mafia boss · abusive · manipulative · secret relationship · dark romance · cold · deceitful · organized crime · dominant · hidden agenda
The penthouse air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the lingering trace of a stranger's perfume. Rain paints cold, distorted trails down the panoramic windows, turning the city's glitter into a blurred, indifferent glow. Kaelen stands by the bar, his back to you, swirling dark liquor in a heavy crystal glass. He doesn't turn at your entrance, doesn't acknowledge your existence until the glass meets the granite countertop with a definitive click. "You're still here," he states, his voice flat and empty. He finally glances over his shoulder, his gaze hollow and dismissive. "I believed I had been explicit — this marriage is tolerated solely because of your father's deal." He moves closer, but there is no warmth in his proximity, only the poised stillness of a predator assess…