My Possessive Mafia Husband

Knight sighed as he looked at the scattered papers and folders on the table in front of him. All of them are reports from the Organisation's head of the countries in Asia. Lord Vandreck-the boss of Organosi in Asia who's retiring in three years' time-wants to train him and the others like him who're eyeing the position.

There are nine of them who are fighting to be the boss of Asia. Lord Vandreck's position He must try harder to stay on top and get the position.

He must become powerful. That's his goal. Power. A lot of it.

He'd been eyeing to replace Lord Vandreck in his position not because his father insisted but because he needs more power. I need power. I need to be stronger.

At the age of twenty-five, all he could think about was how to become powerful and unbeatable.

Knight sighed loudly. "Fuck..." I should be looking for my sister! Not staying here, in the Palace, like his father wanted.

But he knew all too well what would happen if he went against his father. Someone will suffer in his place. He already knows who he will punish for all his mistakes, so he has to be careful with all his decisions and moves.

His father is holding the ace of cards. He must obey him, no matter what.

"Someone is in a sour mood."

Knight glared sharply at Cloud-his personal butler, who's the same age as him and has been serving him since he was fourteen-who's standing just beside his table.

"Piss off, Cloud."

Cloud just smiled sweetly at him. But he knew his butler all too well; it's a sarcastic smile. "Would you care for refreshments, my lord?"

He sighed heavily because it was burdensome. "Refreshments like tea and some other bullshit food that I hate?"

Cloud wasn't fazed by his irritated voice and sharp glare. "Come now, my Lord, you know I hate serving you tea. I don't like preparing them, and you hate drinking them. I'm very lucky and blessed to be a butler of such a fine, young, and handsome gentleman such as yourself, my lord."

He glared at Cloud again. "Stop patronizing me." He shook his head and felt the sensation. "Go." He was going to fire Cloud. "Bring me some refreshment that can refresh me. I'm fucking annoyed and fucking irritated that I could beat you up if you continue to piss me off."

Cloud just chuckled, unafraid of his threats. "I'll be right back, my lord."

"When you came back," he said before Cloud could leave his private study, "It's necessary since I'm taking you with me this time." "Yes, my Lord."

He stared at the door that Cloud came out of for a few minutes before taking out his cell phone from the right drawer of the table when someone called.

Knight frowned when he heard a grunt and then a groan from the other line. "Val? Are you having sex?" His face was wrinkled. "Why the fuck are you grunting?"

"Fuck you." Valerian groaned again, making him chuckle silently. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Yeah." He looked at his wristwatch. "8AM. Why?"

"Maybe you're not stupid enough to not think how many hours our country has a time difference. 6 hours, you dimwit! It's just 2AM here! Unless, of course, you're back from Spain and you're in the Airport as of this moment and you're calling me to pick you the fuck up because you don't have a place to go. If that is so fuck you-" paused for a couple of seconds, "wait for me."

He laughed, then leaned on the back of the swivel chair he was sitting on. He winced as he felt the sharp pain in his back, but he ignored it.

"Miss me, best friend?" "You're gross."

"Come on, I haven't seen you for a year." He laughed again. "It's not my fault that I express my feelings so carelessly."

"Don't bullshit me," Valerian said in a cold voice. "Maybe you're forgetting that I'm one of the few people who knows the real you."

He didn't care what he said. He promised this lunatic that he'd be the best lunatic ever and thought it wasn't that hard. He excels at it.

"You didn't miss me?" He's being dramatic. "Ouch! I'm badly hurt, Best friend." The line died.

Knight laughed softly and then stared at the cellphone screen. Valerian is really easy to piss off. Effortless. And always funny as hell. He's one of the reasons why he rarely gets bored these past few years that he's been going back and forth to the Philippines and Spain, secretly looking for his sister, who left the palace with her mother two years ago.

He was stunned to receive a text from Valerian.

From: Best friend

Are you at the airport? I'll pick you up. He smiled. This man can't really say no. He may cuss a lot and get irritated so easily, but he's actually a nice guy and a good friend. This is one of the people he has to protect against his father.

His father knew his weaknesses, and he would exploit them to make him obedient. Knight replied. To: Best friend Nope. Still in Madrid.

From: Best friend Don't text me. I hate the origin of your text message.

Knight laughed and shook his head. "He really hates Spain," he whispered, "that lunatic."

His attention turned to the door of his private study in his father's palace when it opened again, and Cloud entered with a silver tray. "My Lord-"

"Tagalog, Cloud," he reminded the Butler. "You need to learn that language."

"Oh..." Cloud came to his table, still carrying the tray. "My Lord, if it's translated to Tagalog, is... my Lord?"

Knight sighed and looked at Cloud flatly. "Don't talk to me. If I wasn't feeling lazy and irritated, I would have killed you seconds ago."

"But I am right, my lord."

He grimaced when he heard the last words of his Butler. "Fuck... I'm having goosebumps."

"Would you prefer if I called you... Your Highness? I think it's the Tagalog translation for 'your highness'. Or should I call you 'mamahal'? I've watched a lot of English movies and some Asian Movies that were translated to Tagalog, and the person with a high ranking is always addressed as such. He took the gun from the drawer and pointed it at Cloud, making him stop talking. "Do you want to die?"

Cloud slightly bowed to him. "Of course not, my Lord. I love my life; I'm young and very fresh, and I love having sex, so please spare me."

He sighed and looked at Cloud questioningly. "Did you have sex with the palace's new servant? The Mayor doma was very upset the other night. Don't deny it. I know you, you sly animal."

"I'm charismatic, my Lord," was all Cloud said with a smile.

"Whatever." He looked down at the tray he was still holding, and immediately his face fell when he saw the tea pot and teacups.

He sighed, then picked up the gun again and pointed it at his butler. "I'll kill you if that's tea."

Cloud has a mischievous smile on his lips as he settles the tray on the side of his table. "Don't you trust me, Your Highness?"

Knight cringed at how Cloud addressed him. "If you speak Tagalog, call me by my name."

"It would be disrespectful-" "Wanna die?"

"No, of course not, my lord. I value my life so much, and of course, I like to have sex."

Knight let out a loud sigh. "Yeah, yeah. I'm getting more irritated."

Cloud chuckled before lifting the tea pot and pouring the liquid inside into the cup. "My Lord, I hope you enjoy your refreshment."

Knight laughed a little when he saw what was inside the tea pot. A beer.

"Nice," he commented.

"And of course," Cloud smiled as he opened the stainless steel food cover to show him the partner for his beer. "Your favourite." A bread? He sighed. "Explain, Cloud, before I shoot you in the head."

"It's not a bread, My Lord. You know that I have to conceal and hide the dessert that you love because your father is an asshole. This is actually a mocha cake, pretending to look like a bread to fool everyone. I made it myself, of course, because I am a very talented and one hell of a butler."

Knight took the fork and took a small part of the mocha cake bread pattern and tasted it. "Tastes good."

Cloud just nodded with a smile, then poured him another cup of beer from the tea pot, making him chuckle.

