The words lingered between them long after Gennado finished speaking.The fire in the corner crackled softly, filling the silence that neither of them seemed willing to break.Gennado rested both hands on his cane, his eyes never leaving Lidia’s face.Years of reading people had taught him when someone was fighting a battle inside themselves.Lidia wasn’t simply listening.She was breaking.“When you went missing,” Gennado said quietly, his voice carrying none of the authority that usually commanded an entire underworld, “Bruno lost himself.”Lidia’s fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.“He became reckless.”A bitter smile crossed the old wolf’s lips.“The Bruno the world feared disappeared.”His eyes drifted toward the window as memories resurfaced.“He tore cities apart looking for you.”“He questioned anyone who claimed they had seen you.”“He barely slept.”“He stopped eating properly.”“He even started making mistakes during meetings.”Gennado chuckled softly.“A thing
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