Michael’s POVThe warm glow of the restaurant’s dim lights welcomed me as I stepped inside, the scent of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. It wasn’t a fancy place—not the kind Fernando and his people would ever set foot in—but it was cozy, intimate, and, most importantly, a safe space.Or at least, it was supposed to be.For a moment, an unexplainable sense of unease settled over me, prickling at the back of my neck like the whisper of a ghost.It was the kind of instinct I had learned never to ignore.I hesitated just past the entrance, my pulse quickening.Someone was watching me.The certainty of it struck me like ice down my spine.I swallowed hard and turned sharply, my eyes moving all over the restaurant. My heart pounded as I scanned the room—casual diners, a waitress balancing a tray of drinks, an old man reading a newspaper in the corner.Nothing out of the ordinary."Get it together, Michael."I exhaled slowly, forcing m
Fernando’s POVMichael looked at me like I had shattered his entire world. His wide eyes, the sharp hitch of his breath, the way his body stiffened—all of it sent a thrill down my spine. Beautiful. The disbelief painted across his face, the sheer helplessness in his gaze, made my blood run hot.It was a rare sight, watching someone as careful as Michael unravel, and I drank in every second of it.Slowly, I let my lips curve into a smirk, my amusement barely concealed."Mind if I join you?" I had said, fully aware of the chaos my presence had just introduced.Michael still hadn’t answered. His throat bobbed slightly, his lips parting, but no words came. His silence only made me want to tease him more.The man sitting across from him, the one Michael had come to meet, looked between us with mild curiosity. "A friend of yours?" I heard him ask.He was good-looking, I supposed, in a clean-cut, boy-next-door way—charming, but utterly unremarkable.I wanted to laugh at the sheer audacit
Michael’s POVI should have known better than to expect a normal night.For once, I had wanted something simple. A quiet evening, a decent conversation, and the fleeting illusion of normalcy. But of course, that wasn’t something I was allowed to have. Not when Fernando was involved.The moment I had seen him standing by the table, his expression full of smug amusement, I knew my night was over.I gritted my teeth, keeping my expression carefully neutral even as anger churned inside me. My fingers clenched into fists under the table, nails digging into my palms. How did he even know I was here?A cold, unsettling thought settled into my mind. Is he spying on me?The idea made my stomach twist. I had been careful—very careful. I hadn’t told anyone about this dinner, hadn’t even mentioned Ethan’s name to Fernando. And yet, here he was, barging in like he owned the place, like he owned me.Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers lightly drumming against the table. I cou
Fernando’s POVI followed Michael toward the restroom, watching the tension in his shoulders, the way his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides like he was barely holding himself together.It excited me.I had always liked seeing him like this—angry, frustrated, barely keeping control. He was trying so hard to act like he had the upper hand, like he wasn’t affected, but I could feel the energy radiating off him.And I loved it.I leaned in slightly, just enough to see the way his jaw tightened as we reached the restroom door. He pushed it open, but just as we were about to step inside, some random man moved toward the entrance, clearly intending to go in as well.Michael turned to him, forcing a polite smile.“Hey,” he said, his voice calm despite the storm I knew was building inside him. “Would you mind giving us a minute? We need to have a private conversation.”The man raised an eyebrow, his face immediately twisting in irritation. “A private conversation? In the restroom?”