Cloud always finds a way to indulge his likes and wants. He became his butler at the age of fourteen, but they only became close when he was twenty-one. He was very aloof; he doesn't trust anyone, even his own butler and relatives. That's why it took a lot of time to build his trust and friendship with Cloud.

Come to think of it... Only Valerian and Shun became his friends in an instant. He even initiated the friendship. Was it because he was very lonely at the time? With those two, he felt like he didn't need time to figure them out, to know their weaknesses, and to use them against them if they acted out and exploited them like his father taught him. He doesn't have to pretend to be nice because it just came out naturally. And those two... They accepted him even though he doesn't deserve anything from anyone.

Knight drank the beer that was in the teacup, and Cloud immediately drained it as soon as he finished it.

"I'll take you back with me tomorrow, Cloud."

Cloud put down the tea pot he was holding. "You're getting desperate, My Lord." He nodded. "It's been two years since they left. I can't use the Organosi to track her down because Father will know, and who knows what he'll do? He's unpredictable. I need more help."

Cloud bowed, "of course, my Lord, but..." worry streaked his face, "but are you okay now? Don't you need more rest after what happened yesterday? Your back... it's not healed yet. You can't go back to the Philippines like that."

His jaw dropped as his eyes closed. His back... It's still throbbing and pulsing in excruciating agony. He's still in so much pain, but he can't stay here and do nothing. He has to find her sister! He has to know if she's okay, if she's well, and if she's unharmed. If she's studying and having a comfortable life. He has to make sure that his sister is in good health, which is why he won't stop looking for her. "My Lord?"

He blinked before looking at Cloud. "What?"

"Your back... it's bleeding," he said while examining his back. "It looks like the bandages around your body are already soaked with blood; it's already soaking your shirt as we speak."

"Nevermind," he said. "I can endure a little bit longer. By the way, how is he?" He was filled with worry. "Forbids me to go see him."

"I went to see him earlier," Cloud sighed, "he's resting now but he was looking for you. The sedative I gave him seems to have worked. Just like you, his back is also bleeding, but you know him, he'll survive. You took half of the lashes for him. Why did he go out without permission?"

He looked out of the window of his private study as his jaw chattered. "You can't blame him, Cloud. He existed only to be my shadow. It's suffocating and very burdensome for him. We can't blame him if he wants out."

"But he knows that he will be punished for what he did, and then he sympathized with you. Doesn't he know that you are also hurting?"

"Don't tell him that I took half of the lashes." His jaw dropped. His brother, Midnight, who was years younger than him, had already been put through hell. He doesn't need to know this. "He'll feel bad and blame himself, so keep it a secret." "My Lord-"

"Go. Take care of him."

"But your wound-"

"I can endure, and I can always call the family doctor." He smiled, "Just come back when he's fine. Take care of him for me. He needs someone by his side, and it can't be me. I have to obey my father, or he'll get hurt again." Cloud sighed. "You have so much burden on your shoulder, my Lord. I even wonder how you can sleep peacefully at night."

"I don't." He drank the beer from the teacup, "but I have to endure. I can only end this if I become powerful, and if I have to be cold-blooded, cruel, inhumane, manipulative, brutal, and a monster, then so be it. If I have to sacrifice myself, my happiness, and lots of people along the way to protect the people I cherish, I will."

"Is that why you ordered Dimitri to take care of your cousin?" Cloud asked. "Because he hurt one of the people you cherish?"

He smiles coldly, "He hurt Midnight. I can't allow that. That's my reason, and because he's my rival. He's also eyeing to be the Boss of Asia, and I won't let him have that position. Then I just ordered Dimitri to cripple him, not kill him. So... basically, he owes me for not killing him even though he's a piece of shit." Cloud chuckled. "You're such a good man, my Lord."

"I know, right?" He said while chuckling. "I'm such an amazing person." "Don't push it, my Lord." Cloud said with a frown, "I'm having goosebumps." He laughed. "Whatever. Go and take care of Night."

Cloud nodded and went out, while he took the tea pot and drank it himself. The teacup was too small for his beer.

If his family saw him, they would call him barbaric and uneducated. but hell, he enjoys doing these things. Maybe that's why he enjoys spending his time with Shun and Valerian. They know who and how he is, but they don't judge. They just let him do his thing, however crazy it is, with no judgement.

When he finished the beer in the tea pot, he called Shun.

"What's up?" Shun asked in a cherry voice.

His two eyebrows rose. "You're not grumpy? I called Val earlier; he yelled at me." He reported to Shun, "He's hurting me, Shun. Why is he like that?"

"Don't be a baby. I'm going to puke." He laughed. "I'm just reporting. He's hurting me." Shun sighed. "Fuck you. I'm hanging up."

He laughed again before his voice turned serious. "How was the search? Any luck?"

"Someone is blocking me, Knight."Shun said, "someone is untilizing the Organosi to block me. I can't find her. I'm sorry."

He sighed forcefully. "That's probably my father." Shun tsked. "I can go around it if you want. I'll hack the Organosi and-"

"No. Don't do that." Shun will be in so much danger. He couldn't protect him yet. He's still not powerful. He still has no say in the Organisation. It took three more years before he had the power to protect it. "Stop looking." "But-"

"Shun. I mean it. Stop looking for now." Shun sighed. "I can take care of myself."

"Shun," he said in a hard voice. "I mean it.I'll tell you again when I want you to find her again." Shun sighed again. "Fuck this!"

"Yeah. Drop it for the meantime."

"Fine." Shun sighed heavily again. "But I hate this." He closed his eyes. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of things we can't have, no matter how hard we try." "Fuck you."

"You're very welcome, Shun." He smiled. "I'll wire you Five Million Dollars." "Why?"

"I heard you're helping street children to have a bright future. Use it to buy land where you can build your orphanage or use it for their food." He then said goodbye, "I have to hang up now."

"When will you get back?"

"This week, maybe," he said. "Bye." "Bye."

When he hung up, he finished the cake, left his private study, and went straight to his room.

He hates being in this palace, but he doesn't have much of a choice at the moment.

Knight took off his upper clothes, and then he removed the bandage surrounding his entire upper body, which was full of blood, and just let it go, causing it to fall to the floor of the room.

When his body collapsed on the wide and soft bed, his eyes immediately closed. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sleep. His brother's face kept coming into his mind-he was uneasy. Damn it!

He had been lashed fifty times for his brother yesterday. He hasn't slept since then. He couldn't. Hell!

Even though his back hurt, he tried to reach the drawer on his bedside table to get his sleeping pills. He has to sleep. It's been days since he's had any.

He took a pill and took it even without water, then threw his body back on the bed.

Slowly, finally, after two days of being awake, he drifted off to sleep.

Because OF THE sleeping pills, Knight slept the whole day, and when he woke up, it was already past midnight.

He was gasping for breath as he struggled to get up because of the bad dream that woke him up, but immediately the excruciating pain in his back stuttered. Fuck!

Knight calmed his breathing and stilled when he saw that his body was covered in bandages again.

Must be Cloud. In his mind, before getting up, he took a black t-shirt from his closet and left his room.

