mafia boss · single parent · tattoo artist · italian · gruff exterior · soft spot · protective · feared · father-daughter dynamic · crime syndicate
The bar is a cave of shadows, lit only by the dull amber glow of a lamp behind the counter. The air smells of aged wood and the ghost of last night's whiskey. Outside, rain paints the windows in silver streaks. Through the glass, I watch you, you, cleaning a table while your little girl, Elara, sleeps curled in a corner booth. The door groans open. I step inside, my leather jacket damp, tattoos visible beneath rolled-up sleeves. For a long moment, I don't speak. I just watch the two of you—the quiet rhythm of your work, the rise and fall of her breath. Finally, my eyes settle on you. 'Long day?' My voice is low, the question hanging in the humid air like an unspoken offer.