LOGINSaint stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the front of his jacket that was dark and well-tailored. It was sharp against his frame, highlighting the flex of his muscles with each movement he made. He studied his reflection for a long moment before reaching for the small case on the dresser, popping open the lid to retrieve his contacts. One by one, he blinked them into place, watching as the green and grey faded, replaced by a flat unremarkable brown. The eyes that could have easily given him away vanished behind the disguise. It was the day for the introduction. There was no way he would allow anything to ruin it.He reached for the mask next. It was a black, form-fitted that covered the bridge of his nose upward, leaving only his mouth and jaw exposed. He adjusted it carefully, tightening the strap until his reflection stared back at him as someone else entirely. Storm. He exhaled slowly, steadying himself before making his way to Vincent's room. The man was adjusting h
The gates opened, and two black cars rolled up the drive, staff already moving to unload luggage before the engines had fully cut off. Nicolas stepped out first, his jacket slung over one shoulder, exhaustion was evident in the slight slump of his usual composed posture. “Boss.” Someone called from behind and when Nicolas turned, he was presented with a pistol. He took it off the palm of the man and fixed it behind him.He barely made it through the front door before his mother appeared with her arms already opening. "There you are." Diana pulled him into a warm and immediate hug. It was the kind of familiar entrance that made him feel, if only for a moment, like the years hadn't hardened him quite as much as he liked to believe. "I was so worried about you." "I told you the trip would run long." Nicolas allowed himself to relax into her embrace briefly before pulling back, offering her a small, tired smile. "You always say that." She took his hand, guiding him toward th
Saint found her sitting near the edge of a lake. Her knees were pulled to her chest while the evening light caught against the water in long, fading streaks of orange and grey. He slowed his steps as he approached, giving her space, before finally lowering himself down beside her without a word. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The lake stretched quiet and still in front of them, the only sound was the distant rustle of wind through the trees. "You know it wasn't safe for you to come out here alone," he finally said, his voice was gentle despite the scolding underneath it. "Anyone could have followed you. You could have been hurt." Seraphina let out a hollow laugh, resting her chin against her knees. "Would that really be so bad?"Saint's chest tightened. "Don't say that." "Why not?" She turned to look at him, eyes red-rimmed exhausted in a way that went far deeper. "Wouldn't it be easier? Dying? Instead of living through..." she gestured vaguely toward the route tha
Seraphina stepped into her father's office the following afternoon, hesitating just past the threshold when she realized he wasn't alone.Vincent was sitting behind his desk, with his hand beneath his chin as he addressed one of his men. "The shipment moves through the southern port, not the main terminal. Customs is compromised there, we've already paid for that fucking route. I don't want a repeat of last time, do you understand me?" “Y-yes sir, I do. Kindly take a look at this as well.”She stood quietly near the door, arms crossed while listening without actually meaning to. Though she was rarely interested in matters such as this, she was still able to catch fragments of a conversation she understood better than she wished she did. It revolved around illegal cargo and bribing officials. It was just the usual kind of business that she had grown up seeing her father run beneath the surface of everything her family touched. The man Vincent was speaking to finally left, nodd
Vincent had just loosened his tie, ready to call it a night when a knock sounded against his bedroom door. "Come in."The door opened, and Olivia stepped inside, her robes wrapped tight around her waist and her arms were crossed like she was bracing herself for something before she had even spoken a word. "This better be important, Olivia. What is it?" He asked, not bothering to look up as he set his tie aside. "I want to talk to you." "Did you think I was expecting you to dance for me before? What is it about?" "Seraphina."Vincent's expression didn't change, though something in his posture went faintly rigid like he already knew where this conversation was heading and had no interest whatsoever in going there. "She's been home two days," Olivia started, keeping her voice controlled. "You've been back a full day yourself and you haven't said more than ten words to her." "I greeted her." "You 'nodded' at her and that was the only time you acknowledged he
The front doors opened, and Seraphina was already moving before the car had fully stopped in the drive, heels clicking fast against the marble as she rushed toward the entrance. "Mom!" She called out gleefully as soon as her mother stepped out of the car and walked in. Olivia's arms opened wide, and Seraphina fell into them, laughing, some of the tension from the past two days visibly melting off her shoulders. "Look at you, my little princess," she said, cupping her daughter's face with bright eyes. "You look tired. Did they not feed you on that flight or even in school? Have you not been eating well at all?" "Come on, mom. Stop pulling my legs. You know very well how much I love to eat." Seraphina laughed again, leaning into her mother's touch like she'd missed it more than she wanted to admit. "But I have missed your food so much. Nothing tastes better than your meals.” "Exactly what I wanted to hear you say."Behind them, Vincent stepped through the doorway at an unhur