It was already past midnight, and as he wandered around the palace, his feet brought him to a secret passage that would lead him inside Midnight's room. and since the people there were already asleep, he was free to use the secret passage to his brother's room.

He let out a deep sigh as he entered Midnight's room.

He saw his brother sitting on the edge of the bed, fists clenched. He's in pain.

"Midnight."

Midnight automatically looked up, and when he saw him, he looked relieved. "Brother..."

He and Midnight used Tagalog because it fascinates them. Maybe because the one who taught them the language was their loving stepmother, who left them as well.

He walked closer to it, then stood in front of it and ruffled his hair. "How are you feeling?"

He was looking into his eyes. "In pain."

"Have you slept?"

The brother shook his head. "I woke up just after lunch and couldn't sleep anymore."

He sat on her bed, put a pillow on her thigh, and patted it. "Come here. Sleep. You need it."

Worry streaked Midnight's face. "Maybe Papa will know you're here.

"He won't know. Come on." He tapped the pillow on his lap again. "Come here. Just lean over so you don't get hurt."

Thankfully, Midnight obliged.

He lay down on his side, then rested on the pillow on his lap. "Brother?"

"Hmm?" He hummed.

"How long?" His voice trailed off. "How long do I have to endure?"

He stroked his brother's hair. "I don't know, Night. But I'll be a boss in three years' time. I will win and get the position. I'm striving really hard so I can get you out of this."

"If you become a boss," Midnight looked at him, "will I be able to go out like you?"

His jaw dropped. "I'll try my hardest. Just trust me, okay?"

"Okay." Midnight laid down and closed her eyes. "My back hurts..."

"I know." He can also feel the excruciating pain on his back at that very moment. but he couldn't show his brother that he was hurting because he assumed half of his punishment. He didn't know anything, and he didn't want him to know. His brother will feel bad. "Do you want me to get you some pain reliever?"

"No." Midnight whispered, "Just stay, Brother."

"Okay..."

His jaw was constantly clenching because of the pain in his back, but he kept his face calm.

His brother is suffering because of him. He has to end it. Midnight can't continue like this. But what can he do? He's powerless. His father holds all the aces. He can't do anything but obey.

He looked down at his brother, who had finally fallen asleep. "I promise, I'll get you out of this. I will become powerful for you. I will be a boss for you. And if I have to sacrifice myself for your freedom, then so be it."

that I promise you... little brother.

Knight WAS packing his clothes when someone knocked on the door. Thinking that it might be Cloud who would offer to help him pack, He ignored it. He prefers packing his bag alone and personally. He doesn't like anyone touching or going through his stuff.

But the person outside knocking on the door was persistent. Definitely not Cloud. Cloud knows that if he doesn't let him in at the first knock, it means he doesn't want to let him in.

"Come in!" He said in a loud voice so that those outside could hear him.

The door to his room opened.

Knight zipped his trolley bag before glancing towards the door.

He was stunned to see his brother looking at his luggage.

"You're leaving?" Midnight asked. He nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh." His brother looked down. "I'll get going then. Sorry for disturbing you."

"Wait." He stopped his brother, then walked closer to him. "How's your back?" Midnight smiled. "I'm okay."

Knight can see through his brother. He's not okay. "I told you not to lie to me."

His brother looked away. "It still hurts, but I can handle it. Papa has allowed me to visit you, but you're leaving. See you again after you get back."

He sighed and messed with Midnight's head. "Something's bothering you. What is it?"

Midnight shook her head, then smiled at him. "Nothing. Have a safe trip, Brother."

He sighed because he saw that his brother was trying to smile so that he wouldn't worry.

He knows a fake smile when he sees one because he's an expert at faking a smile. And as much as possible, he doesn't want his brother to ever learn how to fake a smile and happiness in front of him. He didn't want him to be like him, who learned how to control his emotions in front of people.

He doesn't want his brother to be a fake. like him, even though he's pretending to be him.

Midnight, his little brother, exists only to be his shadow-to be him when it's needed. They look so much alike-except for their height; he's a little taller than his brother, but that wouldn't be noticed if they weren't close together-even though they're not twins and his father uses that.

In dangerous situations, if there are threats but he still has to make a public appearance, Midnight will come out as him-as Count Knight-so he can be protected because he's the firstborn. Only a few people know that Midnight Velasquez exists. To the outside world, there's no Midnight. Except for the people inside the Palace, everyone knows that Lord Kelleon Velasquez has only one son. Him. Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez

Midnight doesn't exist. He was made to take his place in dangerous situations. When his father knows and foresees that his life will be in danger, Midnight will let Knight out so that even if he is shot, he will still be safe.

Midnight is his double.

And he keeps on asking himself, How can his father do that to his own blood? How? Midnight is a good kid. So he needs to be powerful so he can get Midnight away from the life their father made for him.

He will give him his identity, no matter what.

"Midnight." He hardened his voice and infused it with authority. "What is it?" he asked again. "Spit it out."

Midnight looked at him. "Don't leave?"

He raised two eyebrows at him. "Was that so hard to say?"

"Kinda." This is the answer. "I know you're busy looking for our sister, and I don't want to monopolize your time and attention."

"Stay here. Don't move." he ordered Midnight, who was standing by the door, then turned to his cell phone that was on the bed to call Cloud.

"Yes, my Lord?" Cloud immediately answered on the other line. "The plane is ready."

"I have to cancel." Cloud chuckled. "Was it the puppy-dog eye or the fake smile that softened your cold heart, my Lord?" He sighed. "Fake smile."

"I thought you missed your friends; that's why you're going back to the Philippines.

"Midnight needs me."

"Okay. Got it, my Lord. By the way, I already got a hold of Mr. Kavotzki, the CEO of KNVel Trading in Italy, who also laundered millions from your Company. What shall I do with him?"

He smiled coldly and said, "What else? Show him how nice Count Knight Velasquez can be. You have to be hospitable and polite, Cloud."

"Of course, my Lord. I shall use my katana to show how hospitable my Lord is."

"Thanks, Cloud." He ended the call, putting a smile on his face before facing Night. "I cancelled my flight. What do you want to do?"

Midnight's face instantly lit up. "Really? Yes!" It was like a child who had been punched in the air and then smiled widely. "Ice cream, then Billiards and Tennis."

He laughed, then approached him and put his arm around him carefully. "If that's what you want, that's what you'll get."

Night looked at him. "Won't Papa be angry? He forbids me to eat ice cream for a month as part of my punishment."

He ruffled his hair, then sent a message to Cloud to drive them. "I'll take care of it. Trust me, okay?"

Midnight nodded with a happy smile on his face. not a fake one. That's good.

"Are we going out, Big Brother?" He nodded. "Yeah."

"Won't Papa be angry?"

"There is no ice cream here in the palace; how are you going to eat it?" He asked his brother. "We'll go out. Then no one else will see us. We'll just be inside the car. Cloud will drive us." Midnight grinned. "Can't wait."

Laughing, he ruffled his hair. "You can eat all the ice cream you want, but no take home, okay? You might be punished again. I hate seeing you in pain." Midnight nodded. "Yes, Brother." "Good."

