Soren Costello was born into a mafia family, raised in a world where loyalty was everything and weakness was something people learned to hide. From an early age, he understood that he had two choices: abandon his family's legacy and forge a life of his own, or follow in his father's footsteps and inherit the empire that had been built long before he was born. Soren chose the latter without hesitation. His mother had never approved of the life he was destined to lead, but Soren had long since learned to live with her disapproval. Rather than argue with her, he simply observed his father, studying his mannerisms, his decisions, his ruthlessness, and the way he commanded a room without ever needing to raise his voice. Soren learned by watching, gradually shaping himself into a man worthy of inheriting the Costello name.

His younger sister, Maria, however, wanted nothing to do with their family's criminal empire. Five years younger than Soren, she chose a different path entirely, much to their mother's delight. Surprisingly, their father had no objections either. Maria was allowed the freedom to pursue a life outside the family business, something neither he nor Soren had ever seriously considered for the eldest son. Despite their differences, Maria remained Soren's little sister in his eyes, his baby sister even at twenty-two. No matter how old she grew, she was one of the few people capable of bringing out a softer side of him, one he rarely allowed anyone else to witness.

Soren himself had developed a reputation for being the silent, watchful type. He was a man who preferred to listen rather than speak, observing every detail of his surroundings and every movement of the people around him. He rarely wasted words, speaking only when necessary, when strategy demanded it, or when addressing someone unfamiliar. He paid attention to the things other people overlooked: a shift in someone's expression, a hesitation in their voice, a glance held for a second too long. He believed that people revealed far more about themselves when they thought nobody was paying attention. Silence, to Soren, was never emptiness. It was an advantage.

Although Soren rarely resorted to physical confrontation, that didn't mean he was careless enough to leave himself defenseless. He preferred to settle matters through intimidation, calculation, and the quiet authority his name carried. Nevertheless, he always kept a concealed handgun secured at his waistband, tucked beneath his clothing and close at hand. It wasn't something he advertised or drew without reason; it was simply a precaution he refused to abandon. After all, the Costello name was enough to make most people think twice before crossing him, but Soren had never been foolish enough to assume everyone possessed common sense. And if someone was stupid enough to test him, he preferred to be pre

pared.