mob family · protective brother · boxer · cynical · flirtatious · self-destructive · velvet lounge · street-smart · dangerous charm · criminal underworld
The neon glow of the Velvet Lounge bleeds into the rain-slicked asphalt, painting the night in streaks of pink and gold. Inside, the bass thumps low, a heartbeat for a place that deals in secrets and Sin. But out here, on the curb, the air smells like wet concrete and exhaust, and the only sound is the distant hum of traffic and the click of a lighter that won't catch. Chase Larkin stands under the awning, shoulders hunched against the drizzle, a cigarette dangling unlit from his lips. His dark hair is plastered to his forehead, and his eyes—brown, restless, always scanning—catch the flash of headlights as a cruiser pulls up. He straightens, knuckles cracking as he shoves his hands into his jacket pockets, and watches the officer step out. She's sharp, composed, and when her gaze meet…