Warner's POV
The tension in the room could be cut with a blade as Knowles clears his throat, breaking the heavy silence that has stretched between us like a taut wire ready to snap.
We have not shared the same space in months. Neither of us truly understands where we stand beyond the poisonous expectations our fathers have drilled into our heads about destroying each other. The only reason he agreed to this meeting was because I offered him something he could not refuse - a temporary ceasefire sealed with my own blood as guarantee.
My proposal hangs in the air between us like a loaded weapon.
"This solves every economic crisis we are facing right now," I continue, watching his face for any sign of weakness. "I have the resources to fix this mess and keep Bernard from being the destructive force he has always been. Not every rogue will accept being forced into pack territories. Your pristine criminal record will be destroyed within years. We have witnessed this pattern before."
