President Powell’s POVThe call came through just as dawn broke over the White House lawn.Lorenzo’s voice carried that usual, calm detachment that irritated me to no end.“Mr. President,” he said. “I delivered your message. Marco refused. He’s staying with Dante.”For a moment, I said nothing. I simply stared out the window, watching the first light paint the city gold. Beneath that beauty lay a nest of vipers, politicians, generals, informants, all mine to command. And yet one boy, one defiant son, had the audacity to defy me.“Repeat that,” I said quietly.“He said he’s married now. To Dante. His words, not mine.”A slow heat built behind my eyes. I set the receiver down gently on the desk and exhaled through my nose. “Thank you, Lorenzo. That will be all.”When the line went dead, I let the mask slip. The calm, controlled smile vanished.I slammed my palm against the mahogany, “Ungrateful little bastard,” I muttered. “After everything.”My reflection in the window looked older,
Last Updated : 2025-10-19
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