65

Draven's pov

For once, I cleared the damn schedule.

No encrypted briefings, no blood-stained reports, no underbosses barging into my office muttering about turf lines or betrayal or missing shipments. I even left my phone face down in the next room,on silent. That alone felt like treason.

Tonight, I wanted something different. Something human.

The kitchen wasn't exactly my battleground of choice. Hell, I had more experience disarming men than peeling garlic. But I stood there anyway,barefoot, sleeves rolled up, apron slung on like a joke I didn't get,and tried to follow a recipe that had no business being this complicated.

Rice burned. Chicken overcooked. The wine bottle I opened wasn't the one meant for food, but I wasn't about to open another.

Still... I set the table.