"There’s something I need to tell you."

Azalea waited while he took a breath.

"I had feelings for someone before. Aylin."

Azalea didn’t change her expression. "I know."

Reyes looked surprised. "You know?"

"I’m not blind. I saw how you looked at her."

There was a pause.

"Do you still—"

"No." He cut her off. "No. When I saw her with Zayden, it clicked for me. The way they loved each other. Like, really loved each other. I realized that what I felt for her wasn’t love. It was more like... familiarity. Comfort."

He met Azalea’s gaze.

"We were pretty much the same. Both lonely, both running away, both hiding. I thought that meant we were meant to be together, but I was wrong."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because she was never really mine, and I was never really hers. We were just two messed-up people who stumbled upon each other. That’s not love; it’s just survival."

Azalea nodded slowly. "So what happens now?"

"Now, when I look at you, I feel something totally different... something I’ve never experienced before."

"What’s that feeling?"

Reyes took a moment before answering. "Hope."

Azalea’s eyes got a bit teary, but she smiled. "That’s all I needed to know."

She gently held his face in her hands. He leaned into her touch and closed his eyes.

"You mentioned you don’t have a permanent place to stay," Azalea whispered. "That’s cool. Then I’ll go wherever you go. You won’t be alone anymore."

Reyes opened his eyes and looked at her, seeing the truth in her stare... the certainty, the love. Something inside him shattered... all the walls, all the fear, and all the pain began to crumble.

He leaned in slowly, giving her a chance to back away. She didn’t move. Their lips touched softly at first, then the kiss deepened.

Azalea’s hands moved to his hair, and his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.

That kiss was everything... promise, hope, and the start of something real.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless.

Azalea rested her forehead against his. "I’m not letting you go," she said softly.

Reyes smiled, a real smile, completely open. "Good, because I wasn’t planning to go anywhere."

Azalea laughed and drew him in for another kiss.

In that moment, in the empty conference room overlooking the city, two broken people found something whole; they found each other.

For the first time in his life... Reyes felt at home.

*****

For a brief moment, things felt calm. Like the world had finally stopped falling apart.

But it didn’t last.

Two Days Later

In Istanbul, the apartment building was pretty quiet. It was early morning, and most people were still snoozing.

A black SUV rolled up to the curb, engine running. Three guys stepped out, dressed in regular clothes, alert and professional. They were Zayden’s bodyguards.

The guys made their way to the entrance. One of them checked his phone to make sure the address matched the building number. He gave a nod to the others.

They hopped into the elevator and went up to the fourth floor, landing at apartment 4B.

They knocked.

The door swung open right away, as if someone had been waiting. A man stood there, looking fit and clean-shaven, with a small duffel bag in hand.

He was all set.

The lead guard asked, "Mehmet Demir?"

The man nodded. "Yeah."

"We’re here to take you to Mr. Virelli. Can I see your ID?"

Mehmet handed over his passport. The guard checked it out, pulled out his phone to snap a pic of Mehmet’s face, and sent it off. They waited.

Thirty seconds later, the phone buzzed.

The guard read the message and nodded. "All clear. Let’s go."

Mehmet stepped out, locked his apartment door, and followed the guards down.

*****

Meanwhile, Zayden was staring at his phone, looking at the photo the guards had sent.

It showed an older guy with gray hair and a weathered face, but his eyes were still sharp and smart.

Charles was standing next to Zayden’s desk, leaning over to get a better look.

Zayden turned the phone toward him. "Is this him?"

Charles studied the image, and his expression changed to one of recognition and nostalgia.

"Yeah, that’s Mehmet. He’s definitely older now, but it’s still him."

Zayden typed a reply: "Confirmed. Go ahead." Then he hit send.

*****

The private jet sat on the runway, its engines starting to heat up.

An SUV pulled up next to it. Mehmet stepped out, surprised by this unexpected twist.

Guards led him up the steps.

Inside, the cabin was fancy, with leather seats, shiny wood, and a stocked bar. Mehmet took a seat and buckled up.

One guard settled across from him while the others moved to the back.

The door shut, the engines roared, and the jet started to taxi. Mehmet looked out the window and watched Istanbul fade from view. He was leaving.

After five years, he was finally ready to face his past, tell his story, and find some closure.

The jet took off, climbing high into the sky, heading west toward America, toward answers.

*****

The jet landed smoothly at Teterboro.

Mehmet had slept most of the flight, worn out from nerves and excitement. Now he was awake, alert, and ready.

The jet rolled into a private hangar and stopped. The door opened, revealing three black SUVs waiting outside.

Mehmet stepped down from the stairs, and a guard pointed to the middle vehicle.

"This way, sir."

Mehmet climbed in, flanked by two guards, one behind the wheel and the other in the front seat.

The convoy pulled out and headed into the city. Mehmet watched through the window, soaking in the sights of Manhattan.

He hadn’t been here in years. The city felt different... taller, busier, yet still familiar.

They drove for twenty minutes before arriving at a tall glass and steel building.

The Hazard King Tower, though Mehmet didn’t know its name.

The SUVs pulled into an underground garage and parked. The guards opened his door.

"Follow us, please."

They took him to an elevator that went to the top floor. The doors opened to a long hallway with plush carpet and modern art lining the walls.

At the end of the hallway, there were double doors. One of the guards knocked.

A voice called out from inside, "Come in."

The doors opened, and Mehmet stepped in, pausing at the entrance.

The room was big, with huge windows that looked out over the city.

A large desk took up one side, surrounded by leather couches and a conference table.

And there were six guys, all watching him closely.

Mehmet looked around, trying to find her, the girl, Marcus’s daughter... but she wasn’t there; just the guys in the room.

One guy got up, a familiar face. He looked older now, but you could still tell who he was. Charles walked over with a smile.

"Mehmet, it’s been a while," he said.

Mehmet smiled back as they shook hands and shared a brief, friendly hug.

Charles stepped back and said, "You’re looking good."

"You too," Mehmet replied. "A bit grayer, though."

Charles laughed. "Aren’t we all?"

He motioned to the others, "Let me introduce you. This is Zayden Cole Virelli."

A young guy stood up, exuding confidence and power. He reached out his hand.

Mehmet shook it firmly. "Mr. Virelli, thanks for having me here."

Zayden nodded. "Just Zayden. No problem."

Charles continued, "These are Leo, Reyes, and Kade."

Each guy nodded in acknowledgment, their vibe professional and respectful.

Charles then pointed to a younger guy in his early twenties, who looked a lot like Charles.

"And this is my son, Liam."

Mehmet’s eyes widened in surprise. "Your son? Little Liam?"

Liam flashed a smile. "Not so little anymore."

Mehmet smiled at Liam. "Last time I saw you, you were just a kid. Now you’re all grown up, looking good. Your dad must be really proud."

Charles put his hand on Liam’s shoulder. "Super proud."

Mehmet looked around again, still searching.

"It’s great to meet everyone, but I was expecting... a girl. I thought—"

Zayden pulled out his phone, dialed someone, and held it to his ear. After a second, he said, "Come to the office," then hung up.

He glanced at Mehmet. "She’ll be here soon."

They waited.

One minute.

Two.

Then the door opened. A woman walked in with dark hair and bright blue eyes. Dressed professionally, she headed straight for Reyes and stood next to him. He took her hand.

Mehmet noticed but didn’t say anything.