The hallway felt too narrow, too dim, too quiet.
Sebastian froze first.
Julian instinctively stepped in front of him.
But it was Dorian who moved with purpose — slow, deliberate, assessing the threat like he’d done a thousand times before.
The man in the dark jacket leaned against the wall, arms crossed, wearing a lazy smirk.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
Sebastian’s voice cracked. “What do you want?”
The man pushed off the wall. “Relax. I’m not here to make a mess. Unless you force me to.”
Julian’s tone was cold. “You came to the wrong apartment.”
The man’s eyes flicked to him. “Julian Gray. The businessman. The golden boy. Learned self‑defense in a gym with padded floors.”
Julian stiffened.
Dorian’s eyes sharpened.
The man turned his gaze to Dorian. “And you… you’re the intere
