Ashley’s POV
The world had changed.
The war was over. The Delucas were dead. The Bratva had crumbled.
And yet, the weight of everything still sat heavily on my chest.
Peace was supposed to be liberating, but instead, it felt like a loaded gun, waiting to go off.
Caden had barely slept. He spent most of his time locked in his office, analyzing reports, reinforcing our security, and making sure that no remnants of our enemies would ever rise again.
It was as if he didn’t know how to exist without war.
I found him sitting at his desk, his laptop open, fingers tapping against the glass of a whiskey tumbler he hadn’t touched.
"You’re overthinking again," I said, walking in.
His gaze lifted, sharp and assessing. "You should be resting."
I scoffed. "I could say the same to you."
He sig
