Leonard sat in his hotel suite in Rome. He got the tip about Ryan's wedding and immediately booked his flight. He didn't even hesitate.
The room around him was still, there was no noise, no movement, just tension sitting in the air like smoke. One hand gripped the arm of the couch, the other holding a glass of whiskey that had gone warm hours ago. He hadn't touched it much, just held it like it kept his thoughts from spinning too far.
The TV was on mute, but he didn't need sound to understand what was going on.
It was all over the news, the wedding. Arianna in white. Ryan stood tall beside her like he was born for this moment, like he didn't owe anyone, like he didn't have blood on his hands.
Leonard's eyes didn't blink, he just watched. They were laughing, smiling, and he was happy. Reporters outside. Camera flashes going off every second.
And yet all he could feel was the fire building slowly inside his chest. He didn't say a word. Just let his fingers tighten on the glass.
