Julian sat back in the chair, his arms folded as he surveyed the room. It was battered, littered with weapons, maps, and the occasional discarded coffee cup. Certainly not the high-end, marble-lined opulence he was accustomed to.
But then again, luxury hadn't exactly worked for him.
Lucas was still smirking, obviously having the time of his life. Dante, however, seemed to be weighing whether or not to let Julian remain or shoot him and have done with it.
Raven?
She was eyeing him warily, as if deciding if he was worth the hassle.
Julian finally let out a sigh. "I assume you have questions."
Dante sneered. "Where am I even starting?"
Raven propped forward, elbows resting on her knees. "Take the easy one first. Exactly what did you do that resulted in your dad wanting you killed?"
Julian paused a beat. And then took a breath before saying anything.
I began delving into my father's business with nobody else. Things not recorded anywhere, individuals even his closest subordinates won't mention." He stared into Dante's eyes. "Even those accountable for the death of your mother."
It fell silent.
Lucas' smile erased from his face.
Dante's hands itched at his waist, yet he did nothing but keep himself a mask of expressionlessness.
Raven looked between them, piecing together the puzzle. She knew Dante and Lucas had lost their mother at a young age. She knew Calloway Sr. was involved, but the specifics had always been hazy.
Dante's tone was low but biting. "You found something?"
Julian nodded. "More than something."
Lucas muttered under his breath, ruffling his hair. "So, let me see if I get this right. You snuck behind Daddy's back, learned some deep, dark secrets, and now Daddy wants you killed?"
Julian nodded once.
Dante was still, but Raven could see the tension in his shoulders, the barely-contained fury behind his eyes.
"You should've come to us earlier.
Julian's jaw hardened. "And what would you have done? Trusted me?"
Dante said nothing.
Lucas whistled a slow whistle. "So, what now? You think you can just come back here expecting us to take you in with open arms because you've grown a conscience?"
Julian's face blackened. "I don't expect anything. But I do know that if you want to bring him down, you'll need me."
Dante studied him for a long, excruciating moment. Then, he turned to Raven.
"What do you think?"
Raven blinked. "You're actually asking me?"
"You're good at reading people."
Julian smirked. "A compliment? From Dante?"
Dante ignored him.
Raven looked Julian up and down, trying to pick apart the layers of him. He was a Calloway, through and through. Sharp. Dangerous. Calculating.
But she saw something else too.
Something tattered at the edges.
At last, she shrugged. "I think he's a snake."
Lucas smiled. "Sounds about right."
Raven smiled mockingly. "But now? I think we could use a snake."
Dante rolled his eyes, running his hand over his face before eventually retreating.
"Fine. You stay."
Julian arched an eyebrow. "That easy?"
Dante's eyes clouded. "No. You're on a leash. One misstep, and I take you down."
Julian grinned. "Noted."
Lucas snapped his fingers together. "Well, this is going to be fun."
Raven wasn't so convinced.
Because Julian could now be considered an enemy of his father.
But that did not mean he wasn't still deadly.
Your edit is already quite tight and well-structured, but I made a few refinements to improve flow and clarity while keeping the intensity intact.
Chapter — Shadows of the Past
Raven perched on the worn leather couch, drumming her fingers on the armrest as Julian's revelation settled over the room like a thick fog. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting restless shadows on the walls, but its warmth did little to ease the tension.
Dante sat motionless, staring into the void, his thoughts locked away. Lucas leaned back with his feet on the table, twirling a knife absentmindedly. Julian, ever composed, lounged in his chair like he owned the place.
Raven finally broke the silence.
"So. What did you actually find?"
Julian tilted his head, studying her before answering. "A name."
Dante's gaze snapped to him. "Whose?"
Julian's lips curled slightly. "The man your father hired to kill your mother."
The room went still.
Lucas immediately straightened, his usual playfulness vanishing. The air grew heavier, pressing against them.
Dante's voice was quiet, but razor-sharp. "Say it."
Julian exhaled. "Matteo Vargas."
The reaction was instant. Dante's entire body tensed, fingers curling into fists. His jaw tightened as rage simmered just beneath the surface.
Lucas let out a low, humorless chuckle. "You've got to be kidding me."
Dante rose slowly, every movement deliberate, controlled. His presence felt sharper, like a blade ready to strike. "Where is he?"
Julian shrugged. "That's the bad news. He disappeared after the job. My father kept tabs on him for a while, but he's been off the grid for years."
Dante's eyes darkened. "Then we find him."
Julian smirked. "I figured you'd say that."
Raven frowned. "Wait. If Calloway Sr. was watching him, why keep him alive? Why not just eliminate the loose end?"
For the first time, Julian hesitated. His expression flickered with something unreadable before he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Because my father doesn't get rid of people unless he needs to."
Raven's stomach twisted. "You think Vargas is still useful to him?"
Julian nodded. "Or at least, he was. I don't know where he is now, but if my father didn't kill him outright, it means one of two things—he either has leverage over Vargas, or Vargas has something on him."
Lucas whistled low. "Oh, this just keeps getting better."
But Dante was already moving. He grabbed his jacket from the chair, his movements precise and focused.
"We leave in the morning."
Raven blinked. "Where are we going?"
Dante didn't even hesitate. "To someone who will know where Vargas is."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "And that would be?"
Dante's voice was cold, his eyes even colder.
"The kind of people who deal in ghosts."