The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room as Nereus stirred. His eyes fluttered open, his mind immediately returning to the heavy conversation from the night before. Today, he would learn everything—Victor's past, the truth about Luca, and the dark secrets that still weighed on the man he loved.
Victor was already up, sitting by the window, deep in thought. His expression was unreadable, but Nereus could feel the tension radiating from him. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, as if they were standing on the edge of something irreversible.
Nereus sat up, his voice soft as he broke the silence. "Are you ready to tell me?"
Victor didn't turn right away, his gaze fixed on the horizon. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and measured. "I've never told anyone the full story before. Not even Salvatore knows all of it."
Nereus's heart tightened, sensing the weight of what was about to be revealed. "I'm ready to hear it."
Victor stood, pacing for a moment before finally sitting on the edge of the bed. His eyes met Nereus's, and for the first time, there was no mask—only raw vulnerability.
"It started ten years ago," Victor began, his voice distant as if recalling a life that no longer belonged to him. "Luca and I weren't just business partners. We were close—like brothers. We built our empires together, side by side, trusting each other more than anyone else in this world."
Nereus listened intently, his breath catching as Victor continued.
"At the time, we controlled different parts of the city. It was an arrangement that worked. Luca had his territory, and I had mine. But power... it does something to you. It changes the way you see the world, the way you see people. I started to want more, and so did Luca. We both knew we couldn't coexist forever. It was only a matter of time before one of us made a move."
Victor's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. "But it wasn't just about the territory. There was someone else—Sofia. She was Luca's wife."
Nereus's heart skipped a beat, the mention of her name sending a chill down his spine.
"I never meant for it to happen, but Sofia and I... we fell in love." Victor's voice cracked slightly, betraying the emotion he had tried so hard to hide. "She was the one person who saw me for who I really was, not the mafia lord, not the killer. Just... me."
Nereus felt a pang of jealousy and sadness, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the pain in Victor's voice.
"We were careful, but secrets like that don't stay hidden forever. Luca found out. And when he did... he lost control. He didn't care about the business or the empire anymore. All he wanted was revenge." Victor's fists tightened, his knuckles white. "He came after me, after Sofia. I tried to protect her, but Luca was faster."
Victor's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes distant. "He killed her in front of me. He made me watch as the life drained from her eyes."
Nereus gasped, his heart breaking at the image Victor painted. "Oh my god, Victor..."
Victor closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to push away the memory, but when he opened them again, they were cold and resolute. "I lost everything that night. Sofia was gone, and Luca... he became my enemy. We've been at war ever since."
Nereus couldn't find the words. He had known Victor's past was dark, but he hadn't expected this—a story of love, betrayal, and loss so deep it had shaped every part of who Victor was.
Victor's hand found Nereus's, gripping it tightly. "Now you understand why this can never end until one of us is dead. Luca won't stop until he's destroyed everything I care about. And that includes you."
Nereus swallowed hard, feeling the gravity of what Victor was saying. "But we can fight him together. You don't have to do this alone."
Victor shook his head, his eyes filled with a sadness that cut through Nereus like a knife. "I can't let you be dragged into this any further. You've already seen too much. If something happened to you, I couldn't live with myself."
Nereus leaned closer, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside him. "I'm not leaving you, Victor. I made my choice. I knew there would be danger, but I'm here because I love you."
Victor's eyes flickered with surprise, as if hearing those words from Nereus had shaken something deep inside him. For a moment, the cold exterior he had built around himself cracked, and Nereus could see the man beneath—the man who had lost so much but still had hope, even if he didn't realize it.
"I don't deserve you," Victor whispered.
Nereus reached up, cupping Victor's face in his hands. "You deserve love, Victor. You deserve a chance at happiness, no matter what's happened in your past."
Victor's breath hitched, his gaze locking with Nereus's. "I don't know if I can give you what you deserve."
"You already have," Nereus replied, his voice soft but firm. "We'll face this together. Luca may want to tear you down, but he'll have to go through me first."
Victor's eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Nereus saw a flicker of hope in them.
Before Victor could respond, a loud knock echoed through the room, breaking the moment.
Salvatore's voice called from the other side of the door. "Victor, we have a situation. Luca's men are on the move. They're planning an attack—tonight."
Victor's expression hardened instantly, the mafia lord returning. He stood, already shifting into action. "We'll deal with it."
Nereus stood too, his heart racing. "What's the plan?"
Victor looked at him, his jaw tight. "I want you to stay here."
"No," Nereus said firmly. "I'm coming with you."
Victor hesitated, his eyes searching Nereus's face. "This is dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I can handle it," Nereus insisted. "We're in this together, remember?"
Victor's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before he finally nodded. "Alright. But stay close to me."
As they prepared to face Luca's next move, Nereus felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. He had heard Victor's story, had seen the darkness that surrounded him, but none of it changed how he felt.
Victor had lost so much, but Nereus wasn't going to let him lose again—not this time.
The storm was coming, but they would face it together.