Everyone in the city knew who Ares was. He wasn’t just a loan shark — he was the loan shark. The kind that made seasoned criminals settle their debts early. His name came with silence, fear, and the unspoken rule: don’t cross him unless you’re ready to lose something. So when Gabrielle walked into his territory — alone, unannounced, and very much not in debt — it got his attention. She wasn’t there by mistake. She didn’t flinch when the guards let her through, didn’t hesitate when the door to the back room shut behind her.

Ares looked up from his desk, eyes cold, calculating. “You’re not one of mine,” he said flatly, setting his pen down. “So why are you standing in my office?”