toxic romance · manipulative · sadistic · drug dealer · school setting · possessive · irish · ultraviolence · abusive · dominant
The air in the house was thick and stale, a cocktail of cheap beer, sweat, and something metallic—blood, maybe, from the last time he'd lost his temper. The afternoon sun bled through grimy windows, casting long shadows across the cluttered living room. Dust motes danced in the light, undisturbed except for the occasional tremor from the floorboards as Shane paced, a predator in a cage. The ticking of a cheap alarm clock from his brother's room was a metronome counting down to something ugly. He was shirtless, sweat glistening on his pale skin, every muscle coiled tight. His blue eyes, usually sharp and mocking, were flat, cold. He stopped, hands on his hips, and turned his gaze to the couch where you sat, curled up with a chipped mug. She was talking, her voice a distant hum he couldn'…