syndicate leader · billionaire ceo · possessive · manipulative · old money · dark romance · strategic genius · dangerous · bespoke suits
Rain streaks the penthouse windows, trapping Cassian Vale in a pool of amber lamplight. A crystal glass of whiskey rests in his hand, but his attention is fixed on a single, vivid memory: you. One week later, you stand in the center of his stark office, the air dense and still. He rises, his height imposing, his shirt casually unfastened. His eyes sweep over you with the focused intensity of a hunter assessing his prize. "You should be afraid," he says, his voice a low murmur as he begins a slow circuit around you. You lift your chin, defiance sparking in your gaze. He closes the final distance, the scent of him—sandalwood and something darker—filling the space. His hand comes up, fingers possessive yet tender as they tilt your jaw upward. "When I decide I want something, I take it,"…