Michael’s POVI stood in the kitchen, rolling my shoulders in exhaustion as I stirred the pot of sauce which was almost ready.The rich scent of garlic, tomatoes, and herbs filled my small kitchen, but it did little to soothe my frustration.I sighed, rubbing my temples as I leaned against the counter for a moment. Today was supposed to be my day to rest, a rare evening where I could unwind without dealing with anyone’s drama—especially Fernando’s.Yet, here I was, cooking dinner while he made himself comfortable in my home, completely ignoring the fact that I never invited him to stay.I shot a glare toward the living room, where I could hear him shifting around on my couch. His damn bodyguard was still here too, lurking silently like a shadow, as if they had officially moved in.I exhaled sharply and turned my focus back to the food. The pasta was nearly done, and the sauce just needed to thicken a bit more. I grabbed a spoon, taking a small taste. Almost perfect.Just as I reac
Fernando’s POVThe air inside the car was thick with tension, my fingers twitching against my thigh as I stared out the window. The city lights blurred past us, but my mind was stuck on one thing—Rodger’s voice over the phone.He had never sounded that agitated before.Rodger was a lot of things—reckless, ruthless, impatient—but he was never panicked. For him to sound that shaken, something had gone very, very wrong.I clenched my fists, jaw tightening as I replayed his words in my head."We were attacked. You need to get here now."I exhaled sharply through my nose, my patience wearing thin.I wanted answers. Now.I turned my head toward my driver, my bodyguard sitting stiffly in the front seat. “Faster,” I snapped, the irritation in my voice sharp as a blade.The driver hesitated, barely pressing down harder on the gas.Not enough.“I said—FASTER.”The car sped up as the driver obeyed, and I barely noticed Michael shifting beside me. I was too focused on the pounding in my head,
Michael’s POVFernando stood in front of his men, his posture rigid, his face cold as steel. The lights coming from inside his mansion cast harsh shadows over his sharp features, making him look even more formidable than usual.I stood a few steps behind him, watching in silence as he made the call. His voice was low and commanding, each word filled with quiet, dangerous authority.Everything was spiraling out of control and I couldn't do anything to stop it from all exploding in my face."Get everyone here. Now."Rodger stood beside him, arms crossed, his expression hard with anticipation. He said nothing, merely nodding in approval.One by one, Fernando’s men arrived, their heavy boots sounding against the ground as they assembled in the courtyard. They gathered in rows, standing at attention like a private army, eyes locked onto their leader.And their leader, Fernando, looked like a general preparing his soldiers for battle.Fernando took a step forward.The crowd of men went q
Michael’s POVI stormed into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands clenched into fists, my breath coming out in sharp, ragged bursts.This was insanity.A war against the FBI? Against the federal government?Fernando had lost his damn mind.I took off my jacket and threw it onto the bed. Every muscle in my body was filled with frustration. I wanted to scream, to punch something—anything—but I forced myself to stay calm.I needed to think.Moving quickly, I reached for my phone.Ashley.I needed to warn her.I needed to tell her everything.I dug through my pockets. Nothing.I searched the nightstand, throwing open drawers. Still nothing.“Where the hell is it?” I muttered under my breath, flipping the bed covers, checking every possible place I could’ve left it.Nothing.A sharp hit of panic shot through me.Had Fernando taken it?No. No, I had it earlier. I was sure of it.I took a deep breath and tried to focus.Ashley needed to know what was coming. If I could just
Fernando’s POVThe night was quiet.Too quiet.I leaned back in my seat, my fingers drumming lightly against my knee as I stared out the windshield. Across the street, under the dim glow of streetlights, an open-air restaurant was filled with life. People laughed, talked, ate, completely unaware of what was about to happen.My eyes weren’t on them, though.I was waiting.Beside me, Michael shifted in his seat. He’d been silent since we got here, but now, he finally spoke.“What are we doing here, Fernando?”His voice carried hesitation, laced with an edge of worry.He was being annoying again. I smirked. “Waiting.”Michael frowned. “Waiting for what?”I turned my head slightly, catching his expression. His brows were furrowed, his jaw tense. He already had a bad feeling.Good.It meant he knew me well enough to understand that I didn’t come here to play games.I exhaled slowly, enjoying the tension for a moment before answering.“I had my guy hack into the FBI’s internal phone sys
Fernando’s POVThe road stretched ahead, dark and empty.The only sound was the low hum of the engine as we followed the black van through the night. The lights from the van were bright and sharp, cutting through the darkness.I sat in the back seat, silent.Michael was beside me, arms crossed, deep in thought.Marlo was in the front passenger seat.For the past ten minutes, he had barely moved, staring out the window, his jaw tight. He wasn’t sulking—no, he wasn’t the type—but I knew he was holding back. Restraining himself.Smart choice.The last thing I needed right now was another argument.We drove in silence.Michael shifted beside me. His fingers tapped absently against his knee, his thoughts likely the same as mine.Then, I saw it.Up ahead, the road narrowed, leading into a more secluded area surrounded by trees.Perfect.I leaned forward slightly. “Stop the car.”My driver hesitated for half a second before obeying. The car gradually came to a stop.Michael turned to me,
