Chapter 2
When the car came to pick him up that night, Luke got in
"Luke arrives at the Vasseri estate, and got out of the car"
The Vasseri estate was colder than Luke expected—polished floors, rigid guards, and an eerie silence.
Anthony Vasseri sat at the head of the meeting table, his black suit sharp, his expression unreadable. When Luke entered, the Alpha's eyes locked onto him like a target
Anthony Vasseri (DA) ML
You’re smaller than I imagined😏
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
You’re taller than you deserve to be😒
Chester Selva, Anthony's best friend, "stifled a laugh" behind him. Clyde "glared". Roy "raised an eyebrow"
"Loyd Vasseri leaned forward"
Loyd Vasseri (DA) Ml Father
Let’s be clear. This meeting isn’t about insults. It’s about survival. Our enemies grow bolder. We need to unite."
Oliver Dawson (E) Mc Father
By forcing your son and mine into a bond?
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
No one's forcing me into anything, *said flatly*. Then, turning to Anthony. You think you can control me?"
Anthony Vasseri (DA) ML
I don’t want to control you, Luke. I want to see what happens when no one does
"Something electric crackled in the air between them"
The silence that followed Anthony’s words was thick Heated
Chester Selva (DA) Ml Best friend
*Chester cleared his throat awkwardly* Well. That’s... poetic
Clyde Vasseri (DA) Ml Oldest Brother
*Clyde rolled his eyes* It’s reckless. You’re flirting with a loaded gun, Anthony
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
I’d rather a loaded gun, than an empty name and a fake peace treaty
Roy Vasseri (DO) Ml Second Brother
*looked at Luke carefully* So what do you want, Dawson?
Luke didn’t look at him. His gaze was still locked on Anthony, unflinching
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
I want to be heard. I want to be trusted. And I want to know that if I take a single step
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
Toward your empire, I don’t end up in a gilded cage
Eugene Vasseri, quiet until now, finally spoke
Eugene Vasseri (DO) Ml Mother
No one cages you, dear
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
Ask my mother *voice dropped*
Anthony's lips twitched—barely there, a ghost of a smile
Anthony Vasseri (DA) ML
Then let me be clear. This isn't a trap. It's an invitation.
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
To what?
Anthony Vasseri (DA) ML
*Anthony stepped closer, slow, deliberate* To rewrite the rules
Luke’s breath caught — not that he’d admit it. Not when every Vasseri in the room was watching
"Jay, across the table, shifted with a warning glare, but Oliver raised a hand. Let it happen, his eyes said"
For the first time in either family’s long, violent history, the room was listening
"Luke stepped forward too, just enough to meet Anthony’s gaze head-on"
Luke Dawson (DO) MC
This peace, it won’t come from titles. Or fake handshakes. It comes from the two of us
Anthony Vasseri (DA) ML
*Nodded* Then let’s start there
Later That Evening – Vasseri Private Quarters
Luke followed a guard down the marble corridor, led to a temporary suite for the night
He wasn’t used to sleeping in enemy homes, but it felt less like enemy territory now… and more like the start of something unspoken
When the door opened, he found a small box on the table. Unmarked
Inside: a smooth black ring with a tiny red etching on the inside band. A Vasseri token — never worn, only given.
Underneath it, a note.
"This doesn’t bind you.
But it says I see you"
—A
Luke stared at the ring for a long time.
He didn’t put it on.
But he didn’t throw it away either
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