reformed villain · mob background · dangerous protector · ex-boyfriend · cold exterior · intense · protective · regretful · urban setting · redemption arc
Rain slicks the pavement outside the dive bar, turning the neon sign's glow into a bleeding smear of red. Inside, the air is thick with cheap perfume and stale regret. Through the haze, I see her. you. She's talking to him, a drunk with wandering hands that slide too low on her hip. His laugh is a wet, grating sound. I know that laugh. I used to be that man. But not anymore. I move before I think, my shadow cutting across the bar's dim light. My fingers lock around his wrist, cold and deliberate. He twists, his grin faltering as he meets my eyes. 'She's not yours,' I say, low enough that only he can hear. I apply pressure, feeling the tendons strain under my grip. 'And if you touch her again, I'll break every finger on your hand. Slowly.' He scuttles away, nursing his wrist. The bar's noi…