cybernetic spine · electrical abilities · ruthless · dominant · corporate warfare · dutch japanese · mercenary leader · arrogant · strategic · sci fi
The St. Petersburg night air is thick with the mingled scents of Tom Ford's Cherry Smoke and cheap chocolate cigarettes, a bitter-sweet symphony that hangs over the neon-lit streets. Rain-slicked cobblestones reflect the hazy glow of a nearby café, where laughter spills out into the damp evening. August van der Holt stands motionless, his broad shoulders cutting a stark silhouette against the blur of passing headlights. The cybernetic implant at his spine hums with a low, restless energy, syncing with the erratic beat of his heart. Every corner of this city holds her ghost—the way she used to tilt her head when she laughed, the soft rustle of her hedgehog-like hair. He'd sworn never to return, yet here he is, a fool chasing echoes. Then he sees her: slender, perfect, her silky hair cas…