The night had barely settled when the call came. Alexander didn't check the name before answering.
"Yes."
A chuckle came from the other end, Low, amused and Familiar.
"Is that how you greet family now?"
Alexander's expression didn't change.
"Kieran"
"Well, " the voice drawled, "at least you still recognize me."
Alexander leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze drifting toward the glass wall of his office, the city lights stretching endlessly below.
"When did you get back?"
"Just landed," Kieran replied. "Thought I'd come see my dear brother first… before the city disappoints Me." there was a pause for some seconds
"You're still at the office, aren't you?"
Alexander didn't answer, Kieran laughed softly.
"Of course you are." Kieran cut the call.
An hour later—
The office door opened without permission. No knock, No hesitation.
Kieran Azriel walked in like he owned the place.
And in a way He did.
He was dressed too casually for someone walking into power. Dark shirt, sleeves slightly rolled hair messy in a way that looked intentional. His presence carried the same weight as Alexander's—
But where Alexander was controlled, Kieran was reckless.
His eyes were darker and Wilder.
And unlike his brother they didn't hide anything.
"Still boring," Kieran said, glancing around the office. "Same glass same silence same you."
Alexander didn't look up from the file in front of him.
"You're late."
Kieran smirked. "I've missed you too."
Alex didn't say anything, Silence stretched for a second before Alexander finally closed the file.
"What happened this time?"
Kieran tilted his head slightly.
"You say that like something always happens."
"It does."
A brief pause, then Kieran smiled Sharp and Unapologetic.
"I might have caused a small problem."
Alexander's expression didn't change.
"Define small."
Kieran walked further into the office, dropping into the chair opposite him like he had all the time in the world.
"I corrected him." he simply said
Alexander studied him for a moment.
How many? —Alexander asked.
Kieran leaned back, stretching his arms slightly.
"Five."
A pause,
"Six, if you count the one who tried to run."
Silence,
Alexander exhaled slowly.
"You were gone for two months."
"Three."
"And this is how you return?"
Kieran's smile widened slightly.
"You should see the other guy."
Alexander didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he reached for the glass on his table, taking a slow sip before setting it back down.
"Where?"
Kieran shrugged.
"Outside the city"
"How bad?" Alexander asked.
"Bad enough." Kieran replied
"Messy?"
Kieran smiled slightly.
"They made it messy."
Alexander's fingers tapped once against the table.
"Whose territory?"
Kieran's gaze flicked up. There was some seconds of slight before Kieran said
"Malik"
Alexander leaned back slowly.
"And you stayed long enough to be seen."
Kieran didn't deny it and a little smirk tugged at his lips.
"They saw enough."
Then Alexander:
"You just made noise."
Kieran tilted his head.
"I thought you liked noise."
"I like control."
Kieran's smile widened.
"That's why I'm here."
The door opened quietly.
Alya stepped in. she stopped the moment she saw him.
"Kieran",
He turned his head slightly, his grin returning.
"Alya", he said smoothly. "You look exactly the same."
Alya didn't respond and turned to Alex and dropped a document and the left.
Far across the city
Ariel drove through the quiet streets, the soft hum of the engine the only sound in the car and the night felt calm.
Her hands rested steadily on the wheel, her expression unchanged, but her mind was elsewhere.
By the time she reached her apartment, the city had fully settled into the night.
She stepped out of the car and walked inside without hesitation, her heels echoing softly against the quiet hallway.
The door unlocked with a soft click.
She stepped in and stopped. The lights were on.
Daniel, in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, placing food onto the table like he had done it a hundred times before.
"You're late," he said casually, not even looking at her. Ariel didn't respond.
Her eyes had already moved past him.
Her grandfather sat in the living room.
Waiting,
Calm,
Like he had been there for hours,
For a moment, no one spoke.
The silence stretched, thick and quiet, wrapping around the room.
Then Daniel turned slightly, finally noticing the shift in the air.
"Oh," he said lightly, glancing between them. "Perfect timing, Dinner's ready."
Ariel stepped further inside slowly, her gaze still fixed on her grandfather.
"You came!"
Her voice was calm. Her grandfather smiled faintly.
"And you didn't."
A brief silence followed.
Ariel placed her keys down carefully, her movements controlled and deliberate.
Behind her, Daniel moved around the kitchen, completely unaware of the weight sitting in the room, or maybe choosing to ignore it.
"You should have told me" Ariel said.
"And give you time to disappear?" her grandfather replied, She didn't answer.
Instead, she walked further in.
Closer as she approaches the table,
Stopping just enough distance away.
Daniel sets the last plate down and leaned slightly against the counter, glancing at both of them.
"Well," he said, "this feels serious."
Neither of them responded.