𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄

𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘

𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐍

Demetrio leaned back, his eyes flicking between the faces of his friends. “So, how did your anniversary with Teagan go?”

My lips curved into a half smile, an unusual display of emotion for me. “It was exquisite,” I answered simply.

Thaddeus seized the opportunity to probe further. “When do you plan to introduce Teagan to Miguel and Roux?”

My stoic façade faltered for a brief moment. My gaze darted between my friends. “I’m not ready for that yet,” I admitted.

The revelation left an intrigued silence in its wake. Demetrio raised an eyebrow, sipping his whiskey. “Is that so, Salvadore? A man of your stature, yet hesitant?”

Sebastian chimed in, a playful glint in his eyes. “Have you met your match in Teagan, and you’re keeping her a secret?”

Bartholomew, ever the philosopher of the club, leaned forward, his glass of whiskey cradled in his hands. “Secrets are powerful things. They can protect, but they can also imprison.”

My gaze wandered to the flickering candle in the center of the table, my thoughts veiled in contemplation. The topic of Teagan, my wife, and our relationship had set the wheels of curiosity spinning among my friends.

The truth, like the finest whiskey, needed time to mature, and I wasn’t quite ready to reveal all of its complex notes just yet.

—

The soft, muted glow of the bedroom’s dimmed lights washed over her peaceful form. She laid, her back turned to me, a serenity that hinted at the tranquility of dreams.

My heart, heavy with secrets and the weight of deception I had woven, approached the bed with utmost care, almost as if I could shield her from the truth that lingered in the shadows of our lives.

I sat down gently on the edge of the bed, studying the tranquil features of my slumbering wife. My fingers reached out, brushing a lock of her hair aside.

She sighed softly in her sleep, her breath warm against my fingertips, and my heart ached with a love I dare not speak too candidly.

In the hush of that moment, as the minutes ticked by, my thoughts swirled in the labyrinth of my mind. The weight of the secrets I held, the deception we lived — it gnawed at me, chipping away at the walls I had built.

My friends, Demetrio, Thaddeus, Bartholomew, Sebastian, and Nathaniel — they had all implored me, urging me to reveal the truth to Teagan.

Yet, the truth was a complex beast. It was knotted, twisted, and bound by the choices I made. The mere thought of unraveling the tapestry of deception threatened to consume us.

I know that once the truth emerged from its hidden depths, everything would change.

In this silent moment, as I gazed upon my peacefully slumbering wife, I couldn’t bring myself to shatter the tranquility that enshrouded her. Her happiness, even built on a foundation of secrets, was something I yearned to protect.

As I sat there, the room enveloped in hushed stillness, and I wrestled with the inevitability of my choices.

The truth was a double-edged sword, capable of both destruction and salvation, but when to reveal it, when to wield that blade, that remained an agonizing question I wasn’t ready to answer.

For now, I’d continue to walk the precarious tightrope between the life we built together and the deceptions that held it in place, longing for the strength to tell the truth when the time was right.

—

The bar area featured a unique combination of extravagant elements, including a ball pool that added a touch of whimsy, and collections of rare, limited edition spirits that lined the ornate wooden shelves.

“Is there a special someone in your life? Perhaps, a certain someone who’s persuaded you enough to take the leap into marriage?”

My lips curved into a somewhat enigmatic smile, well-practiced in the art of keeping my personal life guarded. I swirled my whiskey in its glass, considering my response.

“Marriage, like many things in life, is a complex endeavor, but I’ve always been one for surprises.” I replied as I raised my finger, revealing a stately gold ring on my hand.

The flicker of surprise in Duane’s eyes was fleeting but unmistakable. A married Dacre Salvadore was certainly an unexpected revelation.

He nodded in agreement, not pressing further. The significance of such an admission, made in a room that held countless secrets, was not lost on either of us.

—

“They are doing well, as always,” I replied with a hint of pride, reflecting on the incredible success and camaraderie shared by our close-knit group.

Duane’s next words were a jarring departure from the ordinary. “Salvadore,” He began, leaning in as if he was about to share a closely guarded secret, “I’m a geneticist.”

My brows furrowed slightly. The field of genetics wasn’t one typically associated with my circle’s interests. “A geneticist?” I echoed, curiosity piqued.

Duane leaned back, contemplating the remnants of a fine drink in his glass. “Yes, but not in the conventional sense, you see,” He continued, his voice dropping to a conspirational tone. “I’m not in the business of curing diseases or creating designer babies, as most would expect.”

My intrigue deepened as I focused on him. “Then what is your particular area of interest?”

With a faint smile, he leaned in closer, his words barely above a whisper. “I work with the mysteries of life and death.”

This was a far cry from the casual conversations I usually engaged in.

His gaze was intense as he continued. “I specialize in experimenting with the deceased. My goal, Dacre, is to find a way to bring them back, to make them live again as if nothing ever happened.”

The implications of what Duane was confessing sent shivers down my spine. The room, with its lavish trappings and dimmed lighting, seemed to amplify the gravity of this revelation.

Excusing myself from the conversation with Duane, I reached for my phone and put it to my ear.

On the other end of the line, Demetrio’s voice, laced with a trace of amusement, greeted me with a deliberate use of my surname, “Salvadore.”

My brows furrowed, sensing that he had something of importance to convey. “What?”

A faint chuckle preceded his response. “I have some rather intriguing news for you. The cure you’ve been so adamantly avoiding, has been perfected. It goes by the name Solstice Empyrean. You can pick it up at my lab whenever it suits you.”

TO BE CONTINUED.