Cassian's POV
I was already leaving the party when the gunfire started.
The sound echoed violently through the hall.
Instinctively, I reached behind my back and pulled out my gun before turning around.
And that's when I saw it.
Clyden collapsed on the floor.
Blood everywhere.
And Jay—
she was holding him while crying desperately, her hands covered in blood as she begged him to wake up.
For one second, I almost walked away.
Because this wasn't my business.
None of these people were mine.
But then I looked at her again.
And somehow—
my feet moved before my brain could stop me.
I helped them because of Jay.
Not because I cared about their war.
One of her brothers dragged her outside first, but she came back again without hesitation and helped carry Clyden herself.
Even covered in blood—
even shaking—
she still didn't leave him.
So I helped her lift Clyden into the car and get him to the hospital.
She didn't hesitate. Not even once.
Then she drove.
And honestly?
That was the moment she shocked me the most.
Jay drove like a complete maniac.
Fast.
Sharp.
Fearless.
The car slid across the roads so smoothly it almost looked unreal.
Most people panic in situations like that.
But her eyes never hesitated once.
Not even while death chased us from behind.
And the strangest part?
She never treated me like Cassian Watson.
She didn't care who I was.
Didn't fear me.
Didn't try to impress me.
Didn't even treat me like a stranger.
She just gave me orders naturally while trying to save someone she loved.
And somehow—
I listened.
When we finally reached the hospital, she completely broke down.
She cried so hard it felt painful just to watch.
And I couldn't understand it.
Clyden wasn't even her real brother.
They didn't share blood.
They weren't family by birth.
But the way she cried for him…
It looked like losing him would destroy her completely.
Her hands kept shaking.
Her clothes were covered in cold blood.
And even while falling apart—
she was still trying to stay strong.
I walked toward her at one point.
I wanted to calm her down.
But before I could—
Kiefer pulled her into his arms.
And she broke even harder there.
That was when I realized something.
It wouldn't be easy to separate them.
Not after seeing the way she held onto him.
Not after seeing the way he looked at her like she was his entire world.
And then—
she collapsed.
The second the doctors rushed her away and asked if she was pregnant—
everything inside me went silent.
Pregnant.
I stood there for a long time after that, staring at the ICU doors.
Trying to understand what exactly I was feeling.
Because now—
I genuinely didn't know what I was supposed to do anymore.
I stood there silently, staring at the ICU doors for a long time.
Trying to think.
Trying to understand myself.
If I walked away now—
I already knew what would happen.
Her smile would stay in my head.
Her voice.
Her eyes.
The way she cried for the people she loved like she would destroy herself before letting them suffer alone.
I wouldn't forget her.
And that irritated me more than anything.
But if I stayed near her—
if I kept seeing her—
I could already feel the obsession growing worse.
The urge to keep watching her.
Protecting her.
Wanting her.
None of this was normal anymore.
I knew that.
Jay wasn't someone I should want.
She was married.
Pregnant.
Completely in love with another man.
And yet—
none of that stopped me.
If anything, it made me want her more.
That realization should've disgusted me.
Instead—
it made my decision easier.
Slowly, I lifted my eyes toward the ICU room again.
And for the first time in years—
I made a selfish decision.
I wanted her.
Not temporarily.
Not out of curiosity.
Not because she was interesting.
I wanted Jay completely.
And I decided right there—
I wasn't walking away from her anymore.
Cole (POV)
I thought everything was under control.
But looking around the hospital now—
I realized how wrong I was.
What kind of brother am I?
Aries, Jare, and Percy still weren't waking up properly even after the doctors said they were stable.
Jay was inside the ICU.
Kiefer had collapsed from blood loss and was still getting treatment.
Everywhere I looked—
Someone I cared about was covered in blood.
And the worst part?
This all happened while I was there.
So what was I supposed to feel right now?
Relieved that nobody died tonight?
Or furious that all of them almost did?
My chest felt unbearably heavy.
"Cole."
I felt someone tap my shoulder lightly.
Angelo.
"Everything will be okay," he said quietly.
I laughed bitterly at that.
"How are you this calm?" I asked, rubbing my face tiredly. "Are you seriously not losing your mind right now?"
Angelo didn't look at me immediately.
He just stared down the hospital corridor where all of them had been taken.
