Third POVThe club pulsed with life, its dim neon lights casting deep shadows over the crowd. Bodies pressed together, lost in the throbbing bass, the scent of sweat, alcohol, and desperation thick in the air. Renata Varela sat at the bar, legs crossed, her crimson dress riding up just enough to tempt but not reveal.She lifted her glass to her lips, taking a slow sip of tequila as her gaze slid lazily over the men in the room. Some were watching her, captivated by the way she carried herself—danger wrapped in silk, temptation laced with poison.And then, she found him.Tall, broad, dark-eyed. Handsome in a rugged way. The kind of man who looked like he didn’t ask too many questions.Perfect.She smirked, crooking a finger. He came without hesitation.“Looking for company?” she purred.The man leaned in, voice deep, thick with lust. “Depends. You offering?”Renata tilted her head, dragging a finger down his chest. “Maybe.”Minutes later, they were in the backseat of her sleek black ca
Third POVThe drive back to Cassiel’s penthouse was suffocating.Julian sat in the back of the black Bentley, his fingers digging into the leather seat as the city blurred past in streaks of gold and steel. The sterile hospital scent still clung to him, an unpleasant reminder of how close he had come to dying. His body was weak, his stomach twisted with a residual nausea from the poisoning, but it was nothing compared to the unease settling in his chest.Cassiel sat beside him, silent, his profile sharp against the low glow of the dashboard light in front. His phone was in his hand, his thumb moving efficiently over the screen, issuing commands with the kind of ease that made Julian’s skin crawl.It wasn’t just that Cassiel controlled everything around him—it was the fact that he expected obedience in return.Julian shifted, inhaling slowly. The silence was unbearable.“You don’t have to act like I’m on my deathbed.”Cassiel didn’t look up. “A dead man doesn’t need to be reminded to s
Third POVThe dim glow of the pendant lights barely touched the shadows in Renata’s penthouse. Marco leaned against the marble counter, watching her with amusement as she poured herself a drink.“You’re awfully bold for a man with no place to go,” she muttered, swirling the amber liquid in her glass.Marco chuckled. “And you’re awfully desperate for a woman who claims she was ready to move on.”Renata shot him a glare before taking a slow sip. “I gave him a chance to reconsider.”“And he crushed it under his boot.” Marco tilted his head. “Tell me, sweetheart, did you really think Cassiel would let you back in?”Renata’s jaw clenched.“I thought he’d at least remember what we had,” she admitted, voice laced with bitterness.Marco smirked. “Oh, he remembers. He just doesn’t care.”She set the glass down with more force than necessary.“You speak as if you know him better than I do,” she muttered.Marco’s grin didn’t waver. “I know what he does to people who think they can manipulate him
Third POVBack in the study, Cassiel sat behind his desk, elbows resting on the dark mahogany surface, fingers steepled as he stared at the glowing cityscape beyond the window. The late-night hush of the study was disrupted only by the faint hum of Enzo’s measured breathing from across the room.Enzo stood near the bookshelves, arms crossed, his sharp gaze assessing Cassiel’s expression. “You’re trying to figure it out?”Cassiel exhaled slowly, lowering his hands. “Of course, I am.” His voice was quiet, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. “Valerian took Julian from the hospital. And then — just like that — he was returned.” He tapped his fingers against the desk, eyes narrowing. “I don’t like games, Enzo. Especially when I’m not the one controlling the board.”Enzo scoffed, stepping forward. “The whole thing was too clean. It was like he wanted you to find him. They made sure of it and now he’s radio silent.”Cassiel didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze flicked toward
Third POVJulian knew something was wrong.It wasn’t just the lingering exhaustion or the dull ache in his muscles—it was the weight in his limbs, the strange fog in his mind. He had been weak at the hospital, yes, but not like this. His body had been recovering. He should have been feeling better, stronger. Instead, he felt as if something was pulling him down, draining him.And he knew Cassiel was lying to him.He sat on the edge of the massive bed, fingers curled around the silk sheets, jaw clenched. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows across the polished floors. Somewhere beyond the penthouse windows, the city pulsed with life, but Julian felt trapped in a strange, suffocating silence.The door creaked open. He didn’t turn his head.Cassiel stepped inside, his presence filling the space effortlessly. His dark eyes swept over Julian before he closed the door behind him. “You should be resting.”Julian let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah? I would
Third POV The study was quiet except for the rhythmic clinking of ice against glass as Cassiel swirled his drink. The golden liquid barely sloshed as he leaned back in his leather chair, one elbow resting on the armrest, fingers tapping against the crystal tumbler. Across from him, Enzo stood near the fireplace, arms crossed. His expression was grim, the faint glow of the dying embers casting sharp shadows across his face. Cassiel exhaled slowly. “What’s the update?” Enzo’s fingers twitched. “The maid wasn’t home.” Cassiel’s brows lifted slightly, but he said nothing, waiting for Enzo to elaborate. “I got to the house just after sunset,” Enzo continued, voice low. “It’s a small place on the outskirts, tucked away. Perfect for someone who doesn’t want to be found. I knocked.” He exhaled. “And I kept knocking.” Cassiel’s fingers stopped tapping. “For how long?” “Twenty minutes.” A muscle in Cassiel’s jaw ticked. Enzo continued, his tone sharper now. “Her neighbors were watchin
