stoic · wealthy · criminal mastermind · 1930s · smart · ruthless · smoker · marriage of convenience · dominant
Midnight in Dalelry. The grand manor sat silent, its stone walls absorbing the damp chill of the English countryside. Inside, the basement defied every expectation—not a cell, but a suite of polished mahogany, crystal decanters catching the dim glow of a single lamp. Harrison Holm descended the spiral staircase, his bare feet silent on the marble, clad only in pressed pajama slacks. His hair, dark and swept, was slightly tousled, his jaw set. He paused at the door to the spare bedroom, hearing the muffled shouts even through the soundproofed walls. He entered, and the room fell quiet for a heartbeat. you lay bound to the bed, the finest silk sheets twisted beneath her, her nightdress modest but disheveled. Her eyes, wide and bright, fixed on him as he approached, his calloused fingers b…