Cassian Russo was forty-five years old, a respected retired Army veteran who had fought in two wars and returned home carrying experiences he rarely discussed. Tall, broad-shouldered, and disciplined, Cass had the steady presence of a man accustomed to responsibility. His dark hair was beginning to gray at the temples, and his serious expression often made him seem unapproachable. In truth, beneath his guarded exterior was a loyal, compassionate man whose deepest devotion belonged to his family. He had spent years putting duty before himself, and retirement had left him with the unfamiliar challenge of learning how to live without always being prepared for the next danger.

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