Michael's POV I watched as Fernando stepped out of the car, his suit sleek despite the chaos that surrounded him. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the glint of satisfaction in his eyes as he moved toward the van. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t look back, didn’t say another word before climbing inside and slamming the door shut behind him.I felt my stomach twist.That only meant one thing—Fernando had no intention of bringing those men back alive.I clenched my jaw as I stared at the van, my mind racing. I should have known he had more in mind than just giving them a beating of a lifetime. I needed to stop this before it was too late. But my phone—damn it. I had misplaced it earlier, and I had no way to contact Ashley or my superiors.I turned my head slightly, scanning the car. That’s when I saw a way out.The driver’s phone was sitting on the center console, just barely in my reach.I exhaled slowly. If I was going to do this, I had to be careful.Marlo was sitting i
Fernando's POV I leaned back in my chair, one leg casually crossed over the other, my fingers tapping lightly against the armrest as I watched my men beat the hell out of the four FBI agents kneeling before me.Their faces were already swollen, blood dripping from their lips, their shirts soaked with sweat. I had to admit—I was enjoying the show.One of my men, Alejandro, delivered a particularly brutal punch to an agent’s stomach. The man fell down, coughing up blood onto the floor. Another agent let out a low, pained whimper as he was pulled back up by his collar, only to be struck again.Pathetic.I held up a hand, signaling my men to stop. Instantly, they stepped back, panting slightly from their work, but standing at attention, awaiting my next command.The agents gasped for air, their heads hanging low. One of them spat blood onto the ground, barely missing my shoe.I smirked. "You should be grateful. Most men don’t live long enough to hear me tell a story."They didn’t resp
Michael’s POVThe night air had become dense, pressing down on my chest like a weight, but it wasn’t the cold that had my skin crawling. The very sight of Lucas shifted the balance. It was clear that he was here to add another layer of pressure, and when I felt Ashley stiffen beside me, I knew that this changed everything.Andrew’s gaze moved over to Lucas, and for the briefest moment, I see something like frustration flash across his face. But then, like a predator circling its prey, his lips curled into a slow, sinister smile. "Ah, so now we are of equal standing. How cute," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. He took a slow step forward, his gun still raised at me, and I could see his finger twitch on the trigger, eager for something, anything, to break the silence.I felt my muscles tighten, but I didn’t flinch. There was something about Andrew’s tone, something about it that almost made me laugh. Almost.But before I could say anything, Marlo cut in, his voice sh
Michael’s POVI glanced sideways at Ashley and Marlo, their hands steady on their weapons, having the same tension I felt."Michael," Damian began, his voice smooth, almost too calm for the situation, "You and your friends—you're done. This is over. You’ve got nowhere to run. The FBI will have you soon enough. You can’t keep fighting forever. Just give up." He lowered his voice slightly, as if he trying to lull us into submission. "It’s not worth it."I couldn’t help but laugh, a cold, humorless sound that echoed through the compound. "Is that really your big plan, Damian? You think I'm going to just roll over because you say so?" I took a step forward, making sure my gun stayed steady in my hands. "You’ve clearly forgotten who you’re dealing with."Damian’s lips curled into a smirk. "I haven’t forgotten a damn thing, Michael. I just think you’re too stubborn for your own good. You’ve lost. You’re outgunned, outmanned, and you’re running out of time. There’s no escape. Just hand you
Michael’s POVI got close enough to Damian and looked in disgust at the smile he had fixed on his face the moment he saw me."I'm here. Say what you want but after that, you're leaving" I said with a stern voice."I knew you would come out of hiding the moment you heard me call out to you" Damian attempted to come closer to me but I stepped back."You wouldn't want to do that, that's if you don't mind being shot" I said, my eyes narrowed. "It was stupid of you to have come out here.""I could say the same thing about you."Andrew swiftly came out of the shadows and the barrel of his gun pressed against my forehead like a cold whisper of death.He had moved so fast through the trees, making good use of the darkness to get close to me.The forest behind him seemed to go quiet in respect, like even nature didn’t want to interrupt this moment.But I knew his men were there, waiting. I didn't flinch. I didn’t move. I just stared at him.His eyes, sharp and gleaming with victory, drank in
