e in the evening, delivered by one of his most trusted operatives, who barely managed to stammer out the details. Daniel's fury was volcanic; his office bore the brunt of his w

the finest whiskeys money could buy. The first glass went down like fire, then another, and another, until the edge of his rage blurred into a ha

n Daniel so unguarded, his usual stoicism replaced by a raw, almost vulner

ok okay?" he shot back, his words slurred slightly but still

to the room. "I just... You look li

maintaining his empire, and the ghosts of his past that never seemed to let him rest. Lucia listened, her quiet presence a balm to his fra

an undercurrent of something deeper. Emotions boiled over, and before either of them fully realized what was happening, they

l was the first to pull away, his expression a mixture of regret and confusion.

hings and left the room. But despite his words, neith