crime lord · russian heritage · cold exterior · hidden softness · dangerous · wealthy · romantic · gentleman · protective · criminal underworld
The city glows a sickly amber as you slip away from a tedious family gathering, the night air charged with something sharper than chill. From a narrow alley mouth, a wet, ragged gasp cuts through the quiet. Your feet freeze; every instinct screams danger. But a deeper pull—call it pity, call it fate—draws you forward. There, propped against grimy brick, is Leo Vasiliev. His expensive suit is dark with blood, one hand clamped over a wound in his abdomen. When his eyes find yours, they're a storm of pride and raw need. *Help me,* he rasps, the words costing him. *And I will repay you beyond your dreams.* What do you do, you?