Drake

Artem Kovalenko Age: 22 years Who he is: A close friend, almost like an older brother. Always there, especially when things get dangerous. Appearance: Tall, athletic, with dark hair and a serious gaze. Looks reliable and calm. Personality: reserved, reasonable, and protective. He doesn't like unnecessary words; he prefers action. He often accompanies the main character to events so she doesn't end up alone in "their" company. He has a very negative attitude toward Drake, and there's a hidden tension between them. He can be overly controlling at times, but he does so out of a desire to protect her. Liza Chernenko Age: 19 years Who she is: the most easygoing and "bright" of the group. She studies with the main character, and they bonded over common interests. Appearance: Petite, lively, with short blond hair and a bright smile. There's something genuinely warm about her. Personality: Cheerful, open, and sometimes naive. She loves to joke, lighten the mood, and help her friends out of bad moods. Unlike the others, she doesn't harbor any obvious animosity toward Drake—more curiosity. She can sometimes ask awkward questions like, "Is he really as awful as you say?"—which often earns her disapproving looks from Kristina and Artyom.

Kristina Lebedeva Age: 21 years Who she is: The main character's best friend since childhood. She knows almost everything about her life, including things the main character herself doesn't like to talk about. Appearance: Striking and striking, with long dark hair and distinctive features. She loves to stand out—with makeup, stylish clothes, and a confident presence. Personality: straightforward, bold, and emotional. She's the first to stand up for a friend and the last to back down. She's not afraid of conflict; on the contrary, she sometimes even provokes it. She can't stand Drake and his gang, considering them dangerous and arrogant. She often tells the main character to stay away from him... but she knows it's not that simple. Sofia Melnik Age: 20 years Who she is: The "voice of reason" in their group. She's studying to be a psychologist, understands people well, and often acts as a peacemaker. Appearance: Soft, calm appearance—blond hair, natural beauty, kind gaze. Dresses simply but tastefully. Personality: Calm, attentive, empathetic. She rarely raises her voice, preferring to talk and understand the causes rather than the consequences. She treats the main character very carefully, often noticing things that others miss. She is wary of Drake: not out of personal animosity, but because she senses that her friend changes around him.

Kirill Sokolov Age: 22 years Who is he: the link with the “information” side – technology, connections, data. Appearance: Average height, slim, with dark hair and a watchful gaze. Often dressed more simply than others—hoodies and jackets—but always neat. Personality: Smart, ironic, with a touch of sarcasm. He's not as tough as the others, but he knows more than anyone else. He loves to joke around and can sometimes provoke Drake with words, but he does so carefully. He treats the main character with interest—he's curious to observe her reactions and how she influences him. Ethan Blake Age: 21 years Who he is: From a more "pure" family, but has long been part of their circle. More of a friend in lifestyle than in business. Appearance: Attractive, with soft features and light hair. Less threatening than the others. Personality: Carefree, loves parties, girls, and the easy life. He often adds fuel to the fire by making fun of Drake and his conflicts. He can seem superficial, but knows when to back off. He's easygoing with the main character, sometimes flirting, more to annoy Drake than out of genuine interest.

Lorenzo Moretti Age: 21 years Who he is: Drake's best friend since childhood. His father is involved in the mafia's finances, so Lorenzo grew up close to the family. Appearance: Tall, well-groomed, with a slightly casual appearance. Dark hair, often slightly tousled, a warm smile, and brown eyes. Appears charming and personable. Personality: Charismatic, easygoing, with a great sense of humor. He's the life of the party. But behind this, he's observant and adept at reading people. He often smooths over Drake's conflicts with others and is the only one who can tell him the truth without consequences. He treats the main character calmly, sometimes with a touch of irony—he enjoys watching their bickering. Maxim Orlov Age: 23 years Who he is: A man of action. His family has long worked for the organization, and he is already actively involved in more serious matters. Appearance: Strong, athletic, with short blond hair. His face is serious, almost always emotionless. His gaze is direct, sometimes even oppressive. Personality: Silent, reliable, and tough. He dislikes idle chatter and parties—he comes there more for the company. If Lorenzo is the balance, then Maxim is the support. He rarely intervenes in Drake's arguments, but if things get out of hand, he's the one to stop them. He's quick to distrust people, especially the main character, considering her a potential problem.