Midnight and I walked side by side towards their secret passage so they could get out of the palace. They cannot pass in front because the guard will stop them.

After leaving the palace, Cloud was there immediately. The car is ready, as he ordered here in the text he sent.

He immediately let Night ride before him.

"Where to?" Cloud asked.

"Ice Cream Parlour," he answered, then bent down to look at the passenger seat because he was in the backseat and his brother was in the front. "Seatbelt on, Night," he said while fixing his hair, "why is your hair a mess? Fix it."

"I'm not going out." Midnight's defence

"Even so. Adjust your collar."

Cloud sighed before helping Midnight straighten his collar. "There. anything else," Cloud glanced at him, "my Lord?"

"Gone." He then turned to his brother. "Which ice cream parlour? Los Alpes or in La Romana? You pick."

"La Romana," Midnight said quickly with a blessed smile.

"La Romana it is," said Cloud, then started moving the car.

Arriving at the ice cream parlour that Midnight chose, Cloud was the only one who went down to buy his brother a drink. When it returned, it brought three kinds of ice cream and gave all of them to Midnight.

And before Cloud start the engine of the car, he looked back at him, who was in the backseat. "Where to, my Lord?"

"Just roam around while he's eating. No destination."

"Yes, my Lord," Cloud said, then immediately revved up the car's engine and started it.

"Brother, is your friend kind?" Night asked him. "Will you introduce me to them?"

Knight took a deep breath. "When the right time comes,

"Can I also call them brother?" He smiled. "Of course it's brother Val and brother Shun. They're good friends of mine."

Midnight peered at him in the backseat. "You think they'll like me? Won't they find it creepy that we look alike even though we're not twins?"

"I'm sure they'll accept you." Midnight smiled. "That'll be nice," he said with a faraway look on his face, "Except for you and brother Cloud, no one wants to talk to me in the Palace. It'll be nice to talk to other people every now and then."

"It will happen; don't worry."

Midnight smiled again. "Okay," he said, and he went back to eating.

Their car roamed around for an hour before it stopped in front of their secret passageway inside the palace. They need to get back or their father will catch them, and he will surely punish Midnight again.

Midnight looks sad as he stares at the entrance. "Going back again," he whispered. He held his pulse. "We have to. There's no point in hiding and running away. They'll find us anyway."

Midnight nodded, then entered their secret passage first.

"Brother, let's play billiards and then Tennis," his brother happily told him as they walked side by side. "You're not leaving, right? So it's okay if I monopolize your time, right?"

He smiled at his brother. "Of course we'll play billiards and tennis, but I won't let you win just because you're my little brother."

Midnight grinned at him and said, "I can beat you fair and square."

"No way, you punk." He laughed and said, "You can't beat me." Midnight laughed. "Of course I can. Watch and see."

"Prepare to lose," he joked.

Midnight stuck out his tongue at him. "You'll lose."

He shook his head, laughing.

When they were inside the palace, walking towards the entertainment area, someone blocked their four guards. Fuck! The knight cussed before looking at the guards with an emotionless face. "What is it?"

"Lord Kelleon requests your presence, my Lord." That's one of the guards.

Knight felt his brother freeze.

He immediately smiled at Midnight. "It's okay. You go to the Entertainment room first. Ask Cloud to play billiards with you."

Midnight nodded silently and followed what he said. He was guided by the guard to where his father was.

in his private office inside the palace.

"Father,"he said, slightly bowing to it.

His father dismissed the guards before he spoke.

"I heard you took Midnight out." This did not surprise him anymore. His father has eyes and ears inside the palace. "You know I forbid it."

"I will take full responsibility for what I did, father," he said in a low but firm voice.

"I told you to stay away from him. You're soft when it comes to him. I don't like it."

His jaw simply dropped. "Father, he's sad and-"

"I don't care." He looked into his eyes. "Or would you rather want me to send him to a place where you can't see him even from a distance?"

Knight stopped clenching his fist.

His father is not bluffing. He can and will take Midnight away from him to a place where he can't see him. That's what happens when he and Midnight get close.

He was ten and Night was nearly nine when their father first took Midnight away. He waited years for him to bring back his brother. and then, when they were eighteen, his father took Midnight away again for the reason that they were getting closer than needed. Midnight came back when he was already nearing twenty-one.

But Midnight never complained. He would just smile at him after years of being separated. Even if they don't see each other for several years, the brother always has a smile for him when they meet. And when he asks him what he did, he immediately shuts up and doesn't want to tell him.

He wanted to push his brother to know everything, but seeing his worried face, he couldn't. "Father-"

"Stay away from him, Knight, or I will send him away." his father threatened. "And for what you did today, Midnight will be punished. One hundred lashes." No! Midnight's back was still hurting!

"I will take full responsibility, father," he begged his father. "Please-"

"Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez! How many times do I have to tell you not to beg?" His father's voice boomed and echoed inside the room, making him flinch. "You will become the head of the House of Velasquez! A Count never begs! A Royal never used the word 'please'! You will not beg, you hear me?!" "Yes, father."

"You want to take full responsibility?" "Yes, father."

"Then tell me firmly and force me! Don't waver! You want something, then have it forcefully if you can't. Now... Midnight will be punished-"

"No." He looked at his father dead in the eyes, man to man. "Punish me instead. I'm the one who took him out. It was my decision, not his."

"Don't be an insolent child."

"You can add more lashes for going against your wishes," he added. "Punish me."

His father smiled, making his insides die slowly. "Good. That's my son. Take full responsibility like a man, like the head of the house of Velasquez."

"I prefer to be punished now," he requested.

His father called someone on the intercom, and when the door opened, he saw his personal bodyguard. Orlando. His father's personal Ultor

"One hundred and twenty lashes, Orlando. Make it painful." His father ordered. "Make him feel how painful it is to go against his father. And don't pass out, my son, or else your brother will be punished severely." "Yes, Master."

Orlando silently led him out of his father's private office and towards the basement, where he would be punished.

He's used to this. People think that being Lord Kelleon's son is a blessing, but contrary to everyone's knowledge, it's hell. No one knows what happens to him in the basement. Only a couple of people. Not even Midnight knows, and he prefers it that way.

Midnight must not know this. He wants his brother to see him and talk to him without guilt on his face. He couldn't protect her completely, but he would make sure to protect her smile for him. That's all he can do for Midnight. For now.

That's why he's striving to become powerful and strong. Just wait a bit, little brother.

Knight was speechless as Orlando tied his hands and feet. Then Orlando spoke. "Is this what you really want? I can go and drag Midnight down here.

"I will take full responsibility." He said that his face and voice were emotionless. Orlando tsked. "Your love for your brother will be the death of you." "Then so be it."

"You don't have to be punished, my Lord.

"Just do it, Orlando." He then closed his eyes. "Better me than my brother. I can take it."

Orlando tsked again before holding the whip tightly. "This will hurt."

"I'm used to it." His father likes it when he takes full responsibility or when he takes half of Midnight's punishment. because for his father, it's a sign of strength, courage, bravery, and unwavering determination that a good noble lord and the head of the house of Velasquez have to have.