"Of course seeing them like this affects me," he said quietly.
His eyes stayed fixed on the hospital room ahead.
"Watching them unconscious like that…" he muttered. "It reminds me of when Aries and Jay were kidnapped… when Jay was hospitalized back in high school…"
His jaw tightened slightly before he rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"No matter how many times it happens, it's always the same pain."
The hallway stayed silent around us.
"But I got used to carrying it," he continued quietly. "Because if I break down too… then who's going to hold everyone together?"
I looked at him silently.
And for the first time tonight—
He actually looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Like he'd been carrying everyone for too long.
"I may not show affection the way you do," Angelo said with a dry laugh. "But they're still my kids."
That made me look at him properly.
Because he meant it.
Every word.
"I raised them," he said quietly. "That's why I can't afford to be soft like you."
His eyes darkened slightly after that.
"One day… something might happen to me too."
I frowned immediately.
"Don't say shit like that."
But Angelo ignored me completely.
"If that day comes," he continued calmly, "I never want anyone to look down on them."
His voice stayed steady.
"They need to know how to stand on their own."
The words hit harder than I expected.
Because underneath all his yelling, sarcasm, and cold attitude—
Everything Angelo did was to make sure none of us would ever break when life hit us.
Even if it meant becoming the bad guy sometimes.
He leaned back against the wall again and closed his eyes briefly.
"And honestly?" he muttered tiredly. "Tonight scared the hell out of me."
That quiet confession hurt more than if he shouted it.
Because Angelo almost never admitted fear.
Then he leaned back against the hospital wall beside me, staring toward the ICU hallway.
"You know what scares me the most?" he asked quietly.
I frowned slightly.
"What?"
"The fact that none of them hesitated tonight."
His voice stayed calm.
Too calm.
"Jare crashed his own car to save Percy."
"Aries came back alone even while injured."
"Kiefer kept fighting after getting shot."
"And Jay…" he paused briefly. "She would've died beside Clyden if nobody dragged her away."
I clenched my jaw.
Because he was right.
None of them cared about themselves tonight.
Not even once.
Angelo finally looked at me.
"So no," he said quietly. "I'm not calm."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I'm furious."
The hallway fell silent again.
Only the sound of distant machines and hurried footsteps filled the hospital.
Then Angelo exhaled slowly and looked toward the ICU doors again.
"But they're alive."
I followed his gaze silently.
"...If something happens to me," I said quietly, "I'll make you inherit Fortis."
Angelo snapped his head toward me immediately.
"Don't you dare dump that on me," he said flatly. "I already have enough shit working me to death. I'm perfectly happy with my life right now."
I let out a tired laugh.
"Relax," I muttered.
"Don't laugh," Angelo shot back, glaring at me. "I'm not a machine like you. I actually sleep."
Then he leaned back against the wall, exhaling slowly, eyes still fixed on the ICU doors.
"Honestly," he added dryly, "Jay calling me old every time I get mad… 'grumpy kuya' or whatever she says…" He clicked his tongue. "I don't want stress anymore."
A tired silence followed.
I let out a short huff of a laugh anyway.
For a moment, the tension eased just enough for both of us to breathe again.
Then Angelo smirked faintly.
"Or we just kill whoever keeps trying to kill us," he said. "That's easier."
I looked at him.
"You're insane."
"Yeah," he replied simply, without even looking at me. "Welcome to the family."
And despite everything—
I laughed under my breath.
"Now that," I said, "sounds like you again."
Then Angelo suddenly narrowed his eyes toward the ICU hallway.
"But what the hell is he doing here?" he asked.
I looked in the direction he was staring.
Cassian Watson.
He was standing near Jay's ICU room silently, still covered in blood, his eyes fixed on the door like he had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
"He helped Jay bring Clyden to the hospital," I explained quietly. "And he stayed with her the entire time."
For one second—
Angelo just stared at him.
Then suddenly he laughed.
I blinked.
"Why are you laughing?" I asked tiredly.
Angelo smirked slightly while crossing his arms.
"I think our sister attracts dangerous people way too easily."
I frowned immediately.
"What are you talking about?"
Angelo nodded casually toward Cassian.
"And I think Kiefer just found himself a rival."
