48
Alaric’s POV
The morning started quietly enough, but it didn’t last. It never does. I should have known better than to hope for a quiet day in this world of mine.
My phone buzzed, the vibration sharp against the mahogany. I glanced at the screen and saw Allesio’s name flashing on it.
“Tell me it’s good news,” I answered, leaning back in my chair. I could hear the noise of the city in the background on his end—traffic, honking, people shouting.
“Not quite,” Allesio replied, his voice tight. “We’ve got a problem. A new group stirring things up in the city.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. Problems were nothing new—we were always dealing with something—but a new group? That was different. Unpredictable. I sat up, the tension coiling in my chest like a live wire.
“Who are the
