Blood of the fallen

The storm struck the city without warning, Rain hammered the glass walls of Stone Tower, bleeding across the skyline in shimmering rivers. From his corner office, Darius Stone watched the city below traffic snarled, horns blaring, and figures disappearing into the night as if the rain could wash away their sins.

It wouldn't.

Darius stood in silence, his reflection a shadow against the glass. The storm didn't bother him. In fact, he welcomed it. Rain had a way of exposing the cracks in people.

And tonight, the city felt ready to break.

Behind him, the office door opened with a soft click. Darius didn't turn.

"You're late," he said quietly.

Theo stepped inside, shrugging off his wet jacket with a sharp shake. His blond hair stuck to his forehead, water dripping onto the sleek marble floors. "I didn't know we were on a schedule."

Darius glanced at him, eyes narrowing. "We are now."

Theo crossed the room, dropping a thick folder onto the desk. "Another one of Marek's men turned up dead by the East River. Same as the last three."

Darius's gaze darkened. He already knew.

Theo exhaled, pacing slowly as if trying to shake the weight of the news from his shoulders. "Andre Marek's already barking. He's telling people we're responsible. Says you're hiding the rogue that's doing this."

Darius's jaw tightened. He hated the way Theo said it rogue. Like the word could somehow explain what was happening.

"I told him the bodies weren't ours."

"And you think Andre believes you?" Theo scoffed. "He's not looking for the truth. He's looking for an excuse to start something."

Darius turned away from the window, the glow of the city behind him casting his sharp features in half-light. "Then let him start something."

Theo stilled. "You know what that means."

"I do."

There was no point pretending anymore. The Marek family had been pushing the edges of Darius's territory for months. Testing him. Waiting for him to snap.

But Darius didn't snap.

He broke people slowly.

Before Theo could respond, Darius's phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at the screen and his expression shifted, the faintest flicker of surprise crossing his face.