Third POVCassiel sat back to his chair, relaxing his beating heart. He dropped the cigar in his hand, crushing it in the ashtray.“Is there something more you need?” Enzo asked slowly, setting down his gun to the table.“You know man's worst enemy is his shadows?” Cassiel asked, his voice devoid of any emotions. The dark room added more to his dangerous aura as his shadow loomed over the rays of light that pried stubbornly into the room.Enzo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Cassiel's words. He set down the wine glass in his hand gently to the table, his gaze fixed on Cassiel as he gulped down the strong liquor down his throat.“What do you mean by that?” He asked, his voice low and cautious.Cassiel leaned forward, his eyes glinting in the dimly lighted room. He tapped on his wine glass, gently drumming a lazy rhythm.“I mean that our greatest battles are often fought within ourselves.” he said, his voice dripping with intensity. “The shadows within us can be our most formidable fo
Third POVJulian's anger boiled over, and he took a step closer, closing the gap between them. “Yes, I'm filled with energy, all right,” he said, his voice laced with venom. “Don't you think it should be directed elsewhere?” Cassiel asked, puffing out the smoke to Julian's face who looked so furious.He looked like he could strangle Cassiel but he was just as helpless as the poop coming out of his ass and he could only rant out his anger.“I am doing a good job, directing that energy to the channel that truly deserves it, which is you. I am sick and tired of all this.” Julian said angrily, spewing the words out of his mouth all at once.“You think so?” Cassiel asked, smirking, using one hand to pull Julian to sit on his lap. “Let me go,” Julian growled, his voice laced with anger and desperation as he attempted to struggle free from Cassiel who held him down on his thighs, burying his face in his neck and sucking gently on his soft skin.“Why should I?” Cassiel purred, his voice low
Third POV“What the hell did you do to me?” Renata yelled as she struggled and made futile attempts to raise her right hand.“I only returned the favour you gave to Julian and consider yourself lucky that I’m not in the mood to spilling your blood yet.” Cassiel said smugly, opening a bottle of strong liquor placed on the table, drawing some of the content out with the needle and syringe in his hand.He moved closer to her struggling self to get back on her feet. Cassiel shook the content in the syringe together to blend properly before injecting the fluids into her system.She instantly became still, her heartbeat fell immediately. She was more like half dead.“If I were you, I'd consider this as a warning and tread carefully,” he said, dusting invisible dust off his pants before making his way out. He got to the door and opened it before looking back.“If you’re lucky enough to be taken to the hospital within three minutes, you will be rescued but if you aren't so lucky… well, your a
Third POV“You are not planning on killing me right?” Renata asked curiously, looking around for ways to escape but as it was at the moment, she had been cornered.“That would depend on your attitude.” Cassiel responded, his long finger trailing the soft, smooth skin of her jawline.“But I did nothing to warrant getting on your bad side,” she said, trying to find out how much information he had been able to get his hands on.Renata's voice was laced with a mixture of fear and curiosity, but she tried to keep her tone light and nonchalant. She didn't want to provoke Cassiel any further, not when she was trapped in this situation.Cassiel's finger continued to trail along her jawline, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Renata tried to remain still, but she couldn't help the slight tremble that ran through her body."Your attitude is what will determine your fate," Cassiel repeated, his eyes locked onto hers. "If you're cooperative and forthcoming, I might just let you live. But
Third POVCassiel pulled off at the exquisite club, bobbing with different vibes and life in it. He got down from his vehicle, mingling with the crowd. No one seemed to recognize him as they were so caught up in their own business.The club was a melting pot of people from all walks of life, each one lost in their own world of music and revelry. Cassiel blended in seamlessly, his tailored suit and confident stride allowing him to move through the crowds with ease.He navigated through the throngs of people, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the person he was looking for. The music was pulsating, the beat infectious, and Cassiel found himself moving to the rhythm as he walked.The club was a labyrinth of dark corners and dimly lit areas, with flashes of bright lights illuminating the dance floor. Cassiel's eyes adjusted quickly, and he spotted a figure standing at the bar, sipping on a drink.He made his way over, his movements fluid and purposeful. As he approached, the figur
