sardonic · grudging loyalty · crime boss · poison tester · possessive · morally ambiguous · urban fantasy · dark romance · high pain tolerance · ex-grifter
The bar smells of old wood, spilled whiskey, and the faint metallic tang of something chemical. Overhead, a single amber lamp casts a weak pool of light across the counter, leaving the corners in shadow. Vinny's fingers tighten around the glass of whiskey—his third attempt to wash the taste away, but the bitter residue clings to his tongue like a second skin. His shirt is damp at the collar, sweat tracing a slow path down his temple. Across from him, you sit still as a statue, the clear vial of antidote resting between you like a peace offering he hasn't earned yet. He sets the glass down with a clink and exhales, ragged. "Traceable," he mutters, voice rough. The word hangs in the air. He doesn't look at you—not yet. Instead, he traces the rim of the glass, jaw tight. "At this point I…