The next morning, Leon woke up excited. He had the day off and Santiago had texted him late last night suggesting they meet at a garden café for brunch.

He picked out a blue shirt and black jeans, matching it with his blue striped shoes. He checked himself in the mirror multiple times. "This is fine. It’s just a friendly outing. Nothing weird."

When he arrived at the café, Santiago was already there, looking effortlessly stunning in a dark button-down. He stood up when Leon approached.

"You came," Santiago said with a warm smile. "I wasn’t sure if you’d be free."

"Of course! I’ve been looking forward to this." Leon sat down, unable to hide his grin. "Thanks again for the new books. I stayed up late reading last night. The writing is even better than I remembered."

Santiago’s eyes softened. "I’m glad. Was the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus worth it?"

Leon launched into an enthusiastic explanation, hands moving as he spoke. "It’s so tragic but beautiful. They chose each other even when the world was against them. I wish I had someone like that — someone who would burn the world down for me."

Santiago’s expression flickered for a split second. "You have your brother."

"Yeah," Leon said, smile fading a little. "But he’s carrying so much. Let’s leave it at that."

Santiago reached across the table and briefly touched Leon’s hand. "Maybe you can. Sometimes people need others to fight for them when they’re too tired to fight for themselves."

Leon looked up, eyes hopeful. "You really think so?"

"I do," Santiago said softly. "Tell me more about your day. What is it like?"

They talked for over two hours. Leon opened up about their childhood, mentioning that he lives in the house his brother got him. Santiago listened carefully, asking casual questions that didn’t seem casual at all.

"You’re easy to talk to," Leon said at one point, cheeks slightly pink. "Most people get bored when I ramble about books or family stuff."

"I’m not most people," Santiago replied, a strange sadness in his voice. "And I like listening to you."

As they finished their meal, Santiago paid and walked Leon part of the way back.

"Same time next week?" Leon asked hopefully.

"Definitely," Santiago said. "And Leon... if you ever notice anything suspicious going around you and your brother, don’t hesitate to call me."

"I will," Leon beamed. "You’re a really good friend, Santiago. Thank you."

Leon waved goodbye and headed toward the safe house, his steps light and full of hope.

Santiago remained at the table for a few moments longer, staring at the empty seat across from him. The warmth Leon left behind felt heavier than it should.

Then came the sound of slow, deliberate clapping.

Clap... Clap... Clap...

Santiago lifted his gaze and saw a very familiar figure. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Silas stood a few feet away, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, clapping with mocking slowness. His expression was cold and emotionaless.

"Quite the performance," Silas said, lowering his hands. "You almost had me convinced you actually care about the boy."

Santiago stared at him in silence, face completely neutral. He didn’t stand nor say a word. He simply watched Silas approach and take the seat Leon had just vacated.

Silas leaned back comfortably, crossing one leg over the other. "Nothing to say? After spending hours charming my property’s little brother?"

Santiago finally spoke, voice calm and measured. "I didn’t realize Leon was anyone’s property."

Silas’s smile was razor-sharp. "Everything connected to Sylvain belongs to me. Including his brother. You’ve been digging very close to what’s mine, Santiago. Or should I say... whoever the hell you really are."

Santiago’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You’ve been watching me."

"Obviously," Silas replied. "I watch everything that moves near what I own. Tell me — what’s your angle? Money? Power? Revenge against me? Or are you just another parasite trying to leech off my empire?"

Santiago leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You think very highly of yourself, Mr. Vane. I simply met a nice young man at a restaurant. We bonded over books. That’s all."

"Bullshit," Silas said softly, dangerously. "You offered him thirty thousand dollars a month. You spent hours listening to him talk about his brother. You’re inserting yourself into my business. I don’t like people inserting themselves into my business."

Santiago’s expression remained cool. "Leon is an adult. He can make his own choices about who he spends time with."

Silas chuckled darkly. "Leon is naïve and trusting. You and I both know that. So let me make this very clear." He leaned in, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "Stay away from Leon. If you meet him again, if you text him, if you so much as breathe in his direction without my permission, I will destroy you slowly."

Santiago held his gaze without flinching. "Threats, Mr. Vane? I expected more from someone of your reputation."

Silas smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "This isn’t a threat. It’s a promise. You don’t know who you’re playing with. Cross me, and I’ll make sure you regret every second you spent smiling at that boy."

Santiago tilted his head. "And what if the boy needs protection? From you, perhaps?"

Silas’s eyes flashed with pure ice. "Sylvain and Leon are mine to protect. Not yours. You’re an outsider. A ghost indeed and ghosts can disappear very easily."

The tension between them was thick enough to cut. Neither man looked away.

Finally, Santiago spoke again, voice low. "You seem very possessive over people who don’t seem to want to be possessed."

Silas stood up slowly, buttoning his suit jacket. "Possession is the only language I speak. Stay out of my territory, Santiago. This is your only warning."

He turned to leave, but paused and looked back over his shoulder. "Oh, and tell your hidden masters — whoever they are that if they think they can use Leon or Sylvain against me, they will fail. I don’t lose what belongs to me."

Silas walked away without another word.

Santiago remained seated, staring at the empty chair across from him. His fingers traced the rim of his coffee cup as a storm of thoughts raged behind his calm exterior.

He pulled out his phone and stared at Leon’s contact for a long moment.

Then he typed a single message:

"Had a great time today. Looking forward to next week. Stay safe."

He clicked ’send’.

Santiago had just stepped directly onto Silas’s battlefield and he will make sure to win.