Damien POV
The sun was already high, light cutting through the tall windows of my office, but it did nothing to warm the room. The air was heavy-tense in the way only bad news could make it.
Alessandro sat across from me, hands clasped tightly on the desk, knuckles pale.
He hadn't removed his coat.
Hadn't asked for coffee.
Hadn't bothered with pleasantries.
His usual amused smirk was nowhere to be found.
Mr Vance stood near the window, his attention split between us and the garden below.
Children's laughter drifted faintly through the glass-the sounds of Leo and Matteo playing, Scout barking excitedly as she ran after them.
I broke the silence.
"How is Lorenzo?" I asked
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"Alive," he said. "For now."
"He lost a lot of blood," Alessandro continue