"Then..." Orlando started moving the whip on his hand, "take it like a man, my Lord."

Knight held back his scream as Orlando lashed him. Whip after whip on his back, but no sound came out of his mouth. He held it in-the screams of agony and excruciating pain-until the very end of one hundred and twenty lashes.

"Lord Kelleon will be very pleased to know that you didn't pass out, my Lord," said Orlando while removing the rope from his hands and feet. Then he called someone outside the basement room. "Cloud! Take your master!"

Cloud entered the punishment room in the basement while he swayed, trying to balance himself but couldn't.

Cloud immediately came to his aid. "My Lord!"

He held onto Cloud's shoulder to keep him from falling and weakly begged him. "Don't let Night see me like this..

"Of course, my Lord."

Hearing that and trusting his butler's words, Knight let himself pass out.

KNIGHT awoke weak and in pain, his back throbbing. He was lying on his bed and didn't want to move, but when he saw what time it was-it's 10:30 p.m.-he tried to get up and was stunned to see Cloud sitting on the only sofa inside his room.

His back is already bandaged, and it looks like Cloud has cleaned his wound.

"Hey..." His voice sounded weak.

"My Lord." He immediately stood up, poured water into the glass that was on the centre table, then approached him and said, "Drink this. I put some herbs to calm your nerves."

Knight forced himself to hold the glass and drink.

"How many hours did I sleep?" he asked.

"All day, my Lord."

When he returned the glass to Cloud, he gave him a whole cake.

"Father will punish you."

Ever since he was little, cake wasn't allowed in their household for a reason.

"Let him punish me then," said Cloud. "I don't mind. You need cake after what happened."

"Thank you," he said as he started eating the cake.

Cake has been his comfort food. Ever since he was little. Cloud bowed. "You're always welcome, my Lord. By the way, your friend Valerian called, asking if you're going back to the Philippines. I told him you're still busy at the moment. Not to worry, I didn't tell him that you had been lashed."

"Thank you." He grunted when he moved and felt his back ache.

"By the way, my Lord, Midnight hasn't eaten yet."

As Cloud said, he immediately stood up and spread the cake container on top of his bed. "Where is he? Why hasn't he eaten yet? I hope you forced him!"

"Your father forbids him to eat," Cloud said. "He said he ate ice cream, so he shouldn't eat any more."

"What?!" He snapped at Cloud. "Fuck! He must be hungry!"

"My Lord, you're back." Cloud stopped him. "If you keep moving, your wounds will open and bleed."

He took a black t-shirt and put it on. No one can see his blood if the colour of his clothes is black.

"I have to go see him. Prepare a meal for him, Cloud. I'll take full responsibility if father asks." He then hurried out of his room and almost ran between his and hers.

To hell with his back. To hell with his pain. He can endure. He has to see his brother.

There was no guard outside his room, so he was able to enter easily.

"Midnight-" he paused when he saw him asleep.

Knight let out a relieved sigh. Thank God.

He carefully closed the door, then approached his brother and sat on the edge of his bed. It was frozen while lying down, maybe so that the wounds on its back made by the whip wouldn't get pierced. He raised his hand to stroke his brother's hair.

He didn't listen for the whole day.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Midnight stirred in his sleep before slowly opening his eyes. "Brother?" He asked as if to make sure. He smiled. "Hey..."

He immediately got up and sat facing him. "Where did you go? I asked Papa, and he said leave because you don't want to be with me because he scolded you because of me because I ate ice cream. I'm sorry."

Knight wanted to correct Midnight. He wanted to tell him that he wasn't around because he passed out after being punished. but he didn't want his brother to know that.

"I just have to do something," he said.

Night looked down. "I thought we were going to play billiards, then tennis." "Maybe tomorrow?"

Night's face fell. "Father told me to pack today."

His eyes widened in fear. "No-"

"It's okay." Midnight smiled at him. "I'll probably be gone for a few years, and then I'll be right back." "No, Night-"

"It's okay." Midnight forced a smile at him, and it made his heart clench in pain. "Maybe it's for the better that Father is sending me away, brother, so you can focus and be the boss. I'll be cheering for you."

"No, Night, I'll talk to Father-"

"We both know we can't stop him," Midnight whispered. "So be a boss, okay? If I'm not back in three years and you become a boss, come find me. I'll wait for you, Brother."

"Night, let me talk to my father first. I can change his mind," he insisted.

His brother shook his head. "It's okay. I'm doing this for you, brother, so you can focus your attention on becoming a boss, on becoming powerful and stronger. I promise I'll be a good man and won't do anything to get punished, so you don't need to worry." "Midnight..."

"Just promise me when you become a boss that you'll come find and get me."

He couldn't do anything but nod and hold out his hand. "Promise.I'll come find you and get you."

Midnight smiled trustingly at him. "I'll hold on to that, Brother."

"Promise,"he said.

He and Midnight did a forearm handshake. "Promise."

Midnight and I both smiled when he turned to the door when someone knocked and it opened.

Cloud enters with food on the tray.

"Eat up," he said to his brother. Midnight grinned. "Thanks! I'm famished!"

Knight just stares at his brother while he eats well, and Cloud supports him by reprimanding him to eat slowly. and Night was just chuckling and shoving the food into his mouth. Be a boss... His need to become powerful has never been this strong.

"Done." Midnight's words woke him up.

"I shall take these and clean up," Cloud said before walking out of the room with the tray empty of food.

Midnight went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and then went back to bed.

"Let's play chess?" Midnight asked him.

"Sure," he answered with a smile.

And that's how they spent their night. playing chess and talking until past midnight.

"Sleep," he said to his brother. "You and Orlando must be early tomorrow." Midnight sighed. "Okay."

Seeing his brother feeling down, he took off the necklace around his neck with a compass pendant and put it around Midnight's. "Here. Take this. Mom gave it to me before she died. She said that through this compass, she can always find me and look after me even after death. So I'm giving it to you. Even if I'm not by your side, just think that I am with you because of this. If you're still not back after three years, I'll find you."

Midnight held the compass pendant and smiled at him. "Thank you, Brother. I'll keep it. I promise."

"Good. Don't lose it."

Midnight stood up, smiling, and hugged him tightly. "Come find me, okay? I trust you, Brother."

"I will find you, little brother. Trust me."

Midnight nodded, then let go of his embrace and lay down on his bed.

And in that moment, he doesn't want to leave his brother. He will not see him again tomorrow. Fuck!

It will be years before they see each other again. And he can't do anything about it.

He lay on his side next to his brother. "I'll sleep here. Is that okay?"

Midnight nodded with a smile. "It's fine. I like having my brother around. I feel safe whenever you're with me, brother. No matter what I go through, no matter what Papa makes me do, no matter how much he tortures me, as long as I know you are behind me, I will not give up. As long as you won't abandon me, I'll keep on fighting."

He ruffled his brother's hair. "I'll die first before I abandon you, little brother."

"I know." Midnight smiled. "Good night, Brother."

