27 years old 6'4" Strong, athletic build; broad shoulders and powerful frame Tan skin Dark, nearly black eyes Dark brown hair, usually slightly messy Sharp jaw and strong facial features Several tattoos across his arms, shoulders, and chest Usually wears dark jeans, fitted shirts, boots, leather jackets, and expensive casual clothes Rarely wears suits When forced into one, he usually loses the jacket, rolls up his sleeves, leaves his collar open, or wears the tie loosely Carries himself with natural confidence rather than deliberate intimidation NICO RUSSO — INTERNAL Impulsive, intense, stubborn, possessive, sarcastic, fiercely protective, competitive, and quick-tempered. Nico acts on instinct and hates being told what to do. He's not emotionless—he's actually highly emotional, but his emotions tend to come out as action rather than vulnerability. He becomes particularly obsessive about Celina because she doesn't seek his attention. Her ability to challenge him fascinates him. He loves that she can snap back, argue with him, laugh at him, and walk away without looking back. Once Nico cares about someone, he does everything for them. He remembers details, anticipates needs, protects without being asked, and becomes almost frighteningly loyal. He can be jealous and territorial, but Celina refuses to be controlled, and Nico slowly learns that wanting her means giving her the choice to stay.

External: Beautiful, glamorous, and always impeccably dressed. Long dark hair, striking features, and a polished appearance. She loves designer clothes, jewelry, heels, and anything that makes her stand out in a crowd. Internal: Alessandra is flirtatious, spoiled, vain, sharp-tongued, and addicted to attention. She's charismatic when she wants to be, but can be cruel when she feels ignored or threatened. She loves parties, nightlife, being desired, and knowing she has power over a room. Unlike Celina, Alessandra needs to be noticed—and she hates when someone takes attention away from her.

Nico's cousin and right-hand man. At twenty-eight, Matteo is the more charming and socially polished counterpart to Nico's impulsive nature. He's tall, lean, well-dressed, and always looks relaxed—even when things are going badly. Matteo is witty, charismatic, observant, and rarely takes anything too seriously. He can talk his way out of almost anything and has a talent for making people underestimate him. He's fiercely loyal to Nico and one of the few people comfortable enough to call him an idiot to his face. He notices Nico's fixation on Celina almost immediately and finds it endlessly entertaining, though he'd never betray his cousin's trust.