The next morning, the weight of the previous day's training still clung to Nereus. His muscles ached as if they were on fire, a constant reminder of the intense lessons Salvatore had put him through.
But despite the soreness, there was a newfound determination coursing through his veins. He had made a choice to walk beside Victor, not behind him, and that meant facing every challenge head-on.Victor was already awake when Nereus stirred, quietly sitting at the edge of the bed, staring at something in the distance.
His usual composed demeanor was there, but there was a shadow in his eyes, something deep and impenetrable that Nereus hadn't seen before.
"Victor?" Nereus's voice was soft, laced with concern.Victor turned, his expression softening just slightly as he met Nereus's gaze.
"You're awake. How are you feeling?"Nereus stretched, wincing slightly at the stiffness in his muscles.
"Sore, but... ready for whatever comes next."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Victor's mouth, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You don't have to push yourself so hard, Nereus. You're doing better than you think."
Nereus sat up, the sheets falling away as he moved closer to Victor, his hand reaching out to rest on his back.
"I want to be strong, Victor. I want to be someone who can stand beside you, not someone you need to protect all the time."
Victor's gaze shifted away for a moment, his jaw tightening.
"I never wanted you to get involved in this world, Nereus. It's... darker than you know. And once you're in, there's no escaping it."Nereus's hand moved up to Victor's shoulder, squeezing gently.
"I've already made my choice. I want to be with you, no matter what that means."
Victor's shoulders tensed, but after a moment, he let out a long breath, his hand coming up to cover Nereus's.
"I don't deserve you."Nereus frowned, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"Victor stood, pulling away slightly as he paced to the window, the morning light casting a harsh glow on his sharp features.
"I've done things, Nereus—things you can't even imagine.
My hands are stained with blood, and I've hurt people... people who deserved it, maybe, but it doesn't change what I've become."Nereus stood and crossed the room to join him, his heart aching at the pain in Victor's voice.
"You're not just what you've done, Victor. You're more than that."Victor's expression darkened, his eyes meeting Nereus's with a cold, hard truth.
"I'm a killer, Nereus. I've built an empire on fear and violence. I've done things you'd never be able to forgive if you knew the full story."Nereus reached for his hand, clasping it tightly.
"I don't care about your past. What matters is who you are with me now. I see the good in you, Victor. I see the man who saved me, the man who's capable of love, even if you don't always show it."
Victor's grip tightened on Nereus's hand, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face before his walls came crashing back down.
"It's not that simple, Nereus. This world will swallow you whole if you're not careful. And being with me means being a target."
"I'm not afraid of that," Nereus said, his voice firm.
"I'm not afraid of what's coming."Victor's eyes softened for a brief moment before hardening again.
"You should be."
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was Salvatore, his gruff voice echoing through the hall.
"Victor, we've got a situation. We need to move."
Victor's expression immediately shifted into something cold and calculating, the mafia lord taking over the man who had just shown his vulnerability. He turned to Nereus, his jaw set.
"Stay close to me today. Things are about to get dangerous."
Nereus nodded, his heart pounding. He could feel the tension in the air, like a storm brewing on the horizon. Whatever this situation was, it was serious.
But he wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not after everything.As they left the room, Salvatore briefed them on the situation.
"Luca's made a move. We've got intel that he's planning to hit one of your warehouses tonight. He's trying to push you into a corner."Victor's expression darkened.
"He's testing my patience."
"We need to shut it down before it escalates," Salvatore continued.
"I've got men ready to move, but you'll need to be there to oversee things."Victor nodded, his mind already working through the logistics.
"We'll deal with it. And make sure Luca understands this won't go unanswered."
As they made their way to the cars, Nereus felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. This wasn't like the training he had endured yesterday. This was real.
The stakes were higher than ever, and there was no room for mistakes.But he was determined to stand by Victor's side, no matter what.
They arrived at the warehouse hours later, the sun beginning to set, casting long shadows across the city. The tension was palpable as Victor's men gathered, preparing for the confrontation that was sure to come.
Nereus stayed close to Victor, his heart racing as he took in the scene. It was surreal, watching Victor command his people with an iron fist, his voice cold and authoritative.
As night fell, they waited. And then, just as expected, Luca's men arrived.It happened fast—too fast. Gunfire erupted in the dark, the sounds of shouting and chaos filling the air.
Nereus's heart pounded in his chest as he stayed low, his eyes darting to Victor, who moved with deadly precision, taking control of the situation with terrifying ease.
Nereus knew this world was violent, but seeing it unfold in front of him was something else entirely.
This was the life Victor lived, day in and day out. And now, Nereus was a part of it.As the chaos subsided, Victor's men had the upper hand. Luca's men retreated, beaten but not broken.
This was just the beginning, and Nereus knew it. Luca wasn't going to stop until he brought Victor down—or until Victor ended him.Victor's gaze swept over the battlefield, his eyes landing on Nereus.
For a moment, their eyes locked, and in that instant, Nereus saw the truth—Victor was fighting for him, for them.When it was over, Victor approached Nereus, his expression unreadable.
"This is what my life looks like, Nereus. Are you sure you want to be part of it?"Nereus took a deep breath, his resolve stronger than ever.
"I'm sure. Whatever comes next, we face it together."Victor nodded, a flicker of something like relief crossing his face.
And in that moment, Nereus knew they had crossed a line. There was no going back now.
The storm had arrived, and they were in the eye of it.
But Nereus was ready to weather it, by Victor's side.