Dick Freud certainly lived up to his name. He was a dick, a fucking coward and a gold-digger. Yes, a fucking gold-digger who took his wife’s name when they got married and lived off her money. Until his wife’s father left it all to Violet.
Only that wasn’t the worst part.
Dick Freud was a member of the Obsidian Society that used their power, money, and influence to get richer, and even worse, they took advantage of vulnerable people. He fucking hunted them for sport.
Men like Dick Freud were supposed to be easy to define. Wealthy. Connected. Dangerous, maybe. But understandable. You learned what they valued, figured out what they feared, and eventually the shape of them became clear.
But while with Dick Freud and his values became clear, this Obsidian Society remained an enigma.
“Dad… are you okay?”
The question pulled me out of the storm in my head. I turned, meeting my son’s gaze. His eyes were so much like mine that for a fleeting second, it felt like looking back in time.
Then my attention caught on his cheek.
Amara’s instability had never been his fault. Still, I was grateful—selfishly, perhaps—that he hadn’t inherited more of her. The cut on his cheek was the only thing of Amara’s that would be with him for the remainder of his life, but he was a lot stronger than his mother, and Violet would ensure he never ventured into madness.
Violet.
A faint exhale left me as I thought of her. She had a way of weaving people together without force. Aria adored her. Even my son—who did not trust easily—had opened up in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
Yesterday, the three of them had gone to the movies while I handled business and shipment issues. I surprised them outside the theater and took them all out to dinner. Simple things I never had a partner to share with and now, with Violet, I had it all.
“Dad?” Dimitros called again.
I looked back at him.
“Yes,” I said finally, my voice steady again. “I’m fine. But I need you to do something for me.”
He straightened. “Anything.”
“Don’t mention to Violet that her father is here.”
“Of course.” There was no hesitation, just loyalty.
A sense of pride settled in my chest. One day, he would lead this family. And when that day came, I knew he wouldn’t just command fear. He’d command respect.
We drove the rest of the way in silence.
The warehouse came into view soon after. From the outside, it looked like any other building. Inside… it was something else entirely.
This was where truths were extracted and enemies broken.
And Violet’s father?
He was no exception.
The car rolled to a stop. My son and I stepped out.
As we entered the warehouse, the familiar scent of metal and oil wrapped around us like an old friend.
Salvatore approached, wiping his hands on a cloth, his expression already irritated.
“This guy’s a real piece of work,” he muttered. “Hasn’t said a word.”
A slow, crooked smile spread across my face. “He will.”
I walked across the concrete floor, each step echoing in the vast, hollow space. Then I saw him.
