already?" I teased through the phone."Arturo, the guy from earlier is in front of my house." He whispered. "I'm coming back," I replied, immediately taking a U-turn. "Don't drop the call.""Okay." He replied.I pushed down on the gas pedal, speeding over the limit, but I didn't care. It didn't take long before I reached Avery's house and saw Christopher standing in front of Avery. I got out of the truck and walked over to Christopher. He turned around and his face quickly fell upon seeing me."Hey, Arturo. I was just checking on your boy." He greeted.I dropped my hand on his shoulder, giving it a hard squeeze. His face grimaced in pain, but he quickly tried to hide it."Why are you really here?" I asked."I was just wondering what got your attentio
Avery's POVArturo agreed to stay the night. He offered to sleep on the couch but it was honestly too small for him. I insisted that I would sleep on the couch instead and he could take the bedroom, but he refused. There was only one bedroom available since I've used the other room for storing my mother's things that I haven't organized until now. We decided to just sleep on the living room floor together so I laid down a thick comforter on the floor along with some pillows.Both Arturo and I laid down on the floor after I turned off the lights. There was a good amount of space between us, but part of me wants to move closer to him. "Goodnight." He said."Goodnight," I replied, before closing my eyes....The next day came and I woke up alone in the living room. I stood up from the floor and tried looking for Arturo in the house and even in the backyard, but didn't find him there. I stopped in my tracks when I saw the garden. It looked absolutely beautiful with a variety of flowers a
I sped through the streets as quickly as I can, I needed to get out of there. I'm hoping no one saw me or recognized my face. Fear cropped throughout my body at the image of Arturo killing a man. Maybe that's why he left so suddenly. It scared me how much I don't know about him.I finally reached home and I dragged my bike to the backyard. I went inside and locked all the doors and windows in paranoia. I checked my phone to see if anyone contacted me and sighed in relief when I saw no notifications. I don't know how to cope with what I've seen today, I could only wish to forget it. That memory is something I do not wish to be stuck in my head....It has been a few weeks since I last saw Arturo and the incident. I've woken up a few times in the middle of the night because of the nightmares. Even at work, I would flinch at sudden sounds. Elisse noticed this, but I had to keep to myself what was bothering me. The garden was even back to square one. I was too scared to be out and alone i
The rest of the car ride was way too silent. It was mostly because I didn't want to talk to anyone. "Do you want to take a nap? We might take a while." Arturo asked but I shook my head."I'm fine," I replied.Arturo seemed hesitant to accept that answer but nodded anyway. The window tint suddenly turned dark and we could barely see the outside."What happened to the windows?" I asked."We just blocked it out," Arturo replied."Why?" I asked, but Arturo just shrugged. I sighed and decided to just let it go. Suddenly, a yawn escaped my lips. Arturo chuckled as my face turned a light shade of pink. He didn't say anything as he tapped his shoulder, offering it for me lay down on. I didn't fuss as I lay my head against his shoulder. Arturo put his arm across my torso, resting his hand on my thigh so I used his arm as a pillow as I close my eyes. I could hear some of the men faintly coo, but I tried my best to ignore it. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep. The next thing I know, I
"Arturo," I called out to him as we walk to his office."What is it?" He asked."How long do I have to stay here?" I asked."I don't think I can give you a definite answer," he said as he opened the door to his office.I was surprised by the sheer size of it. It was almost as big as my home. The walls were covered with shelves filled with hundreds of books. There was a large desk in the middle and a leather chair. There were two leather seats in front of it and there were two leather couches on either side of the entrance.Arturo closed the door behind me as I got inside. He took a seat on one of the leather chairs and asked me to sit in front of him. I did as I was asked and sat in front of him. "What you saw last night and that day, I need you to tell no one," He said in a low tone.My eyes snapped to him in shock."I knew you saw that, but no one can know that you did or else you'll be in even more danger than you already are," He said, but there was no threat in his voice. He sai
I ended up spending the rest of the day putting away all the things that Arturo bought in the closet and the bathroom. I had to force him to give the other ones away to his staff or anyone but me. Nobody needs this copious amount of clothes, shoes, and perfumes. Although I was glad that I did not have to pay for all of it, I still feel guilty being spent so much money on, for no reason. I lay on my bed, tired from all the packing up then Arturo laid down beside me and slipped his arm under my neck."Why did you buy me all of this stuff?" I asked as I turned my head to face him."I don't know," he mumbled."Will you tell me what your job is?" I asked."I can't tell you that. I'm sorry," he replied."Is it illegal?" I asked.Arturo paused for a moment, not sure whether to answer me or not. I turned my head to face the ceiling, taking his silence as a yes. We lay there for a moment, not talking, just enjoying being beside each other. Arturo sat up and looked at his phone before turning t
Arturo's POVAvery was quietly eating dinner as I sat beside him. He tried to feed me a couple of times but I didn't have the appetite so I let him have all the food. Avery was lost in his own world as he eats. I'm guessing the food is really good. I reached out to his face and wiped the sauce off of the side of his lips. His face flushed pink as he shoved a bunch of food into his mouth and I couldn't help but chuckle at him. I was suddenly reminded of how young and naive he is. My existence in his life suddenly flipped his world upside down simply because I chose to be selfish. I brought the tray back down to the kitchen before going back to Avery.He was sitting on the edge of the bed, browsing through movies on the TV. I sat beside him and he laid his head against my shoulder. He chose a horror movie before scooting back on the bed until his back reached the headboard. I followed beside him after taking off my shoes."I'll be taking advantage of your Netflix while I'm here," he sa