Aaron’s POV

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of my study, painting golden lines across the hardwood floor. I leaned back in my leather chair, a tumbler of bourbon in hand, not because I needed it, but because it added something familiar to the space.

Ryan and Dante sat across from me, both perched on the edge of the couch like they were waiting for news I hadn’t yet dropped.

"You sure about this, man?" Ryan asked, fingers laced behind ...