–Livana–
I sipped my wine slowly, letting the glass linger against my lips, savoring not just the taste but the stillness it demanded from me. The crystal was cool, smooth—grounding. Around me, the staff moved with rehearsed precision, every step measured, every breath controlled. I watched them the way a hawk watches the ground: calm, detached, yet ready to strike at the slightest disruption. One wrong movement—just one—and I would notice. I always did.
My gaze flicked briefly toward Louie, who stood a short distance away, posture relaxed yet eyes razor-sharp. We didn't need to exchange words. The air between us was already thick with understanding, a silent agreement forged through years of blood, loyalty, and strategy.
No one gets closer to the babies.
That was the rule carved into stone tonight.