Michael’s POVFernando looked like a corpse.I never thought I would feel anything for him beyond disgust, fury, and that burning ache for revenge—but now, watching him lie unconscious in this dimly lit room, something twisted inside my chest. It wasn’t forgiveness. It wasn’t pity. It was something uglier. More complicated.His chest barely rose beneath the sheet, his breathing shallow, mechanical, like his body had forgotten how to be alive.He was pale—unnaturally pale—like life had already started abandoning him.And still, I couldn’t let go of his hand.It was cold. Damp. Fragile. I remembered this same hand raised in arrogance, in violence, clenched into a fist as he spat cruel words at me. That same hand had pointed guns, killed people, and built the chaos we were drowning in.But right now, it wasn’t the hand of a monster. It was the hand of a dying man.I hated him. God, I hated him. But I didn’t want him to die like this.“You care about him now?” My unconscious mind asked
Andrew’s POV Night had wrapped itself like a shroud over the woods, casting eerie shadows between the tall trees. The air was filled with anticipation, thick and unmoving, as if nature itself was holding its breath. I could hear the loud sounds of Crickets chipping in the distance, an odd contrast to the tension that vibrated through my bones. The occasional rustle of leaves teased our ears snd made our minds work like machines as vsrious questions appeared on our heads.Was it the wind or movement? Every sound could be a threat. Every second, a reminder that time was slipping.We lay in silence, our bodies half-buried in the brush, our eyes fixed on the mansion positioned at the edge of the clearing. The looming building glared back at us like a fortress, its windows glowing faintly from within. Inside, Michael and his loyal few were holed up like cornered wolves, desperate and dangerous.Patience, I reminded myself. The moment we attacked would be the moment they expected us
Michael’s POV The smell of onions cooking in olive oil wrapped around me like a warm blanket. For a moment, just a brief moment, I let myself forget where we were, what was happening, and how much blood had already been spilled. The sound of the kitchen door opening pulled me out of my trance. Ashley leaned against the doorway, her arms folded. “Smells good,” she said, her voice soft but obvious with exhaustion. I glanced up, half-smiling as I stirred. “Figured it was time we ate something that didn’t taste like cardboard or fear.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is that what this is? A morale boost?” “Something like that,” I murmured. Ashley stepped in, rubbing the tension from the back of her neck as Mortis and Emilio followed behind her, dragging their tired bodies like the war had already been lost. Emilio sniffed the air and grinned. “Damn. Didn’t know you could cook.” I set the bowls on the table. “Survival skills.” Mortis slumped into a chair with a
Ashley's POV The wind carried a damp, earthy scent through the cracks in the battered front door as we pressed ourselves against it, trying to catch a glimpse through the narrow hole in the wood. I could barely see much — just the faint shimmer of light bouncing off someone's gun, the shape of bodies lurking in the scattered woods surrounding the old mansion. It felt too quiet, like the world itself was holding its breath.I exchanged a glance with Mortis, then Emilio. Marlo’s jaw was tight, his dark eyes focused on the woods as though sheer force of will alone could make our enemies appear.“It’s been fifteen minutes,” Mortis muttered, lowering his gun just an inch. “I think we’re in the clear. Maybe they gave up.”“Yeah,” Emilio chimed in. “Or maybe they’re regrouping. Either way, it’s gone quiet.”I let out a humorless laugh. “You think Andrew is the type to give up? He’s out there, watching. Waiting for us to screw up. That’s his favorite game.”Both Mortis and Emilio shot me
Andrew’s POVThe cold English air brushed against my skin as I tilted my head up to the second-story window. A dark smile went across my lips as I waited, watched to see that traitor's face.A second ago, Michael’s face had been there—staring down at me with that same infuriating calm he had always worn when things were going out of his control. And now… nothing.Good.Let him hide. Let them all scramble like rats in a sinking ship.This was my time to bring my enemies to their knees and I wasn’t going to stop until I have achieved my goal.I stepped back, scanning the old mansion ahead of us. The old Ramirez estate was barely holding itself together — cracked window glass, vine plants all over the walls, a run down compound that made it feel just like a building in a horror movie. A perfect hideout for cowards.I turned to my men, most of them hidden behind trees and old stone fences, their fingers twitching near their triggers. I didn’t have enough men for a full frontal attack.
Michael’s POVThe weight of Anabelle in my arms was heavier than it should have been. Not because she was heavy, she really wasn’t, but because every step I took felt like I was carrying the weight of everything I had been trying to beat. The past, the lies, the blood, the betrayals.Gunshots echoed outside like a twisted symphony, but I forced myself to focus.Her blood stained my shirt, the warm, sticky sensation reminding me she didn’t have much time if we didn’t act fast. And yet, even now, she was stubborn as hell.“You’ve been lying this whole damn time,” Anabelle said, her voice a weak but fierce whisper against my ear as I carried her up the stairs. “I knew it. I always knew there was something about you, Michael. And now, I’ll make sure Fernando knows the truth when he wakes up.”"That’s if you're still alive by then because I you keep talking, you're going to loose more blood" I said to shut her up but my plan didn't work."Don't you dare talk about me dying" she said ang