"Good night, Night." he whispered back.

Midnight closed his eyes, and Knight watched as his little brother fell asleep beside him.

Tomorrow, he will not see him again for the next three years.

Knight was adamant to find his brother after three years, after he became a boss; that was his promise to Midnight. The promise that he will keep and will not break

But Five Years Later...

There was still no Midnight, and Knight couldn't find him to keep his promise. He failed.

Knight JUST SMILED while Valerian looked at him evilly. They were at Thorn Calderon's Restaurant, having breakfast. Valerian has dark shadows of bags under his eyes, and he's pretty sure it has something to do with him last night. because he just arrived from Spain this morning and called him.

but no way in hell would he admit it. Not to Valerian. He likes to tease him a lot.

"The next time you come back from Spain, bug someone else!" Valerian hissed at him before sipping his coffee irritatedly. "Fuck you, you know that? Then you're going to tease me for breakfast and I'll pay for it? It's really thick." He looked down. "Who would I bug other than you, best friend?"

"That little one! You call him!" Valerian was annoyed with him again. "Your race is the same conqueror." He stopped laughing. "Shun? He doesn't want to. He's busy-"

"Oh, so I'm not busy, are you?" Valerian's eyes were almost bulging with anger, but he was still laughing. "Do you know what time I fell asleep last night? 1 AM! Then you called at 4 AM-"

"That means you had 3 hours sleep." He winked at his friend, "You're welcome." "Fuck you!"

He grinned at Valerian. "You're so sweet."

"Fuck you to hell."

"Aww... should we date?"

Valerian let out a violent breath as his shoulders slumped as if in surrender. "I hate you."

The smile disappeared from his lips. "You're hurting me now."

Valerian immediately looked up at him. "Fine. We'll be friends for one more year."

"I'm still hurting." "Two years?" "Nope."

"Fine!" Valerian huffed. "Three!" Knight chuckled. "Gotcha."

Valerian glared at him. "Go away."

"Thank you." He smiled. "Anyways, I prefer you to Shun. He teases me all the time," he tsked. "Hmm... by the way, didn't I just say earlier this evening that I was at the airport? I didn't say you were going to pick me up."

Valerian looked at him with disgust. "You're so fucking gross. And it's early morning, not early evening!" It hit him. "And why are you driving me? Are you a woman? Fuck! You make me want to fucking vomit!"

Knight stopped laughing at Valerian's angry face. "Why the hell are you mad? I heard from Shun that Grace is back."

Valerian immediately fell silent. Knight tsked. "You're such a pussycat."

Valerian cussed again. "Please let me know if she's back."

"You don't love her anymore?"

Valerian was silent again.

"Valerian has just been slain by Count Knight." He was teasing here.

Valerian glared at him again. "Don't talk to me!"

Valerian abruptly stood up and was about to leave when he murmured. "Fuck... I want some cake."

Valerian just gave him a bad look and left him, but he wasn't surprised when a few minutes later Valerian came back too-he was carrying a whole cake. He grinned at Val. "Thanks, best friend."

"Your face is still like an animal. Go back to your country."

Knight just laughed and then started eating the cake.

He was silent when Valerian spoke again. "You look sadder than usual."

He stopped eating the cake himself and looked at the person in front of him. "What gives?" Valerian shrugged. "I just know.I know you, remember?" Knight just laughed. "Don't mind me, best friend. I'll be fine."

"Don't call me your best friend!" Valerian hissed at him again. "I'm not your best friend." "Yeah, yeah..."

"Knight!" was Lander's voice walking towards him. "Good thing you're here." He reached for his driver's licence. "I got this for you last week. Happy now?"

Knight immediately grinned as he accepted the I.D. "Fuck yeah! And my car?"

"In BV, outside Volkzki's house."

Valerian frowned at Lander. "What car?"

Lander smirked at Val. "It's better than you don't know. You know that crazy person." He pointed at him before looking at him. "Anyways, I already took care of everything, including the papers and registration. All you have to do is drive it."

"Thank you!" He said with a wide grin.

Lander sat at the table with Valerian. And since that chair was just a table, he took a chair from another table and pulled it towards their table.

"You owe me breakfast," Lander told him.

"Sure." He got the waiter's attention, and when he got close, he turned to Lander. "Eat all you can; Val will pay." "What the fuck-"

"I'll pay you back." He immediately rebuked Valerian's cursing.

Val looked at him badly. "Oh, really? Where do I list this time? In the water or on the sand?"

He gave Valerian a cheeky smile. "I pick water."

"Thick face," Val hissed at him.

Knight just smiled and ordered some more after Lander ordered his food.

And their breakfast became so crowded when their other friends started showing up. From Lander to Cali Even the Coleman twins are present.

Imagine a 'for only two' table surrounded by 13 men. All having breakfast and snatching each other's food from each other's plates.

"This is fucked up," Ymar said. "Why are we eating at the same table again?" Dark shrugged. "Who knows?" This is what Lander said next. "I was here first."

"Iuhence!" Zapanta hissed at Vergara. "That's my fucking coffee! Don't you dare drink it! Too late. Vergara had already chugged it down his throat.

"Hence! Pay it!"

Vergara asked before pulling a wallet from his pocket. He looked at the wallet first. "Fuck. I only have 100 pesos." He turned to Train. "Let me lend you 50 pesos so Zapanta won't be able to sleep thinking about the coffee I drank." Without complaining, Train took out 50 pesos from his wallet and handed it to Iuhence. "When will you pay me?" "Tomorrow."

Train nodded while they all chuckled.

Therefore, 'tomorrow' means next year or the next few years to come.

While Iuhence was buying Tyron's coffee downstairs, Calyx was munching on Lash's pancakes.

Lash sighed while shaking his head at Calyx. "I envy such a thick face."

Everyone nodded, including him.

Then everyone glanced at him.

He frowned with an innocent look. "What?" Shun tsked. "Zapanta ordered a cake; you ate it. Then Wolkzbin ordered a cake; you ate it as well. Then Coleman bought a cake; you ate it too. Same with Lander's cake and Cali's cake."

His eyes widen with shock. "What the fuck... not to spoil that?" Everyone sighed.

Zapanta looked at Valerian, whose mouth was already open, to correct him. "Don't correct him. That's practizing."

Shun takes a loud breath. "Alright, Spaniard, how do you beat the cake?"

He scratched the back of his neck. Eat, of course."

Everyone sighed again, like they were giving up on him.

"It's 'that's not for me', not 'that's not for me," Valerian corrected him, looking irritated.

"Oh," Knight was holding his laughter. It's really fun teasing his friends.

He doesn't get bored because of them. It's a nice feeling.

"Would you like more cake?" Train asked him. "Vergara will buy you some since he owes you after stealing your fiancé."

He turned to Vergara, who had just returned from buying Tyron coffee. "Then I want Triple Bavarian Cake!"

Vergara looked at him flatly. "I borrowed fifty, and then you're going to buy a cake? Do you know how expensive that is?"

Knight pointed at Val. "He always buys me cakes." Iuhence snorted. "That's because you two are a couple."