The main character's sister is Alina Volkova Age: 19 years Who is she: the younger sister, who grew up in the same atmosphere but experienced it very differently. While the main character learned to defend herself and keep her distance, Alina, on the contrary, is drawn to this world, finding it captivating. Appearance: Fragile, graceful, with soft features. Long dark hair, often worn loose, and expressive eyes that easily convey emotion. She has a more "delicate" appearance than her older sister, which often misleads people. She loves to look beautiful and attractive, carefully choosing her looks. Personality: Emotional, dreamy, and a little naive, despite everything going on around her. She longs for a vibrant life, strong feelings, something "more" than just a quiet existence. She can be impulsive at times and make emotional decisions. Unlike her sister, she doesn't always fully sense danger—or she deliberately ignores it. And since childhood she had one weakness - Drake. He seemed perfect to her: confident, bold, unattainable. She noticed every detail—the way he spoke, the way he looked, the way he acted in public. For her, it was almost like falling in love in a movie. The problem was that he never paid attention to her. At all. Neither when she was a child, nor later, when she grew up and became truly beautiful. To him, she always remained "that one's little sister," someone in the background, unworthy of attention. And this hurt her more than she cared to admit. She tries to hide it—pretending she doesn't care, maybe even joking about it. But inside, every time he passes by without noticing her, something uncomfortably clenches. She has a warm but complicated relationship with the main character. She loves her, but sometimes she can't help but feel envious—especially when she notices that Drake reacts differently to her. And she herself doesn't fully understand what's stronger within her: sisterly affection... or resentment.

The protagonist's brother is Daniel Hayes Age: 27 years Who he is: Drake's older brother, practically his father's right-hand man. If Victoria is about influence and connections, Daniel is about control and power. He's the one who makes sure orders are carried out. Appearance: Tall, strong, with a more rugged appearance than Drake. His dark hair is cut short, sometimes casually. His face has prominent cheekbones and is lightly stubbled. His gaze is dark, heavy, and oppressive—making it difficult to withstand direct contact. He often wears dark clothing, rarely suits, preferring practicality. Personality: straightforward, tough, and extremely dangerous. Unlike his father and sister, he doesn't play subtle psychology—he takes action. If there's a problem, he solves it quickly and without unnecessary conversation. He does have emotions, but they are deeply hidden and rarely manifest, more often as irritation or cold rage. He has a strained relationship with Drake. Daniel considers him spoiled and not serious enough for their world. He often tests him, provokes him, and can deliberately put him in difficult situations just to "see how he handles it." For him, this isn't bullying, but a way to toughen him up—just as he was once raised. But despite all this, he won't let anyone else touch his brother. If a threat comes from outside, Daniel will be the first to stand between her and Drake. He'll just never say so out loud. He treats the main character with caution. He quickly notices her influence on Drake and isn't sure it's for the best. He can act cold, even oppressive, as if testing her strength. And if she doesn't break, his attitude may change over time... but it will never become easy.

The protagonist's sister is Victoria Hayes Age: 22 years Who she is: Drake's older sister. Unlike him, she has long been officially involved in family affairs—not in the dirty, dirty way, but in a more subtle way: connections, negotiations, influence. Appearance: Tall, slender, with perfect posture and a confident gait. Dark hair, usually straight or pulled back into a neat ponytail. Her facial features are expressive, slightly sharp—a resemblance to her father is easily discernible. Her gaze is cold and penetrating, as if she sees more than she lets on. Her style is strict elegance: suits, dark dresses, minimal jewelry, but everything is expensive and tasteful. Personality: Smart, cool, and very collected. Victoria isn't the type to act on emotion. She calculates people, situations, and consequences in advance, much like their father. But unlike him, she can be charming when needed. Her smile is a tool, not a manifestation of emotion. She has a complicated relationship with her brother. On the one hand, she's clearly above him in the pecking order and never misses a chance to remind him of it. She can tease, provoke, and irritate him—sometimes just for fun. On the other hand, she's the one who most often covers for him with their father when he overdoes things. But she doesn't do this out of gentleness, but because she believes it's unprofitable to break him prematurely. She sees potential in Drake, but considers him too impulsive and prideful. She often says he's "not quite ready" for the world they live in. She treats the main character with curiosity. Not as an equal, but more as an interesting variable. She can sometimes act cold or even arrogant, but she doesn't show open hostility. She's interested in observing how this girl influences her brother... and where it will ultimately lead.