I stared at him for a second before scoffing quietly.
"Don't you think we should be worried about that?" I asked. "We're talking about Cassian Watson."
Angelo raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet, letting me continue.
"You know how much attitude that guy has," I muttered. "He even refused to work for Fortis when we personally asked him to join."
My eyes shifted toward Cassian again.
He still hadn't moved from Jay's ICU door.
And somehow—
That made me even more uneasy.
"If he ever messes with Jay," I said flatly, "I genuinely think Kiefer will burn the entire city down just to get to him."
That made Angelo laugh under his breath.
"True," he admitted. "But looking at Cassian right now…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I'm not sure he'd back down either."
Before I could answer—
My phone suddenly rang.
Amy.
My chest tightened instantly.
I stared at the screen for a second before answering and walking toward the quieter corner of the hallway.
"Coco!" Amy's voice came through immediately. "Why aren't you answering my calls? Mia and Honey were worried about Jare and Percy, and honestly, I'm worried too. What are you all even doing? Haah…"
She didn't even give me space to speak.
And somehow—
Hearing her normal voice after tonight almost broke me.
"They're just exhausted from the party," I said quietly while leaning against the wall. "They were playing around with Jay too much."
I forced out a weak laugh.
"You know how chaotic Jay gets."
Silence.
Then Amy spoke again softly.
"Why are you lying?"
My breath caught slightly.
"What?" I asked carefully.
"Cole…" her voice became quieter. "You don't sound okay."
That hit harder than expected.
"Is everything really okay?"
I closed my eyes for one second.
The hospital smell.
The blood on my clothes.
Jay is inside the ICU.
Jare, Aries are unconscious.
Percy was barely breathing earlier.
Kiefer collapsing.
Everything flashed through my head at once.
But I still answered the same way.
"Hmm," I said quietly. "I'll call you properly in the morning. They're all just resting right now."
Another small silence.
Then—
"Okay…" she whispered softly. "I'm here with you, so something happened. Tell me."
The guilt in my chest became unbearable instantly.
Before I could even stop myself—
"I missed you," I said suddenly.
The words slipped out before I even realized I said them.
Silence filled the call for one second.
And honestly—
That scared me more than the gunshots earlier.
Because for a while tonight…
I genuinely thought I wouldn't survive long enough to hear her voice again.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to keep talking before she could notice my voice shaking.
"How's Kai?" I asked quietly.
Amy laughed softly over the phone.
"Why are you laughing?" I asked.
"You're weird?" she said.
"What? I can't miss my wife and son now?" I muttered. "Or is it suddenly weird that I miss you?"
That made her go quiet for a second.
Then her voice softened completely.
"…You really scared me just now, Coco."
My grip tightened slightly around the phone.
There was silence again.
Warm silence this time.
"And I miss you too,and our son is okay he just missing everyone." she whispered softly.
A small smile finally appeared on my face for the first time that night.
"Goodnight, Coco."
The screen slowly went dark in my hand.
And suddenly—
The hallway felt too quiet again.
I lowered my head and covered my face with both hands.
"…Sorry for lying," I whispered weakly to myself.
I stayed there for a few more seconds before forcing myself to move again.
But the second I walked back toward the ICU hallway—
I stopped.
"What the fuck are you idiots doing now?" I muttered.
Kiefer was holding Cassian Watson by the collar while glaring at him like he genuinely wanted to kill him.
And honestly—
Cassian didn't look intimidated at all.
If anything, he looked ready to fight back.
The tension between them was so heavy even the nurses nearby looked terrified to pass through the hallway.
"Kiefer," I said sharply. "Leave him."
Neither of them listened.
"Say that again," Kiefer said coldly, tightening his grip on Cassian's shirt.
Cassian smirked slightly despite the situation.
"I said," he repeated calmly, "I want her and i will get her"
Oh.
That explained it.
Kiefer looked one second away from committing murder.
"You want to die?" Kiefer asked dangerously.
Cassian tilted his head slightly.
"You're welcome to try."
For one horrifying second—
I genuinely thought blood was about to spill inside the hospital too.
And beside them?
Angelo was leaning against the wall eating chips like he bought tickets for entertainment.
"You're enjoying this?" I asked him in disbelief.
Angelo grinned shamelessly.
"A little."