Shun immediately roared. "So what am I, a third party?"

"Like three people in a relationship?" He laughed and laughed. "Isn't it called a threesome?"

Valerian's fist clenched at him. He saw it coming but didn't move; he let Valerian hit his face.

"It's called a love triangle, you idiot!"

His lips formed into an 'o' as he cupped his own cheeks. "Holy mother fucker!" He faked a gasp. "You want a threesome love triangle?"

Everyone who was there looked at them while Valerian picked up the bread knife from the table and attacked him.

"I'm going to kill you, you lunatic!" Valerian sneered at him.

He laughed and took out the pocket knife from his pocket and threw it at Valerian, who immediately caught it.

"Use that to stab me, he said with a smile as he started to run away from Valerian. "It's much sharper!"

"I will really kill you!" Valerian shouted as he chased after him.

Knight was laughing his ass off as he ran away from Valerian, who was chasing him with his very own pocket knife. He was so sad and desperate when he was in Spain; he had been punished severely again for begging, but now, while running from Val after teasing him, his heart felt lighter, he's calmer, he forgot the pain caused by the fresh wound on his back, and above all... he's happy.

... Even when he didn't deserve to be happy, he felt happy.

happy to be around his lunatic friends again.

Only if Midnight is here... then it'll be complete.

Knight didn't realize that he stopped running while Valerian stopped a few metres away behind him.

"Knight." It was Val calling his name; he rarely calls him by his name.

He looked at her with no emotion on his face. "What?"

"Your back..." his eyes were on his back, "it's bleeding."

Knight froze, then immediately looked away with shame in his face. Why did he forget? He's wearing a light-colored t-shirt.

"Don't tell them," he whispered. "Don't look..."

Valerian tsked before taking off his coat and throwing it at the back of his neck. "Cover your back with that. I'll tell Shun."

Knight obediently wrapped Val's coat around his back to hide his shirt, which was soaked with his own blood.

Am I having so much fun that I didn't feel the pain in my back? Or was it because I'm used to the pain and I felt numb-I didn't feel anything?

He saw Valerian pointing at him while talking to their friends, so he immediately smiled until his cell phone rang.

"Speak, Dimitri?" He said to the other line in a cold voice.

"Boss, Shereik Abdul is the man behind the Triad's movement in the Middle East. And his wife knows nothing of his husband's illegal deeds. Uncannily, the husband treasures his wife so much that he won't let her in into his dark world, so we can't get anything from her. As we speak, we already have people inside to infiltrate their homes."

"Why infiltrate the home?" Knight asked. "We need the husband. Use the wife."

Dimitri, his personal Ultor-his punisher in the Organosi-was silent for a second. "Boss?"

Knight smiled at his friends, but his voice was cold and merciless as he spoke to Dimitri. "Use the wife to flush out the husband."

"But Boss, she's innocent."

"Do I sound like I care?" He waved at his friends with a smile, but his voice was uncaring. "Use her. I don't care how. You can kill her if you want, I don't mind either. The important thing is that we corner her husband. I don't care who gets killed, just do the job and be done with it." when they capture Shereik Abdul as his father ordered, he will give him a hint as to where his brother is. "We have other important matters to do than infiltrate that motherfucker's house."

If he has to sacrifice and use everyone around him to see Midnight and keep his promise... then so be it.

His father was still using him, moulding him into the great noble man that he should be. After five years, the torture continues. Yes, he's now a boss, powerful, and feared, but he's still an obedient dog when it comes to his father. Because he knows very well what to say and do to get him to say yes.

If he won't do his bidding, then Midnight will be punished, wherever he is. His father still holds the ace of cards. and he's good at playing him.

"Boss, there was a threat to Mr. Volkzki's life from Abdul's friend in the Triad. Looks like they found out that you have friends," Dimitri said as if he were being warned. "It looks like they want to control your movements. What should we do?

"I don't care who they kill; they won't stop me. Everyone around me is just a pawn after all. Do your job."

"Yes, Boss." Dimitri's calm voice was forced; he could tell before he ended the call.

Then he looked at Valerian, who was staring annoyingly at Shun Kim.

In danger, huh? Well, he may still be obedient, but he's not powerless like before. He'd changed. He already lost his brother; he's not losing another one.

Knight smiled at his friends as he called one of his men. "Guard a man named Valerian Volkzki. I will send you the details later. If something bad happens to him, I will bury you and your whole family alive, understand?" "Yes, boss!"

He hung up the phone, walked back to his friends, and slumped down in the chair left earlier.

"Iuh, where did you buy this coffee?" There was a complaint in Tyron's voice. "It tastes bad."

"Outside." He grinned. "They love their coffee here." It made him laugh even more. "It's fine with Calderon. Anyway, coffee is coffee. How can that taste any different?"

Tyron just sighed before getting the waiter's attention for their bill.

Thankfully, they have their own set of bills. Calderon seems to have really trained its employees when it comes to them.

He still remembers their fight here, and no one gave up because they only had one bill. Count who ate So Calderon's staff has learned from them.

"Since you ate my cake, you will pay for it," Cali said.

and everyone followed. Everyone who orders a cake is the one who pays.

He took out his wallet from his pocket and showed the inside to his friends. "Look, I have no money."

"We accept cards, sir." That waiter

"I don't have a card." Shun glared at him. "You're counting, for fuck's sake!" He pouted. "Well, I don't have any money. Help?"

Ymar took the wallet he was holding and checked it. Ymar tsked. "You really have no shame, ever. This is a new wallet, you lunatic! It even has a price tag. And it's worth fifty-five thousand pesos. Is that the one without money?"

"It's a gift." from his father. He plans to sell it once he arrives in the Philippines.

Ymar gave his empty wallet to the waiter and said, "We'll pay with this."

The waiter frowned at them. "We don't accept things as payment, Sir."

"Why not?" they asked at the same time.

The waiter backed away from them, as if scared and worried. It's pale. "I-I-II will call the manager!" He said, then suddenly ran away from them.

"You scared the poor guy to death." Comment by Lath "This is the reason why waiters avoid us."

They all laughed and stopped when the Manager of that Floor approached them with the waiter who had run away from them earlier.

"We will accept the wallet as payment." The manager accepted the wallet. "I asked who owns this?"

"Me," he answered.

"Then I will inform Mr. Calderon immediately."

The waiter whispered to the manager, but he still heard. "Is it really okay for them to pay with a wallet?"

The Manager whispered back. "They're special cases."

He laughed, then shook his head. Thorn Calderon trained his employees well.

Review: five stars.

When they left the restaurant, everyone patted him on the back and shoulder to say goodbye, except for Shun and Valerian.

Knight has to control himself from wincing every time a friend pats his back. Fuck!

When he got into Valerian's car, he was speechless as he drove back to BV. When they arrived outside his house, Valerian looked at him curiously when he saw the car Lander was referring to earlier.

"Really?" Valerian gave him an arched look. "A Taxi?" Knight grinned. "I want to be a Taxi Driver. I saved up for that, you might think."

Valerian just tsked and shook his ear. "You're hopeless. I thought you were a DJ or some sort."

