LOGINMichael’s POVI was beginning to think I had completely lost my mind.For what felt like the hundredth time in the last twenty minutes, I paced across my bedroom floor, stopped near the window, turned around, and started pacing again.My thoughts were a complete disaster, filled with thoughts of Fernando, and the deal tonight. I dragged a hand through my damp hair and groaned."What am I doing?"The empty room offered no answer.Usually, my bedroom was the one place where I could think clearly. Today, it felt like a prison because no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept returning to the same thing.The stupid agreement, ridiculously manipulative agreement.I stopped pacing and stared at my reflection in the mirror."He's crazy" I said.My reflection stared back, tired and frustrated.I folded my arms then immediately unfolded them again but nothing felt comfortable.I wanted Fernando gone. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. His presence had brought danger, chaos, argum
Theo's POVCarlos was still on the floor, clutching his injured arm while Roberto's men worked on stopping the bleeding.Everything about him irritated me but what irritated me most was the reason he was here.Fernando.Everything always came back to Fernando.Carlos sat against the wall looking pale, frightened, and considerably less arrogant than he had been a few minutes ago when he thought he was safe.Now there was a gun pointed at his head.And for the first time since I had met him, Carlos looked genuinely terrified."Theo..." Roberto said carefully.I didn't take my eyes off Carlos who swallowed visibly. His voice trembled slightly."You're not actually going to shoot me" he said.I smiled but it wasn't a pleasant one. It only made him look more afraid."Oh, I absolutely am considering it" I said.His face immediately lost what little color remained."That's insane."I laughed."Coming from Fernando's obsessive boyfriend?" I shot at him.Carlos looked offended, even now, with
Michael’s POVI had expected Fernando to refuse, I had expected him to be stubborn, what I hadn't expected was this.Fernando still held my wrist, refusing to let me leave. His dark eyes were fixed on mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten."Fernando, be reasonable," I said slowly, trying to remain calm."I am being reasonable" he argued. I let out a humorless laugh."No. You're not."I pulled against his grip but he didn't let go and that only irritated me more."You're acting like a child" I shot at him."And you're trying to send me away" he said."Because it's safer" I replied. "For who?" He asked.I sighed heavily."Everyone" I answered. Fernando's expression hardened immediately."You keep talking about everyone, but what about me?" His grip tightened slightly as he asked.I stared at him. For a brief moment, I saw something vulnerable behind his usual arrogance and it made my chest ache."Fernando..."He shook his head."No, you don't get to do that" he said."Do
Theo's POVThe gunshot still echoed through the house and for a few seconds after Roberto pulled the trigger, neither of us moved.The scream that followed was what finally snapped me out of my shock.Someone had definitely been hit."Shit," Roberto cursed, already moving toward the door.I was right behind him.My injuries protested immediately, sending pain through my side and leg, but I ignored it. Right now, I needed to know who had been outside my room.Roberto pulled open the door and the hallway lights illuminated a figure collapsed against the wall.There was blood everywhere and my eyes widened."What the hell?" I thundered. Roberto looked just as shocked as I felt because neither of us had expected to see the person lying there."Carlos?"The man groaned. His expensive designer jacket was stained red and one hand was clutching his upper arm where blood was steadily pouring through his fingers.His face was pale, his makeup was slightly smudged. Yet despite everything, he st
Fernando’s POVThe moment Nick walked out of the room, I felt two completely different emotions at the same time.Relief because Nick had finally left us alone. Fear because Michael had specifically asked for a private conversation.That was rarely a good sign, especially not after everything that had happened lately.I stood near the bed, watching as the door clicked shut behind Nick. The room immediately became quiet but Michael remained standing near the door, his arms were folded tightly across his chest.His expression was serious and somehow that worried me even more.Finally, I broke the silence."What is it?" I asked.Michael inhaled deeply then slowly released the breath. I immediately knew I wasn't going to like whatever came next."Fernando..."The sound of my name on his lips should have made me happy. Instead, it made my chest tighten.I forced myself to remain calm."What happened?"Michael looked down briefly before looking back at me."I've been thinking.....about us"
Theo’s POVThe security footage had become an obsession.Hell, if Michael ever found out, he would definitely know it too but that didn't stop me.I sat alone in my bedroom, laptop balanced on my legs as dozens of tiny camera feeds filled the screen.Most of them showed Michael's empty bedroom then I leaned forward and rubbed my tired eyes."Come on..."The timestamp crawled forward but there was, nothing, just an empty room.My jaw tightened.I hated not knowing what was happening. I hated being stuck here while Fernando was living under Michael's roof.The thought alone made my stomach twist.The nurse Roberto had hired had already gone downstairs for the evening, leaving me alone with my thoughts.I clicked through another camera angle but there was still nothing."Where are you, Michael?"I muttered the words under my breath then leaned back against the pillows.Maybe he was downstairs.Maybe he was talking to Fernando.Maybe—I immediately shut down that thought.No, Michael woul
Michael’s POV The wind was already hot when I stepped out of the cab, and it felt like summer had no intention of backing down anytime soon. I jogged the last few steps toward the front doors of Kafé Verse. Late again. I hated that. But I also knew trying to argue with the traffic would be like
Fernando’s POVThe bold red letters of the “CLOSED” sign glared at me through the glass of Kafé Verse’s front door, taunting me like a slap in the face. My heart slammed into my ribs as I stood frozen on the dark sidewalk, every breath turning ragged in my chest.No lights inside. No movement. The
Fernando’s POV The iron gates of my mansion swung open with a low groan, the convoy of black SUVs and my car rumbling up the driveway like a funeral procession. I could still hear Henry’s muffled sobs through the closed door of my car. Each cry was a needle under my skin.When the car rolled to a
Fernando’s POV I stood over the bodies all over the cracked concrete floor of the abandoned building, the stench of gunpowder still heavy in the air. I knelt beside Rachel as I watched as her breaths came in ragged, shallow gasps, each one a painful sound as blood poured from the wound in her sid







