A Gangster Paradise

The night holds its breath, the silence on the rooftop profound, broken only by the gentle ripple of the pool and the occasional sigh of the wind. Adrianne stands at the edge of the infinity pool, her reflection a fractured goddess in the shimmering water. The stars above seem closer here, as if drawn to her radiance. Yet, the peace she seeks feels farther away than ever. She is lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts, her mind drifting on memories as vast and unreachable as the city stretching below.

The faint hum of an elevator stirs the air, almost inaudible amidst the distant chorus of the metropolis. A soft chime follows, then footsteps—light, deliberate, and familiar. Adrianne tenses briefly, her head tilting slightly toward the sound, but she doesn't turn. Her lips curve into a faint smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Mother." The voice is soft, melodic, yet carries a sharpness that hints at its owner's intellect.

Adrianne's gaze flickers, and she finally turns, the faintest trace of surprise warming her features. "Selene." Her voice is low, rich with affection, though tinged with the remnants of her melancholy. "I wasn't expecting you tonight."

From the shadows of the doorway emerges a young woman, tall and striking, with a presence that commands attention without demanding it. Selene's beauty is a reflection of her mother's, but where Adrianne exudes an ageless allure, Selene radiates a youthful vitality. Her hair, a cascade of shimmering silver-blonde, is tied in a loose knot at the nape of her neck, stray strands framing her delicate face. Her eyes are sharp, a shade of steel blue that glints with intelligence and curiosity.

She's dressed in a simple yet elegant robe, tied loosely around her waist. As she steps closer, her bare feet make no sound against the cool tiles, and the faintest scent of lavender follows her—a subtle signature of her presence.

"You seemed troubled," Selene says, her gaze lingering on her mother's face, keen enough to pick up the vulnerability Adrianne tries to mask. "I thought I'd check on you."

Adrianne's smile softens. "I appreciate your concern, my dear. But I don't want to burden you with my—"

"Don't," Selene interrupts gently, her tone firm but not unkind. "Don't brush me off like I'm a child. You taught me to recognize when something's wrong, remember?"

Adrianne exhales, a soft, almost amused sigh, and gestures toward the pool. "Then join me. If you're going to pry into my thoughts, you might as well do it while relaxing."

Selene's smile is small but genuine. "If you insist."

She unties the belt of her robe, the fabric slipping off her shoulders to reveal a figure that would make statues weep. Her body is leaner than her mother's, her curves subtler but no less mesmerizing. Her skin, pale and flawless, glows faintly in the soft light, and her bikini—a sleek, sapphire-blue thong—clings to her form, accentuating the strength of her youth and the elegance of her lineage.

Without hesitation, she steps into the pool, the water parting around her like silk. She moves with the ease of someone accustomed to perfection, gliding toward her mother until they're side by side. The warmth of the water envelops her, and for a moment, she lets out a soft sigh of contentment, tilting her head back to gaze at the stars.

Adrianne watches her daughter quietly, a faint smile playing on her lips. In Selene, she sees both a continuation and an evolution of herself. There is pride, yes, but also a flicker of worry—an unspoken fear that the world might crush what she has nurtured.

Selene turns her head, catching her mother's expression. "You're doing it again," she says, her tone light but pointed.

Adrianne raises a brow. "Doing what?"

"Staring at me like you're afraid I might break." Selene shifts closer, resting her arms on the pool's edge. Her voice softens. "I'm not a child anymore, Mother."

"No," Adrianne agrees, her gaze dropping to the water as she swirls it absentmindedly with her fingers. "You're not. You've grown into a remarkable woman. Smarter than I ever was at your age. Stronger too."

Selene waits, sensing there's more.

"But..." Adrianne trails off, her voice faltering. She takes a deep breath, her hand reaching out to brush a damp strand of hair from Selene's face. "This world isn't kind to women like us. Especially now, with the King's succession looming. The ambitions of men are dangerous, Selene. They see strength in a woman and mistake it for a threat. They'll do everything they can to suppress you, to twist your brilliance into something they can control—or destroy."

Selene's jaw tightens, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is this about the council again? Or the talks of marriage alliances?" There's an edge to her voice now, a spark of rebellion that Adrianne recognizes all too well—it's the same fire that once burned in her own heart.

Adrianne shakes her head, her hand moving to rest gently on Selene's head. "No, my love. This isn't about the council or marriage." Her voice drops to a whisper, almost inaudible over the soft ripples of the pool. "It's about the choices you'll have to make. Choices that will test everything you believe in. I want you to be prepared for that."

Selene studies her mother's face, the vulnerability there stark against the strength she's always known. "Is this about him?" she asks softly, not needing to elaborate.

Adrianne's eyes close briefly, her lashes wet with unshed tears. When she opens them, there's a glimmer of pain but also a steely resolve. "He's always in my thoughts," she admits. "Every decision I make, every step forward, feels like a step away from him. And yet, I can't stop. I can't let myself drown in what-ifs."

Selene reaches out, her hand finding her mother's beneath the water. Her grip is firm, reassuring. "You haven't stopped searching. That's what matters. He's out there, I can feel it. And when the time is right, we'll find him. Together."

Adrianne looks at her daughter, her pride and her hope wrapped in a single being. "You speak with such certainty," she says, her voice tinged with awe. "It's as if you know something I don't."

Selene smiles, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Perhaps I do. After all, I am the smartest in the family."

Adrianne chuckles, the sound warm and genuine, easing some of the tension that had settled between them. "And modest too."

The two women sit in companionable silence for a while, the city below and the stars above their only witnesses. The water laps gently around them, its warmth a balm against the chill of the night. Adrianne's hand remains clasped in Selene's, a silent testament to their bond.

"Mother," Selene says after a while, her tone serious once more. "You've spent so much of your life searching for him. But don't let that search consume you. Don't let it take away from the life you still have—the people who are still here."

Adrianne's heart aches at the truth in her daughter's words. She nods slowly, her fingers tightening around Selene's. "I'll try," she whispers. "But it's hard, Selene. It's hard to let go of the guilt, the what-ifs."

Selene leans her head against her mother's shoulder, her voice soft but firm. "You don't have to let go. Just don't carry it alone. You have me, and one day… one day, you'll have him too."

Adrianne rests her cheek against Selene's damp hair, her eyes closing as she allows herself a moment of peace. For now, under the stars and in the warmth of the water, she feels the weight of her burden lighten just a little. She doesn't have all the answers, but in this moment, she is reminded of the strength that comes from love—both given and received.

As the city hums below and the stars watch silently above, the two women remain in the water, their bond as unyielding as the heavens themselves.