Being an Alpha made it Fukuzawa's responsibility to keep those beneath his wing in check. Regardless of how close he was with his detectives, his private life remained private. There were things he did not share. For example, his spouse.

It was difficult not to speak of his mate, an omega he'd been married to for decades. They were very dear to his heart, but circumstances prevented him from revealing any details.

Despite that, those around Fukuzawa knew he was mated; his scent and mannerisms when dealing with others gave it away. And in a building filled with skilled detectives, nothing was too small. As for who it was, no one knew.

His partner was secretive about their secondary gender and for good reason. They worked an occupation Fukuzawa had long abandoned: assassin. He disapproved, but their bond went beyond even the lives of those around them. He accepted them as they were.

So Fukuzawa could only sigh as he tended to their various wounds, ones he recognised, crouched before them on the ground. The ministrations familiar to both.

"I assume I cannot ask for the details." He knew the nature of the occupation, but it pained him to see his mate suffer, knowing he could not protect them. "Can I at least know what happened to you?"