Micheal's POV I slammed my phone down on the nightstand, my fingers gripping the edges of the cheap plastic case so tightly that I thought I might snap it in half. Ethan wasn’t answering my calls. Again.I had tried six times already since this morning, and each time, the call had gone straight to voicemail. No ringing. No chance to hear his voice. Just a cold, automated message reminding me that he didn’t want to talk to me.I couldn’t even blame him.Yesterday had been a disaster.My date with Ethan—the one I had actually been excited about—had been completely destroyed the moment Fernando showed up. He had walked into that restaurant with his smug, self-satisfied grin, and in a matter of minutes, he had shattered any chance I had of a normal evening.Ethan had left. Marlo didn’t care. And me? I had been dragged right back into Fernando’s web.And now, here I was, stuck in Fernando’s mansion, getting ready for a trip I hadn’t even wanted to take.I rubbed my temples, my anger sim
Fernando’s POV London greeted us with its familiar mix of damp air and city lights as we stepped out of the private car. But none of that mattered.Because this hotel?This was mine.The Lancaster Royale, a crown jewel of my family’s empire, stood tall and proud in the heart of Mayfair. A grand, majestic building was known all around Europe and one could only get in through an invitation only meant for the elite.As I stepped onto the lobby, the staff moved with swift precision, their eyes widening for a brief second before their expressions melted into deep respect."Mr. Ramirez," the concierge greeted, bowing his head slightly. "It’s an honor to have you with us.""Of course it is," I said smoothly, a smirk tugging at my lips.Beside me, Michael looked utterly stunned.His eyes were wide as he took in the intricate chandelier above us, the marble floors polished to shine, and the sheer grandness of the place.I could see the way his fingers twitched slightly, as if resisting the
Michael’s POVSitting on his lap felt like a mistake.The moment my body settled against his, a deep wave of disgust went through me. I could feel him—all of him.His muscular thighs beneath me, solid and unyielding, radiated warmth through the expensive fabric of his tailored pants. I had expected them to be firm, but not like this. Not this hard. Not this strong.I tried to shift, to put some distance between us, but his hands were already at my waist, holding me in place with an effortless grip. Not forceful. Not yet. But firm enough to remind me that he was in control.I stiffened, willing myself to ignore the way my body reacted, but the memories came rushing in before I could stop them.The last time we were alone…The image of Fernando, bare and unapologetic in his nakedness, flashed in my mind. And now, with his warmth pressing into me, I hated that I remembered. Fernando must have felt the tension rolling off me, because his grip on my waist tightened ever so slightly. T
Fernando’s POVI felt it before I processed it—the light pressure of his teeth sinking softly into my skin.A bite.Not deep enough to hurt, not playful enough to be meaningless.Michael’s mouth lingered against my neck for a second too long before he pulled back, his breath hot against my skin.I exhaled slowly, feeling something in my chest.Surprise.Curiosity.A slow smirk curled at my lips. “Now, that’s interesting.”Michael didn’t respond. He didn’t move either, still close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.“What was that?” I asked, my voice low, teasing, but still filled with command.Michael swallowed.“Nothing.”I hummed, my fingers idly tapping against the armrest of the chair. “Are you sure?”He nodded stiffly, but I wasn’t convinced.He wasn’t fine.I could see it in the way his shoulders tensed, the way his gaze flickered away from me as if searching for an escape.He was trying to hide something.And I hated when people hid things from me.I re
Fernando’s POVThe air in the meeting room was thick with cigar smoke and tension. Rodger Holt sat to my left, his usual cocky smirk absent for once and his cold blue eyes scanned the room with distrust. Across from him, Nikolai Petrov leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. Santiago, always the most calm, adjusted his pristine cuffs, his expression unreadable beneath the dim chandelier light.I sat at the head of the table, fingers drumming against the polished surface, taking in the power dynamics before me. These were men who would slit a throat over a bad deal, men who did not fear death. But today, I needed them to fear me.I exhaled slowly and leaned forward.“We have a problem,” I began, my voice calm but filled with anger.Rodger raised an eyebrow. “What kind of problem?”I scanned the room, making sure every single one of them was paying attention.“The kind that could have turned into a war.”A flicker of interest passed over Nikolai’s face, but he said n
Michael’s POVDarkness.It stretched around me, thick and suffocating, pressing in from all sides. My breath came in short, shallow gasps as I reached out, searching for something, anything, to ground me. The ground beneath my feet felt solid, but the air was cold, unnatural, as if I were standing in a place that didn’t belong to the living.My fingers twitched. Where the hell was I?I turned slowly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. There were no walls, no ceiling, just an endless void stretching in every direction. The silence was deafening, filling my ears with an eerie hum. My heart pounded.Then, I heard it.Footsteps.Soft, deliberate, approaching from the darkness. I reached for my gun, but I wasn’t carrying one. My fingers curled into a useless fist.And then—I saw her.My breath caught in my throat.“No…”She stepped forward, emerging from the dark like a ghost, her legs barely touching the ground. Her hair was exactly as I remembered—long, dark waves falling pa
Fernando’s POV The night was thick with the scent of gunpowder as bullets ripped through the air, each one carrying the intent to kill. I bent behind the overturned car, gripping my gun so tightly my knuckles turned white. Marlo was beside me, reloading his weapon with the efficiency of a man who had danced with death too many times before. My men were scattered, ducking behind whatever cover they could find, exchanging gunfire with the bastards who dared to ambush us.I was filled with so much rage.My patience was at its breaking point, my fury barely contained beneath the surface. Michael was still missing, and now we had these worthless pieces of trash trying to gun us down. I clenched my jaw. Someone was playing games with me, and I wasn’t in the mood for amusement.A bullet bounced off the hood of the car, sending sparks into the air. Marlo cursed under his breath.“This isn’t working,” Marlo muttered. “They have us pinned. Every time we move, they push harder. We need a
