“You will,” he assured, already dismissing the concern. “We’ll handle that.”
I still hadn’t touched my food or said a word because it felt safer to remain silent after what happened earlier.
Ajori cleared her throat softly and started to speak. “So… Domino—”
I chose not to engage with her. Instead, I turned slightly toward Marcos. “You were saying something about the docks?”
He picked up seamlessly. “Yeah. Vargas reached out again. Said—”
Just like that, the conversation shifted on, but I felt the change on Ajori’s end as Marcos continued to explain what was going on at the docks.
I knew I shouldn't have treated her that way, but what happened at breakfast should not have happened, and our conversation definitely went too far.
The talk around me was loud, with voices mixing, but I wasn’t really part of it. I glanced down the table quickly. Ajori was talking to Lainey, acting happy, like I hadn’t just embarrassed her in front of everyone. Everyone else probably thought she was okay, but I noticed the little change in her.
I took a slow sip from my glass and put it down quietly.
I didn’t look at her again; I couldn’t let myself. Discipline was the only thing that kept men like me alive and breaking it over her wasn’t an option. So I sat there, quiet, locked into the role I was given… even though, for the first time, it felt like I was forcing it.