Trafalgar stepped onto the familiar street, his eyes settling on the small but sturdy building where Marella and Arden ran their local. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestones, giving the place an oddly calm atmosphere despite the tension lingering from his last visit.
Pushing the door open, he found Marella wiping down a table near the front. Her eyes lifted, and recognition lit her expression.
"Good afternoon, Trafalgar."
"Good afternoon."
"So, it's true you'd come back," she said, a faint smile on her lips. "And it seems last time didn't scare you off."
"That's right," he replied evenly. "In fact, I'm a little concerned for you both, and I'd like to help with your situation."
Her brow arched. "And how exactly do you plan on helping us, Trafalgar?"
"I want to buy your shop," he said plainly. "If it's under my family name, Lucien won't be able to touch it."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Lucien? You even know his name."