Micheal's POV The second Ashley stepped out of the conference room, I knew this was my only chance.I didn’t hesitate.I exhaled slowly, my mind sharpening, my heartbeat steadying as I made my way toward the door.It was now or never and I needed to move quickly before I told myself this was a bad idea.I knew the layout of the building better than anyone. I had been here long enough to memorize every hallway, every security checkpoint, and every possible exit route.Getting out of here wouldn’t be easy, but it was possible.And I was about to prove it.I pressed my back against the cold wall, my breath slow and controlled. No need for unusual breathing which could call attention to my presence. The hallway was dimly lit, the fluorescent lights flickering slightly overhead. The FBI headquarters was quiet at this hour—most of the agents had gone home, and the ones still around were locked in their offices, finishing up reports or making calls.That worked in my favor.I kept my ste
Fernando’s POV I gritted my teeth as I stepped out of the black car and onto the empty street, the city lights casting making the road look less lonely than it already was.It had been hours. Hours. And still, there was no sign of Michael.Where the fuck was he?I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as I turned to Marlo, who stood beside me, his face unreadable. The men behind us—six of them, armed and ready—waited silently for my next move. They knew better than to question me when I was in this state.We had searched everywhere.We had checked every lead, questioned every contact, and still—nothing.My patience was wearing thin.No, fuck that, my patience was gone.I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure, but the rage inside me was boiling over.Michael had been taken.And I had failed to protect him.That thought alone made my blood burn.I turned around and started walking again, my mind racing with possibilities. Who would have the guts to kidnap him? Who would dar
Michael's POV I paced the around the conference room like a caged animal, my hands clenched into fists so tight my nails dug into my palms. I was pissed.My entire body was vibrating with frustration, a storm brewing inside me that I had no way to unleash.This couldn’t be happening.They had removed me from the case.They had stripped me of my mission, my only chance at justice.For what?Because they thought I was too involved?Because they thought it was too dangerous?A bitter laugh escaped me, and I ran both hands through my hair, gripping it at the roots.Fernando Ramirez killed my sister.And now they expected me to just… let it go?No.I wouldn’t.I couldn’t.They had taken me off the case, but my evidence, my work, was still here, as if mocking me.The walls felt like they were closing in on me.I needed to do something.I needed to act.But what?What could I do when the very people who were supposed to help me were now standing in my way?The door creaked open.I turned s
Fernando’s POV My entire body was burning with raw fury, every muscle wound tight, my teeth grinding together so hard it hurt. I was raging. Who.Who would dare?Who would have the guts to take Michael from me?My vision was blurred with rage, my mind moving through every possible enemy I had—every rival, every snake who had ever crossed my path. But none of them would be this bold. None of them would be this stupid.Michael was mine.I had made it clear to everyone in my organization that he was under my protection. That if anyone so much as looked at him the wrong way, they would answer to me.And now he was gone.Vanished.Taken.My driver slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, the tires screeching as we turned onto the road leading to my mansion. I barely registered the guards opening the gates as my car drove through, my mind fixated on one thing—Michael’s disappearance and the incompetence of the fools who had let it happen.The moment I stepped out of the car, Marlo was th
Michael's POV Who the hell were these guys?Kidnappers?But not just any kidnappers. These weren’t some random thugs off the street. The way they handled themselves, the way they executed the grab—it was professional. Efficient.Which meant this wasn’t about money.No, this was about me.And there was only one reason I could think of why someone would want me out of the picture.I’d uncovered something I wasn’t supposed to.My mind raced back to what had happened earlier—the fake FBI attack on Rodger’s men. I had been digging, pulling at loose threads, trying to figure out who had orchestrated it. And I’d gotten too close.That had to be it.Whoever had staged that attack must’ve realized I was onto them. And now, they were tying up loose ends.I shifted slightly in my seat, testing the space around me. The car wasn’t armored—not completely, at least. If I had to, I could take my chances. A sharp elbow to the throat of the driver, a quick grab for the wheel—But then what? Even i
Fernando’s POV The safehouse smelled of sweat, blood, and fear. I stood in the middle of it all, my gun resting in my hand, my patience wearing thin.The FBI agent in front of me was trembling, his wrists bloody from the restraints, his lips slightly parted as though he was about to say something—but hesitation held him back.I had waited long enough.“You said you knew who the undercover agent is,” I said, my voice calm and measured. “So speak.”The man swallowed hard, but before he could open his mouth, one of the other agents scoffed.“This is ridiculous,” the agent said, his voice dripping with contempt. “He’s lying to you.”I turned my head slowly, my eyes locking onto the man who had spoken. He was trying too hard to sound confident, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He was afraid, afraid of me, afraid of what I might do if I didn’t like his answer.“Oh?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “And why would he lie?”The agent straightened his back, trying to compose himself. “Beca