The sun was sinking behind the city skyline, painting the sky in shades of gold and orange. Nico stood by the window of his penthouse, staring out at the world below. The streets looked peaceful from up here, far from the madness he dealt with every day. But no matter how quiet the city seemed, his mind was anything but.

His thoughts kept drifting back to Caterina.

From the moment they met, she had been impossible to figure out. Tough, independent, but secretly soft from heart, it just made him want to protect her more. Over time, he had come to see sides of her that most people never did. She was strong in a way that wasn’t just about fighting backshe was real, loyal and had a heart that could handle anything.

But what caught him off guard the most was the way she made him feel. It had been years since Nico allowed himself to feel anything real. His life had been all about power, control, and remain alive. He had buried every emotion that made him weak.

And yet, with her, it was different.

She reminded him of something he had long forgotten what it was like to be human. To feel something more than anger or revenge. To crave something other than control. And now, with every moment spent around her, he found himself wanting more.

But no matter how much he wanted that life, he couldn’t ignore the weight pressing down on him. His world the empire he built felt like a cage. No matter how powerful he was, he was still trapped. And for the first time, Nico found himself wondering…

Could he leave it all behind?

○●○

Caterina footsteps echoed in the long hallway as she made her way toward Nico office. The door was slightly open and she could see him standing by the window, his shoulders tense, lost in thought. She knew that look all too well.

"You’re still awake?" she asked, stepping inside. Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of concern in it.

Nico didn’t turn around, but he felt her presence. "Couldn’t sleep," he muttered.

She took a few steps closer, watching him carefully. "You’ve been like this for days," she said. "Something’s on your mind."

Finally, he turned to face her, and for a second, their eyes met. There was something different about his look, something raw, almost vulnerable.

"I’ve been thinking," He confessed, his voice softer than normal.

"About what?" She asked, tilting her head. She knew him well enough to see he was hiding something.

Nico ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. "Leaving," he said.

Caterina frowned. "Leaving what?"

"This life," he answered. "The business. The fights. The bloodshed. All of it. I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Caterina. I’m tired. Tired of watching my back, tired of losing people, tired of always having to prove something."

His words just hung there. She did always known he carried the weight of the world, but hearing him say it made it real..

"You’ve been through hell," she said, stepping closer. "But Nico, you know it’s not that simple. People don’t just walk away from this life."

"I know." His jaw tightened. "That’s the problem. The people I built this for they won’t let me go. And if I try… it could cost me everything."

She met his eyes, her voice calm but firm. "But if you stay, you’ll lose yourself."

The words hit harder than he expected. He had never thought of it like that. Remain alive had always come first nothing else mattered. But now, standing here with her, he realized… he wanted something else.

"I don’t want to fight anymore, Caterina," he admitted. "I want more than this. I want peace. I want to feel alive again."

For a moment, she didn’t say anything. But he could see it in her eyes she understood. She saw him in a way no one else did.

"You deserve more than this life, Nico," she said softly. "You deserve to live for yourself, not just for the empire you built."

He looked at her, and suddenly, the atmosphere changed. The walls he had spent years building around himself began to crack.

For the first time in his life, he saw a way out. A way forward. A future that wasn’t just about power and make it.

A future with her.

The realization hit him hard, like a punch straight to the chest. Walking away from this life wouldn’t be easy. His enemies wouldn’t just let him go. Everything he had built his power, his empire—it was a part of him, so caught up in his life that getting out seemed impossible. And if he did, there would be a price to pay. A price that could cost him everything, including Caterina.

○●○

Late that night, Nico paced through his penthouse, his thoughts spinning like a wild storm. He knew leaving wouldn’t be simple. But the more he thought about it, the more it felt like his only chance at something real. He couldn’t keep drowning in this life, trapped in a world that had swallowed him whole.

His phone buzzed on the desk, snapping him out of his thoughts. The name flashing on the screen made his pulse spike Ivan.

“Boss,” Ivan’s voice crackled through the speaker. “We’ve got a problem.”

Nico’s jaw tensed. “What is it?”

“There’s talk on the streets. People are saying you’re planning to walk away. Your enemies they know and they’re moving in.”

A heavy weight settled in his chest. “How close are they?”

“They’re already here, boss,” Ivan said, his tone sharp. “And they want you gone. You’ve got two options fight them or disappear.”

Nico gripped the phone tighter, his mind working. He knew this moment would come, but hearing it from Ivan made it real.

His past was knocking on the door, and he had no choice but to answer.

The choice was clear, fight or leave.

But leaving meant risking everything. Caterina. His future. The one thing that made all of this worth it. Could he really walk away and leave her behind?

Her face flickered through his mind her quiet strength, the way she had stood by him when no one else had. The thought of losing her made his chest tighten.

No. He wasn’t going to let that happen.

With a deep breath, Nico straightened. He was done running. If his past was coming for him, he would face it head-on. But he wasn’t just fighting for living anymore. He was fighting for something real. For the life he wanted with her.

○●○

The next morning, Nico and Caterina stood on the balcony, the city stretching out near them. The air felt still, almost like the world was holding its breath.

“I’m not running anymore, Caterina,” Nico said, his voice steady. “I’ve made up my mind.”

She turned to him, searching his face. “And?”

“I’m going to fight,” he said, fire burning in his eyes. “Fight for us. For a life beyond this. And if that means facing every enemy I’ve ever made, then so be it.”

She stepped closer, slipping her fingers through his. “I’m with you,” she whispered. “No matter what comes.”

For the first time in years, something inside him felt lighter. He wasn’t alone in this fight. Together, they would take on whatever came next.