CRACKS IN THE ARMOR

Russo's POV

The sun had barely risen, casting the Paris mansion in a soft, hazy light that made everything look deceptively calm. But the stillness was an illusion, masking the storm that raged beneath the surface. I stared out the window of our shared room, my mind still tangled in the events of the previous night. Cleo’s presence beside me had been unexpected, and her touch, so reminiscent of my mother’s, lingered like a ghost at the edge of my consciousness.

The dreams had been relentless lately, pulling me back into memories I’d rather forget. But for the first time, Cleo had pulled me out, her soft lullaby chasing away the worst of the darkness. It had been a moment of weakness, one I couldn’t afford to show again. I was supposed to be the one in control, the one who never faltered. Yet, every time I looked at Cleo, I felt those walls I’d built so carefully begin to crumble.

I turned away from the window, catching sight of Cleo still asleep on her side of the bed, her face peacef