The Don's meeting room smelled of old whiskey and polished wood. Its thick oak walls had absorbed decades of secrets, betrayals, and quiet strategy. Alex stepped inside and immediately felt the weight of responsibility pushing on his shoulders.

Victor Morales sat at the head of the long rectangular table, arms folded, rings glinting under the warm light. He looked every bit the boss he was. His cold eyes attested that he had been built from iron discipline.

Mateo was already present too. He was lounging in a seat two spots down. His smirk was lazy, but Alex had learned long ago not to trust that look. That was the expression Mateo wore before he set a fire.

“Take a seat, Alejandro,” Victor said, motioning to the chair beside him.

Alex sat down, nodding once in his father’s direction. He kept his gaze away from Mateo.

Victor leaned forward, steepling his fingers. “There is a new player up north. He calls himself Nico Del Roca. I like the guy you know. He is young and ambitious and he brings his own militia from Eastern Europe. Half the families up there are either working with him or avoiding his shadow altogether.”

Alex did not flinch. “Is he stepping on our routes?”

“Not yet,” Victor said. “But he will. Expansion like his always comes at a cost to someone. If he gets too comfortable, we might lose leverage. But if we play this smart, we can make him part of our game.”

Alex nodded. “What’s the play?”

“You and Mateo will pay him a visit first just to extend my greetings to him. Use that chance to observe him quietly and see what he wants. If he is smart, he will offer tribute. But if he is foolish, well... I trust you know what to do.”

Alex did not have to glance at Mateo to know the bastard was probably grinning at the thought of bloodshed.

Victor leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing just slightly. “And now, something personal.”

Alex tensed.

Victor smiled, but it was not kind. “That pretty dove you brought into our home. How is she faring?”

Alex said nothing.

Victor continued. “Such a soft thing with her blonde hair and beautiful eyes. I could have married that one if I didn't meet your mother years ago.”

He let out an exaggerated laugh and Mateo joined him.

Victor gestured to one of the men that stood beside the door to get him a cigarette.

“She is really pretty just that she might just be too fragile for us to handle.” Mateo added.

Alex’s jaw ticked and threw Mateo a deadly glare.

Victor put the cigarette in his mouth and let the other man light it up before he took a huge puff.

“You know how this world works, son. Doves are for the cages, not the thrones. You and Mateo are the future of this family. You need someone with bite. A strong girl that can keep her man and fight beside him. Not a dove with broken wings.”

“Thank you for the late advice but she is none of your concern, Father,” Alex said calmly.

Victor raised a brow. “Oh, she is. Everything that touches you touches this family. If she bleeds, you bleed. If she talks, we lose. One little whisper to the wrong person and—”

“She is not a liability,” Alex cut in. His voice was steady, firm.

Mateo clapped slowly. “Look at that. The beast defends his bird.”

Alex’s eyes slid to Mateo. “You got something to say?”

“Only that I hope your little dove knows how to fly. Because if she falls, I would hate to see you plummet with her.”

Alex’s hand curled into a fist under the table.

Victor watched the tension with a subtle glint in his eyes. “Enough,” he said. “This family does not squabble over women.”

Alex stood. “If we are done here, I have work to do.”

“We are not done,” Victor said coolly.

Alex paused.

Victor rose slowly. “You will meet with Del Roca in two nights. Mateo will be your shadow. And after that, we will revisit this conversation.”

Alex held his father’s gaze. “By that time, there will be nothing to revisit. I am a man of my words and I make my own choices.”

Victor smiled. “Of course you do.”

Alex turned to leave, brushing past Mateo who stood just as he did.

As he walked out, Mateo’s voice drifted behind him. “Better keep that dove in a golden cage, cousin. Or someone else might want to clip her wings.”