Bruce stood immediately when he saw the butler enter, and his friends followed suit. The man’s presence carried a quiet authority, even when his expression was carefully neutral.

The butler gave a short, polite nod, his hands clasped behind his back as he dismissed the maid who had just served them. The soft clink of the empty tray faded as she hurried out. The silence that followed was oddly heavy.

“Thank you for what you did back there,” Bruce began quietly. His voice was low, but it ...