“It has been a while”.

“It has”.

Romeo walked closer, stopping a few feet away. "You wanted to talk to me?"

Vincent nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yes. There are things we need to discuss."

There was a tense silence as they stared at each other. Romeo could feel the weight of years of resentment and anger pressing down on him. Finally, Vincent spoke.

"I know you must hate me for what I did," Vincent began, his voice low and filled with a strange mix of regret and defiance. "But ...