"Yeah. It's my part-time."

"And how do you explain being a waiter at some restaurant months ago? I saw you."

Knight just smiled at Valerian. "Part of my charm."

Valerian asked before entering his home. When they were in the living room, Shun came in with a first aid kit.

Knight immediately took off his top and sat on the floor, his back to the long sofa where the two were sitting.

"What did you do to be lashed this time?" Shun asked while cleaning his wound. I begged. "Nothing."

"That's always your answer," said Valerian, then left the living room.

"How many times were you whipped while you were there?" Shun asked while covering his wound with a bandage. "You have fresh and nearly healing cuts. Isn't it painful?"

"I'm used to it." Shun sighed. "Why don't you want to tell us the truth?"

He stood up and looked at Shun. Because this is the only way I know how to protect you and Valerian. If I show that I care, you will be part of my father's ace of cards, and I won't allow it. As long as my father thinks I'm lying and manipulating you two, then it'll be okay.

Knight faked a grin on his face. "Thank you." Shun glared at him. "Drop that fake smile. It's irritating."

Before he could answer, Valerian returned to the living room. I brought beer and strawberry cake for him.

"Eat and drink up, then I'll drive you to your house," said Valerian to him.

He quickly drank the beer, ate the cake, and stood up. "No need. I'm going somewhere else, eh. See you later."

"Knight, you need to rest." Valerian seriously restrained him. "Your back wound will bleed again if you move again."

"No." I have to go to HQ to talk to Cloud. "I have to go."

He was determined to leave, but before he reached the door, he felt weak and started to wobble.

He touch his head and turned to Valerian as his eyes rolled. "What did you put in my drink?"

"Sleeping pills." He then walked towards him. "I know you won't listen if we let you rest."

"Fuck..." was all he could say before he passed out.

Knight WOKE up, and it's already afternoon. He looked at his wristwatch. 4:30 p.m. He got up from the bed, took his cell phone from the bedside table, and left the room.

He's at Valerian's house. He's alone.

Walking downstairs, he checked his cellphone to see if he had received a message. He received one. An email from Cloud. ------------

FROM: CLOUD SEBASTIAN To: Minrod Subject: Meeting

Message: I received an invitation in your stead, My Lord. Later at 2 a.m. in HQ Philippines All seven bosses of the Organosi will be present. Don't be late, my Lord. ------------ Great! He'd been a boss for nearly three years now, but all seven bosses in one room haven't happened yet. This must be a very important agenda item to talk about.

When he got down to the kitchen, he saw the post-it note stuck on the table next to the food covered with a food cover and medicine. Eat up. Take your fucking medications. Don't fucking bug me. I'm fucking working. – V.'

Knight slumped down in the chair at the table and ate quietly. Then he just left the food in case he broke it when he washed it.

After leaving Valerian's house, he got into the Taxi he ordered from Lander. The key was in the ignition, so he didn't have any problems.

He drove out of BV and started working.

He stopped the Taxi in front of a group of women who were passing by and then rolled down the window of the passenger seat. "Where are you?"

Instead of answering him, the three women just stared at him. Knight just smiled. He's used to it. He's not a narcissist, but he knew that he was good-looking.

"Where are you?" He asked again. "J-just there."

The smile on his face remains. "Where is it?"

"M-Mall..."

"Hop on." He said.

The three got on board. At first, their trip was quiet, but then the three interviewed him.

Questions after questions And all of his answers were lies.

"The change is yours, Brother handsome." said one of the female passengers before getting off.

He stared at the 300 pesos in his hand and laughed. I think it's fun to be a taxi driver. It looks like he needs to work more to earn money.

And that's how his night started. driving people to their destinations with his new Taxi.

It was already one a.m. when he parked his Taxi in front of Racini's Hotel. He immediately went inside and went straight to the elevator.

He punched in his code, using the floor's number, before pressing the close button.

Then the elevator started going down.

Knight looked up at the ceiling of the elevator and closed his eyes as he felt the pain of his wound.

"Fuck," he hissed softly. "When will I stop being in pain?" Knight tsked. This pain won't stop until he becomes more powerful than his father.

But it'll be a long time, damn it!

His mind returned to the present when the elevator opened. He stepped out and punched in his code again for the double steel door to open and let him in.

While walking in, he was greeted by Cloud, who was staying at the HQ.

"My Lord," he looked at him from head to toe, "you look like shit." He grunted. "This is how handsome men look nowadays." Cloud chuckled. "The other bosses are already in the conference room, waiting."

He nodded, then accepted the stainless steel water bottle given to him by Cloud. "What's inside?"

Cloud just smiled while he had a cold poker face on as they walked. All the members of the organisation they passed looked at him and bowed, but he didn't look at anyone.

No close colleagues, no problem. He will never give another ace of cards to his father.

He opened the lid of the stainless steel water bottle and smelled the contents. He shook his head. "This is the reason why I can't fire you." He drank the beer from the Stainless Steel water bottle. "Damn, that's good."

"As if you can live without me, My Lord," Cloud retorts back. "I'm too precious."

Knight's face remains stoic. "Yeah, yeah..."

When he got to the Conference Room, Cloud opened the door for him.

Inside were six men, including himself.

"I will take my leave now, my Lord," Cloud said without waiting for him to answer. it's gone

Knight examined the men in front of him carefully, assessing their strengths and analysing their weaknesses that he could exploit in the near future. That's who he is. He was raised that way.

to think of other people as beneath him. to think that in order to control the people around him... His need to lie and pretend was necessary.

These men, these other bosses-he knew them already from reports and telltales.

"Won't you introduce yourself?" Daemon Cox, the head of South America, asked.

"Why bother?" he said in a cold, distant voice. "I'm sure you know me already."

"For formality's sake, mate," said Draco, head of Australia.

Knight didn't bother answering. What's the use? If these people get close to him in some way, they will be used against him too.

No more ace of cards, father.

"Let's start the agenda," he said.

"Hold up," Monti Parisi said. "We're still missing one boss."

that made him still. Missing one? Oh, yeah. They're supposed to be seven, but only six, including himself, were present. and he has no idea who it was because the boss of North America was newly appointed.

"That brat," Daemon tsked, "I told him not to be late. Is he oversleeping again?" He looked at Daemon. It looks like the two know each other. Well, they have to know each other. They're, after all, the closest of them all. South and North American bosses

Knight stands up and walks towards the door. "I hate waiting. Just call me when he arrives."

He was about to open the door when it opened from the outside and the newcomer entered.

"Sorry, everybody!" The newcomer sounded so cherry and energetic. "I overslept!"

"I knew it!" Daemon hissed.Everyone was joking around with the newcomer, the new head of North America, but Knight was frozen, rooted in place, as he stared at the man with the same face as his smiling and joking with Daemon Cox. "N-Night..."

Midnight glanced at him; his eyes were cold and his body movement was distant, but he still managed a smile for him.

a fake smile that he hated. "Yow."

That single word, for some reason, made a crack in his heart.

not 'Brother' but 'yow'. Like I'm a stranger.