nap. The long dining table, usually the site of quiet breakfasts and polite chatter, now resembled a war council. The c

ne resting against his chair. His weathered face betrayed

ce radiating off him. Beside him, Vivienne leaned forward, he

uched. He didn't bother lowering his gaze, though he could feel t

e stared at Cole, searching his f

rcus broke

mplete circus?" His voice dripped with venom. "Are we seriou

g us. A joke contract, nothing more. I wouldn't be surprised if they wit

itched, but he

ienne. Falcon Holdings themselves confirmed the contract over

aw tightened. "Then the question is why? Why wo

t laced with quiet steel. "Maybe beca

ffed, nearly choking on her tea. Marcus leaned for

king eyes with Marcus, "that

at.Before Marcus could erupt, Harold's cane slammed aga

w tied to this family, whether you like it or not. Instead of wasting time tea

, carried weight. Even

ared at Cole was unmistakable.Later th

with briefcases, vendors shouted from corners. Yet beneath the surface hum of life,

ked son-in-law, the "useless" man of the Merc

ome filled with curiosity, other

ide, his instincts were sharp as blades. He knew men like Damien

nd him.At the same moment, across town, Marcus

you do it. I want him humiliated. Broken. M

on't worry. My boys will handle it. By toni

ving his lips. "Let's see you hi

o a narrow alley, shortcutting towa

ors slammed open, and more than a dozen men spilled out, armed with metal pipes, chai

"Cole Ambers, right? The legendary son-in-law?" His voice was mocking, crue

expression remained calm

me for insects,"

is chain. "Oh, you'll make time. Boys

orward, a wav

the calm, mocked son-in-law was gone. In his place stood something sharper

hed the weapon mid-swing, and drove his elbow into the

n's wrist against the wall, and the blade clattered to th

n to hit the pavement, groaning, broken.Th

and merciless. "Leave now, and m

e alley rang with the clatter of chains, the grunt of men, and the dull thud of bo

d-air, yanked the man forward, and slammed his forehead into the t

is knee into the thug's gut. As the man doubled over, Cole grabbed his collar and hurled him

realized this wasn't going according to plan. "

counters. Cole's every movement spoke of training,not the sloppy brawls of

a twist, and brought the stolen knife to the man's th

ow, cold. "You pic

nees.The others hesitated now, circling but unwilling to commit. Their

pointed it at Cole, masking his own unease with bravado. "You're dead, Amber

le's eyes narrowed. For a heartbe

en K

the leader did. He saw the flicker in Cole's gaze, the coil

ed slowly,

gs?" he asked, voice quie

t beaded on his brow. "Damn right. And

e blade.But Cole

ove his elbow into the man's chest. The knife clattered to the ground. Cole s

s froze. None

w, deadly calm. "Tell Damien Kross this. If he wants me, h

just enough to make him gasp for air. Then he let go, l

d back.When the last van screeched off into the night, the alley was silent

ession unreadable.From a shadowed rooftop ne

ready to intervene if necessary but he hadn't needed

thin smile. "The drago

ut his phon

's voice came,

id. "It was Kross. He's mo

iet restraint: "Good. Let him. The more despera

ant me to

k he has the uppe

"Andriana doesn't

nce was ans

ad been pacing for nearly an hour, her nerves frayed. When the sound of Cole'

d with dirt, a faint streak of blood on his sleeve. His eyes car

trembled. "What happ

elling her everything about Damien, about the shadows he

back into the cage. He couldn't

" he said softly. "Nothin

sn't nothing. I can see it in your eyes. You're hiding something from me

him.Cole lowered his gaze, his jaw tig

, her voice breaking. "I want to belie

r, sipping brandy, a self-satisfi

oy. He had been humiliated at the banquet, his prestige overshadowed by

hed brow.Marcus swirled the amber liquid in his glass. "By now, our dear Cole Ambers is probably beg

that Falcon deal, but once everyone sees Cole for what he is, th

s, drinking to Cole

ho had overheard enough to know treachery was at play. His hands trembl

, Damien Kross sat in his private pe

n't drinking to celeb

shamed. The leader with the broken wrist dared not raise his he

. and you all crawl back to me like do

, he....he wasn't normal. H

feet, his voice thunderous now. "Of course he d

en fl

t runs in his veins? No, of course you don't. You see a Mercedes son-in-law, a laughingstock, and you think he's

nce

voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "And

hard, sweat drippi

anything, it makes the game more interesting. If Cole thinks he can rise, I'll drag

he word. The city is mine. Anyone who

, Bo

r Cole... we'll start with his wife. Let's see how stro

clouded.Cole's torn clothes, the fire in his eyes, the way he'd brushed off her questi

n her door

was Cole's voic

me

dable. For a moment, they just looked at

hing's happening. You came home hurt, looking like a man I don't reco

houlder, his touch gentle but firm. "You're right. I can't tell

it together.

kering like shadows. "A war that

is face, trying to read the truth he was

kissed her forehead. "All you need to know is

in his voice, but fear coiled in h

car idled across the street. Inside, Damien's m

. "Orders are clear. Keep her in sig

e curtains.Cole, in his study, sat at his desk, eyes closed but senses sharp. He fel

ne, typed a singl

the villa. Protect

ted in the darkened study. The faint glow of a single desk lamp cast long shadows acros

re,watching

han this, and he felt the enemy presence as surely

mien's men grew restl

on his temple. "Orders were clear," he muttered. "We spook her. Let

ed pistol. "Or we could just take her no

eered. "Do it. Just don't kil

dows slipped across the street, mo

nd of footsteps outside her window dragging her towa

moved across the glass.Andriana

d scream, her d

, ridiculed son-in-law now. His eyes were ha

he ordered, his vo

poured in, weapons raised.Andri

e m

per. One man lunged with a knife,Cole caught his wrist, twisted until bone sn

into his ribs, and the crack of breaking bone

pe, hurled it with lethal accuracy, and the weapon smashed into the thug

artbeat, slamming the man into t

e evaporated under Cole's gaze. He

" he stammered. "We wer

g tightened. His voice was lo

ien Kross. He said... he said

eyes burned with fury res

ollar and drag him toward the shattered window. Cole shove

s, If he ever dares touch what's mine again, I w

r. Cole shoved him backward, sen

im, dragging their broken co

rozen on the bed, staring at her husband. Cole stood tall amid the wre

knew. This wasn't the quiet, passi

one else. Som

ed, fear and awe mingling

es softened as he looked at her, but h

y lock of hair from her face. "I'm your husband. A

nd fear.Across town, Damien Kross received the rep

ening with each syllable.Then, slowly,

. "The dragon final

ey, toasting the skyline.