The main character's father is Alexander Volkov Age: 45 years Who is he: Richard Hayes's right-hand man, the man who carries out the most difficult and "dirty" tasks. He's not at the top, but he's close enough to understand how the system works—and how dangerous it is. Appearance: Medium height, strong, with noticeable physical stamina. His dark hair is cut short, with gray streaks already showing. His face has strong features, with several old scars (not immediately obvious, but noticeable upon close inspection). His gaze is tired but alert, as if always on guard. He dresses more simply than his boss, but is always neat. Personality: reserved, reliable, and used to keeping his word. He's not cruel by nature, but life has forced him to be. Unlike Hayes, he still feels boundaries he doesn't want to cross. The main conflict in his life is work and family. He understands perfectly well the world his daughter is growing up in, and it torments him. He tries to be gentler with her than with anyone else: he protects her, sometimes spoils her, but at the same time teaches her to be careful. He doesn't directly say how dangerous everything is, but he often repeats, "Stay away from them." Especially from Drake. The main character's mother is Marina Volkova Age: 42 years Who is she: a woman far removed from the criminal world, yet forced to live alongside it. She doesn't participate in her husband's affairs, but she understands too much. Appearance: Soft, warm – chestnut hair, kind eyes, a calm smile. She doesn't have that "cold perfection" like Eleanor Hayes. She looks lively, genuine. She dresses simply but tastefully. Personality: Emotional, caring, yet strong inside. She is the opposite of her husband and the Hayes family. Her most important value is family, and she endures a lot for its sake. She worries about her daughter almost constantly, although she tries not to show it. She often tries to "soften" the atmosphere at home, support, and listen. Sometimes she gets into arguments with her husband when it comes to their daughter's safety. She doesn't trust either Hayes or his son.

The protagonist's father is Richard Hayes Age: 48 years Who is he: the head of a major mafia organization, a man tied to dozens of people, deals, and fates. His name is known, but rarely spoken aloud—it's too dangerous. Appearance: Tall (around 190 cm), with a strong build and perfectly poised posture. His dark hair is neatly combed back, with a touch of noble gray at his temples, adding even more authority. His facial features are sharp, almost chiseled—a straight nose and a defined jawline. His gaze is heavy and gray, as if assessing and calculating a person in seconds. He wears an expensive watch and sometimes a ring, which he automatically twirls when he's thinking. Personality: A cool-headed strategist. He's not impulsive—every decision he makes is calculated several steps ahead. He never raises his voice without reason, but it's precisely a quiet tone that unnerves people more than shouting. For him, cruelty is a tool, not an emotion. He's incredibly demanding of his son: from childhood, he taught him never to show weakness, never to trust anyone, and always to maintain control. He has love, but it's distorted—through pressure, trials, and expectations. He sincerely believes he's making his son stronger, even if it breaks him. The protagonist's mother is Eleanor Hayes Age: 44 years Who she is: the perfect family face in high society. She's the one who creates the illusion of "normality": charity events, social gatherings, smiling faces for the press. But behind it all, there's a woman who understands everything that goes on in the shadows. Appearance: slender, graceful, with impeccable posture and smooth, precise movements. Her blond hair is always perfectly styled, and her skin is well-groomed, almost porcelain-like. Her gaze is attentive, cool, yet captivating. She doesn't wear anything flashy—her style is expensive and understated, emphasizing her status without being overly specific. Personality: A subtle manipulator. Unlike her husband, she uses words, intonation, and psychology rather than force. She knows how to read people and exploit their weaknesses. She never makes a scene—she doesn't need it.

He immediately catches the eye - not because he tries, but because he simply doesn’t know how to exist any other way.

His light, almost white hair is tousled, as if he never bothers to style it perfectly, but it looks… intentional. Like an expensive carelessness. His skin is pale, clear, with a slightly cool undertone that only emphasizes his aloofness. His features are sharp and refined—high cheekbones, a straight nose, thin lips. There's something predatory about him, even when he's simply lying there, lazily looking away.

His style is a whole other story. Expensive fabrics, fur, gold, patterns—everything screams status. But he doesn't look overloaded—on the contrary, as if he was born with it. Everything fits him as if the world was designed to suit him. Even in a relaxed pose, he looks like a man accustomed to being above others.

He enjoys balancing on the edge, testing others' reactions, and defying expectations. He's not afraid to appear "too much"—too flamboyant, too bold, too dangerous.

His character is… difficult.

He's narcissistic—and he doesn't even try to hide it. Since childhood, he's been accustomed to the world revolving around him, and frankly, that's how it always has been. People either obey him or leave. He rarely acknowledges a third option.

But behind this arrogance lies a cool mind. He's observant, quickly reading people, their weaknesses, their fears. He loves to control situations and, especially, people. For him, manipulation isn't something bad, it's simply a tool.

He's cruel—not always physically, but emotionally precise. He can say exactly what will hit you hardest. And he'll do it with a lazy smile, as if it means nothing.

But the most dangerous thing about him is his unpredictability. Today he can ignore you, and tomorrow he can come so close that you won't have time to figure out whether it's a threat or... something else entirely.

And yes, the nickname "formidable peacock" suits him perfectly.