Third POV“So Renata and Marco aren't related?” Cassiel asked, the document in his hand slipped on to the table as he spoke.“I guess those men mistook their relationship as a sibling relationship.” Enzo said, passing some pictures to Cassiel which he brought out from his bag.“This means they are lovers,” Cassiel said, concluding as he passed the pictures back to Enzo who carefully placed them back in a brown envelope.“Should we set them both up?” Enzo asked curiously, a sly grin playing on his lips as he scribbled something down on the paper passing to Cassiel to see.“I still need to punish her,” Cassiel said.Soon enough, a maid knocked and announced through the door that their food had been served and said Miss Maria asked her to serve them tea if they were still busy.Enzo asked the lady to come in. A fragile, deathly pale looking lady entered, she looked so weak but something about her seemed different. She had a solid look on her face as she walked to the table, dropping the
Third POVEnzo pulled off at Cassiel's garage, rushing to the other side to help open the door for Cassiel and also help Julian out of the car.“Come carry this in,” Enzo called two of the standby guards, throwing the bag and the basket of fruits to them.“I will wait for you in your study while you attend to Julian.” Enzo said the moment they stepped into the house.“I am sure he can handle himself right?” Cassiel asled, directing the question to Julian who didn't look fazed.“A quiet time without you in it would really help me recover.” Julian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he walked away from their presence, heading to the room.“Won't you go over and help him settled in?” Enzo asked as he made his way towards the study.“His grown enough to help himself out and look after himself too.” Cassiel responded, trailing behind Enzo who opened the door wide for Cassiel to come in.Enzo chuckled and shook his head, gesturing for Cassiel to take a seat. "I guess you're right," Enz
Third POVThe hospital Cassiel walked into the ward with a basket of fruits in his hand, dropping it beside Julian's bed. As Cassiel stepped closer, Jylina closed his eyes pretending to be asleep.“Are we doing this right now?” Cassiel asked frustratedly as he rubbed his temples slowly.Julian faced the other side of the room keeping mute, not saying a word to Cassiel.Cassiel sighed, setting the basket of fruits down on the bedside table. He knew Julian was upset, and he didn't blame him. He had been distant lately, and Cassiel knew he needed to make amends."Julian, look at me," Cassiel said softly, his voice gentle. "I know you're upset, and I'm sorry. I know I've been busy, but that doesn't excuse my behavior."Julian slowly turned to face Cassiel, his eyes narrowed slightly. "You're sorry?" he repeated, his voice laced with skepticism. "You're always sorry, Cassiel. But actions speak louder than words."Cassiel nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew Julian was right. He had be
Third POV"Let's get one thing straight, Marco," Enzo said slowly. "I'll help you, but I need to know the truth. What's really going on?"Marco's expression faltered for a moment, and Enzo saw a flicker of something in his eyes. But then, Marco's face smoothed out, and he launched into a detailed explanation of his supposed ordeal.Enzo listened intently, his mind racing with questions and doubts. He was determined to get to the bottom of Marco's story, no matter what it took.Enzo exhaled a long sigh, his face facing the floor. He had enough proof that showed Marco was lying but he needed to tread carefully.“I will speak with Cassiel tomorrow once I get to him but for now, let's get you a place to stay.” Enzo said standing to his feet as he walked over to his car, Marco trailing behind him slowly.Marco offered to drive Enzo who politely refused asking him not to treat him like a boss and just be himself, acting like he had believed his story.Enzo drove to a nearby hotel, booked a
Third POVJulian nodded slightly, his eyes already drifting shut. Enzo watched over him, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. He was just happy to see Julian. At least Cassiel would take his health seriously and he was more than happy to see him recovering.As Julian drifted off to sleep, Enzo sat beside him, holding his hand and watching over him. He knew he might have to cancel his meeting at the park, but he didn't care. Being here to support Cassiel and watch over Julian was all that mattered.The door creaked open, and a nurse entered the room, checking Julian's vital signs and adjusting his medication. Enzo watched her work, expressing his gratitude for her care and attention.After the nurse left, Enzo settled back into his chair, leaning forward to pick a bottle of water to help moisten his throat and watch over him. He sighted Cassel at the entrance of the ward. He let go of the bottle slowly, walking out of the ward.“Seems he places more trust in you than he does with me
Third POVEnzo dropped his phone on the couch, moving to his bedroom. Milo was giving him attitude because he didn't come home last night to feed him. He went to his bedroom to have a proper rest as there was little or nothing to do.As Enzo entered his bedroom, he was greeted by Milo's disapproving stare. The cat's tail was twitching, and its ears were folded back, clearly displeased about being neglected the night before. Enzo chuckled, feeling a mix of amusement and guilt."Sorry, buddy," Enzo said, scooping up Milo in his arms. "I know I didn't make it home last night, and I'm sorry about that."Milo meowed loudly, as if scolding Enzo for his absence. Enzo laughed, rubbing Milo's soft fur. "I know, I know. You're the real boss around here, and I should've been here to feed you on time."Enzo set Milo down on the bed and headed to the kitchen to feed him. As he poured the cat food into Milo's bowl, the cat followed him, rubbing against his legs. Enzo smiled, feeling a sense of comf