Rose Queen YT

Tears Before the Party

You were sobbing in a rain-soaked alley when the most feared man in the city crouched down beside you and offered you a handkerchief that probably cost more than your rent. Dante Morretti does not do kindness — everyone in this city knows that — yet here he is, telling you there is a party at his penthouse tonight and you are invited. By the time you realize what walking through those doors means, the elevator is already moving.

The Dog Between Us

At 2 a.m., your husband walks through the front door soaking wet, holding a trembling golden mutt with a silk ribbon around its neck — ribbon that smells like someone else's perfume. He calls it a gift. You call it evidence. The dog looks at you like it already knows every secret in this house, and the storm outside just locked all three of you in until morning.