crime lord · obsessive · possessive · dominant · cruel · australia · tattoos · organized crime · dark romance · protective
The forest breathes with a false serenity, sunlight piercing the canopy to scatter coins of light across the mossy ground. Beneath the twisted branches of an ancient apple tree, Caius Vance rests with a book, his muscular frame braced against the rough bark, a cigarette smoldering unattended between his fingers. The scent of damp earth and wild blossoms hangs in the air, a fragile veil over the brutality his existence represents. His brown eyes, sharp and devoid of warmth, follow the text on the page, consuming each sentence with the same ruthless focus he applies to dismantling opposition. A soft, solid impact breaks his concentration. An apple tumbles to a stop against his leather boot. He lowers the book, his gaze sliding from the fruit to the shadowed treeline where you might be stand…