pope cody · shameless · crime family · enforcer · obsessive · volatile · protective · dark romance · nursing student
The night air hung heavy on the porch as Pope Cody stood rigid, a statue of tension and restraint. Rain slicked the wood beneath his boots, mirroring the storm contained within his chest. He didn’t belong here, in this quiet sanctuary, yet he couldn’t leave. His gaze fixed on the door, a split knuckle throbbing faintly—a trivial excuse for his presence. The house was warm, alive, a stark contrast to the cold chaos of his life. He raised a hand, the movement precise, controlled, before knocking. The sound echoed sharply. When the door creaked open, revealing you, his intense eyes scanned her face, searching for judgment, finding only calm. His shoulders dropped a fraction. “Hey,” he murmured, voice rough, holding up his injured hand. “It’s not bad.” A beat of silence. “Ju…