Chapter 26 A Pact

• As I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my study, surveying the lush tropical landscape that surrounded my private oasis, the brilliant rays of the late afternoon sun piercing through the lingering clouds, I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building inside me. The storm may have passed, but a new tempest was brewing, one that threatened to upend the delicate balance of power I had so carefully constructed.
• My gaze drifted to the reflection of my own features in the window's pristine surface, the faint lines etched into the corners of my eyes and the smattering of silver that threaded through my dark hair serving as a stark reminder that I wasn't a young man anymore. But it was a truth I had long since learned to wield to my advantage, using my age and experience to fuel my relentless pursuit of power and desire.
• And now, my desire was fixed squarely on Quinn.