Jaxon
The drive back to my estate feels longer than it should. I loosen my tie and lean back, the silence in the car doing nothing to quiet the storm in my head. Seeing Nina at the funeral… hell, it’s like a fresh wound. The way she stood there, strong but still carrying all that grief, it gutted me.
But I showed up. I represented Silver Crescent, even if she didn’t want me there. That has to count for something.
I park in the driveway and step inside, the heavy door slamming shut behind me. The house feels empty, like it always does. Too big, too quiet. My steps echo as I head toward the living room, ready to grab a drink and sit in silence for a while.
But I don’t make it far.
“Jaxon!” My mother’s voice slices through the air, sharp and cold. I glance over my shoulder and see her st
